Free The Zombie Combat Manual by Roger Ma Page B

fragile—laundry detergent, boxes of diapers, rolls of paper towels. When the dead started going after these folks, reaching and pulling down items on their foundation, it looked like some nightmarish game of Jenga. It was only a matter of time before the whole structure came tumbling down, along with the victims. The only thing worse to see was people fighting for space, pushing others down closer to groping, rotted hands so that they themselves could survive. Ironically, one of the best places to stay was on top of the crashed Suburban. I’m not sure what the driver was trying to do, probably a smash-and-grab of supplies. He was beaten to death by the survivors even before the dead could get hold of him. After seeing victim after victim tumble down into the mouths of waiting dead, I couldn’t stand it any longer.
     
    ZCM: What did you do?
    TD: What else could I do? I escaped through an office window on the second floor.
     
    ZCM: You didn’t try to help them?
    TD: No.
     
    ZCM: Didn’t you feel guilty for leaving those people?
    TD: I was just a company employee for ShopMaxx, and I had to comply with the company’s policy. If Al had listened, maybe he’d be alive today, too. If you’re looking to blame someone, blame those customers. They’re the ones who acted like animals, and they made their choices. They chose to stay. They chose to rush in and ransack the place. They chose to throw others to their death while saving themselves. I had already done more than enough.
    It could have been a nice setup there. We might have been able to ride it out for at least a month, maybe more. But it’s always the same thing, no different than when we have a “limit two per customer” sale. There’s always a selfish asshat that ruins it for everyone.
    Donner looks down at his grimy, stained ShopMaxx vest. It is dotted with a variety of ornamental pins and badges. He unclasps one exceptionally glossy button and casually tosses it onto his cot. It reads “Employee of the Year.”

IV.
    WEAPON SELECTION
You don’t want to go into battle with anything that feels less than perfect.
    —LOU BROCK
    Facing the living dead in combat is, first and foremost, a weapon-based art. Although we will later address strategies to face a walking corpse completely unarmed, most of your engagements should involve the use of an appropriate hand weapon.
    Finding the ideal weapon and technique to use against the living dead requires a personalized approach. As you continue to train and develop your fighting skills, you will find yourself more proficient at certain tactics than others. Your preferences for particular combat ranges and techniques will also become apparent. Because of the inevitability that you will have to engage in zombie combat at a distance that is not your preferred method, and because one weapon will never be appropriate for all situations, it is advised that you gain moderate competency in all ranges covered, and equip yourself with at least one weapon to cover each designated combat distance.
    When assessing a weapon’s adequacy in combat against the living dead, there is one specific factor by which all armaments need to be judged: the effectiveness of neutralizing a ghoul in as few blows as possible. What this means is that any weapon, modern or historical, Asian or Western, needs to be judged under a set of parameters specific to undead combat. Many traditional armaments that have serviced warriors for centuries may not perform as acceptably when your opponent is an ambling corpse. Simply because a weapon has fared well against the living is no reason to assume that it will function just as well against the dead.

    SOURCING YOUR ARMAMENTS
    Regardless of the type of weapon you choose, it is critical that you rely on a reputable supplier when assembling your arsenal. When selecting a weapon, your first thought may be to venture to your local flea market martial arts supply stand and pick up one of many swords, axes, or