Sale!

Michael,
I hated this story, but we're going to publish it. The ending provides some real redemption by reminding us of the alien contacts we have in our every day world. And, of course, it's well-written and all that.

The Ghost-Dog story, "Fetch," goes to Fictitious Force.

raecarson and stillsostrange, you two told me this one would find a home.

I cannot express how happy I am about this sale.

Sale!

Michael,
I hated this story, but we're going to publish it. The ending provides some real redemption by reminding us of the alien contacts we have in our every day world. And, of course, it's well-written and all that.

The Ghost-Dog story, "Fetch," goes to Fictitious Force.

raecarson and stillsostrange, you two told me this one would find a home.

I cannot express how happy I am about this sale.

Unfair!

Dudes, I finally sell one of my favorite stories, and what happens? Zombies attack, that's what happens.

We've retreated upstairs, as the patio door made the downstairs completely indefensible. The teenagers from up the hill broke through it with no trouble. At least there's only one way up here: the staircase makes a major choke point and any idiot with a 12 gauge can hold it with a little determination.

But they just keep coming. It's like they're trying to stack their own dead/undead up for cover and something to climb on. The one with the fuchsia (or maybe pinkish blood) hair seems to be some kind of Zombie-Queen. I keep trying to get her in my sites, but she's got the Dark's own luck.

I can hear them downstairs, shuffling around dripping gore on my carpet and mocking my CD and DVD collection.

We've ammo, water, cold pizza, and internet. Behind me is the raspy sound of careswen methodically sharpening the swords. Once the ammo is gone, well, I guess we'll fight hand-to-stump for as long as we can hold out. The Reverend Selena has sharpened her claws and is now napping. I envy her calm in the face of sure doom.

They're massing at the bottom of the stairs for another push and I can hear scrabbling noises in the attic...

Unfair!

Dudes, I finally sell one of my favorite stories, and what happens? Zombies attack, that's what happens.

We've retreated upstairs, as the patio door made the downstairs completely indefensible. The teenagers from up the hill broke through it with no trouble. At least there's only one way up here: the staircase makes a major choke point and any idiot with a 12 gauge can hold it with a little determination.

But they just keep coming. It's like they're trying to stack their own dead/undead up for cover and something to climb on. The one with the fuchsia (or maybe pinkish blood) hair seems to be some kind of Zombie-Queen. I keep trying to get her in my sites, but she's got the Dark's own luck.

I can hear them downstairs, shuffling around dripping gore on my carpet and mocking my CD and DVD collection.

We've ammo, water, cold pizza, and internet. Behind me is the raspy sound of careswen methodically sharpening the swords. Once the ammo is gone, well, I guess we'll fight hand-to-stump for as long as we can hold out. The Reverend Selena has sharpened her claws and is now napping. I envy her calm in the face of sure doom.

They're massing at the bottom of the stairs for another push and I can hear scrabbling noises in the attic...

Report From The Field...

The scrabbling noise was our neighbor lady chewing through the ceiling.

She was a nice old lady, the kind who likely made cookies for her grandchildren on Sunday and brought hot dish over when someone passed away. It's too bad...

Once we realized they'd broken through the attic firewall between units, we knew there was no way to hold the upstairs. We tied a note to Selena's tail and lowered her out the window. She vanished into the darkness in search of help.

careswen and I decided to make a break for it. We loaded up water, weapons, pizza, and the laptop and we charged down the stairs. It was touch and go for awhile: the zombies were coming faster than I could reload and careswen can only be expected to swing a sword for so long. It looked like we might be overrun.

That's when the squirrels showed up.

I had always wondered about my wife, after that bite she received back in college.

I married a Were-Squirrel.

But you know, an army of squirrels is still an army. We made it clear and dashed down to Nine-Mile creek, using the foliage for cover. That Fuchsia-haired Zombie-Queen was on our tails and for a moment I thought we might have to turn and fight, but she stopped at the water's edge. We found an abandoned Caribou Coffee (with free wifi) and we've hunkered down. The squirrels are on the perimeter. We have coffee, tea, muffins, and scones. In the distance Eden Prairie is burning. Sporadic gunfire reaches our ears and there is the distinct sound of helicopters overhead...

