tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73668612556116841122024-02-08T02:30:42.476-08:00White Flag of the DeadJTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-69184036364213513232016-09-11T18:02:00.000-07:002016-09-11T18:02:02.855-07:00White Flag Lives!I thought about doing a book of short stories based on the WFOTD characters, but Severed didn't think it was a good idea, so I think I will post the stories here as they occur to me. I know I mentioned Tommy and Duncan at Disney, so I'll have to put that one here. I also have a few gaps to fill in, especially like where John and Charlie went after they left Starved Rock. Stay tuned.JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-51909714715579932322016-04-21T08:30:00.001-07:002016-04-21T08:30:50.978-07:00A note from JohnI get asked the same questions a lot, mostly from people just trying to survive, so I don't really mind. But it occurred to me that I could just put in one place what I think is best and why. Call them reviews, call them advice, doesn't really matter to me. So the new series will be called WFOTD reviews, and will focus on the gear the crew uses and why. So I will be posting about firearms and ammunition, Charlie will post about weapons ( other than guns ) , Duncan will get to do edged weapons, and Tommy asked to do survival living, for some strange reason.<br />
Stay tuned!JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-31255481674897868792015-12-06T08:20:00.000-08:002015-12-06T08:20:21.213-08:00End of the SeriesFinished White Flag of the Dead Book 9 : The Zombie Wars (We all fall down) this morning, Will be sending to the editor this afternoon.<br />
Feels a little weird. This series has been part of me for four years, and this crew has been as close to me as my own family. I'll probably continue here with more stories and advice as I think of them, but I will be moving on to another series "Born in the Apocalypse" I posted a part of it here a while back, and I will be finishing the first book pretty soon.<br />
<br />
Spread the word!<br />
<br />
I am no longer on Facebook as Joe Talluto, but John Talon is there. Send him a friend request if you want.<br />
<br />
JTJTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-14752926730105765242015-09-22T21:43:00.001-07:002015-09-22T21:43:24.369-07:00Link!http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Wars-Enemy-Within-White-ebook/dp/B015MESW76/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442817665&sr=1-7&keywords=zombie+wars&refinements=p_n_publication_date%3A1250226011JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-3069595818469080872015-09-03T20:08:00.000-07:002015-09-03T20:08:12.693-07:00Zombie Wars IIFinished the second book in the Zombie Wars series. Sorry, no Denver, I took the book in a completely different direction, but I think it will all come together in the end. Hopefully we will have a published version before the end of next week.<br />
<br />
<br />JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-10404629783166308282015-06-09T06:06:00.001-07:002015-06-09T06:06:10.382-07:00Available at Amazon...<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Wars-Call-Arms-White-ebook/dp/B00Z8SF69Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1433823065&sr=1-1&keywords=the+zombie+wars&pebp=1433823069323&perid=10834D66XF639AHAH3SN" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-<wbr></wbr>Wars-Call-Arms-White-ebook/dp/<wbr></wbr>B00Z8SF69Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=<wbr></wbr>digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=<wbr></wbr>1433823065&sr=1-1&keywords=<wbr></wbr>the+zombie+wars&pebp=<wbr></wbr>1433823069323&perid=<wbr></wbr>10834D66XF639AHAH3SN</a>JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-11272371274737589222015-05-23T20:05:00.001-07:002015-05-23T20:05:57.436-07:00WFOTD Zombie WarsOkay. Just put the last chapter to bed, now all I need to do is edit, edit, edit, and assemble the thing in some sort of coherent story. It's going to be a little different than the last books, but should still work out.<br />
Should get it to Severed by Monday.<br />
<br />
Cheers.JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-19202814691871365832015-03-22T10:58:00.003-07:002015-03-22T10:58:21.222-07:00Zombie WarsAs some of you have commented, Dead Surge and Last Stand of the Dead started with a hole in the story. The missing years between when John and crew took out the Major Thorton threat and when the little zombies began their rampage. <br />
Well, I have been working on trying to get something going, and after several false starts and a general "Where the hell is this going?" I am rocketing ahead and have been working on the first book of WFOTD - The Zombie Wars. With a whole lot of luck, I am trying to get it finished before the end of the month. I've got other deadlines as well, having started a new full time job, but I am trying to keep to the schedule I started before this month.<br />
As much as I would love to say it's in here, Denver, as referenced several times in the other books, will not be part of this first book. Rest assured it will be part of the second book in the Wars series.<br />
<br />
Yes. John, Charlie, Tommy and Duncan are back and at their zombie killing best.<br />
<br />
Buckle up, kids. The book starts slow, but like the first hill on a roller coaster, you know it's going to end sometime and the rest is just a blur.JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-57201263299175738772015-01-26T20:16:00.001-08:002015-01-26T20:16:22.691-08:00Generation Dead 326,000 words in, should have over 40k by Friday.<br />
<br />
Just an update.<br />
<br />
Hi everyone. Sorry for the delay.JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-66690651248740665822014-11-17T11:53:00.000-08:002014-11-17T11:53:00.129-08:00A Note From JohnRage. <br />
Sometimes that's all you have left of your loved ones, your friends, your family. Their bodies are gone, either buried in a poorly marked grave or scattered to the wind, depending on how they fell. Sometimes they're still walking, but that doesn't really count.<br />
But the rage lives on. That surge you get when you think of them. When you think of them fighting, dying, pleading for life. It's that moment when you bare your own teeth and let the hate flow, giving you strength, sharpening your senses.<br />
It's what allows you to survive when others die.<br />
Those who survived but didn't lose anyone will never understand that it's our rage that keeps us going, our rage that makes the difference.<br />
<br />JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-86066644336455930292014-06-16T16:47:00.002-07:002014-06-16T16:47:22.660-07:00Tommy's TipsIf you're going to try and figure out what your fellow man might do in a crisis don't bother. That's like trying to predict the weather in Florida. Once you think you've found the pattern, it just up and changes on you yet again. People react differently to danger because they are different. It's not complicated. I can't tell you how many times I've seen huge men fall to pieces when the zombies start their attack, and I've seen guys who are a hundred pounds soaking wet fight like the devil was about to bite their ass. You just never know. But as I've seen a lot of people I've come to trust my instincts. That big guy with all the tactical gear might not hold up as well as the guy who just managed to show up yesterday carrying nothing but a hammer.<br />
Don't be afraid to ask questions of newcomers. If your warning bells go off, avoid. They will get you killed and then they'll steal your stuff. Bet on it.<br />
<br />
TommyJTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-84976354270488301922014-03-17T12:31:00.003-07:002014-03-17T12:31:55.869-07:00A Note from JohnSometimes I wonder how I managed to survive. Especially the early days, when the Upheaval had hit with full force. We didn't know what it was, we didn't know why it was happening, but there it was all the same. <br />
I think about those days a lot. Those couple of weeks when it was just Jake and I, trying to move as little as possible, trying to figure out what we were going to do. <br />
Maybe that was the key. Instead of running with no idea of where to go, we just stood still long enough for the panic to pass, and then we headed out. I suppose I could have stayed at the house longer, but I knew it wasn't really safe, fifteen or twenty determined zombies would have killed us, I'm sure of that. But not joining the millions that fled the horrors might have saved more if they had stopped to stand still.<br />
I ride the crew about taking action, doing something. But it's funny when I realize that doing nothing saved myself and my son. Perhaps that's the big clue to the survival puzzle. <br />
<br />
Know when to act, and know when not to.JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-77379995776701742502014-01-30T10:46:00.000-08:002014-01-30T10:46:48.498-08:00Need some adviceBeen playing with this, got about 2/3 of a book finished, but need to know if I should bother.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 1</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Do you think it’s one of them?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
dunno.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has it moved?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not
for the last ten minutes.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“How
