Father Ng stroked the scraggly whiskers of his mustache while looking at his wife, Enma, a young south African woman. "I wonder what they called the Fu Manchu before Fu Manchu," he said thoughtfully.
Enma caressed his wiry beard and said, "Maybe they called it the Theophilus Ng, old man."
"Oh yeah, I'm six years older than you. Bring me my cane." They both laughed. "Geez, you know, sometimes I wish my last name was longer."
"Hm. Theophilus Longer. Yeah, that has a nice ring to it." This time they laughed harder and longer. Ever since the outbreak, the couple had resolved to stay as cheerful as possible to keep their family safe from the zombies. The smell of fear seemed to be what attracted them, so they worked hard to be fearless.
Their oldest son, Mbu was off to college, but their two adopted children, Yanluo, a 7-year-old Chinese boy and Yama, a 5-year-old Japanese girl needed to be protected from the zombie threat. That is what brought them to Code Gray, a safe haven against zombies, established in Yuma, Arizona. A constant message was broadcast in a wide circle in hopes of attracting any survivors. People from as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada were showing up nearly every day.
Father Ng had brought his family all the way from Marble Cliffs, Arizona when he heard the broadcast. Enma had wanted to wait for Mbu, but Theophilus was insistent. He believed that if Mbu was starting from Las Vegas, which is where he was when they had lost communication with him, it would be closer for him to get to the stronghold in Yuma than to return to Marble Cliffs.
A knock came at the door. It was Yama and Yanluo. They came into the room. "Hey dad, the guy outside said you've been assigned dune patrol." If there's one thing Yuma has no shortage of, it's sand. Citizens of Code Gray were assigned periodic tasks in order to help the community as a whole. Dune patrol meant roving the perimeter of the stronghold, armed with a shark proof chain mail outfit, a shotgun and a whistle.
"Okay. What time does my shift start?"
"Balls to four," replied Yanluo. That meant from midnight to four o' clock. Yanluo had already acquired the military-style lingo of the camp.
"I hate it when you have to go out there at night," voiced Enma.
"I know, sweetie. The night shifts are provided night vision goggles, so don't worry."
At 2345 that night, which is 11:45 pm, Father Ng reported for duty to the guard shack. He conducted turnover with the previous watch stander and then assumed the post.
At 0013 (12:13 am) something went horribly wrong.
Enma caressed his wiry beard and said, "Maybe they called it the Theophilus Ng, old man."
"Oh yeah, I'm six years older than you. Bring me my cane." They both laughed. "Geez, you know, sometimes I wish my last name was longer."
"Hm. Theophilus Longer. Yeah, that has a nice ring to it." This time they laughed harder and longer. Ever since the outbreak, the couple had resolved to stay as cheerful as possible to keep their family safe from the zombies. The smell of fear seemed to be what attracted them, so they worked hard to be fearless.
Their oldest son, Mbu was off to college, but their two adopted children, Yanluo, a 7-year-old Chinese boy and Yama, a 5-year-old Japanese girl needed to be protected from the zombie threat. That is what brought them to Code Gray, a safe haven against zombies, established in Yuma, Arizona. A constant message was broadcast in a wide circle in hopes of attracting any survivors. People from as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada were showing up nearly every day.
Father Ng had brought his family all the way from Marble Cliffs, Arizona when he heard the broadcast. Enma had wanted to wait for Mbu, but Theophilus was insistent. He believed that if Mbu was starting from Las Vegas, which is where he was when they had lost communication with him, it would be closer for him to get to the stronghold in Yuma than to return to Marble Cliffs.
A knock came at the door. It was Yama and Yanluo. They came into the room. "Hey dad, the guy outside said you've been assigned dune patrol." If there's one thing Yuma has no shortage of, it's sand. Citizens of Code Gray were assigned periodic tasks in order to help the community as a whole. Dune patrol meant roving the perimeter of the stronghold, armed with a shark proof chain mail outfit, a shotgun and a whistle.
"Okay. What time does my shift start?"
"Balls to four," replied Yanluo. That meant from midnight to four o' clock. Yanluo had already acquired the military-style lingo of the camp.
"I hate it when you have to go out there at night," voiced Enma.
"I know, sweetie. The night shifts are provided night vision goggles, so don't worry."
At 2345 that night, which is 11:45 pm, Father Ng reported for duty to the guard shack. He conducted turnover with the previous watch stander and then assumed the post.
At 0013 (12:13 am) something went horribly wrong.
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