Dry Rot: A Zombie Novel by H.E. Goodhue Read Free Book Online Page A

skin.”
    “That’s good, that’s very good, Lucas,” the voice said. “That’s how the virus spreads.”
    “He’s talking about zombies,” Jared said. “See I told you Ian was a fucking zombie.”
    “Jared!” Danni snapped.
    I shrugged. The kid sounded pretty spot on.
    “Are you saying people are coming back as zombies?” I asked into the radio. “That seems a little crazy.”
    “You must have seen one or two by now, Lucas,” the voice said. “People have been calling them ‘husks’ because I guess that’s easier to wrap your head around. But, call them whatever you want, you’re dealing with zombies.”
    “So how are you in Buffalo?” I asked. “You said the East Coast was gone. Is that part of New York safe?”
    “New York?” the voice said. I heard a garbbled laugh under the static. “New York is a wasteland. I’m in Buffalo, South Dakota. There’s a group of us that have joined up. The ash clouds haven’t gotten this far. We’re hoping that the Rocky Mountains will keep it on the West Coast and that everything in the East won’t make it this far. Look, Lucas, I have no idea how you’re still alive, but you need to get as far away from the East Coast as fast as possible. Maybe try and head this way. You’re obviously a resourceful man. The world is going to need people like you.”
    Whoever was on the other end of this radio spoke like it was his job. The words came too easy. In prison, I learned not to trust someone who always knew the right thing to say. There were only two types of people that spoke with that level of confidence – con men and politicians. Not that there was much of a difference between the two. I hated them both.
    “We should go,” Danni said. She stood up and paced the length of the bunker.
    “Leave?” I asked. “We don’t know who is on the other end of this transmission. Could be a bunch of psychos, or worse, liars. They might be worse off than we are.”
    Danni looked upset, but didn’t argue.
    I turned back to the radio. “How do we know we can trust you?”
“Lucas, I know you have no reason to trust or believe what I’m telling you, but there’s going to be more husks with each day that passes,” the voice said. “Come here or don’t, it’s your call, but you need to get away from the East Coast.”
    “I don’t even know your name,” I said. “Why am I going to suddenly pack up and leave?”
    “My name is Senator James Heathway. I think I’m all that’s left of the US Government,” Heathway paused. “You need to leave soon, Lucas. I hope you make the right choice.”
    “Senator Heathway?” Jared asked. “I did a report about him for my social studies class, some kind of current events thing about Second Amendment rights or something like that. I remember that he was from South Dakota. Maybe it really is him?”
    “Yeah,” I said. “Maybe it is, but that doesn’t mean much.”
    “Doesn’t mean much?” Danni asked. “He said he’s what’s left of the government. If we have any chance of surviving this, I’d say it’s in South Dakota. I vote we leave.”
    “Me too,” Jared said.
    I hesitated. “I’m not making any snap decisions just because someone who may or may not be a US Senator told me to. Besides, I’m not going anywhere until I see my family.”
    “Your family?” Danni asked. I could see that she was conflicted. She would never tell me to give up on seeing my family, but she couldn’t pass up the only chance that she might have to save hers.
    “Okay,” I sighed. “But you can’t leave yet.”
    “Don’t you mean we ?” Jared asked.
    “No,” I said. “Look, I’ll give you supplies, guns, and a map. I’ll even help you find a better car than that pile of crap I saw in your driveway, but I’m not going with you. I’m sorry, but I just can’t.”
    “Yes, you can,” Danni said. She knelt down and looked into my eyes. “You don’t even know where they are. Lucas, you can’t pass up your only