Anno Zombus Year 1 (Book 1): January Read Online Free Page A

twelve of his twenty.  Most of the rest found their way to the target Archer had placed at the far end of the range.  Archer said he'd look for the lost shafts in the morning, as Junior and I gathered the ones that had found purchase.
     
 
     
The barn door opened as we approached, Kindly Lady stepping out to tell us that dinner was nearly ready.   We all entered, the smell of food heavy in the air.  We sat around the common room discussing the day's events with each other.  Apocalypse Girl told me that when she had gone out with Kindly Lady and The Twin they had taken a pair of guards with them, but those guards, after having quiet words with Kindly Lady, had gone over the other side of the river a few minutes before Junior and I had arrived.  The Twin was in no state to notice, she told me, but Apocalypse Girl certainly had.  Fat Dealer had taken the Ute out in the morning and was not back yet, but she assumed that he was after information, or maybe supplies.
     
 
     
Sitting in our usual circle, I noticed indeed that several regular faces were indeed not present, including Fat Dealer.  Idly I wondered if that meant no dessert joint tonight?  Then I was far too busy eating to be concerned with such paltry mortal concerns.  After our meal, a stew that, had it been any more hearty, would have gotten up and eaten us, Kindly Lady stood and made a gesture for silence.
     
 
     
“Usually, after dinner our only dessert is whatever has been rolled up to be smoked.  But, usually we don't have easy access to things like milk and butter.  Turns out with a few cows, that is a bit easier.”  The Twin then came out from the kitchen area with a massive cake, steaming still, and Kindly Lady carved off large hunks for each of us.  As I bit into my own piece I tasted the distinctive flavour of weed.
     
 
     
The musicians then struck up a tune and we all relaxed.  It wasn't long before Apocalypse Girl and I, pissing ourselves laughing, practically fell up the stairs and into our room.
     
 
     
 
     

January 7th Year 1 A.Z.
     
dawn
     
This morning started off normally enough, well normal now , not normal back then , if you get my drift.  Patrol with Junior after a quick breakfast, followed by archery practice before lunch.  That was the plan, at least.  The thing about plans is, they fuck up, and this was no exception.  Typically enough, this fuckup, like the previous two, happened at the riverside clay pits, where, by the time Junior and I arrived, four guards were guarding four clay-gatherers, including The Twin and Apocalypse Girl.  Think I just decided all of this is her fault, goddamn Apocalypse Girl, ever since meeting her shit has just gone downhill.  First the world ending, then the whole chemist incident with Valet, the failed attempt at clay-gathering resulting in the death of a Twin...
     
 
     
But no, it isn't fair to blame Apocalypse Girl, not even in jest and in writing, even in a personal diary.  To be honest I would be long dead if not for her.  She has saved my life on several occasions already.  So thank you Apocalypse Girl.  Appreciate it.  Even with the world gone to shit as it has done, it is still better to be alive than roaming around Dead.  So, if you are ever reading this, Apocalypse Girl...just thanks...and if I'm gone when you do, if you do...I hope I met it as well as you would no doubt have done.
     
 
     
Anyway.  Enough maudlin crap.  The Twin, Apocalypse Girl, two other younger hippies with no idea how to fire an arrow digging out clay, piling it up in a pair of wheelbarrows under the watchful eyes of four young hippy men with bows.  Junior and I arrived just in time for the furthest one out to shriek in surprise and agony, because all four of the fucking idiots were busy watching the girls instead of watching for the Dead !  The other three, to their slight credit, immediately jumped into action, rushing to where their fourth was still screaming.  Junior and I