Free Emergence: Return of Magic book 1 by D. R. Rosier

headed
away from civilization into open country.
    He needed a place not too far, that had available water, land
to plant some crops, and preferably a building or two already there.  If
at all possible, there should also be some kind of hunting or fishing
nearby.  He’d never been an outdoorsman, and really had no clue. 
Yet, he had all these people following him now, twenty-one zombie men, and one
woman, who wouldn’t eat.  It was the other thirty or so live women with
children along that was his concern.
    He had no clue.  He didn’t bother to do anything, and
just waited.  As he expected a little while later Cynthia came up with one
of the woman.  She was in the mid-thirties, with brown hair and
eyes.  She still looked attractive, but then he was in his thirties
too.  She didn’t look too scared of him, but she was wary.  He didn’t
judge that, if some guys had been ass raping him, he would be leery as well.
    Cynthia spoke softly in a melodic calm voice, “This is
Terry.  She might know of a place.”
    He smiled without showing his teeth and nodded at her to
speak.
    Terry cleared her throat, “There’s a small tributary, with
fish a few miles east.  It’s near the Oslo reservoir as well. 
There’s some land of course, if you’re thinking of planting?”
    He nodded, “Big towns won’t work, especially right
now.  Once there’s an infrastructure of horse pulled wagons again, maybe
that will change, and cities will happen again.  But right now, we need to
bring the people to the food, or where we can grow some.  Even this,” he
waved his hand, “The suburbs won’t work, because we need to hunt game as
well.  Probably bird, or wild pig.  I’m not sure if we could even
plant enough in back yards for it to work if we didn’t have to hunt to
survive.  What about shelter?”
    Terry frowned, and then nodded.  It was the simple
truth, there was no way to get food to towns right now, the only options were
to move to a farm, or make a new one.
    “There’s an old closed down school near there, should have
plenty of room.  We’d need mattress of course, and possibly more
clothes.  This is all insane isn’t it?”
    He nodded slowly, “Extremely insane.  When we get to
where were going, I’ll start the men gardening and send some out for
mattresses.  At first we’ll have to make due.”
    She nodded and asked in a rush, “Why are you helping us like
this, you don’t know any of us.”
    He frowned, “Seemed like the thing to do.  I’d probably
be happy with just Cynthia, but with the power I have… I can turn the evil
bastards into labor, and protect the good ones.  Shouldn’t I do
that?  Plus, it will be nice to have the company.”
    He had the thought to add that eventually they might find some
men that weren’t dicks, for the women.  Another part of a successful
community was children, the next generation.  But considering she was most
likely a very recent widow, and had been abused, he decided it would be stupid
to mention it now.
    He waited for her to give him directions, and he was
surprised she stayed with them.  It was late afternoon by the time they’d
covered the distance.
    He’d seen a few other people, they seemed to disappear into
their houses, or hide as he passed.  Those he did see had haunted eyes,
and he wondered how many would die simply because they would sit on their ass
until they starved to death.  Not that he was judging, he’d been doing the
same thing until he found out he had powers.  No, he just truly wondered
how many people would still be alive this time next year.  All the
millions in the cities around the world were already dead, so what now?
    He sent a few of the men to break into a mattress store and
load up.  It would suck for them, but they were undead so wouldn’t complain. 
The rest of them he set to breaking ground in the school yard field which was
huge, and guarding the building, as he broke in and let all the woman in. 
For now,