The Dead Rise (Book 1): Zombies and Chainsaws Read Online Free Page B

as well go ahead and start on the higher end of the scale to allow Shaw to feel as if he were haggling him down, Jude said, “I think about four grand would be just fine sir.”
    Shaw gripped at his heart, he said, “Jesus, are you trying to give me a heart attack son?”
    “Just trying to get a fair day’s pay.”
    "Well then you're delusional or you must have hit your head on something today because that is absurd. I already told you a grand a week per man was insane. Hell, you just asked for that again. I won't pay you a dollar over two grand. Now see here, if this one works out, next time I go to send boys out of town maybe it's going to be you. But if I can't afford you I won't be pushing this button to call you."
    Jude just smiled leaning against the phone booth. He said, "So I guess I just hang up this phone."
    “It doesn’t take a genius to run a chainsaw son.”
    “No, but it takes a man to do it, and it seems that is something you don’t have. I appreciate your time today sir. You keep me in mind if any other jobs come up though. You never know when I'm going to get a break in my busy schedule.”
    Shaw was holding the phone tight enough to white-knuckle his left hand. He said through clenched teeth.
    "Alright, alright, twenty-five hundred dollars but that's it, I ain't going to go no damn higher."
    Jude said, “Well then you have a right nice day sir.”
    “Man are you crazy - you're killing me! Okay, three grand. You want more than that you can drive down here and kiss my old wrinkled ass.”
    Jude smiled ear to ear thinking about three thousand dollars split four ways for one week's pay was one hell of a good week. He shook his head thinking he owed Ms. Jones a dozen roses and he was going to have them hand-picked and delivered by the owner himself.
    Shaw could feel the tension of the day rising up his back feeling like it was turning into cement in his shoulders. He said, "You just remember if you ain't done by Friday afternoon five hundred dollars are going to stay right in my damn pocket son. You pay your men how you want to, but you just remember being the boss man you need to be keeping a few extra for yourself in case of a rainy day. And if you don't finish then you don't get paid that bonus and I won't be any happier about paying you the three grand."
    Jude said, “So that’s a yes, I mean I don’t want you telling folk that I'm cheating you. If you ain't making any money on this you just let me know. We can settle things up right now, I'll leave you be and go back to my job.”
    Shaw said, "Well I might still be making a couple hundred dollars on it. I haven't done the exact math so I can't be positive, but we need to spread the wealth around right?"
    Jude said, “Well thank God you've got the faith keeping you honest Mr. Shaw. You are damn near an angel. And I thank you, and my family thanks you for that. We're going to finish up our days’ work and will be gone in the morning. Before day break tomorrow I might already have my first tree down sir.”
    “You boys just make sure you stay out of trouble there after you're done working. You do a damn good job. It’s not your reputation on the line it’s mine. If you fuck anything up - well don’t fuck it up!”
    Jude said, “Well I can't say I’m a real big fan of making mistakes so I just have to tell you to trust in me like I'm going to trust in you to come through.”
    “You boys drive safe on the way down there. That van I'm sending you down there in is almost brand new.”
    Jude smiled thinking the box van he was going to be driving probably did not have air conditioning, and was at least ten years old with 200,000 miles on it if he was lucky. Jude said, "I'll send Chuck over after work to pick up the van, just leave the keys in it okay?"
    "Oh, Christ you're working with Chuck?"
    Jude said, “He's a hell of a hard worker. Faithful, and strong. Like you said, it doesn't take a rocket scientist or a genius to do tree