by Todd Sprague
John stood, looking out over the muddy road, his arm around Sara. Princess sat at her side, her constant shadow for the last couple of months.
“I’ve stopped the trade convoys. The last one came in this morning. The Zeds are moving again with the spring thaw. We’ll start the convoys up again when it snows.”
“Even with the new armor?” Sara asked.
“We don’t have enough of it yet to equip all of our escorts, but Douglas thinks he’s located another source of similar plastic. We’ll make a run for it in a few days.”
“We?” Sara asked, arching her eyebrows.
John looked down at Sara, smiling as he took in her beautifully pregnant belly that seemed to grow more every day.
“I mean they. Not me. I’m staying right here,” he said as his hand moved down to gently rub her protruding midsection. “For now.”
She looked back up at him and winked. “Damn straight.”
Their attention was caught by movement from down the road. A bright red pickup truck pulled into sight. It slewed around a muddy corner and came closer into view. John pulled a small pair of binoculars from a vest pocket and brought them to his eyes.
Moments later he whooped in joy. “I don’t believe it!” he yelled.
“What?” Sara asked. Princess started yapping excitedly at their feet.
“It’s Jesse! Jesse made it! And he’s not alone!”
John hugged Sara close as the big red pickup truck pulled into the compound.
From the Journal of John Mason
January, Zed Year Two
Things we know about Zeds:
They are tough. You have to shoot them in the head or burn them to really be sure.
They gather in packs. I’m not sure why. Some of the older Zeds seem to act as pack leaders. I’ve heard one speak a few words.
Most of the population of the world is now Zed, or has been killed by Zeds. I’m just guessing, but I would say we lost 90-95% of the population to them. Most of that in the first week.
We don’t know where they come from. I have my suspicions, however...
There is no cure. There is no treatment. There is only final death.
Whatever it is that causes one to become a Zed seems to be transmitted through bites. Whether it is the saliva or something else in the bite that does this, I have no idea.
Dogs and other animals seem to be immune. I’ve never seen a Zed cow wandering around out there.
They don’t seem to like the sound of car horns. It won’t kill them, but it might buy you a few seconds.
The recently dead can move really fast. They run and jump much like a living person. The longer they have been dead, the slower they seem to get.
Zeds don’t like the cold. Vermont winters are hard on them. Some hibernate. Not all, though. This could be key to our survival.
They can be beaten. We can survive this new Zed order.
About the Author
Born and raised in Brattleboro, Vermont, Todd Sprague is a private investigator and former police officer. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife Patti, their Australian Shepherd Max, and a little gray and white cat named Noel.
He is currently working on the next book in the New Zed Order series, as well as other creative projects.
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