Monday, July 2, 2012

A chapter of ZF6


Day one without Talbot



"Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod." Gary kept repeating, as BT shoved him through Mary's front door.

"Where's Josh?" Mary screamed, her eyes widened in terror.

"He's supposed to be here." BT said moving to the side so that he could shut the door and look out the curtain.

"He's not here!" She screamed. "You left him out there!" She was shrieking now.

Gary was still muttering on the floor where BT had deposited him.

"Oh fuck." BT said silently as he looked through the large bar covered picture window of Mary's modest siege home.

"Where is my son?" She screamed slamming her fists into BT's chest.

BT pointed with the tip of his rifle before he headed back towards the front door.

Josh was at the most two steps ahead of the lead zombie whose outstretched hand was nearly close enough to touch his collar.

"Oh my God!" Mary said in unison with Gary.

"The fucking toy, he went back for the fucking toy." BT said as he headed out the front door.

Josh was running for his very existence but the large remote control truck he was carrying was impeding his progress. BT did not trust his marksmanship or frayed nerves to start firing at targets so close to a live body. And he couldn't tell Josh to drop down, BT would be able to get the lead zombie and a couple of others but there were too many of them. Add to that there was the real danger that the zombies that had been pursuing him and Gary would completely cut the boy off from the house.

"Drop the damn truck!" BT roared.

Josh looked up, wide white terror laden eyes stared back at him.

"Drop the truck boy!" BT forced.

BT watched as Josh had an internal struggle within himself, the boy was deciding on whether or not to give up one of the last things his father had given him or forfeit his life. It was close But Josh finally let go of the toy Monster truck. BT figured the boy's father was still looking out for him, the truck caught in between the strides of the zombie closest to Josh. Josh yelped as the zombies hands reached out and touched him down his back and the bottom of his pants as its legs became tangled in the rubber and plastic and slammed chin first into the ground.

The affect was instantaneous at least another three zombies went down with their leader, but Josh was far from out of danger but BT finally had an opening with which to let lead fly. He lined up a shot and tried to pull the trigger.

"Oh no." He sighed, he was out of bullets.

"Good a day to die as any, maybe even better than most." He said as he ran towards Josh, his hastily drawn up plan was to use himself as a human shield.

"Get out of the way you lummox!" Mary shouted behind him. She didn't give him much of a chance though as she began to shoot. Most weren't head shots but the bullets were causing enough damage to slow the zombies down.

Gary came up beside her, he was jamming shells in to his rifle. Tears were still streaming down his face as he began to fire, BT was amazed he could hit anything through the waterfall in his eyes.  Luckily Gary was focused on the zombies to the front of the house where his bullets would only slam into the undead.

Josh had about another fifty yards to make it to the house, and forty yards before he made it to BT. BT waited like the anchor man in the first ever zombie relay. First prize was life, everything else was death. BT started jogging towards the house as Josh approached, and then snatched him up into his huge arms and was at full tilt within 4 strides. Mary was holding the security door open so that he could dive in with his precious cargo. Gary was busy shoving new shells into his rifle.

"Get in the house!" Mary yelled simultaneously to BT and Gary.

Gary was slow to react, BT grabbed him by the front of his jacket and pulled him in alongside. BT pushed Josh ahead of himself as he fell to the floor, he didn't want to save the boy from zombies only to crush him under his bulk. BT's chest had no sooner hit the floor when the first zombies crashed up against the security door. Mary was backing up as the house rattled from the multiple impacts.

Gary shut the front door when BT moved his legs.

"What were you thinking!" Mary screamed at Josh, who was full on crying now. "What were you thinking!" She screamed again.

Josh was sobbing so hard he was hitching and having a difficult time catching his breath. "It...it was from dad." He wailed.

"Was it worth getting killed over!" She was screaming so loudly and with such force her face was turning red and thick corded veins were bulging from her neck and forehead.

"Mary he's alive, he's fine." BT said trying to restore some order in the house.

Mary wasn't having any of it. She turned her wrath on him. "Wasn't it your grand fucking idea to let him go along?"

"Oh I would imagine it was Mike's insidious ramblings that convinced the boy to go out." Mrs. Deneaux added.

"You shut up!" Mary wheeled, pointing her finger at the crone. It seemed no one would be spared Mary's ire. "Where were you when my son was running for his life?"

