Z14 (Zombie Rules) Read Free

plague, as I would guess you and others are as well. Would I get infected if I were bitten?” I shrugged. “Probably. How did you survive?” I asked.
                  “A group of us have a compound near Eagleville. When we saw the signs, we gathered together, put up barricades, and waited it out. You look like you have some Viking heritage. Gunderson, that’s a Nordic surname, is it not?” He asked.
                  I nodded. “My father’s family is from Sweden. My mom was of British ancestry.”
                  “Ah.” He looked at me a moment before continuing. “What is your opinion of this so-called plague?”
                  I thought it over before responding. “It started with people displaying typical flu like symptoms, fever, jaundice, and ague. A degradation of physical acuity followed, and then they would become extremely violent. The virus, along with the fever, affected the brain somehow. I’d guess the hypothalamus was greatly affected. The infected seemed to have diminished cognitive functions, but their extreme aggression and acute gross motor skills seem to indicate a high level of adrenalin being dumped into the body.” I took a breath.
    “From the onset of the infection, the body tissue is breaking down and decomposing. It is my opinion that they will eventually die out.”
                  The Captain gazed at me intently during my diatribe. “Die out, you say? Interesting.” He pointed at me suddenly. “You should join my group Zach. You’d fit right in.”
                  I grunted. “I’m getting the impression you and your group do not welcome anyone other than Caucasians.”
                  The Captain shook his head slowly. “No Zach, we don’t. Now don’t get me wrong, I have no personal hatred of niggers, kikes, slopes, spics, ragheads, fags, or any other minority, but they don’t belong with our group, nor do they have any place in my plans of rebuilding this world.”
                  I shook my head slowly. “We’re going to have to disagree then Captain. In my world, using a disparaging term to label a group of people is just plain wrong.” I pointed at his book. “I believe Kipling agrees with the sentiment.”
                  The Captain scoffed and waved the book around before tossing it in the weeds. “Now Zach, it is nothing but poetry after all. I would assert to you, your rules are far more worthy in today’s world than most poetry.” He paused in reflection for a moment and looked back at the tanker. Someone had apparently tried to tow it off. All of the wheels had fallen off and it was now sitting on the ground.
                  “I believe I have something valuable to add to your list of rules.” He said. “What number are you up to now?”
                  “Ten.” I said. I had many more in my head and written in my notes, but I had not posted them as of yet.
                  He held up a finger. “A zombie rule: Zombies have no need for logistics. On the face of it, it is a very simplistic sentence. But, like your rules, there is a deep meaning within. Think about it Zach. Those things don’t require food or water like regular humans. They don’t need warmth on a cold night. They don’t need sanitary conditions. They don’t need medication or sleep. Hell they probably don’t need air to breathe.” He pointed at the tanker. “They most certainly don’t need fuel.”
                  I looked at the tanker, wondering how I was going to get it back from him if he didn’t want to give it back “It’s a good rule.” I said.
                  We sat in silence for a long minute. I was wary of the Captain. He was being downright cordial, but I suspected it was a facade. Plus, I was fully aware the chair he had waiting for me was strategically placed so his boy would be behind me. All