do you think it got here?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Dunno.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it here before?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t
remember seeing it, but the wind last night might have blown the leaves off
it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Throw
something at it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You</i> do it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
friend Trey and I were looking at a body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a middle aged man, about forty five, although my only reference
to middle aged men was Mr. Greyson over the ridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked about as old as him, and about the same color, so
maybe it was all right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
lying on its side under a bush, with it’s arms crossed on its chest, and its
head was turned away from us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Should
we go around it, look at it from the front?” Trey asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well,
we have to, if we want to get home.” I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d been hunting for the better part of the morning,
checking our snares and having a fair amount of luck. We had three rabbits
apiece, and I had an extra squirrel I managed to knock out of a tree with a
well-thrown rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had seen the
tracks of a deer, but we had nothing on us that would take down a large
animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had our packs and our
knives, but that was it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
walked carefully through the brush, trying to keep to the game trail that ran a
zig-zag<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pattern through the
woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Behind our houses was a
decent sized forest, and we had both grown up exploring and hunting it’s
depths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There wasn’t much to the
forest we hadn’t seen, so to come across this body suddenly was having to admit
it wasn’t there before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in
that case, there was a really good chance it was one of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">them</i>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
slowly walked around the man, trying to see it’s face before it saw us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it was one of them, it would have
dark splotches all over its face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If it wasn’t, it would look normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the easiest way to tell, although not all of them
had the splotches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some were
normal-looking, and you couldn’t tell they were a problem until they tried to
get you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Trey
bumped my arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked over at
him and he pointed to the body once,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>then pointed to his own eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He shook his head and I took him at his word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t see the face at the angle I was at, being taller
than he was, but Trey was telling me he didn’t think it was one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d seen them before, and we knew what
they could do, so we were naturally cautious about approaching one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d also seen plenty of dead bodies as
well, so if this was another one of those, no big deal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
worked our way across the path, and moved away from the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d tell my dad about it and he would
probably come out and drag it over to the burn hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a deep pit, about fifty feet across, and was
originally thirty feet deep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
had started out as a retention pit for the floods we would get, but it served
another purpose in the end.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,
Josh?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trey said as we followed
the trail again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Whatever
I was thinking of answering flew out of my head as the bushes the body was
under suddenly exploded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
corpse, which it was now obvious it wasn’t, thrashed and torn at the clinging
shrub as it tried to free itself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Trey
and I took one look at the monster coming after us and we didn’t have to think
twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We turned and ran for our
lives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Behind
us, the infected person tore free of the foliage and came after us in the
typical fast walk of someone who had fallen prey to the disease that had killed
so many.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed they couldn’t
quite work out the mechanics of running, but walking fast was the next best
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, when you were
twelve years old like Trey and I were, a fast walking adult was almost on par
with as fast as we could run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Go,
go, go!” I yelled, pushing Trey on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was the slower of the two of us, and the most likely to trip on
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he was behind me he
wouldn’t have made it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could
hear the man stumbling, wheezing, and trying like crazy to get at us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we fell, or stopped, he’d tear us
apart.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where
can we go?” Trey yelled, running past a small stand of trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a landmark for us, and told us
we were close to our homes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Head
down the hill, we’ll get him with the rocks!” I panted, stealing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>alook behind me and wishing immediately
I hadn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man was moving fast,
and his walk was pretty steady, which on these people meant he had been
infected fairly recently, and his mind still remembered how to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank God he had forgotten how to run.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Are
you nuts?” Trey wheezed, turning left anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’ll get in trouble for sure!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Gotta
risk it, unless you want to run forever.” I said, moving down the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forest we emerged from led out onto
a huge man-made hill, which extended for a quarter mile in front of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The top was flat and grassy, and the
sides were steep enough to give even a healthy person a case of the heaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Going up was hard enough, but going
down was a piece of cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just
let gravity take over and slid down the grass until we reached the rocks at the
bottom.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
rocks were huge, the smallest of them being larger than my fist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The larger ones we couldn’t even move
if we tried together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we
didn’t need those, we just needed ones that were about the size of a
pumpkin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trey and I each picked up
a rock the size of a baseball and lay in wait for the diseased man to come
tumbling down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
heard him before we saw him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
infected with the Tripp Virus wheezed a lot, since they were missing a lot of
their lung tissue and their throats were messed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t too bad in the daylight, but at night it creeped
me out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
a minute, the man walked of the edge of the hill, and fell right onto his
face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He slid that way for a
while, and wound up crashing head first into the same rock pile we did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blood poured out of a deep gash on his
cheek, and the impact stunned him just enough for us to move.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Get
him!” I yelled at Trey, heaving my rock up and dumping it on the prone man’s
shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man wheezed
suddenly and tried to turn his head, but it was wedged in between two rocks and
not going anywhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Trey
tossed his rock onto the man’s back, and then jumped on top of the rocks,
adding his weight to the stones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The combined heaviness was too much for the infected man, and he
couldn’t do anything but lay there and bleed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Trey
