A Rational Zombie

Chapter 8

Troublesome. Annoying. The others cant accomplish anything. I threw a bit of brain at the prey on top, but the others didnt react. Still charging forward into the trap. So dumb. Cant the others climb? No, I already knew from before. They couldnt climb a small metal hunk; they cant climb this big metal hunk. Unless I help? But Im too weak, the others too heavy. I cant lift them up there. Seven others have died already. The open invitation created by the prey to kill us. Its similar to before, back in the store. The prey bundled up in the aisle. Only a few others could attack at a time. I broke it with a brick, but I cant hit the prey inside. The entrance is too narrow, blocking the prey. No, its not blocking the prey. The prey are taking cover. Its different. Similar, but different. At this rate, all the others will die. There are a lot of them but not enough. Then Ill call more.

James! The hells that sound?

The prey communicate through speech. Its not fair.

One of the infected fucks is banging two metal rods together! Shit, what the hell? I think its trying to call more here!

Infected fuck. Thats what the prey call others. But an infection. Isnt that a disease? I cant remember. Maybe the others are diseased. No. I shouldnt assume based on faulty memories. It doesnt matter either. What matters is hunting these prey. Theres glass, but its high up. Unpressable. Is there another way in? Maybe not. The prey are smart. Their strategy only works if theres one entrance. Except the prey on top. What about it? How does it get back inside? Does it wait until all the others are dead? Before that, how did it get up there? It mustve climbed. If I can climb, prey can climb. Is it up to me? Do I have to climb up there to kill it? What if it fights back? I could die. Would I? I have weapons too. Should I try? Maybe. But first, I have to test something.

It stopped! But theres a shit-ton more coming this way. We might want to drive out of here, guys. Eh? Wait. Whered it go?

Like I thought. Like us, prey cant see in the dark. The prey behind the glass is holding a light. And the prey up top spoke after its light caught me. The light helps them see. If the light isnt on me, the prey cant see me. But I can see it; its holding the light. If I can avoid the light, I can sneak up from behind. Crawling helps avoid the light. It keeps me close to the ground. The light is shining behind me, at the trees, towards the new others that heard the banging. Theres clanking sounds too, coming from everywhere. Others mustve heard the shouting, walking into the floating cans.

For now, I cant get inside. If I succeed in hunting the prey up top, its enough. Its brains should last me for a while. But if I fail, I could die. Or the prey escapes and I live. If it escapes, I can study it, see how it gets inside the metal hunk. Three outcomes. Two outcomes are good. One outcome is bad. Two is greater than one; Ill do it. Ill go around, behind the prey. It shines its light forward, so it cant see behind. Going around the metal hunk is easy. But climbing is tricky, almost impossible. Its dark, hard to see, but this ledge, above it is glass. The light from the prey shines through. I have to be quick. The prey inside may notice, but the others are distracting them. They arent useful, but theyre a little useful. Still dumb.

Climbing with rods is tricky. I hit the side of the metal hunk. Maybe thats why the light is pointed at me. But Im up, on top with the prey. It has a weapon, a long stick. Its time to see if prey are similar to others. Ill hit its head.

Fuck! Fucking fuck!

It blocked with its stick. What was that? It pushed me away. With its foot. I almost fell off. Its running at me. What do I do? Protect my head. It blocked my strike by slanting its stick. I can do the same. Yes, it was easy. And now its foot is coming again to push me off. The prey is bigger. I cant push against it and win. Then what do I do? Grab it. Its foot hit my stomach, but I grabbed its leg. Now we both fall off.

Ah! Shit, shit, shit! Help!

I landed on an other. The fall wasnt hard. The force wasnt enough to break my bones. I succeeded. I didnt hunt the prey, but I did enough. The others can get it now.

James!? What happened?

The prey didnt answer its companions. Instead, it screamed. Two others sank their teeth into it. The prey dropped its light and stick. I climbed to my feet. Then I swung my rod at its head. It was still screaming. I swung again, and again, and again. It stopped. Good. I didnt break apart its skull, but it still stopped. Odd. Is it dead? No. Its still trembling, but the others are eating it.

What do we do!?

Not all prey sound the same. Some sound deeper. Some higher. Not like the othersall of them groan the same way.

We drive. Jen, start the engine.

But James!

Hes gone. Tragic, really, but that could be us next. James would want us to live on after his sacrifice.

Like hell he would! I know I wouldnt.

Shut up and keep swinging, or your opinion is going to matter as much as James in a second.

Fucking brat, who do you think youre ordering around?

The prey dont get along? I see. Interesting. If everyone thinks, who do they listen to? The others follow me because theyre dumb. I guide them with sound and smell. They dont complain. But I wouldnt follow someone else. Is thinking a weakness? Maybe in groups. If I meet a smart other, Ill kill it. Only I can think. The others will follow me.

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