Free Deadman's Switch & Sunder the Hollow Ones by Saul Tanpepper Page A

living.
    â€œThe first zombies were developed by people to be weapons,” Reggie explains. “But weapons are constantly being updated, strengthened, made bigger. And more destructive.”
    â€œWell, don’t look at me. Grandpa got out of that business years ago. You know that.”
    â€œI know. Sorry.”
    â€œYeah, but this isn’t the government we’re talking about here,” Kelly argues. He can see how much this is upsetting me. “It’s Arc.” He spits the last word out. I suppose it tastes bad in his mouth, now that they’ve betrayed him, used him. Lied to him.
    â€œArc would have its own reasons to roll out a new and improved zom,” Reggie says. “Entertainment. Blood and gore and viciousness have always been good entertainment. Good for profit.”
    I let out a long, shuddering breath and shake my head. It troubles me to think of the possibilities: zombies who might devour their entire victims. What next? Zombies that can heal? Zombies that can… think ?
    â€œThis is all very interesting,” Kelly says. “But it doesn’t tell us anything about what Arc wants to do with them. Or us. Nor does it tell us where the other person might be.”
    â€œWe have to assume they’re still alive,” I say.
    â€œYeah, but alive alive? Or alive undead?”
    I’d almost rather deal with an IU. A living, thinking human being? No matter how smart or quick or strong a zombie might be, it’s nothing compared with what a living person can do.
    Reggie sighs and looks around us with resignation. “So, what now?” he asks. “We can’t stay here.”
    â€œAnd we can’t leave—”
    A muffled cry of surprise interrupts me. It’s followed by a scream, almost certainly from Ashley.
    We race down the hall and slam through the security door just as the scream hits us a second time. But now I can see that it’s not coming from Ashley, but from Jake.
    â€œWhat the hell is going on?” Kelly demands.
    Jake points at Stephen and wails, “He spit on me! I’m infected. I’m infected!”
    â€œChrist.” Reggie says under his breath.
    I turn to Ashley. “I blame you,” I tell her.
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œYou’re the one who invited Pukeboy to come with us in the first place.”
    Â 

Chapter 11

    Â 
    I feel bad about calling Jake Pukeboy, so, as a compromise, I agree to put Stephen in INTERVIEW 1 with the guillotine. I don’t like it, but it’s not worth arguing over.
    â€œIt’s the safest thing we can do,” Kelly assures me.
    Stephen struggles a bit as we strap him to the metal examination table, but he quickly yields and just lies there staring at us. Not once does he look at the blade hanging over him. Not even when we lower the block that locks his head in place.
    â€œIt’s called a lunette,” Jake explains, snapping the latch closed.
    â€œHow the hell would you know crap like that?” Reggie asks.
    He shrugs. “I just do.”
    â€œYou’re whacked.”
    I lift my eyes to the medieval-looking torture device dangling directly over him, and a shudder passes through me.
    â€œWhat kind of monster would create such a thing?” Kelly wonders.
    What would someone be doing that they might need to use it? is the question that plagues me.
    Jake laughs. “Who cares? This is a lot easier that shooting him if he reanimates. And a hell of a lot more certain. Just pull the switch and, voila , he’s quiet. No fuss, no muss.”
    I don’t like that that’s how he puts it: quiet. I don’t like that term. Maybe because it means more than killing Stephen. Quieting him will forever shut him up, and right now getting him to talk is our best hope of figuring out how to escape.
    As if he knows what I’m thinking, Stephen looks straight at me. His eyes bore into my skull and he says, “You need me.”
    Everyone’s