looked over at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You gotta kill
him, man!”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
looked down at the pathetic creature with a mixture of loathing, disgust, and
fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had seen these things
since the day I was born, and I never got used to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that didn’t stop me from doing what
needed to be done, and I picked up the biggest rock I could lift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pushing it over my head, I brought it
down with both hands onto the head of the infected man. The rock cracked into
the man’s skull, stunning him, and I lifted the rock again, bringing it down
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time there was a
serious crack as the rock broke the skull and penetrated the brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man’s thrashing ceased, and lay
there as blood leaked out of his head and into the rocks around him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Trey
climbed off and we looked down at the dead man.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That
was close, man.” Trey said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
nodded. “Yeah, but we got this.” I said with bravado I didn’t feel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Let’s
get home.” Trey said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Better
get our rabbits back.” I said, starting to climb up the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had pitched our catch when the Tripp
victim started chasing us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Ugh.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trey said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I hate backtracking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stupid Tripper.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
called them Trippers, after the virus came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to my dad, it was a little thing that suddenly
became a big problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It started
with the street junkies, the homeless, and the runaways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one really paid any attention to the
spread because it was out of sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The way things worked, if it wasn’t seen it wasn’t a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But according to the rumors, the virus
came in with a load of marijuana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was ingested, and from there it took off in its new host.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It attacked the neural pathways in the
brain, causing the victim to forget everything about themselves, turning them
into mindless husks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that,
it went to work on the nervous system itself, eating away at the pain
receptors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People with the virus
could lose a limb and not feel a thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finally, the virus slowed down the body systems, with the heart beating
only ten or twelve times a minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But they could still move nearly as quickly as they could before they
caught the disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weird
thing was they seemed to just keep going, even after they should have died from
starvation, exposure, or dehydration.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
virus transferred from host to host through bodily fluids, and could live for
seventy-two hours in open air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was how it spread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
virus turned the victims into mindless animals, attacking anything they saw as
a threat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad explained that as
we learned later, they were territorial, which was why they attacked everyone
they saw on their turf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trippers,
being mindless, didn’t stay in one place but wandered about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They didn’t attack each other, and my
dad said it was because they didn’t see other infected as threats. They lived
in a constant state of high alert, ready to fly at anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
didn’t see any of this, because on the day I was born, I saved my dad’s
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My father was a policeman,
and just as my mom went into labor, his station was called up to help put down
an outbreak of Trippers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
single officer who answered the call that day died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad called me his luck, and I suppose for that one day I
was.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dad
took us home the next day, and three days later the hospital we had been in was
overrun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were too many
Trippers out there to deal with, and the police couldn’t handle them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually things just fell apart, and
we’d been on our own ever since.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
managed better than most, at first, and it was probably my dad that returned
the favor by saving us all during the really bad times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the Trippers took over, and the
police were gone, people started banding together for survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Problem was, desperate people put in a
desperate situations with death right around the corner tended to tear
themselves apart from within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
dad told me stories about finding several groups of people all lying dead in a
bunch, and it looked like they had just simply killed each other.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
probably also survived because we lived pretty far away from main population
centers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a house on the far
end of a small town, with a forest in the backyard and a creek nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all I had ever known.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Trey
lived across the street, and the creek that wound its way around the area went
directly through his back yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Water was never a problem for his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trey’s mom used to be a schoolteacher and for lack of
anything else to do, she took it upon herself to educate Trey and myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since she didn’t have to follow any
curriculum, we probably got a better education than we could have in the normal
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trey’s dad was a
pipefitter, and before the end of civilization he had owned a small but
successful business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These days,
he occupied himself with figuring out how to bring more water to larger areas
of growing vegetables and fruits.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
threw a wave to Trey as he headed off around the front of my house and took of
for his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hung the rabbits
from a small branch, taking care they didn’t reach low enough for a scavenger to
get them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like I earned the
jumpers today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Mom!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m home!” I yelled as I entered into
the garage through the side door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I took off my gear, putting everything in it’s proper place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad taught me that trick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I ever had to leave in a hurry, and
if it was dark or light, I always knew where my stuff was and could get it
without delay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad taught me a lot
of tricks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some Mom knew about,
some she was better off not knowing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“How
was the snare line?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom asked,
like she always did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never knew
if Mom actually cared about it, or was just being polite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t go outside much, and usually
went to bed right after dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad
said she took the end of the world pretty hard, but I couldn’t see the big
deal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It
was good, I got three decent rabbits.” I said , washing my hands in the
sink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Good
for you.” Mom said absently. “Are you going to clean them, or let your father
do it again?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
ducked a little. “I’ll go do it right now.” I said, moving to the door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Josh…?”
Mom called out as I stepped into the garage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah?”
