Life Among The Dead Read Online Free PDF Page B

hedge bordered patio. Steam gently rises from the awning’s roof in wispy curls from a hot tub that resides underneath. The rim slowly reveals itself as he moves quietly past the screen.
    “ That would feel nice about now.” Dan remarks. He thinks differently when he discovers someone is already using the tub. An old man occupies it, watching the soldier pass. On his head he wears a skipper’s hat. Dan stops in his tracks.
    “ Hi there.” He feels embarrassed. “Sorry to intrude, Sir. Can I use your phone?”
    The motion is barely perceivable, but Dan sees the man nod.
    “ Great!” The soldier is elated. “I just need it for a sec. I want to call my wife… Do you need help?”
    The old man is trying to get out of his bath. Dan approaches, but the old salt determinedly surfaces on his own. He stands up dripping wet. His old wrinkled skin is pale and pruny from the water. He wears only a pair of navy blue shorts with little white anchors printed on them.
    “ Nope. You got it.” Dan nods. He watches as the geriatric captain of the tiny sea takes a step towards the rim of the tub. His trunks are starting to slip down from the weight of the water.
    “ Oops.” Dan gives a slight snort of a laugh. We’ve all been there, he thinks as he notices the old man isn’t pulling them up.
    The trunks continue their journey down. Flesh starts to come away with the sodden cloth. Meat sloughs off the Admiral like boiled chicken from the bone. He becomes skeletal from the nipples down before Dan’s eyes. Within his cavity his innards remain intact, colorless from being simmered, and held secure by a thin membrane of connective tissue.
    Recoiling from horror Dan is walking backwards as the old man continues to try to get out of the bath, his arms reaching for the soldier. His legs are without muscle and are now just immobile frail sticks. He topples over the side, landing face first on the grass.
    Undeterred by his useless legs the old man of the sea pulls himself along his proud lawn using only his arms. He creeps towards Dan leaving a trail of chum in his wake as his bag of organs ruptures.
    He wasn’t nodding, Dan scolds himself. He was trying to get up. He can see the water in the tub, brown and brackish with chucks of the gentleman floating on the top like stew.
    A wave of nausea hits him as he turns on his heels away from the scene and sprints to the next fence. He vaults it not letting his disgust get in his way. Dan drops into the next yard without a glance down.
    He can hear the old man weakly moan, and his bones scrape along the ground. Dan tries to push the imagery of what he had just witnessed out of his mind as he sits with his back to the fence. He can’t stop the memory from replaying when he closes his eyes. He throws himself to all fours and vomits.
     

 
    8
     
     
    Derek lays stunned. All he can remember is the ground giving out under his feet and then the sensation of bouncing. He stares up at the hole his body had made in the ceiling. He is in his mother’s room. He smiles, considering how lucky he is to have landed on the bed and not hit a single one of its four posts. The wooden columns on each corner are tipped with sharp teardrops.
    He wants to call up to his friends and laugh about it, but he realizes he is down with the zombies. The shock is gone, now he is paralyzed with fear. He hardly dares to breathe let alone move. He cautiously turns his head to look at the door.
    Footsteps creak along the floor, as the moans get closer. He can hear hands on the door and the knob is being jiggled. Can zombies open doors? He asks himself in a panic. His mind searches the infinite database of his knowledge on the subject and comes back inconclusive. A virus of fear infects the computer of his brain.
    It doesn’t matter if they can or not, Derek concludes. It doesn’t latch. The door's bolt was painted over by some previous tenant; it doesn’t even close all the way. The portal is held shut by the carpet. All