Chapter 23: Wave

The pastor used presentation well.

He showed his uniqueness by being the only one without a mask, created religious atmosphere during services, and performed killing zombies with a cross.

Though I couldn’t match that level of skill, there were things to learn from it.

‘Staging a zombie wave… could work well?’

Sitting on the toilet, I stared at my phone, tapping the screen repeatedly.

Movie-like scenes played vividly in my mind. An approaching zombie wave, Hope community’s struggle, victory after sacrificing a few people, the community uniting, people filled with hope and confidence.

The means to draw in a zombie wave was the issue, but couldn’t I outsource that?

Bzzt-

Just then my phone vibrated. It was some messenger app known for security, apparently used by various recently formed groups. Especially groups straddling the line of legality.

RiderZero: …Customer. You want us to bring a zombie horde? Did I read that right?

I quickly typed a reply.

Yes: Yeah. Isn’t it just another kind of delivery? Zombie delivery?

This was the delivery vigilantes, formed by delivery drivers. They did small purchase runs and took on some rough jobs too.

From what I knew, they had considerable fighting power. Bodies protected by helmets and rider suits, motorcycles that could dart through narrow gaps, iron clubs for smashing zombies while riding.

They lived up to the title of “knights”.

But it seemed these knights had actual knightly spirit too.

Bzzt, bzzt, bzzt, my phone buzzed repeatedly.

RiderZero: No, listen.

RiderZero: I really hate saying this to a customer but.

RiderZero: This isn’t right. Are you a terrorist? There are things humans shouldn’t do. Anyway we can’t take this request. Blocking you.

I gaped at the screen, staring blankly.

They didn’t even try to negotiate payment. Just blocked me and left immediately. I was dumbfounded.

‘Are they doing that well? Has the world not fallen enough?’

No, no. It’s image-making. For a group to survive long in the apocalypse, it’s better not to make enemies.

Causing trouble recklessly could get you raided. People were too smart – it wasn’t easy.

After a small sigh, I searched for other chat rooms.

There were those who lived only for today without caring about image-making. The problem was they were such true day-by-day madmen that we might face a marauder attack instead of a zombie wave…

‘Ah. These guys are a bit…’

I scrolled through the chat room with distaste.

Juvenile crime gang.

The room where I’d leaked one visitor log.

Their notice showed group photos of some young thugs. Girls and boys alike with tattoos, tight clothes, cigarettes. The text below was the crowning touch.

Kiss to join our fam. Must mix spit.

What this meant was only those infected with the I-virus could join the gang. In other words, they were all already zombie candidates.

True madmen living just three weeks. Of course they had no brakes.

‘Kids these days are scary…’

I shuddered and quickly left the chat room. By any measure, outsourcing the zombie wave to this crime gang was out.

Around then I turned off my phone and left the bathroom.

Seemed I needed to check the streets myself. Things like zombie numbers and street conditions. It was time for group outings anyway.

As various families gathered at Hope community, around 30 people lived in the church building. Naturally, there were all sorts of people.

Young couples with babies, college students living alone who brought dogs or cats, and people with regular reasons to go out.

The thieving elder called out to people gathered in the chapel:

“Those getting supplies from home on the left, those going to hospitals on the right!”

People divided left and right. But quite a few needed to visit hospitals. The thieving elder blinked.

“Are this many people sick?”

“I have high blood pressure… Need to take medicine regularly.”

“I have a herniated disk.”

“Diabetes here.”

“My wrist!”

People each complaining of ailments.

I smacked my forehead. Modern chronic diseases. Illnesses needing constant management. Patients living with time bombs in their bodies once society collapsed.

For a moment evil wisdom welled up about how to eliminate them, but I barely suppressed it.

I recalled something I’d read online. They said out of every 5 people, one was definitely trash. With about 30 church people, that meant at least 6 were trash.

Excluding the vicious electricity thief and faithless thieving elder, that meant 4 pieces of trash were lying dormant. Compared to that…

‘Patients are better. Better than betrayal or trouble-making.’

Patients were rather loyal. Who would take in sick people during the apocalypse? If taken in, they’d work hard regardless. Even if just farming in bottles.

“Then for the hospital. Deacon Kwon! Want to go?”

“Ah. I can’t drive. Send Do-hyung?”

I snapped to attention and nudged Do-hyung.

I couldn’t go somewhere dangerous like a hospital. My faithful right-hand man should go.

Fortunately Do-hyung stepped up with a bright smile. Probably because Na Yeji with her hurt wrist had joined the hospital group.

The thieving elder briefly showed an uncomfortable expression.

“Then come with me for supplies?”

I could guess his thoughts. Probably wanted to steal something but felt I’d be in the way? Surely he didn’t think I considered him a thief and wanted to monitor him.

I quickly reassured the thieving elder.

“I just want to look around the streets. Don’t really know the city’s condition these days. I could go to the hospital too.”

Had to respect a thief’s territory.

But this time Do-hyung stepped back hesitantly. His eyes darted between Na Yeji and me. I had no idea why he was acting like this again.

It felt like I’d become the evil boss. Even my fellow marauder comrades were avoiding me. My mood was starting to sour too.

In the end Do-hyung was the easy target.

“The hospital makes sense. Might find doctors willing to join too.”

“Right. Look for doctors. Though it’ll be tough.”

And so we split up leaving the church. The ownerless church van carefully drove down the road.

The hospital trip took a long time. Large hospitals treating zombies and injured were too dangerous, so we visited smaller clinics in order.

Even at the small clinics, there were many patients and long wait times.

“We’ll be back!”