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
can spare one of the rabbits for the Simpsons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard Lucy’s mom isn’t feeling well, and they haven’t had
much luck with their traps.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom
said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“All
right.” I said, closing the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Under my breath I added, “That’s because they can’t bait worth a damn,
and their traps are too big anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This ain’t Africa.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
spent the next hour cleaning and washing the rabbits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t bring up the Tripper to my mom, since she would
have freaked out, and I don’t need that today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was a little shaky, the more I thought about it, since I
had never actually killed a Tripper before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had seen my dad do it a hundred times, and there was that
big attack where I loaded guns for my dad while the Trippers attacked the
house, but I hadn’t ever had to do it myself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
didn’t know what to feel about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the one hand, I felt glad I was alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, I had killed someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it would be different if I had
to kill someone I knew, but I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guess it was just him or me, and I made it him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
finished with the rabbits just in time to see my dad come back from his
rounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When everything went
south, as he called it, he knew people would tear each other apart unless there
was some kind of order being kept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So my dad, being a police officer, decided to keep his badge on and
handle the normal, everyday problems that came up from people trying to
survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t call himself a
police officer anymore, he just called himself the Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wore his badge and gun, and went
around the homesteads checking on people, making sure things were okay, dealing
with Trippers if they showed up, and generally keeping the peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me at first he was a little
freaked by the responsibility, since he was essentially judge, jury, and
executioner, but people seemed to realize it was necessary and was glad someone
was willing to step up and do it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
walked into the house the same time my dad did, after he put up and took care
of his ride.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey,
pal!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How’s things?” My dad asked
me as he gave my mother a kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mom’s worried faced looked calmer now, like the stress of being alone
was gone now that Dad was home.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I
caught three rabbits today, they’re in the tank right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom wants me to take one over to the
Simpsons later.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said, looking
up at my dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a big man,
broad shouldered and strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
must have sounded different because my dad looked at me sideways and squinted
slightly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Good
for you! Let’s go take a look at them and see which one we want to send to the Simpson’s.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad took me by the shoulder and led
me into the garage where we kept the water tank for the cleaned kills.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
closed the door behind us and walked over to the tank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a small stock tank my dad picked
up from somewhere, and we used it for cleaning game and keeping the flies off
our kills.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
pulled out the jumpers and dad’s mouth turned down as he nodded and looked
appraisingly at the rabbits.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“We
can give them that middle one there, that should keep them for a day.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I put the rabbits back, Dad asked the question I worried
about since this morning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Anything
you need to tell me?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad asked,
putting a hand on my shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was tall for my age, and developing broad shoulders myself, but at the moment I
felt like a three year old who just got caught stealing the cookies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
looked down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Trey and I killed a
Tripper today.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
dad took me by both shoulders and looked me in the eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was as serious as I had ever seen
him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Take
me there, now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said
quietly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went over to the small
locker we had by the door and pulled out a rifle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a simple .22 rifle, but it was all we needed right
now. Dad had trained me on it and I knew how to use it, but I wasn’t supposed
to take it out unless there was an emergency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trippers were attracted to loud noises, and gunshots seemed
to make them angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or angrier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a lesson that wasn’t learned early enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad said all the gunshots from people
and cops trying to defend themselves just made the situation worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crazed Trippers were not a nice thing
to see.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dad
poked his head into the house to tell mom we were going to check on something
and we would be back in a few minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just to keep her from worrying, Dad told me to string my bow and take it
with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I slipped the string on
quickly, and threw my quiver onto my back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved my bow, and according to my dad, I was pretty good
with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made my own arrows, and
practiced whenever I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
didn’t take it with too often to hunt because it tended to get in the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only time I took it hunting was
when I was looking for big game like deer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
walked across the side yard and up the steps that took us to the top of our
fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a tall wooden fence
that Dad had reinforced with rocks over the years. It could keep out a horde of
crazed trippers and twice it had.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where
did it come from?” Dad asked as we jumped down off the fence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Don’t
know.” I said adjusting my quiver which had shifted in the jump. “Trey and I
saw a body laying under a bush, and we looked close, trying to see if it was a
Tripper or if it was just someone who was sleeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It chased us out of the woods.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Did
you have your bow with you?” Dad asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No,
just my knife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guy was pretty big.”
I said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“All
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What then?” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well,
Trey and I slid down the north side, and waited by the big rocks, near the
creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guy fell down the steep
hill, but we jumped him when fell. “ I said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
do you mean?” Dad asked sternly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You didn’t touch him yourself, did you?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No,
Dad. Sheesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We threw big rocks on
him to keep him down, and then I crushed his skull with another rock. Trey
stood on him, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He couldn’t
move.” I was kind of defensive about the situation, since I thought I had done
pretty good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My
father thought about that one for a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He didn’t say anything for a while, then he burst out laughing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That’s
great!” He clapped me on the back as he beamed with pride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That took guts and brains, and I
couldn’t have done better myself!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He laughed again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
felt a lot better, and actually looked forward to seeing my handiwork again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
slipped down the small ditch, and crossed the small two-lane road that ran
behind our house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been a
long time since a car was on that road, and it was broken up and cracked all
over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad said that there were
roads all over the place, and you once could go anywhere in the country just by
getting in your car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our car was
up on blocks, with the tires off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dad said it wasn’t going anywhere, anyway.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Crossing
the street, Dad stopped and turned his head into the wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He closed his eyes and listened, and I
knew enough to keep quiet when he did this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me he was using his radar, and I figured it had to
be true, since we never got into trouble when he did this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Crossing
the road, we slipped through the brush and worked our way over to the
rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There wasn’t a lot of
animal activity right now, and I was slightly curious as to why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had been here so many times it was
funny how the locals had adapted to us.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Getting
to the rocky areas was pretty easy once we worked our way through the
brush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The path I used on a
regular basis was easy for me, but dad had a time because he had to get down to
my height to clear the branches and brambles. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where
is he?” Dad asked, looking around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Never mind, I see him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dad went over to where the body still lay, looking over the kill area,
and looking up towards the top of the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stepped halfway up the slope and looked down at the body
from a higher angle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
my part, I couldn’t figure out what the heck he was doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The body was right down here, right in
front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sure wasn’t going
anywhere and it sure wasn’t going to tell us where it came from. I had nothing
to do but warm myself in the sun and watch the lazy water of the creek flow
under the bridge and trickle out of sight around a bend.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
a minute I got bored, so I used the time to practice drawing an arrow from my
quiver and nocking it. I tried to do it faster and faster, and finally quit
when I lost my grip on the arrow and threw it ten yards away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Damn.”
