Enter the Zombie

by David Lubar

“You found a cure.” He didn’t say it like it was a question.

  “Yeah. I’m alive again. I’m sorry I didn’t help bring down RABID.”

  “So am I.”

  I didn’t say anything.

  “There’ll be other opportunities,” Mr. Murphy said. “I’ll bring down RABID someday.”

  “Are you angry with me?”

  “Anger would be pointless. I’m sorry we failed. But I can see how this is good for you. Selfish, but good.” He turned and started walking back the way we came.

  “Hey, maybe one of the other kids you’ve found can finish the job.” I caught up with him. “What about that?”

  He stopped and turned toward me, but didn’t say anything. His expression was sort of sad.

  Wow. I’d never even thought of it—I guess because I’d never really been able to think of myself as special. “I’m the only one?…”

  Mr. Murphy nodded. “So far…”

  “All those years. That whole organization. I’m the first useful misadventure BUM ever found?”

  “Yes. You were it. Come on—it’s time to go home.”

  I realized I’d never see him again. If I went to the Museum of Tile and Grout, the lobby would probably be empty again, like it was the time Mr. Murphy had been kidnapped. There’d be no more training sessions. No more spy missions. That would leave an empty spot in my life.

  We reached the corner down the street from my house. Mr. Murphy stopped there.

  “So, I guess this is it,” I said. As sarcastic as he could be, and as much as he made fun of me, I knew I’d miss him. He’d taught me so much. I’d miss being a spy. I liked going after the bad guys and making the world a better place. “It was nice knowing you. Really.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  I didn’t see why he needed me to spell it out. I guess he just wanted to torture me one last time. “I’m no use to BUM anymore. I lost my useful misadventure when I got cured.”

  “True, you’re no use to BUM anymore. But I’m also the head of BETTY.”

  “BETTY?”

  “The Bureau to Exploit Truly Talented Youngsters,” he said. “Think of all that you’ve learned. And all that you’ve been able to do. Sure, much of it depended on your zombie skills, but you have a quick mind and a brave heart. Don’t forget, you’ve been trained by a master. BETTY can use you.”

  “Really?” A shiver of excitement rippled from my spine to my gut.

  “Really.” He patted my shoulder. “Besides, the success of the bone machine has given us lots of ideas for future ways to modify the human body.”

  “Forget it. I’m not getting anything else changed.” I backed away from him. I didn’t like the look of enthusiasm in his eyes.

  “Think about it, lad. Wouldn’t you love superstrong muscles that let you leap over buildings?”

  “Nope. The higher you leap, the farther you fall.”

  “Night-vision? You could see in total darkness.”

  “Forget it. I like being in the dark.”

  “Lightning-fast reflexes?”

  “Not interested. I might hurt somebody.”

  “Of course you’re interested. Every kid your age dreams about being a superhero. We can talk about it later. We’ll be in touch. Keep an eye out for my next message. BETTY has even better technology than BUM.”

  He turned and walked away.

  “Don’t burn my house down,” I called after him.

  “Don’t be so tedious,” he said. “We’ve burned down very few houses. But that reminds me—you owe us $87,439.23 for jet fuel. We’ll talk about that later.”

  I guess I shouldn’t be surprised he knew about the jet. But I was pretty sure he was kidding about the money. I watched him walk off. Then I climbed back through my bedroom window. I got in bed and pulled up the covers. I was so tired, I figured I’d sleep like a dead person. No, wait. Just the opposite.

  For the first time in months, I’d get to sleep like a living person. A real live, normal flesh-and-blood kid. With maybe a couple of superpowers. Not a lot. Just one or two. Or three. Definitely not more than four. Or five.

  I closed my eyes and slept.