"Dear I'm just an old woman what could I have done?" Mrs. Deneaux asked in return.

"I should have never opened my door, I should have never let any of you into my life." She was crying now.

"It's alright mom, I'm alright." Josh said getting up to comfort his mother. She gripped him tightly as if she were afraid to let him go, lest he not be real. She was crying into his shoulder, their roles momentarily reversed. "Mom we had to let them in, it was the Christian thing to do."

"I almost lost you Josh, I can't lose you, you're all I have left in the world." She full throated cried.

"I'm here mom, I'm here." He said as he led her towards the couch.

"Where's Michael?" Mrs. Deneaux asked BT.

BT shook his head almost imperceptibly from side to side. Mrs. Deneaux was careful not to let her joy show. Gary was staring out the living room window but his eyes did not appear to be focused on anything.

"I didn't even get a chance to bury him." Gary mumbled. "What am I going to tell my dad?" He asked the question, but that was not anything any one had an answer to.

"What now?" Mrs. Deneaux asked BT.

"We head towards Maine." He told her.

"When?" Mary looked up.

BT couldn't tell if she was wondering when they'd be out of her house or how long it would take for her and her son to be ready to go.

Gary had understood the meaning behind her question. "Mary you can't stay here." Gary said finally turning back around to face the group, the room darkened as the curtain slid back into place.

"Oh yes we can!" he said vehemently pulling Josh closer. "We're never going out there."

"You know you're going to run out of supplies." He said calmly, which belied his true countenance.

"We're better off without them." Mrs. Deneaux said. "The boy will just slow us down."

"As opposed to you?" Gary shot back, very much unlike anything that usually came from his mouth.

Mrs. Deneaux shrugged her shoulders and lit up a cigarette in response.

"How dare you!" Mary said to Mrs. Deneaux. "I opened my doors to you, I fed you I confided in you and then you turn on me?"

"I was trying to help dearie, you said you didn't want to go, I thought this would help your argument." Mrs. Deneaux said smiling with her tobacco stained teeth showing, it was much too mouthy to hold anything but contempt.

"Handle a snake you're bound to get bitten eventually." BT said to Mary.

"You must be happy now BT." Mrs. Deneaux said.

"What are you talking about?" He asked her.

"Well it looks like you're in charge now, with Mike out of the way you now take rightful control." She said and then took a long pull from her cigarette waiting for BT's response.

BT almost rose to the bait, but he could see the grim glimmer of smugness right under the surface in the woman's face and he'd be damned if he gave her anything remotely similar to a smile.

"Well the age is right." He said.

"What?" Gary asked.

Mrs. Deneaux's eyes narrowed as she waited for his response.

"She could be Eliza's mother." BT said as he went to the side of the house to see how many zombies Josh had brought back with him.

Josh snorted. "That's funny because that would make her like 550 years old."

"I remember when spanking your children was an acceptable form of punishment." Mrs. Deneaux said turning towards the boy, who shrunk back into the protective embrace of his mother.

 "We're leaving in the morning." BT said coming back into the living room. "Mary I won't force you but I really think you should reconsider."

"Michael would have been more persuasive." Mrs. Deneaux said.

"You done?" BT asked her.

"For now." She said taking another drag off her smoke.

"Mary please." Gary begged. "You're not safe here."

She scoffed at his words. "Oh yeah." She said mockingly. "I see how safe it is out there." She said not even willing to move her hand to point but rather nodding with her chin towards the front door.
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46 comments:

  1. Thanks Mark, that was awesome! Now, do we really have to wait for what, October??? Also, good job with Mrs D..I'm really wanting to punch her in the face!
    Bobbie A.

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    1. Thanks Mark! Your such a book tease. ha ha. 3 more months AHHHHHHH!

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  2. I CANNOT WAIT!!! and yeah I'm with Bobbie, I really want to hit that old woman!! Great great start... so excited for this!!

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  3. Holy Crap I can't wait!!! :) Yay!!!! IT was awesome so far!

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  4. Fantastic! "The age is about right.... she could be Eliza's mother." BEST.F-ING.LINE. Looking forward to October!!

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  5. Mrs. D definitely needs to be zombie bait.

    I love BT.