I said as I made my way over to where I thought the arrow had gone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
did you say?” Dad called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
down by the body, looking at the rocks and pulling the man over to see his
face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From my angle he didn’t get
better looking in direct sunlight.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Nothing.
“ I said quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad didn’t
swear, so I ended up learning the fundamentals from Trey. Dad always said we
are judged by our words and deeds, so if you may have blown it on one, you
could always try to build up the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I figured I could curse as long as I did something heroic once in a
while.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
reached the spot where I thought I saw my arrow land and looked carefully for
the fletching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t see it
right away, and knelt down for another look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I swept my hand through the grass, and thought I felt the
shaft but was disappointed when it turned out to be a weed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another
sweep gave me a possibility, and I felt the stick up to the end, where it
flared outward in plastic fletching. I was just about to stand up and shout my
find when I saw it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Up
the road, just across the bridge, was a tripper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an older one, with deep red splotches on his
face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His clothes were tattered,
like he had been outside for a long time. One foot dragged along the other, but
that was a fooler. When the rage hit, they moved fast no matter how bad they
were injured. There were some deep looking claw marks on his face, and dried
blood crusted his neck and shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
didn’t want to shout but I had to warn my dad somehow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked back and instead of seeing my
father, I saw nothing at all. He was nowhere to be seen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
didn’t know what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had my
bow, but I’d never shot at a tripper before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I missed, he would be on me in seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I needed to be able to shoot again
quickly, but I didn’t know how.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was shaking as I watched the tripper move closer and closer. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
I sat there in the brush, I realized I was concealed, and the tripper would
walk on by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I could get him
from behind, which would buy me some seconds if I missed of didn’t get a kill
shot on the first try. I didn’t have any options, I just hoped my dad wouldn’t
come strolling over the hill, whistling like he normally does, and get that
tripper all riled up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It was dead silent as the infected
man slowly trudged past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could
see more details, and there was a deep, black bite mark on his left arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had to guess, that was where he
originally got bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you were
bit, it was over for you in a matter of hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no cure, and there was no vaccine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least, we never heard of any.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad said it was a mercy to put these
poor creatures down, since they were living in hell, anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their minds gone, their memories gone,
their bodies altered and twisted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wondered sometimes if they attacked the living in the hopes of getting
killed, that they could end their suffering with a bullet to the head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I pushed all that out of my head as
I slowly made my way through the brush and grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years of stalking small game since the time I could walk had
made me a very stealthy hunter, and I saw the tripper as my prey now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the only way I could do what
needed to be done without falling down in fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, my dad was probably watching, waiting for me to
make a move, since his rifle would call any more trippers to the area.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It wasn’t easy crawling forward
with a loaded recurve bow in my hands, but when I reached the edge of the road,
I was glad I had it ready, since the tripper was a lot closer than I had
anticipated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood up on the
side of the road, still partially concealed by the tall grass that grew there.
Behind me was the bridge over the creek, and I could hear the water as it
tumbled past the dozens of rocks Trey and I had thrown in there over the
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sound probably had
helped mask my approach, and for that I was grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I realized that I could have crawled out of the grass
at the feet of the tripper, I started to sweat again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Pulling back my arrow, I held the
string for a second as I adjusted my aim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The arrow trembled slightly, as the energy from the limbs prepared to
launch it forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I adjusted for
the wind coming from the north, and let go.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I didn’t watch the arrow, I was
busy whipping out another and nocking it quickly, drawing the string back and
looking for a target to come running at me. I was a bit surprised to find no
target, so I eased the string forward, keeping my hand on the arrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stepped out of the grass and onto the
road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The tripper lay face down in the
middle of the road, with his head turned to the side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sticking out of the back of his head was my arrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point had gone in on the right side
of the back of his skull, and the field point had blown through the bone like
it wasn’t there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creeping forward,
I could see the arrow tip had exited through the right eye, close to the
nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The eye was turned in my
direction, almost as if it was asking me what the heck just happened.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I looked at the tripper for a long
time, not feeling anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
like a switch had turned off when I hunted him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t an infected person anymore, worthy of our fear and
pity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just something I had
to put down for my safety and my dad’s.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Just as I was about to pull the
arrow out, a voice called out of the brush.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Leave it there.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I jumped a mile and nearly fired an
arrow at the sound when my dad stepped out of the grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was holding his rifle and pointing
it at the tripper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kneeling down,
he looked over the man from head to toe, taking careful note of the two foot
pointy stick poking in and out of the man’s head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Dad looked a bit more, then scanned
the area where the tripper had come from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seeing no danger, he stood up and, grabbing a handful of pant leg,
dragged the dead man over to the side of the road.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
As he worked, Dad spoke to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’ll have to replace that arrow,
Josh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s full of virus now, and
you could get yourself infected.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I understood that thinking, as we
usually washed and burned anything that had come in contact with a
tripper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t happy having to
make another arrow, but I had done it before and would likely do it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t get out much to scrounge up
any pre-made stuff, and when we did, we were usually looking for stuff for the
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad was always wanting ammo
and canned stuff, mom was usually looking for some sort of material.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I typically grabbed whatever was shiny.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
After hauling the tripper away, Dad
went and hauled the other dead man out of the rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t as pretty as the other guy, who was sporting a new
arrow through his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This guy
was bloody and flat headed from where I had pounded his skull in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad just grabbed another handful of leg
and pulled it over the man’s head, yanking him out of the rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blood and brains eased out of the wound
as the body was dragged through the gravel.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I was watching the proceedings with
interest, as I usually did with the things my Dad did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never wasted movement, never did
anything that required him to clean up later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything was thought out, and he always had a plan.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Once the bodies were out of the