  Later

  We went to Washington for the final competition, even though we knew we’d have a tough time. Abigail even wore a Team Mookie T-shirt this time. But she had her mom alter it so it fit better. The trip was a lot of fun, and the Brainy Brawny organizers took us on a tour of the White House. Mookie and I had time to go to the Spy Museum, which was totally cool. We won the academic part, of course, though it wasn’t so easy this time. Abigail isn’t the only supersmart kid out there. She seemed happy to find other little Einsteins to keep in touch with.

  As for the rest of the contest, let’s just say we didn’t dazzle the audience. But we took third place, and that’s pretty nice. They gave us a trophy for our school.

  Now that I was alive, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep jogging with Dad. But Dr. Scrivello put me on a new asthma medicine, and I can still jog as long as I don’t overdo it. I think, if I keep working on my endurance, I might even be able to try out for the cross-country team when I get to middle school.

  I’m still doing a bit of spy training. Twice a week, I go to BETTY, which is in the same building as BUM, after school. Mr. Murphy promised he’d have missions for me someday, but he added that there’d be nothing that could get me killed. He laughed for about five minutes after he said that. So did I. I can’t help it—I like him.

  Abigail has made it cool to be smart. Some of the kids liked her mad-scientist performance—especially the kids who watch a lot of science fiction movies. She’s probably the most popular of the three of us. That’s fine with me. She’s really had the hardest time in life. She deserves a break.

  After seeing me pinned to a wall by Eddy and Rodney, most of the kids in school realized I wasn’t dangerous or scary. Even Ferdinand isn’t scared of me. At least, not more than he’s scared of anything else.

  Eddy’s parents sent him off to a private school, which means Adam is back to being the second smartest kid at Belgosi. Rodney tried to get tough with me after he came back, but I just stared him down. He’s left me alone since then.

  Mookie is still Mookie. He’s the best friend a guy could ask for. Especially a guy who owns a gas mask.

  I’m not a zombie anymore. I eat, I breathe, I feel pain. I feel pleasure, too. What can I say? Being half-dead wasn’t all bad. But being alive is all good.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Many people helped make this series possible. The folks at Tor Books are at the top of the list. Tom Doherty built a company that builds authors. Kathleen Doherty suggested zombies as a topic way before the rest of the world caught zombie fever. Susan Chang edited multiple versions of each book and somehow remained cheerful under a grueling schedule. Dot Lin and many others helped promote and publicize the book. Without Tor, I’d be dead meat.

  Adam McCauley is a genius. His cover art is amazing. My wife, Joelle, helped in countless ways. Were it not for her, I’d be a zombie right now. My daughter, Alison, was always eager to brainstorm. Mark Myers gave me some great suggestions. Dr. Ronald Julia was a great help when I had medical questions. Dave Siegfried of Spring Garden Elementary School was my go-to guy when I needed to check out anything involving elementary schools.

  If the title of this fifth book seems familiar, it was inspired by Enter the Dragon. My thanks to Bruce Lee for all he gave to both the movie and the martial arts world. While I’m thanking those I’ve never met, let me add Tab Benoit, whose CD Fever for the Bayou played almost constantly during the time I wrote this series. I should also thank all the legends of horror movies and fiction and all the people connected with zombies or horror in literature, from Ambrose Bierce to Zora Neale Hurston. I had a lot of fun playing with their names in these books. I hope horror fans had a lot of fun hunting out the references.

  I owe big thanks to the reviewers, both in magazines and on the Web, who took the time to sp
read the word, and to the teachers and librarians who know that a book can be both gross and good. It’s nice when adults get what I’m doing. I think I need to single out (triple out?) Teri Lesesne, Paul Goat Allen, and Damon Caporaso, among those who appreciated the book on more than one level.

  It’s impossible for me to name everyone who should be thanked, but equally impossible not to name at least some of them. Special thanks have to go to Rick Kleffel, who gave me my first chance ever to be on NPR, and to the folks at Children’s Book World in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and Blue Marble Books in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, who made a special effort to tell their fellow booksellers about this series.

  Lastly, I have to thank all my young readers for coming along for the ride. You kids totally rock. And I must say, if you stuck with Nathan through all five books, you have pretty strong stomachs. And pretty cool minds. Thanks.