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  6. I should not have read this.....I should not have read this!!! Now I really cannot wait!!! But am gonna have too and it'll be another good read. Roll on October!!! :-)

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  7. I hate mts. Deneaux with a passion, but she makes the story so good! You're always waiting to see what evil trick she has up her sleeve next. I can not wait for this stinkin book!!

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  9. Great chapter and thanks for sharing! Mrs. Deneaux is a close second to Eliza as the villain of this story. Based on the first 500 words published, I wonder if Mike will gain any more insight into her past deeds before they meet up again.

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  10. WOW-I am sooo looking forward to this book!!!! SUPER FANTASTIC chapter!!!!! Thanks Mark! Josie Ribeira : )

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  11. Thanks so much Mark - good god how can we make it until October - please hurry up mate :-)

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  12. Like it a lot... keep on writing :)

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  13. October??!! Are you serious??? I sinply CAN.NOT.WAIT! Brilliant as always Mr Tufo, your writing never fails to lure me in x

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  14. I am re-reading the first 5 books in anticipation of thr 6th. For some reason when ever Mrs D speaks I hear it in the voice of Peters mother from Family Guy.

    Great story line

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  15. Ok, firstly thanks so much for this! Great being able to catch back up with the gang! Though as has been said Mrs D needs a slap or 2! October cannot come quick enough!

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  16. I can believe that was it. MORE please! Between the prologue and this chapter I am dying from lack of zombie fallout. You sure you can't move the release date from October to something like . . . Tomorrow?!?

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  17. Man...I can't wait. I'm listening to book 4 right now (well...at the very end...some indian stuff going on).

    I have to say this is one of the best series of ANYTHING I've ever listened to.

    Also, I wish Sean Runnette could narrate everything in life. I'd even listen to him in all those boring ass meetings at work...every...day.

    Keep it up Mark, I'm a life long fan now.

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    1. Runnette does an awesome job narrating...love the whole series. Great job writing Mark Tufo.

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  18. of course mike its not dead, he can´t be....

    thanks mark, we really enjoy your work...

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  19. Awesome teaser! I can't wait for the book either! I read all of Adrian's Undead Diary in the hopes it would keep me busy in the meantime but now I'm in need of a recommendation for something else to read til your book is out! Anyone have anything half as good as Mr Tufo's books? (Already read Indian Hill, and all available White Flag of the Dead books by J. Talluto. But LOVE Mark Tufo best!)

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    1. Try Zomblog... by TW Brown. Its no Mark Tufo but will help fill the time.

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    2. Try anything by Jesse Petersen ... Married with Zombies, or Eat, Slay, Love comes to mind. I really enjoyed these books.

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  20. Killing me, more more...when will this be out? I have been listening to ZF Audio book and love love it but I still want more. I guess everyone is addicted to something right I"m addicted....Indian hills tease would be nice (torture) I want them ASAP. Tufo you the man!!!! :-). Huge fan

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  21. Hi All, Just wanted to say a hearty thank you for your posts. ZF6 is coming along well and my hope is that it is all you guys are hoping for!

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  22. Please, please kill this boring story line. ZF is about Mike and his family. This is nothing but a distraction!

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  23. Grrrrr I cant wait till its done! You have me salivating for more...!

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  24. love the series.... I have read all the ZF books in a month. Can't wait for the next one.

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  25. I enjoyed the series! I cried at the ending of ZF #5. Then found this tidbit of your next book, and realized that was not the end. I just now have to wait until Oct. I don't think that I can wait that long

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  26. I am still waiting to see how you are going to bring Paul back hmph This is a good teaser. I love Mrs D-I think she is a hateful spiteful disgusting old woman and you have portrayed her very well. I cannot even begin to imagine how you are going to ever come up with a befitting ending for her. Its going to have to be..EPIC

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  27. AWESOME!!! So excited for the rest of the story!

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  28. love the series. didnt read the post as i dont want to spoil the next installment.

    Hopefully you can get the audio version of your book onto audible soon after the paper release! :)

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  29. Hi Mark! Greetings from Stockholm, Sweden, I´ve been reading non stop for a couple of weeks now. I´m one of those who will consume allmost anything that is related to zombies. Never enjoyed any series this much. You kind of left us hanging with the nr 5 so please hurry upp with the next one :-)

    ONE thing I need to adress though: During the entire series and all comunication problems in Konvojs etc... not ONCE does anyone think of picking up a couple of walkie talkies while ransacking al those stores.... why is that?

