Newsflash

As Maggie and Tony walked into Lieutenant Konczak’s office he waved them to a seat his eyes intent on the TV screen. “I’ve had a call from FBI. The dead are coming back all over the state. We’ve been lucky to have had so few sightings so far.”

“Now, back to our reporter in New Bedlam,” said the studio newsreader and the picture cut to a reporter outside a trailer park. “It was here at two p.m. today that the first sighting was made. Mr. Greenwold was walking his dog when he saw someone staggering across the road.”

The screen cut to a recording made earlier. An unshaven middle aged man with his belly spilling over his belt was speaking to the camera. “I was walkin’ me dog when I saw him across the road. At first I didn’t take no notice but then I recognized him. It was my mate Terry. Terry Johnson. He looked bloody awful”.

The screen changed back to the outside reporter. “Terry Johnson died ten days ago from a **** overdose. Allegedly, he dug himself out of his grave, walked the two miles home and broke into his trailer surprising his wife and a friend. Mrs. Johnson phoned the police when her husband became abusive and he’s currently in custody”.

The picture switched back to the studio. “Reports are flooding in from across the country of recently dead loved ones coming back to life. There has been no official comment from the authorities but we will keep you posted. Over now to our Religious correspondent who is with Bishop M’komo…” The lieutenant turned the set off.

“They’re not telling it all,” the lieutenant said. “The Fed’s told me that it’s been going on for a couple of days. It starts with the most recent dead and seems to be working backwards. Apparently they seem to come round seeming pretty normal but pretty quickly change. They aren’t zombies like in the movies. They can remember who they are but they seem unable to control their most basic drives. This means they seem to have a strong sexual desire and are quick to anger. A certain amount depends on the individual but the Fed’s told us to treat every zombie as potentially very dangerous. Shoot to kill. They’re dead anyway so they have no rights.”

“Can we kill them?” Maggie asked.

“God knows,” sighed the lieutenant, “but we’re gonna have to try. If they all come back, well, there are more bodies in the ground than people living.”

“Dr. Zeigler!” exclaimed Maggie. “We left him with Mrs. Rosebloom!” Maggie and Tony explained what had happened down at the morgue.

“You better check he’s okay. Then I want you to get out on patrol. It might be a long night.”