  READER’S GUIDE

  ABOUT THIS GUIDE: The information, activities, and discussion questions that follow are intended to enhance your reading of Enter the Zombie. Please feel free to adapt these materials to suit your needs and interests.

  WRITING AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

  I. Brainy Brawny

  A. Nathan’s mind is sharp as ever, though his body is falling apart. In the character of Nathan, write a journal entry describing your feelings about this terrible situation. Or, in the character of Abigail, write a letter to Dr. Cushing describing Nathan’s condition and explaining how urgent it is that they find a cure.

  B. The French philosopher and scientist René Descartes (1596–1650) is famous for the statement “Cogito ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am; or I am thinking, therefore I exist). In the character of Nathan, Abigail, or Mookie, explain what this statement means to you. This can be done as a role-play with friends or classmates, or as a written journal entry.

  C. Hold a Brainy Brawny competition in your school or community. With friends or classmates, create a list of competition events. Invite teachers or family members to prepare quiz questions and to invent physical fitness or creativity challenges. Nominate a panel of judges. Create a trophy to award to the winning team.

  D. In the character of a RABID spy, record a video message reporting to Baron von Lyssa about Nathan’s amazing performance at the Brainy Brawny competition and recommending that he be recruited into your organization. Share your video with friends or classmates.

  II. Rotting and Rolling

  A. Go to the library or online to find a dictionary definition for the word “rot.” Make a list of synonyms for “rot.” Incorporate at least five words from your list into a poem or lyrics for a song entitled “I Don’t Want to Rot.”

  B. In the character of Rodney the bully, make a list of observations that lead you to suspect Nathan isn’t human. Include these observations in a letter to Mr. Lomax, encouraging him to report Nathan to the principal—or worse (use your imagination)!

  C. Go to the library or online to find the meaning of the word “Lyssa.” (Hint: It comes from Greek mythology.) Create a short oral report explaining why you think the author chose this name for the head of his criminal spy syndicate. Present your report to friends or classmates.

  D. At the end of the story, Nathan removes his own head to save his life. Draw a series of cartoon panels depicting this climactic scene from the viewpoint of Nathan’s head or from the perspective of Mookie bowling with this terrifying object.

  III. BUM and BETTY

  A. You are a government agent assigned to keep the secret file on Mr. Murphy and his organizations BUM and BETTY. Write up a report describing his childhood, education, spy experiences, and how he came to form his agencies.

  B. Design a logo or identification card for BUM or BETTY agents to carry. If desired, create a T-shirt, carrying case, or other clothing or gear sporting this logo.

  C. Create an application form for kids interested in joining BUM or BETTY. Include a checklist of basic requirements, a list of yes-no questions, and several essay prompts. Make copies of the application for friends or classmates to complete.

  D. You’ve been hired to write the first novel in the next Nathan Abercrombie series, Nathan Abercrombie—Recovering Zombie, in which Nathan goes on a mission for BETTY. Write a short essay or outline describing this story. Be sure to note whether RABID will still be the enemy and what roles Mookie, Abigail, Rodney, and Mr. Murphy will play. Think of a title for your book and, if desired, draw a cover illustration.

  QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

  1. In chapter 1, Nathan learns about the Brainy Brawny competition, which Mr. Murphy believes is a recruiting front for RABID. Why does this require Mookie and Abigail to become involved? Who are the members of the other Belgosi team enrolled in the competition? What are Nathan and his friends expected to do?

  2. Describe some of the ways BUM contacts Nathan and some of the disguises Mr. Murphy wears in the course of the story. Compare this to the way Baron von Lyssa protects his identity and the way RABID contacts Nathan near the novel’s end. How does the author use these differences to characterize the two types of spy agencies?