    Anyway: Thanks for the brilliant entertainment!

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  30. Great series, I am hooked... Can't wait for the next book.. any eta when it will be complete?

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  31. Hello Mark.

    This might be a touch wordy but I actually just wanted to thank you. In an age where fiction writing has become more of a mathematical profit formula then about honest entertainment it was really nice to run across something genuinely different and enjoyable. I had worried at first due to the over saturation the zombie genre has taken lately but your books quickly left that behind and offered something more. While zombies are the primary threat and cause of death, the books quickly stopped focusing them and started to draw you into the characters and the evil of their nemesis.

    A friend had suggested the first one to me since he was aware that I enjoyed audiobooks. After listening to the first one I purchased the remaining 4 listened to them over a period 10 days. I just wanted to take the time to let you know that I really enjoyed them. Like good literature is supposed to do I found myself experiencing the vast range of emotions in the different situations. The heart lifting humor caused by the banter of Jen, BT, and Mike on Carol’s porch in the middle of a fire fight to the hatred of Ms D.

    There is one obvious and glaring flaw that I just could not get over. If felt like an oversight that lasted through the entire serious and I just had to say something. Mike is an amazing character, truly one of the more enjoyable in any series I have come across… but how can anyone that great be a Red Sox fan? In the books it often mentions that he is prone to poor judgment, it must be that trait shining through.

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  32. One thing I have learned as an author you cannot please everyone! I'll be honest it took me a while to figure that out! I'm glad the vast majority of folks are enjoying the teaser, and Christian from Sweden I NEVER thought once about walkie talkies I don't know why either I grew up with the damn things. And Mr. Morris you silly, silly man the Red Sox are the ONLY team any one should be rooting for, from your response I will have to assume you are a Yankees fan and thus I should negate nearly everything you said BUT your post does have some redeeming qualities! (Glad you are enjoying the series and truly thank you)

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  33. >Caution--SPOILER ALERT--<
    >WARNING--HATE MAIL ALERT---<

    Alright Tufo....You played your "deus ex machina" card saving B.T.....you know you are not supposed to do that-but-he shoulda never got bit to begin with(ya right--like a zombie could bite thru his tough hide)
    Paul is gone...thats total B.S. and you know it..but..shit happens...ok..its a zombie apocaplypse so evil feline armies are to be expected...whatever...BUT...if that cantankerous old bat that has transitioned to a sinister evil demon comes near Tracy-Henry-Ect...Me and the other 30000 members of the TZTF are preparing to act,,,,,
    If this comment sounds angry--you might want to remember that your readers are invested in these characters and we care about them....and dont get me started on MIKE VS. THE ALIENS.....

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  34. I started reading ZF a few days ago ... couldn't put it down ... done reading books 1 to 5 in a little less than 4 days! I can't believe Mike is gone ... NO WAY! And now I can't wait for book 6!

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  35. OMG! Its awesome! I cant wait till October! Can you hmm..finish it next month? lol. But thanks anyway. It was nice of you to share the 1st chapter with us. I am looking forward to read ZF6. I am just hoping...no praying..that Mike Talbot is NOT dead. He's an awesome character. Please dont let him die!!!

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  36. Thank you so much for writing these books Mark, I'm honestly hooked, listened to Zombie Fallout 1,2,3,3.5,4, and 5 in audiobook form over the last week. It's a fantastic story, can't wait for #6

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  37. I love the series , mike can't be dead ,please bring him back , someone has got to kill Eliza , and Mike Talbot is the person who should end her miserable existence. Great books I'm hooked , I can't wait for book 6 to come out

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  38. I think the story line is perfect. I am so into this series. I have read all the books in 2 weeks time. I am looking forward to the next book. Mark, keep up the good work. I love your sense of humor and how you incorporate that into your books. I enjoy the side stories also. I wouldn't change a thing. I am telling everyone I know to buy your books. They will not be disappointed!

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  39. the walking dead and ZF6 all in the same month..... this is better then christmas ! I cant wait!

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  40. OK, I'm fully addicted at this point, but I have to ask one question.

    Why is everyone vomiting all the time?

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