way, Dad piled a bunch of rocks on the men. It was as good as a burial as they
were ever going to get, since their families were probably long gone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
One thing bothered me and I must
have had a look on my face, since my Dad asked me the question I had in my
head.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“So why didn’t I shoot him?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dad asked me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Yeah!” I said, probably too
loudly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How come you let me waste
an arrow?” I was focusing on the fact I had to make more arrows now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Dad smiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t get me wrong , Josh, I would
have killed him had you been in any danger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I wanted to see if you could get close without being
heard or seen, and I wanted to see if you would be able to take down a full
adult with your bow.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Dad ruffled my hair a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You passed on both counts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I know I don’t have to worry about
you when I’m away..”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I was mollified, but still a little
angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to change the
subject.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Dad?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“What, Josh?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Where did he come from?” I was
serious in my question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If these
two trippers were a sign of things to come, I didn’t want to run into them when
I ran my trap line.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Dad got a real serious look on his
face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t know or sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m trying to figure that one out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he came from the north, that’s to be
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if he came from the
south or west, there could be some serious trouble ahead.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Why?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“South means there’s trouble in
Manhattan and the outliers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>West
means there’s trouble in Frankfort.” Dad said simply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The guy you took down with your bow was old, likely two to
three years infected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other
guy, the first one, he probably was more fresh, and that’s a worry to me.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“What can we do?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked, not having a clue as to where
my dad was going with this.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Well, I think the only thing to do
is to track his back as far as we can, and get a general direction as to where
he might have come from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
that, we check our maps and head for the towns and homes that way.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I thought about that one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was going to take a lot of work,
just for one tripper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Maybe he
was just a roamer.” I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Roamers were just trippers that wandered the countryside, sometimes just
laying down for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
a nasty surprise when they jumped out of the grass at you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad nearly got killed when three of them
tried to jump him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately
Dad’s horse jumped away in time and he put enough space between himself and
them to get the killing shots off.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Can’t know unless we look.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’ll start off tomorrow morning.” Dad started to head
across the street to the opening that led to our property.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I suddenly got excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can come with?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Dad nodded, smiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re too good with your bow to leave behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you might want to make a few more
arrows.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I walked lightly behind my Dad, my
steps barely touching the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I had never been invited to a search before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered if I should ask to bring Trey, but I decided
against it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d rather have Trey
jealous of me for a change.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Back at the house, Dad went into
the stable to take care of his horse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With cars not working and electricity scare, we made do with what was
available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad didn’t mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said it allowed him to slow down and
make sure he didn’t miss anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Just as I passed the door, Dad
turned to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t forget the
rabbit for the Simpsons.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Crud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d hoped he had forgotten that little nugget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“On it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be
back later.” I said, hauling the rabbit out of the tank and dumping it in a
sack.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Take your bow.” Dad said from
behind the horse. “Just in case.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I didn’t know what my dad was
thinking, and he didn’t reveal his plans all that often, so when he did
something out of the ordinary, it tended to stick out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something was at play, and I was very
curious as to what it might be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I knew dad wasn’t going to tell me, and mom sure as heck wasn’t.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Already have it.” I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a feeling this wasn’t going to be
a routine visit, and it wasn’t even supper time yet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Crud.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I stepped out of our property and
walked along the road that connected the houses in this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it odd to have a collection
of homes out in the middle of nowhere, but Dad had pointed out that when
everyone had cars and gas, people drove all over the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living away from stores and towns was
perfectly normal back then.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I wouldn’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I’ve ever known was this world,
where people walked or rode horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some people rode bicycles, and Trey’s family had this bicycle car that
his dad had picked up somewhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
As me, I was walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tied the sack to my belt so I could
have my hands free, but the down side of that was the wet rabbit got my right
pant leg wet from my knee down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I passed several houses that were
empty, the creepiest being the one at the bottom of a hill just three houses
down from mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad said when the
everything went bad, that family refused to join the other families in fighting
off the trippers and just shut themselves into their house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one has ever seen them again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trey said the dad went crazy and ate
everyone else in there, except for his little boy, who escaped by climbing into
the attic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trey said the dad
spends his time walking around the house, following the noises of the
attic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I didn’t believe him, but passing
by that small home tucked away in a wooded corner, I did wonder if some of the
rumors were true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d never seen a
light or movement in that house in the entire year my dad had finally let me
out on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I walked by, I
stopped suddenly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did a curtain
move?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked carefully from the
road, but could not see any movement in any of the windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of spite, I brought my bow up and
drew the string back, hearing the slight rasp as the arrow slid along the
shelf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I aimed at each window,
daring myself to fire, but after a time I slowly eased the bow back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shook my head, calling myself all
sorts of names for my imagination.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I walked on, looking back once
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My breath caught in my
throat, and I moved quickly away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the far right window, a small white hand was gently touching the
glass.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I turned right at the fork in the
road, and walked past several occupied homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These people had survived the worst of the trippers and were