“Hey, go together!”

It was a dark evening.

Three people went into the oriental medicine clinic together for safety. Na Yeji said she was getting acupuncture for her wrist. Only three people including me remained in the van.

From the passenger seat, I glanced back through the rearview mirror. Two patients.

“I want to look around the streets a bit. Want to come?”

“Uh… that’s…”

“Deacon Kwon. It’s dangerous to leave the car.”

What was this? Were these guys the trash? Refusing important street reconnaissance.

I etched their faces seen in the mirror into my mind, then flung open the door and got out.

“Then please wait here.”

“Be careful!”

After double-checking my mask, I walked down the street brilliant with streetlights. Though the mask blocked smells, the apocalyptic atmosphere was overwhelming.

A street mixing various shops and mansions.

Many first floor windows were broken, glass shards scattered on the ground glittering like the Milky Way, and occasional corpses lay on the ground like picnickers in the cool evening weather.

‘Surprisingly few zombies though?’

I looked across the street. In the restaurant district, several people in fluorescent vests patrolled armed with weapons.

The restaurant district’s vigilantes. Dried blood visible on meat-cutting knives.

Indeed, zombies were easy to handle with proper preparation and resolve. With vigilantes active in each area killing zombies on sight, some safety could be achieved.

That’s when I instinctively felt a gaze.

‘…What’s that?’

Looking around, I saw a wide open door between walls.

And on the mansion’s first floor. A shadow watching me through broken windows. No, not human. A faint growling cry, dripping drool, bloodshot eyes.

A zombie. A zombie was staring at me from inside the dark mansion.

‘Ack!’

I raised my hammer in shock, but though the zombie bared its teeth, it didn’t come out. Several other zombies poked their heads out behind it, but all waited inside the house.

My skin crawled.

‘Learning?’

Vigilantes actively hunted zombies. Zombies had experienced this and learned. They knew how to hide. Like beasts avoiding dangerous predators.

They even used human houses well. Houses good for humans were good for zombies too.

I suddenly thought of intelligent animals. Dogs that could open doors, cats that could turn faucets, parrots that could mimic human speech, wolves hunting in packs, monkeys using tools.

‘If they’re… if they’re this smart…’

Weren’t zombies quite dangerous, not just the virus? Good for me of course, but right now alone…

The moment I sensed danger, it became reality.

The power went out. 8 PM, when service would normally be held. The time civilization’s lights went dark. Darkness became instinctive fear squeezing me.

Howling like wolves rang out from all directions.

“Kraaah!”

The zombie watching me’s horrible cry.

“Kreeeek!”

“Kraak!”

Horrible cries answering from all over the street. Who knew where they’d been hiding – zombie cries endlessly echoed from beyond the darkness. Like an omen of terrible attack.

Cold sweat soaked my clothes. The night’s chill crept in eerily.

‘Zombie wave? Really? Now?’

I spun around and ran for the car. Behind, beside, ahead, countless presences pursued. The crunch of broken glass underfoot in the darkness, pitter-patter of many footsteps.

Under the dim moonlight, zombie shadows writhed out from all directions. Countless horrific cries layered into noise.

My teeth ground together.

‘Why now!’

Come to the church when we’re at church!

I moved as roughly as possible like a zombie. In this darkness where you couldn’t see well anyway. Unlike bright daylight, if I acted similarly enough zombies wouldn’t bother distinguishing and attacking me.

I opened my mouth and let out a horrible cry.

“Kreek!”

I am zombie. I am comrade. No need to attack me. It worked thanks to the darkness. Or maybe they hadn’t learned this experience yet.

At some point I broke away from the surrounding zombies and made it back to the car.

Just then the people who’d gone to the clinic came running back breathlessly. Behind them came the faint ringing of an alarm clock. Seemed Do-hyung had used it well.

“Hurry, hurry! Oh, in front!”

For an instant, I saw Do-hyung raise his axe toward me. The axe blade gleaming with moonlight.

“Hey, it’s me! Start the engine quick!”

“Why are you acting like a zombie again-“

No time for nonsense. We jumped into the van instantly and Do-hyung skillfully started the engine.

That light. Engine noise. Zombies that had emerged onto the street swarmed to pound on the car. Fists hammering windows, feet kicking on the hood after climbing up, even striking the glass with what seemed like rocks.

Crack-!

The window cracked.

“What are you doing! Floor it!”

“Which way do we go!”

Do-hyung slammed the accelerator. Vroom, the car lurched forward, zombies rolling off the hood and others getting hit. The car bumped – zombies crushed under the wheels.

I watched scenes flash by in the headlights.

The sight of crouching zombies flooding forward like water. Not just restaurants with food smells in the dining district, but shops with vegetables or fruits displayed outside were getting absolutely ransacked.

The vigilantes? Swept away by the zombie wave. Rather, zombies now wielded the vigilantes’ weapons.

Do-hyung spoke calmly.

“Go to the church? Though if things go wrong we might end up leading them there.”

Of course we had to go to the church building – where else? With good timing this could be an opportunity. Leading them was exactly my goal.

I looked back through the side mirror. Zombies chasing the bright noisy car.

“Slow down. Go slowly.”

“What? Why-“

“Phones still work right? We need time to call the church so they can prepare.”

Actually I wanted to lead the zombie wave, but best to polish the justification.

“I’ll tell them to prepare disinfectant for us at the entrance and get ready for defense.”

I clenched my fist. Yeah, who needs outsourcing? I could lead them myself. This situation was cleaner anyway.

We headed to the church, leading hope that would unite Hope community.