Anno Zombus Year 1 (Book 9): September Read Online Free PDF Page B

credits rolled and we piled out.  It was an interesting diversion, really, as the mummified corpse of the killer’s mother just sat there in her rocking chair.  A surreal reminder that the Dead once just lay there, being no more than unmoving corpses.
     
    “One thing about my mum,” Apocalypse Girl began.  “She’s always valued taking some personal time when you need it.  She never ever has needed it, though, fucking superwoman that she is.”  I detected respect mixed with resentment.  This seemed to be a sore point between mother and daughter.
     
    The two of us went to the elevator, heading topside to watch the sunset and to try to get in touch with Fluffy.  The blazing yellow orb descending over the western horizon seemed to bathe the world in a reddish glow, making it almost seem as though the world never ended, the Winter never happened.  The large shambling horde of Dead we spotted off in the distance to the northwest ruined the image somewhat, though.
    I pulled out the radio, going through several frequency bands, trying to raise Fluffy as best I could.  There was little luck, though I made contact with a couple of other groups of our acquaintance.  Ginger was almost rabid about Scout returning, and The Principal had died, leaving Doctor in charge of The School in Melbourne.  The Smart Couple were still in their secret, safe place, wherever the fuck that was.  They still didn’t want to say until and unless we were headed right to them.
     
    The really interesting thing was speaking with Butler.  The Queen had calmed down somewhat, was no longer wanting our blood, at least.  She had realised that we were far out of her reach.  Apocalypse Girl asked about our friend Deathwish, only to have the insolent young lad jump on the radio to confirm his own suspicions that The Queen would leave him alive, because, as he told us, ‘she liked him’.  Signing off by telling Deathwish that we were in no way missing his unending supply of baked beans, and the flatulence that came with it, we went back down to the main facility when the sun had fully descended.
     
    “I told you to go up alone! ”  Apocalypse Mum exploded at us once the elevator doors opened.  The sentry had a hard time meeting my gaze.  As I did with Apocalypse Mum’s.  “How can I expect you to obey my orders when it matters if you don’t obey this one?”
     
    In my defence, Apocalypse Girl told her that we had been through so much together that for us to spend so much time apart was unhealthy, especially just after I had been out for a couple of days on her orders.  She trusted nobody but me, and honestly neither did I trust any but her.  The Boss was fuming, but she said nothing.  Instead, she spun about on her heel and stalked off into the depths of the facility.  I had a feeling that this would not be the end of The Boss’s fury.

September 6 th Year 1 A.Z.
    morning
    Jester was chomping at the bit to tell me something, but would not say a word until we got to the computer lab.  For a little guy, he could surely move, Apocalypse Girl and I were having a hard time keeping up with him.  Apocalypse Dog bounded between us, as if trying to hurry us along, sensing in some canine fashion what Jester was needing to show us.  Or else just being doggishly excited.  The two techs we knew vaguely were huddled over a counter, peering at a screen, muttering to themselves.
     
    “What is it?” Apocalypse Mum, storming into the lab, demanded to know imperiously.  “And for God’s sake, somebody bring in some coffee.”  I couldn’t agree more.  She acknowledged me with a surly nod, her daughter with a maternally disappointed look.  One of the techs dashed out, returning momentarily with a steaming pot of liquid, pouring out several cups for those of us that required it.
     
    “The Shadow Zone around Sydney.” Jester told us.  “It vanished overnight.  Now, look…”  Sydney was no more.  Shining metallic structures in