doing well on their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had
fenced their yards with timber taken from abandoned homes, and used their
neighbors’ land for additional grazing and planting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you found yourself alone with five homes around you
empty, you could easily gain an additional acre or three with just a few
removals of fence between the yards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s how we gained the land for our horse and our gardening.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
At the end of the block, I stepped
up to a gate and peeked over the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was at the Simpsons, a decent sized ranch house on a corner lot. They
worked pretty hard to keep their land up, but while they were good farmers,
they couldn’t keep up in the meat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was sad, really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
had a decent bit of forest behind them, and a small creek as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They could have dammed that creek and
had fish for the taking, and good snares would catch the small animals coming
to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, even bigger game
might stroll down just for the asking.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I rang the little bell that hung on
a string by the gate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew
better than to just stroll up to a house unannounced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would get me killed or seriously hurt. Dad said back in
the day a lot of people were killed by trippers coming up to the house and
people stepping out to meet them, thinking they were just other folks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You learned too late that you were
about to be wiped out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Who’s out there?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small voice called out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I recognized Lucy’s voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy Simpson was a girl about my age,
and she came over to my house three days a week for schooling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was nice, but lately she had been
getting moody, and two days out the three she was mad at me or Trey for
something we said or did.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“It’s Josh, Lucy!” I called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Got a rabbit for you if you want
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got lucky on the trap line
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom said to bring it over
to see if you wanted it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Leave it there.” Lucy said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mom’s not feeling well, and I don’t
want you to get sick.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I winced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sickness was a constant problem, and I tended to think more
people died from the flu each year than tripper attacks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Will do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hope your mom feels better soon.” I said, hanging the sack
over the gate.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“Thanks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell your mom we said thanks.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucy said, closing the door.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I turned away, not answering, since
she wouldn’t have heard me anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guess I got lucky in that she didn’t hate me today.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I turned away and looking down the
road to the left, I could see several dark homes down a very dark road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trees were thick, and their canopy
cast deep shadows over most of the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It nearly looked like a cave that I was standing at the entrance
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did a bit of mental
calculation, and I realized this road would take me behind Trey’s house, which
I could cross and get to my own house quicker than backtracking the way I had
come.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
That sounded like a plan to me, so
I moved in that direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sun
was heading towards evening, and the adjusted sunlight lit up the entrance to
the ‘cave.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I seriously doubted I
would have gone if it was darker, but right now it didn’t seem so bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I walked further, I chuckled to
myself, realizing I was barely a quarter mile from my house, and I could have
saved myself a walk if I had only realized this route earlier.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I passed a house on the left, and
it looked like it had been abandoned a long time ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The drapes were falling down in one window, and an upper
window was broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The front door
looked like it was slightly open, but I wasn’t planning on going in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The house was dead, and likely everyone
who had ever lived there was dead, too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
On my right was another house, and
it looked in better shape, although I doubted anyone lived there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It aroused my curiosity, because it’s
backyard was directly across from the backyard of the little house in the
valley.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“You’re a fool, go home.” I told
myself as I walked up the driveway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Common sense didn’t win the argument, and I told myself I was just
looking for information to give my dad. I looped my bow over my shoulder, and
put my arrow back in it’s quiver.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I walked up the driveway, and a
squirrel chattered at me from the oak tree in the front yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grass was hugely overgrown, and was
nearly as tall as myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
house was dark and silent, and I began to think I was the only visitor this
place had had in years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
back yard, the growth was about the same, although the rose bushes were
huge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small swing set stood
lonely in the corner of the lot, and a plastic turtle graced the yard next to
the cracked and weathered porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I looked back at the house, and it
was as dark in the back as it was in the front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The house was simple, but nice, and the trees around the lot
meant that this place must have been nice and cool in the summer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The back yard was fenced in, and I
was grateful for the chance to get close to the creepy house without being
observed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t have any real
reason to be doing what I was, and if I thought about it long enough, I might
come up with an explanation which might have found an excuse even for me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
At the edge of the yard, I looked
at the fence for a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
eight feet tall, and that was three feet higher than I was currently occupying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmm.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
A quick glance around the yard
didn’t give me any inspiration, so I was about to leave when I noticed the
swing set was just a foot taller than fence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worked for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I climbed the play area quickly, and found myself in a small clubhouse
with the roof high above me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
tried to see what was in the house, but I couldn’t get a good angle on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worked my way to the outside of the
little clubhouse, and climbed slowly to the top of the awning supports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I straddled the top beam of the clubhouse,
and looked out over the yard to the house beyond.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
It was as every bit as dark as the
front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small stream worked its
way through the properties in this area, and I could see it was deep enough to
dam if they wanted a supply of water and fish right outside of their door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A big bay window allowed me to peek in
the interior of the house and look around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the worst, I could see of there was anyone living there
at all that my Dad could visit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
From my perch I could see very
little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was dark and gloomy,
and there didn’t seem to be anyone around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The house was very neat, and there didn’t seem to be a speck
of dirt anywhere.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
That last thought struck me as
odd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shouldn’t there be some
dust?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as I pondered that a
face appeared in the far window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was so startled I nearly fell off the swing set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it was, I managed to nock an arrow and aim a shaft at the
face staring out at me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
As quickly as It had appeared, it
was gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered for a minute
while I composed myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
breathing hard, wondering if I had seen a ghost. Just for the heck of it, I
