The Grave: A Zombie Novel by Russ Watts Read Free Book Online Page A

homes and houses, the shops and restaurants , the cottages and power plants of this once proud nation, well they are all deserted now. The Deathless have no care or consideration for shelter. They have no need for sleep or rest. The land is but a shell, a pit to bury our dead and our secrets. Our children will be ashamed when they learn of what we have done to the world. Should we teach them everything? What, I wonder, should I tell my beautiful only child, my daughter who is barely six weeks old? We find ourselves at a crossroads. Our enemies are everywhere, terrorists are lurking in every town, and we destroy some of the most incredible places on Earth. You reap what you sow and humankind has planted the permanent seeds of death. That is the legacy of The Grave.’
    Kelly let the magazine fall to her lap and closed her eyes as a shiver ran over her. She couldn’t read anymore. Her father had been a brilliant scholar and his photo still hung in the Great Hall at the museum, alongside all the other directors. Hers would be up there one day too. How had he coped? With what the world must have gone through, he had still gone ahead and raised a family. Kelly had not married, not found anyone special, or had a serious relationship. She had just read an article about how the world almost ended, and all she could think about was her father. Was she so selfish, so intemperate and self-absorbed? Was that why she was still alone?
    Somebody brushed past Kelly on their way to the bathroom and the jolt roused Kelly. She slid the magazine into the pocket in front of her and dimmed the light. She needed to sleep. It had been a busy few months and it had all built to a head last night. She needed rest for the expedition. When they arrived, they would be straight into work and she had to look after everyone. It was going to be a hectic few weeks.
    She closed her eyes and remembered the gala last night. The First Lady, Sophie, had proven to be a very warm person and enjoyable company. Her minders had kept in the background apart from the brief altercation with Will and Suzy. Kelly smiled. She had noticed they had both taken off before the end of the evening and wondered if they had spent much time last night resting for the trip or divulging in other extra-curricular activities that were not on the museum’s regular agenda. She forced her mind back to what lay ahead.
    For Kelly, the chance of first hand research excited her. If she spent more than six months in her office back in New York, it was considered a long stay. She organised special field expeditions and usually managed to get herself a place on them too. The museum hadn’t led a trip to the Antarctic for five years, so it was only natural that she should lead it. At thirty five years of age, she had dedicated her life to the museum and enjoyed the trips away from New York. She had no partner and no long-term boyfriend. Even the potted plants in her lounge were plastic so she could take off at a moment’s notice and not worry about leaving her Upper East Side apartment.
    The plane continued west and everyone on board relaxed and slept peacefully. The sun was chasing them and the flight was smooth and stress-free as the jumbo flew above the flat, white clouds. Josef Jahn and Wilfred Kraven were on route to LAX to join their colleagues and friends. They had worked together previously and knew each other well. Both were looking forward to working with Rasmus again too. Over the last thirty or so years, they had shared as much beer together as they had research. Though Josef and Wilfred had both missed out on the fundraiser, they knew they would be well represented. The First Lady had given Kelly assurances that the museum would be well looked after and a sizeable donation was on its way.
    Kelly found her inquisitive nature getting the best of her, so she slid the journal out of the seatback pocket. She just wanted to read some more about The Grave. Sleep could come later.
     
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