Nightmare of the Dead: Rise of the Zombies Read Online Free PDF Page B

Potomac. It was everything she could do not to betray any hint of alarm or weakness. She had to be strong, now. Was this a trap? What was their game? This man, whoever he was, had likely caused her strife in the past.
    "That's close enough," she said slowly.
    The gang of men guffawed and hollered as one. Their amusement was a stark contrast to the bleak gaze their leader bestowed upon Bannan. He was monstrously tall, and a necklace of dried ears that hung over his chest complimented his height . An officer's combat sword rested at his left hip, while a large revolver sat in its holster along his right hip. He stepped over the fallen man and continued to approach Bannan.
    She took a step forward and met him halfway. She refused to allow this man to intimidate her.
    "Hey Boss!" one of the men shouted. "Is that a man, or a wo-man ?" His comrades joined in the explosion of laughter.
    He was a foreigner, likely from Mexico, with deep, brown eyes covered by slow-blinking eyelids. His eyes were impossibly dry, and the clean, almond-colored cheekbones were incredibly smooth. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned against a table while the tormented, red-bearded man who had called out Bannan's name looked up wonderingly at the exchange.
    She considered her words carefully. Would this man know that her identity was gone?
    "We're supposed to meet," she said curtly.
    The men stopped their laughing and stomping all at once. They seemed to lean forward, straining their ears to hear their leader's low, toneless voice.
    "Something like that," he replied without any hint of an accent. "You had an eventful train ride. Where's the train?"
    He asked his question as if it wasn't a question at all, but a statement of fact.
    "I lost it," she replied. "Besides, you're not in any position to ask all the questions."
    The men started to laugh again, but when their leader quickly put up his hand to silence them, their chortling ceased.
    "You've lost your identity," he said, "but not your sense of humor."
    "I'm not looking for anything. I know how to kill a man easy enough, and that's about all I need."
    "You remain unshaken. What did you see on the train?"
    "You seem to know everything. Maybe you know why you let me live on the Potomac."
    He shifted and re-crossed his arms. "Tell me your name," he suggested.
    "You all know who I am."
    The man on the ground piped up. "Neasa fuckin' Bannan! The living legend! Why don't you blow this asshole away and ride into the sunrise? You're everything they said you would be…"
    The Mexican kicked the man in his ribs twice. He curled into a ball and clutched at himself. Without missing a beat, the Mexican turned back to Bannan.
    "Very well…Bannan…my name is Santiago. You have forgotten it. Try as you might, there are only pieces left inside of your head," he unrolled his sleeve to reveal the same fiery horse branded on the inside of his forearm. "Can you recall what this means?"
    "What difference does it make?" she stepped into the saloon. "You're playing a game, and I'm not interested. Where's Dr. Lynch?"
    Santiago re-covered his arm. "He'll be along shortly. I'm sure you have several questions for him. You're going to help us end the war. Does this please you?"
    "I don't give a shit about the war," she pulled a chair across the floorboards and sat down at a table. "Pour me a drink while I'm waiting."
    Santiago gestured for one of his men to bring drinks while he pulled up his own chair and sat down across from her. He dropped his chin onto his fist and stared at her from beneath the brim of his wide hat.
    "You're not a fool," he said with his even, cool voice. "You refuse to feel fear. Yet, this is what threatens you. There is nothing that you know. There is nothing that you have. You are alone, yet, you remain unmovable. It's true you're a puppet now, only there is no master pulling at your strings, and at any moment , those strings will fall and you will sit flatly against a wall with your head upon