The Village of Dead Souls: A Zombie Novel Read Free Page B

man slowly turned so he could address all bodies in the room.
    Vic led Prometheus into the area where they stood at the edge of the crowd. The man from Chicago whispered to the Athenian, "That's Gunnar Benwa. He's one of the ancient guys like you. I don't know my history all that well, so I don't know which one of you is older. Before he was transferred to that body, he was some kind of Viking." Pointing to another man near a wooden crate, he continued, "Benwa and that guy dressed like a gang banger are both from the history books. The banger's name is Titus and he's like a Roman or something. Both of these guys used to be somebody in their former lives and they've kind of become our new leaders in all this chaos."
    Prometheus scanned the upper rafters of the deteriorating warehouse. Blackbirds nested in several of the support beams and old wires hung loose across dilapidated ventilation ducts. Dirt and grunge covered all the surfaces. Bright blue sky peaked through several of the grime - covered broken windows offering the only light in the building. "Dear friend, I still do not understand many of your words." He brought his attention back to Vic. "My ears have not heard of the people you call Vikings and Romans and gang bangers . These countries and regions from which they hail did not appear on the maps I have read. This is one more unanswered question, I have to add to the already numerous inquiries, which only go back to the time you and I met on that unusual street. From what I understand so far, our souls have been transported into these bodies and I now stand thousands of years in my future. This is the extent of my understanding of where we are at this time."
    "You got it, chief." Vic pulled the lower half of his sport coat back and placed his hands in his pants pockets. "I used to be just some shmuck from the South Side. I was overweight with a bad ticker and diabetes. Now look at me. I'm styling in this new body of some guy who had money and must have belonged to a gym. Other than the fact we're dead, I feel like I'm living large."
    Prometheus shook his head with confusion. "This language that we are speaking. I do not understand many of the terms. Perhaps you, my new friend, good Vic, you could explain why we have all been brought here and placed in these bodies."
    "Yeah, actually Benwa and Titus have been here the longest and seem to have the best insight on what's going on around here." He pointed to the two men who were in a heated debate. "And, somewhere in this group, there's this ancient Princess chick who gathered a bunch of us to fill us in on what's happening."
    "You speak of royalty with little regard to their status." Prometheus turned to watch the two men arguing. "This is the queerest dream that I have ever experienced."
    Standing in the center of the crowd, the Viking said to the Roman, "With the fear the living have in us, it is more important to organize battle groups for our own protection. It will not take long for them to rally and eliminate what they consider a threat to their way of life and their spirit itself. We are their perceived threat. I would think of all the people here, a Roman would understand the need for a legion."
    Titus, with a wide red bandana wrapped around his head like a headband, long loose shirt, baggy jeans and a small teardrop tattooed underneath his right eye, spoke in a calm well - educated voice. "Speak not as to Roman aggression upon the people. I recall an attack by the Visigoth on a small and unprotected port city. As we have memories of similar events, my good friend, you may have been one of the barbarians who excelled in the art of pillaging. But, we are not to renew battles, which this day and time have long forgotten. We have a mission to save our de s cend a nts, which is why I propose we gain organization within our structure of gifts. Layered government, so to speak, will be most vital for us to accomplish this daunting task. The formation of a legion might