  3. In this series, Nathan must deal with or use his zombie status to deal with problems both at school and in the spy world. Compare and contrast these problems in Enter the Zombie or other Nathan Abercrombie books you have read. Do you think Nathan learns things from situations with bullies, gym class, and other school issues that help him in the spy world? Is the opposite also true? Share some examples from the novels to support your answer.

  4. What partial cure for his zombie status does Nathan receive from Dr. Cushing early in the story? How does this help him? What problems of being a zombie are not addressed by the cure? What is happening to Nathan that makes it clear that there isn’t much time left to find a complete cure?

  5. What special garment does Mookie create for his Brainy Brawny competition team? In what other ways does Mookie show his amazing enthusiasm for his friends, the competition, or other experiences he has in the novel? Do you think Mookie is an optimist or just a little bit nuts? Do you ever wish you could go through life as happily as Mookie? Why or why not?

  6. Describe the Saturday night mission Nathan carries out for BUM in chapters 9 and 10. What zombie qualities are especially useful during this adventure? What does Nathan learn about his destructive powers that is critical to getting the key ingredient for his cure at the end of the story? What does Nathan learn about BUM’s access to expensive government help that is also important near the end of the novel?

  7. What accidental comment does Mookie make that helps Abigail understand the final component needed for Nathan’s zombie cure? What do Nathan and Abigail come to realize about limits of the help Mr. Murphy and Dr. Cushing will provide? Explain what Mr. Murphy meant when he told Nathan that “We might strive for the good of the free world, but we’re not a charity” (page 123).

  8. Ultimately, Nathan must make a choice between saving his own life and, possibly, saving the world from RABID. Do you agree with the choice Nathan makes? Why or why not? Would you have made the same choice had you been in Nathan’s predicament?

  9. At the close of the novel, what do you think Nathan would list as the five best things about being human again? What might he miss about being a zombie? What do you think is the best, most amazing, scariest, or most inspiring thing about being human?

  10. In chapter 20, what does Mr. Murphy reveal to Nathan about the other members of BUM? Are you surprised by this fact?

  11. After all of the misadventures Nathan has had with BUM, why do you think he chooses to join BETTY? What special qualities or talents will he bring to BETTY? Had you been in Nathan’s situation, would you have agreed to join Mr. Murphy and work with BETTY? Why or why not?

  12. What has being a zombie taught Nathan about friendship? What has he learned about dealing with bullies? What has he learned about being popular and unpopular? Do you think his experiences as a zombie spy have made Nathan into a better student, son, and human being? Explain yo
ur answer.

  Starscape Books by David Lubar

  NOVELS

  Flip

  Hidden Talents

  True Talents

  SERIES

  My Rotten Life: Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie, Book One

  Dead Guy Spy: Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie, Book Two

  Goop Soup: Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie, Book Three

  The Big Stink: Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie, Book Four

  STORY COLLECTIONS

  The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies

  and Other Warped and Creepy Tales

  The Curse of the Campfire Weenies

  and Other Warped and Creepy Tales

  In the Land of the Lawn Weenies

  and Other Warped and Creepy Tales

  Invasion of the Road Weenies

  and Other Warped and Creepy Tales

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  ENTER THE ZOMBIE

  Copyright © 2010 by David Lubar

  Reader’s Guide copyright © 2010 by Tor Books

  All rights reserved.

  A Starscape eBook

  Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

  175 Fifth Avenue

  New York, NY 10010

  www.tor-forge.com

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Lubar, David.

  Enter the zombie / David Lubar. — 1st ed.

  p. cm.

  “A Tor book”—Verso t.p.

  Summary: When the head of the Bureau of Useful Misadventures (or BUM) discovers that an evil organization is using the Student Mind and Body competition to recruit agents, he asks Nathan to enter the competition, but things go terribly wrong when Nathan’s nemesis starts to notice some odd things about him, and Nathan fears his zombie identity will be exposed.

  ISBN 978-0-7653-2672-0 (trade paperback.)

  ISBN 978-0-7653-2344-6 (hardcover)