Ch.110Chapter 15. Dead Man Blues (1)

# Chapter 15. Dead Man Blues

This morning.

“I finished coding the search program. Now we just need to run it. It’ll take a while since there’s so much data to process.”

Cassandra ate breakfast with a very happy face. Camilla’s eyes sparkled as she heard this.

“If you don’t have any work to do for a while, want to come out with me to find food?”

“Sure.”

Camilla and I looked at each other in surprise. It might be a stereotype that all researchers and doctors hate outdoor activities, but Cassandra perfectly fit that stereotype.

Yet here she was, readily volunteering to go outside.

“Um, Cassandra. Are you sure? It’ll be much harder than our evening exercises.”

To my question, Cassandra replied nonchalantly.

“I want to collect some virus samples while we’re out.”

This time Camilla asked, looking somewhat tense.

“Uh, I hope this doesn’t mean we need to capture zombies alive, or extract samples from freshly killed zombies or something like that?”

“That would be nice, but it’s fine to take samples from dead zombie corpses, contaminated water, or pieces of clothing.

It felt a bit unsettling to collect food and virus samples at the same time, but Camilla said, “Well, if that’s all, I don’t mind,” and Cassandra insisted it was “absolutely safe.”

While alone, I took a short nap, finished organizing our supplies, looked at the several photos of outfit tryons that Letty had sent, and watered the planters on the rooftop.

Each planter contained different soil, but they were all planted with beans.

They had already sprouted, with tender new shoots glistening pale green. I carefully watered them, making sure not to damage the cotyledons.

There doesn’t seem to be much difference in their growth stages yet. However, after a certain point, some might suddenly experience rapid growth.

Just like what I saw at the flower research complex.

The cultures on one side died before they could properly grow, while those on the opposite side grew to grotesque proportions.

It wasn’t just at the research complex. On our way here, we often saw stark contrasts—barren wasteland on one side of a road and jungle-like growth on the other.

What could be the reason?

This experiment is partly to figure that out. How seeds from the same packet differ when planted in different soils.

If things go well, I might find a combination that’s both safe for the body and grows quickly. If we can grow vegetables, we could greatly reduce our dependence on looting and foraging.

It means we could be safer. And so far, things look promising.

The two women returned late in the afternoon. They brought a sack of potatoes, a sack of carrots, and enough specimens to fill a fairly large first aid kit.

They said there was a cold storage facility for crops about 10km south of the laboratory. Though the electricity was cut and the cooling system wasn’t working, the walls were sturdy, and the entrance had a lock on it.

Thanks to their haul, dinner consisted of fried potatoes and carrots with canned meatballs. Seasoned with pepper and salt, the well-browned potatoes were filling.

“Camilla, how did you open the lock? Did you pick it with wire?”

“I cut it by pressing a cutter against it with a thick cloth.”

“That must have been tough. It was probably quite thick.”

In response to my question, Camilla tilted her head toward Cassandra.

“Cassandra did the heavy lifting. She’s stronger than me in grip strength and overall power.”

Suddenly finding herself the center of attention, Cassandra blushed and became flustered.

“It, it was nothing for Cassandra. Camilla had it harder. It must have been difficult dragging Cassandra around…”

At Cassandra’s modesty, Camilla beamed with satisfaction.

“Our evening workouts definitely paid off. Cassandra was just like a cat. She moved so smoothly and quietly.”

She must be weak to this kind of praise. Cassandra was too embarrassed to look up. Anyway, I was glad to see the relationship between the two women improving, as they had seemed somewhat awkward before.

And that night.

In bed, Camilla moved her body with extraordinary intensity. She wanted more than usual and made pleading requests for me to do more.

Eventually, she climbed on top of me. I could see her swallowing hard as she contemplated something in the darkness. I had a pretty good idea what she was thinking about.

We had only been comforting each other with our hands so far. We hadn’t gone to the deeper stage yet. But now Camilla seemed to be considering whether to cross that line.

Something felt off. It didn’t seem like they had just gone on a simple outing. But Camilla was focused solely on our intimacy.

Camilla moaned more delicately than before. She clung to me desperately, as if drowning. Whether from being tense all day or from the lingering pleasure, she fell asleep in my arms, breathing softly.

Creeeeak…

I heard the sound of hinges moving. And a faint cold breeze blew in. Very subtle, but definitely there.

Had I not closed the door properly?

Not wanting to wake Camilla, I turned my head over my shoulder. For a long while, there was no sound. Just as I was thinking I might be too sensitive, Camilla made a soft “mmm” sound and pulled me closer to her.

Camilla’s breathing was slow and peaceful. Listening to it, sleep washed over me like waves. Thinking it was probably nothing, I drifted off.

* * * * *

The next morning.

After washing up, I went down to the third floor and found Cassandra sitting on the sofa. Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes were slightly bloodshot.

She looked exactly like a college student who had pulled an all-nighter during exam period.

“Didn’t you sleep?”

“I did.”

“When you answer while yawning and slumping like that, it’s hard to believe you.”

“…I organized some samples and also looked at some data analysis results.”

Cassandra made what seemed like excuses, but they weren’t convincing. She had definitely said she finished organizing the samples before going to bed last night.

Eventually, Cassandra started nodding off on the sofa. I was concerned she might have pushed herself too hard yesterday.

“Go to bed. We don’t have much to do this morning anyway. Just need to make sure the computer stays on by charging the battery with solar power.”

“Where’s Camilla?”

