Alice in Deadland Trilogy Read Online Free PDF Page A

opening that was lit by a single
torch. Alice grabbed her sides, with barely enough strength left to stay
standing, let alone follow him any deeper.
    'I need water, ok? I am not like you. I need to drink and
eat.'
    He looked at her, with no expression on his face, and she
made drinking motions with her hands, hoping that he would get the idea. When
he moved his right arm, Alice flinched, wondering if he would hit her again.
Instead, he held out her backpack, which he had taken from her after the fight
in the Embassy. She opened it and took out her water bottle, draining it as she
drank every last drop there. When she put it back inside, she felt inside the
bag for a second. She had her first aid kid, and one signal flare. While she
had no weapons left on her, that flare might come in handy. When Bunny Ears
growled, she handed the backpack to him, thankful that he was intelligent
enough to understand what she wanted, but not quite smart enough to check the
bag.
    She followed him deeper into the abyss, going through
several more descending turns before they arrived at a door. When Bunny Ears
pushed it open, Alice saw that they had entered some sort of shelter that must
have once been designed for use by humans. Metal bunk beds lined the room, in
which dozens of Biters were sprawled. Some of them hissed and moved in her
direction, but a series of growls from Bunny Ears sent them scampering back.
Perhaps to keep her close and out of harm's way, he grabbed her wrist and
pulled her behind him. Many of the Biters glared and spat at her, and she had
no doubt they would have ripped her to shreds if her unlikely guardian in the
form of a Biter with bunny ears had not been there.
    They paused at an open door, and Alice froze when she heard
a human voice coming from somewhere on the other side. It was a gravely voice,
deep and slow, but it was unmistakably the voice of a human female, unless
Alice was about to meet her first talking Biter.
    'What have you brought down today? Let me see.'
    Alice heard some growling and screeching in response, as the
speaker continued.
    'Two Zeus troopers? What on Earth would I want to do with
them? Their papers show that they are but fresh recruits, so they could have
nothing of use for me. Of course, you would have no way of knowing that, would
you?'
    Alice heard more screeching, and listened to this surreal
conversation, wondering if the two parties actually understood what they were
saying to each other.
    'Oh well, you have brought them down, and I did have a chat
with them. Unfortunately, they are totally brainwashed and unwilling to join
us, and after what they've seen, I cannot let them go back up. I was hoping
that they would have a more open mind. It's probably all for the better; these
two are part of the unit that killed all the little ones a fortnight ago.'
    The screeching now gave way to a blood-curdling roar, and
Alice realized with a start that the Biter being talked to did understand what
was being said to it. The next words from the female voice made Alice's eyes
open wide with fear.
    'Take them, and off with their heads.'
    Alice heard the men begging and pleading as they were
dragged away, and then Bunny Ears began to push her into the room. She pushed
him back, now in a state of panic, wondering if she was being prepared for the
same fate as had befallen the captured Zeus troopers.
    'Let me go! Goddammit, let go of my hand!'
    Suddenly she heard the female voice inside the room call out
to her in a soothing tone.
    'It's quite all right, dear. I suspect you have nothing to
fear from me. Come on in.'
    'Who the hell are you?'
    The voice tut-tutted, like a disapproving school teacher.
    'Young lady, I had hoped for better manners from someone
from one of the settlements. You are not one of the wild humans roaming and
scavenging in the Deadland. Come on in, and we can talk like civilized people.
As for who I am, these fellows down here think I'm their Queen.'
    And so, shivering with fear, Alice