Zombie Mage Read Online Free

tried to ignore it.  He just hoped that nobody would look down
and spot him.  On the opposite side of the grave, other people murmured amongst
themselves.
    “It’s a tragic thing, my dear and I don’t want you
blaming yourself over this.  In life, the gods have our paths mapped out and
there be nothing we can do about where they lead.”
    Eve sobbed gently.  “I… I told him it was friendly. 
It looked over at us and licked its lips.”
    “Oh, Eve,” said another woman. “This isn’t good for
you.  You can’t undo things.”
      “I know, Auntie, but I feel responsible.  I joked,
telling Horace it was just after our picnic but it wasn’t.  No, it was after
him. It watched with its beady eyes, waiting for him to climb over the fence-”
    “Eve,” Roland said. “My dear, this be not the time nor
place to dwell on what’s happened.  It was a mad bull.  You were not to know
this.”
    Eve snivelled and blew her nose. “Yes, Roland –
perhaps you’re right. It was a horrid, slobbering, evil bull and I’m glad it
was destroyed afterwards.”
    “You two go ahead now,” Roland said. “Please descend
the coffin into the grave and we’ll say our final farewells. In doing so, I
know that Horace Hipkink will always be remembered, both in our hearts and
minds.”
    Olligh smirked at the mention of the silly name, but
not for long.  The smirk turned to horror when he noticed the coffin being
heaved over the side of the grave.  It descended on ropes slowly towards him.
    “Let’s take a moment to think about Horace and reflect
on the good things he did for our community,” Roland continued.
    The coffin was now eased halfway into the grave. 
Olligh huddled to the side of the hole, hoping it would fit snugly next to him
when it reached the bottom.
    “The children loved Horace and he often performed for
them in the village hall.  He was a wonderful entertainer who captivated his
audience, whether young or old.”
    There was no room to escape the coffin.  It pressed
down hard onto Olligh and although he could just take the weight, he was most
uncomfortable.  A sudden thought horrified him.  What if they were to fill the
hole now, rather than later?  He didn’t want to be buried alive.
    “His ventriloquism act with Dimple, the naughty bear,
was his favourite and most talked about act. He loved the bear so much that he
even requested for it to be buried with him on his death.”
    “Ummm!” Olligh said as loud as he could.  He tapped
the side of the coffin with his free hand.
    “He was particularly-”
    Olligh slapped the coffin harder. “Ummh, Ummmh!”
    “By the gods…” Roland said. “Did you hear that?”
    People shuffled closer to the edge of the grave and
everything went deathly quiet. Olligh’s face was squashed sideways, pressed in
the wet earth.  Unable to move and change position, the coffin was beginning to
feel extremely heavy and uncomfortable.  “Ummm, Ummm!”
    “It’s Horace!” Eve said. “He’s alive.”
    “It could be Dimple the bear!” said a little girl,
excitedly. “Is Dimple really in there with him?”
    “By the gods,” Roland repeated.  “This be a miracle.”
    “Indeed,” remarked the aunt, “considering he’s been
dead for over a week.”
    Eve leaned over the edge of the grave. “Is that you,
Horace? Are you alive?”
    “Umh huh!”
    “It’s him! He is alive-”
    In all the excitement and wonder, Eve lost her footing
and fell into the grave.  She shrieked and landed with a heavy thud onto the
coffin, her weight crushing down on Olligh.  He groaned loudly.
    “Are you hurt?” Roland asked.
    Olligh thought it was a silly question. Obviously he
was hurt.  It felt as though Eve weighed more than the actual coffin itself.  It
then dawned on him that Roland wasn’t actually talking to him.
    “Men, pull the coffin up! Eve may be hurt.”
    After a moment’s hesitation, the coffin was slowly
hoisted back up.  Eve was sitting on it with a sombre