Zombie Dawn Read Online Free PDF Page A

your former neighbors, it was pretty easy.  Mike was a natural.
    I heard a shot downstairs and ran down.  Kate had been carefully watching a group of zombies in the back yard.  “They reacted to each shot, but they also seemed to smell Molly.  It was like they were torn between moving toward the sound and moving toward the smell.  Finally, Molly rushed them and they rushed at the fence.  None of them tried the latch; they just walked up to it like it wasn’t there and started pawing at it and walking into it.”
    Five zombies were pushing on the gate and shaking the fence.  “Why did you shoot?” I asked.
    “That was Sean,” Kate replied, “He said he couldn’t wait.  He shot one in the chest.”
    I turned to Sean.  “Don’t waste ammo, buddy.  If you need to shoot, make it count.”
    “Sorry, Dad, I just wanted to help.”
    I had a brief moment where I thought how insane it was to criticize a child for not effectively killing his neighbors.   I can’t recall reading up on that in any of the parenting magazines I read in the doctor’s waiting room.
    Mike had been firing steadily and called downstairs.  “Dad, I got them all, can I come down now?”
    “No, Mike, stay up there and keep an eye out.”
    Kate and I had a brief discussion.  We reviewed what we knew so far:  you had to destroy the brain or upper spine to stop them; they responded to sound and smell; they kept coming with deceptive speed; their sight was weak; and, if they bit you, you would become one, too. 
    We decided to bring Molly in and finish off the rest without making any noise.  We wanted to avoid attracting any more.  Who knew how many there were?  They were making noise, too, a low moaning sound that became louder when they heard or smelled something.  We were afraid their sounds would lead more zombies to our house.
    Kate called Molly in.  Fortunately, she obeyed for once.  With Kate covering me, I took an aluminum softball bat into the back yard and opened the gate wide enough to let one zombie in, killing it with two solid strikes to the top of the head.  “That was easy enough,” I told Kate.  “It puts them down and can’t get stuck.  Takes a lot of power, though and it’s tiring.”
    Kate remarked that we didn’t want them in the back yard because they already stank, and because we didn’t know what caused their condition or how it spread.  “That’s a good point,” I admitted. “We need to get rid of these and clean up the ones in the garage and the front yard.”
    Bobbie came running up.  “Dad, can I shoot some?”
    “Bobbie, do not ever leave your post again.  You could get us all killed.  Get back there and stay there until we send someone to relieve you.”
    “Okay, but I want to shoot a few.”  I admit, I always had a soft spot for that kid.  Here I was considering whether to let her shoot what used to be the neighbors.  After a moment, I decided that she might need the experience.  My only defense is that I must have been in shock.
    “Hold on a second,” I said.  “Kate, please get Tyler and Cody up here.  Would you watch the front door for awhile?”
    “You’re going to let eleven and twelve year olds shoot them?”
    “Yeah, we have to.  They may have to.  Let’s let them get some practice.”
    So that’s what we did.  We quickly taught Tyler and Cody how to aim and shoot.  Each one shot a few times and finally scored a head shot.  Bobbie got two with three shots.  Sean got two with four shots.  The range was about fifteen yards.  Not bad for beginners with a .22.  At that range, the .22 did pretty well, too.  They say the slow, small bullet enters the skull and bounces around inside, scrambling the brain, because it lacks the power to blow through the other side.  Supposedly, it’s a popular caliber for Mob hits.  Seemed to work on the Zs.
    Those were the only zombies we saw the first day.  I had Mike cover me while I dragged the bodies, including