Report From The Field...

The scrabbling noise was our neighbor lady chewing through the ceiling.

She was a nice old lady, the kind who likely made cookies for her grandchildren on Sunday and brought hot dish over when someone passed away. It's too bad...

Once we realized they'd broken through the attic firewall between units, we knew there was no way to hold the upstairs. We tied a note to Selena's tail and lowered her out the window. She vanished into the darkness in search of help.

careswen and I decided to make a break for it. We loaded up water, weapons, pizza, and the laptop and we charged down the stairs. It was touch and go for awhile: the zombies were coming faster than I could reload and careswen can only be expected to swing a sword for so long. It looked like we might be overrun.

That's when the squirrels showed up.

I had always wondered about my wife, after that bite she received back in college.

I married a Were-Squirrel.

But you know, an army of squirrels is still an army. We made it clear and dashed down to Nine-Mile creek, using the foliage for cover. That Fuchsia-haired Zombie-Queen was on our tails and for a moment I thought we might have to turn and fight, but she stopped at the water's edge. We found an abandoned Caribou Coffee (with free wifi) and we've hunkered down. The squirrels are on the perimeter. We have coffee, tea, muffins, and scones. In the distance Eden Prairie is burning. Sporadic gunfire reaches our ears and there is the distinct sound of helicopters overhead...

On The Move

The Reverend Selena has returned with a message tucked into her collar. Everyone who can still fight is rallying at the old Honeywell Torpedo Manufacturing Complex. Perhaps there are still explosives hidden in the secret basement.

Ironic, considering my wife once worked in that building...

There are too many windows in the coffee shop. We're down to our last box of ammo and the only squirrels still with us are Walter, Mae, and Lucille.

We're hopped up on caffeine. We're going to make a run for it.

On The Move

The Reverend Selena has returned with a message tucked into her collar. Everyone who can still fight is rallying at the old Honeywell Torpedo Manufacturing Complex. Perhaps there are still explosives hidden in the secret basement.

Ironic, considering my wife once worked in that building...

There are too many windows in the coffee shop. We're down to our last box of ammo and the only squirrels still with us are Walter, Mae, and Lucille.

We're hopped up on caffeine. We're going to make a run for it.

Final Message Until Morning

The Honeywell Complex was overrun. Turns out there is still is a secret government lab in the basement and it was swarming with zombies. The survivors were suprised and overwelmed in a matter of minutes. We managed to lose the zombies in the maze of the second floor. The squirrels were making a desperate last stand on the stairs, covering us as we fled into the night. We are hiding in a construction zone nearby. We have tied our last wills to Selena's tail and sent her scurrying away into the darkness. She has the best chance to survive 'till dawn of all of us now, being naturally nocturnal.

We can hear them, shambling in the darkness, see their shadows moving in the night around contruction vehicles and man-made dunes of dirt and fill. Soon I will turn off the laptop (we are getting a weak wifi signal from the Depot Coffee Shop across the street), the light from the monitor will give us away if I do not.

We are hunkered down in the basement of the construction, we last survivors. There is nowhere left to run.

They are coming...

Final Message Until Morning

The Honeywell Complex was overrun. Turns out there is still is a secret government lab in the basement and it was swarming with zombies. The survivors were suprised and overwelmed in a matter of minutes. We managed to lose the zombies in the maze of the second floor. The squirrels were making a desperate last stand on the stairs, covering us as we fled into the night. We are hiding in a construction zone nearby. We have tied our last wills to Selena's tail and sent her scurrying away into the darkness. She has the best chance to survive 'till dawn of all of us now, being naturally nocturnal.

We can hear them, shambling in the darkness, see their shadows moving in the night around contruction vehicles and man-made dunes of dirt and fill. Soon I will turn off the laptop (we are getting a weak wifi signal from the Depot Coffee Shop across the street), the light from the monitor will give us away if I do not.

We are hunkered down in the basement of the construction, we last survivors. There is nowhere left to run.

They are coming...