Zombies! (Episode 6): Barriers Collapse Read Online Free Page B

serious."
     
    "It’s like anything else, I suppose," Martin said. "When it's new, people are scared and hiding their heads in the sand. But it's been three months now. We're used to the idea of zombies in the streets and in our lives. It's just one more horrible thing we have to deal with. No one thinks the world is coming to an end."
     
    "Except it's not just like anything else," Peter said. "Because we have groups like the ZRA whose efforts can actually perpetuate the disease."
     
    Abby laughed uncomfortably. "Come on. You don't think they've got any credibility, do you?"
     
    Peter looked at her intently. "Don't they? Just by dint of the fact that they have an organizational name, they have credibility. They're on the news. People are talking about them in the streets and at work and in street corner cafes."
     
    Abby picked at her food, thinking long and hard about what Peter was saying. "Peter, nothing they've said has changed any of what the police and the city are doing, let alone the country."
     
    "Not yet. But that doesn't mean they aren't taking steps themselves."
     
    Martin looked at him. "What are you getting on about?"
     
    "Look, ever since we were trapped by those things in the hospital, I haven't really thought about much else. Nothing makes me more nervous than these ZRA nuts. Remember when activists were throwing paint on fur coats? But take that a step further. These people aren't just protesters. They're trying to save lives."
     
    "What lives?" Abby asked, incredulous. "Zombies are dead."
     
    Peter shrugged. "Says you and me and anyone with half a brain."
     
    "So what are they doing?" she asked. "Do you know?"
     
    "I've done some investigating." Peter let that hang in the air a moment while he took a long pull on his soda. He had them both interested, although Martin was skeptical. He would have to tread carefully. "The ZRA aren't dumb enough to think that zombies aren't dangerous, but they seem to think they can be saved. So they're collecting them into safe houses until doctors find a cure. Then they'll release all of the zombies for treatment and be regarded as heroes."
     
    Martin snorted. "Rubbish!"
     
    "You think so?" Peter glared at him. "Take a ride over to Angus Construction . It's not too far from here. I met the parents of a young girl who went hunting there last weekend. Her boyfriend was killed and she was bitten."
     
    "Hunting?" Abby asked. "Why would anyone hunt a zombie?"
     
    Peter shrugged. "Who knows? I've seen kids come through the doors of the ER with all kinds of weird injuries."
     
    "So what are the police doing about it?" Martin asked. "Surely they're not allowing this to go on."
     
    "According to Tiffany's parents, the police posted a car outside the lot," Peter snorted. "A car! They should bring the whole goddamn force in there and level the place."
     
    "Is that what you want to do?" Martin asked.
     
    Peter paused and breathed. He knew that he couldn't directly answer Martin's question. "What happens if one of these safe houses cracks open? Can you imagine a hundred zombies all pouring out of one location?"
     
    Martin opened his mouth to reply, but Peter cut him off. "How many zombies do you think there are in the city? A thousand? Ten thousand? If you don't see your neighbor for two days, do you wonder what's become of him?"
     
    He would have gone on, but Martin had heard enough. He slammed his palm down on the table, bringing Peter's flow of questions to an abrupt halt. "Here now," he said. "I don't know what you're all about, but I don't like it."
     
    Peter glared at Martin, forgetting all about Abby. "You don't like it? Will you like it when you have zombies at your door? Will you like it when…"
     
    Martin slammed his hand down again, his neck and face turning read. "You'd better go," he said simply. "We're not here as recruits for your sick crusade."
     
    Breathing heavily, Peter made to challenge Martin, then thought better of it. One look at Abby showed