“Still sleeping. She must have been very tired yesterday.”

At my answer, Cassandra smiled. Just one corner of her mouth turned up.

“Ah, I bet she is.”

“This won’t do. Come on, get up. I’ll take you to your room.”

I took Cassandra’s hand and pulled her up. Surprisingly, she didn’t resist. In fact, she leaned against me as if she had been waiting for this.

“Where did your shoes go again?”

Now I noticed she was walking around in just socks. They were blackened with dirt, as if she’d been walking in them for quite some time.

“…They’re in my room.”

Cassandra’s room was extremely neat. It felt like a well-organized laboratory. There was also a subtle pleasant scent in the air.

I got her to sit on the bed, but she wouldn’t lie down.

“…Johan. Are you busy?”

“Not really.”

“Then keep Cassandra company for a while.”

Cassandra sat on the bed and whipped off her socks. Her feet were surprisingly small and pretty compared to her chest, which was large enough to bury one’s face in. They looked like they could fit in one hand.

“I will if you get under the covers and lie down.”

I dragged a chair over and sat down. Cassandra obediently slipped under the covers. The blanket undulated with each breath she took. It was like waves on the bed.

“Keep you company? What do you want to talk about?”

For some reason, Cassandra just stared up at me.

“…Just do what you do with Camilla.”

“What exactly happened between you and Camilla yesterday?”

At my question, Cassandra turned her head away.

“I don’t like talking about others.”

Clearly something had happened, but neither woman seemed particularly inclined to tell me about it. Well, I’m not that curious anyway.

So I just brought up a topic I was interested in.

“Do zombies eat vegetables? I mean, humanoid zombies tear into meat, but what about zombie giraffes or zombie rabbits…”

“Their basic habits don’t change much. Those that originally grazed on grass still eat plants. But they eat until their stomachs burst and die.”

“Wait, what?”

“Since they can’t feel pain, they don’t even notice when their stomachs tear. It’s worse for those in unprotected zones. The parts of the brain that control appetite and regulate the body break down.

As for human zombies, well… The idea of zombies filling their stomachs with grass or raw rice is interesting. Worth testing. If that’s the case…”

I seemed to have chosen the wrong topic. The woman who was about to fall asleep from exhaustion now had eyes sparkling with curiosity and academic enthusiasm.

“I once read an account of someone who cooked for a zombie. More precisely, it was the story of a pitiful man who couldn’t accept that his wife had become a zombie.

The man kept his wife in the basement. He hung a solid iron door and fed her through a slot. The zombified wife ate everything he gave her, but she still seemed hungry and wanted to eat more.

But the man had run out of money and couldn’t keep hiding from the neighbors anymore. In the end, he opened the basement door and offered himself to be eaten.

When the husband went missing, his workplace and neighbors reported it. This was before the unprotected zones were declared, and there weren’t many zombies yet. There was even debate about whether this was rabies or some kind of mental illness.

So the National Guard and the Disease Control Agency went to investigate. As soon as they entered, a terrible smell rose from the basement, so they all braced themselves and opened the door. And they saw…”

Cassandra stopped talking at that point. Come on, it’s a bit much to leave me hanging for more than ten breaths.

“…What did they see?”

I finally couldn’t help but ask. Cassandra burst out laughing, clearly amused.

“What’s so funny?”

“…Nothing. It’s nothing. I was just teasing. The guards and doctors who went down to the basement saw the remaining bones of the husband, who hadn’t even become a zombie, and a female zombie sleeping deeply with a swollen belly. Like a predator sleeping after being full, she didn’t wake up or get up even when they shined lights on her or fired warning shots.”

“Was it because she was too full?”

“I don’t know. The National Guard and Disease Control Agency not only evacuated the basement but forced the entire village to relocate and then burned it down.

But I do remember a rather striking assessment from a certain cleric. He was a zombie rights activist who himself became a zombie not long after, so his assessment became something of a posthumous work.”

Cassandra yawned expansively. Her eyes seemed half-closed. But she looked up at me with a smile, as if she really wanted to tell this story.

“According to him, zombies simply faithfully reflect the three basic human desires. Hunger. Sleep. Sex.

If zombies could eat their fill, they would next fall into a death-like sleep, and after waking up again, they would live for love. Therefore, he couldn’t see zombies as anything other than human.”

“That’s quite a radical theory, isn’t it?”

“If they know how to share love, they all deserve respect—that’s what he was trying to say.”

Cassandra pulled her hand out from under the covers. It was covered in wounds and scars. Feeling somewhat sorry for her, I took her hand. Cassandra was surprised but soon relaxed into my touch.

“…Are you still experimenting on your own body these days?”

That’s why Cassandra’s body had so many needle marks. Injecting viruses into her own body. Drawing blood, injecting viruses. No wonder her arms and hands were in such condition.

“Why? Afraid I might eat you?”

Of course, the virus in Cassandra’s body is a very special kind. And her body is different from ordinary people’s in many ways. Even Camilla, who knows quite a bit about the human body, often says she doesn’t fully understand it.

“It’s not that. You must be good at what you do. It’s just…”

“Just?”

This time I was the one who didn’t speak for more than ten breaths. Cassandra’s eyes narrowed. I smiled and gently placed my hand on her forehead.

“I just think you could treat your body a little more preciously.”

I kept her eyes closed for a long time. It seemed like she wouldn’t fall asleep otherwise.

Cassandra soon drifted off to sleep, but she didn’t let go of my hand.