aimed the arrow at the house and let go, not caring where it hit. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lowered the bow and as I climbed out
of the playset I heard a bang as the arrowI shot collided with something
sturdy. I had a lot to tell Trey, and the sooner the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I ran back to the street and down
to the cul-de-sac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
homes was occupied, and I could see people moving about as the day was coming
to a close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worked my way over
to the back of the furthest house, guessing Trey’s would be right on the
line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I checked the area, and didn’t see
any problems, so I slipped down the bank of the creek and worked my way slowly
across the creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t mind
getting wet, I knew I was going to be home soon and would be able to dry off
quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad might wonder what
took me so long, but he’d forget about it as soon as I told him the valley
house was occupied.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
On the other side of the creek I
had to be wary of Trey’s nets and trap lines, and it took me a good ten minutes
just to clear his yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crossing
the road, I went through the gate of my own property, and stopped cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the middle of the yard, sticking out
of the ground, was my arrow, the one I had shot at the valley house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was panicky, because I didn’t want my
dad to find out and I really didn’t want my mom to find out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
I raced to the garage and put away
my gear, dripping water all over the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Molly, dad’s mare, looked at me with big brown reproachful
eyes as I stumbled and dropped things all over the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I threw an extra handful of grass in
her bin to keep her quiet, then I went back out to the yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The arrow was still there, sticking
accusingly in the lawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ran over
to it and removed it, pulling up a good chunk of dirt. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The broad head dripped soil, and as I
looked it over I was struck by another surprise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This
wasn’t my arrow.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-10434671900850705432014-01-28T09:29:00.000-08:002014-01-28T09:29:00.646-08:00Change in plans.I must be having some strange dreams or whatever. <br />
I have decided that my Jester series will be put on hold for a bit because there are some gnawing things at me and I need to address them.<br />
<br />
Namely:<br />
White Flag of the Dead : The Zombie Wars (Book 1)<br />
Generation Dead 3: Gates of the Unknown<br />
(If I get it worked in- Born in the Apocalypse)<br />
<br />
With luck and whole boat load of self-imposed deadlines, The first book should be completed by the end of March, sooner if I can get February settled. After that I should see where I am.<br />
<br />
Have fun! The crew should be back here in a bit for updates.<br />
<br />
JTJTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-88652941152106743392014-01-07T10:15:00.000-08:002014-01-07T10:15:11.199-08:00OpportunitySorry I haven't been here in a while, I have been dealing with a few other deadlines. However, I wanted to extend an opportunity to anyone interested. I have had a few people send me books to sign, and I am more than willing to do so, but every one has been through initial email contact.<br />
Soooo....<br />
Anyone who wants to send a book to me to sign ( please include return postage, as I can barely afford stamps right now) can send the book to:<br />
Joseph Talluto<br />
9654 West 131st Street #352<br />
Palos Park, IL, 60464JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-60493610877227604392013-12-06T17:50:00.000-08:002013-12-06T17:50:01.885-08:00Change in plansOkay. I thought I knew what it was doing. I had three books outlined, places mapped, and a good head of steam. Just scrapped the entire thing because I wanted to try something different and suddenly the story FLOWED.<br />
Guess I need to see where this road takes me. Ignore previous post cause that won't be happening.JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-13660916547887775832013-11-26T20:30:00.001-08:002013-11-26T20:30:03.142-08:00Here we go.Well, the time has come to look at new things. I have been working on the foundation for a new series, and I think I have struck a note which has started the creative process once again. The story will involve a agent of espionage, an intentional group bent on killing the world, and a little virus that does some very interesting things to people. <br />
I was trying to figure how to end the series, but in a flash it came to me. And I'll make you read it to figure it out. True fans of WFOTD will be mildly blown away, but when I worked this one out, I had a hard time suppressing my evil chuckles.<br />
<br />
I'll update soon, <br />
<br />
I also have an unfinished project I'll post here if anyone is interested.<br />
<br />
And yes, the crew of WFOTD will return. I have to fill in the lost years, don't I?JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-43337032471285232882013-10-31T05:41:00.000-07:002013-10-31T05:41:21.333-07:00Generation Dead 2: What You FearNow Available!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Generation-Dead-Book-What-ebook/dp/B00GBQJUU8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1383212021&sr=1-1&keywords=generation+dead+book+2" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">http://www.amazon.com/<wbr></wbr>Generation-Dead-Book-What-<wbr></wbr>ebook/dp/B00GBQJUU8/ref=sr_1_<wbr></wbr>1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=<wbr></wbr>1383212021&sr=1-1&keywords=<wbr></wbr>generation+dead+book+2</a>JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-45658480057512453702013-10-21T10:25:00.004-07:002013-10-21T10:25:40.951-07:00Generation Dead 2 Update!<b>Done.</b> Assembling and Editing. Should be off to the publisher by Wednesday. Thanks for the patience.JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-61741964743622602082013-10-09T16:48:00.001-07:002013-10-09T16:48:17.553-07:00ApologiesThis last part of the book has been kicking my butt. Thought I was done two weeks ago, but the story took a twist and now I'm a chapter further than I expected. The good news is there is more to the book. The better news is I have a better writing schedule now.<br />
Bad news is my wife's grandfather passed away last week, so things took another turn. This has to be worst year ever. I will probably post a teaser chapter just as a way of apology.JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-54126518951977168372013-08-21T16:18:00.002-07:002013-08-21T16:18:46.900-07:00Back on TrackShould have Generation Dead Volume 2 finished in about a week. Working on the last chapters now.JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-80795661710633991862013-07-06T13:59:00.001-07:002013-07-06T13:59:30.297-07:00Rest in PeaceFor those of you who have been patiently waiting for the next installment of the WFOTD series, I want to apologize for being so far behind.<br />
In November, my mother completed her chemo treatments for breast cancer, and we thought all would be well. In February of this year, we discovered she had stage 4 lung and liver cancer. The breast cancer had metastasized and was very aggressive. In March, it was discovered that the cancer had travelled to her brain and spinal chord.<br />
It was a rapid downhill spiral from there.<br />
This morning, my mother passed away with my father by her side. I am grateful for the time I had with her and the time she had with my sons. She was my biggest fan, a friend, and confidant. She will be missed every day.JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-84733903886802748332013-06-21T09:45:00.001-07:002013-06-21T09:45:24.800-07:00LinkHey all.<br />
Sorry if I haven't posted in a while, there's been some serious family difficulties going on. I'm still working on Gen Dead 2, making decent progress. I'm about 60% there, so bear with me.<br />
Got a link to a bio on a new (to me) site, so check it out and comment as needed.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.zombiepop.net/joe-talluto-white-flag-of-the-dead-series/">http://www.zombiepop.net/joe-talluto-white-flag-of-the-dead-series/</a><br />
<br />
Thanks !<br />
<br />
JTJTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-72678062251498163092013-05-20T07:21:00.002-07:002013-05-20T07:21:50.945-07:00Tommy's TipsI've talked about what to take, what's useful and what's not. I've talked about things that you should have in your pack, and things you shouldn't. One thing I've not talked about it what to have on your person at all times when moving in zombie territory. This is not in your pack, it's attached to you.<br />
A knife of at least four to six inches. <br />
A compass.<br />
Matches (Wooden ones are very good, keep them in an old pill bottle to keep them dry)<br />
A large bandana. Very useful for a lot of things.<br />
Your secondary firearm plus ammo. A rifle should be your primary<br />
Some form of dry food<br />
String or paracord, about twenty feet<br />
One of those small ponchos. Being wet sucks.<br />
<br />
This stuff should be distributed evenly throughout your clothes, and you should practice getting things in and out until it is reflexive that you know where things are. You should not pull out a granola bar when you wanted your spare magazine for your gun. Your gun won't work. Ask Duncan.<br />
<br />
TCJTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366861255611684112.post-36367246091359283702013-04-21T10:49:00.000-07:002013-04-21T10:49:08.705-07:00Good News!Story went in a different direction than I intended, but I am much happier with it now. Working hard to get Gen Dead 2 finished before June. I will probably finish before then, since I am really anxious to get to the last fight scene.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned!JTalluto-Author-White Flag of the Deadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11278568049272043903noreply@blogger.com5