Zombie Lover (46 page)

"Hello," Breanna said as the wolf got out of the boat. "Welcome to the Isle of Wolves. Will you defend it against all enemies, including gruesome monsters?"

The wolf nodded, and a bit of furry skin dropped to the ground. Dolph winced.

"Change form, please," Breanna said.

The wolf became a similarly decaying man. His eyes were sunken, and his lips had rotted away, so that his teeth were bare.

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"I am Breanna of the Black Wave I'm not a werewolf, I'm just part of the welcoming committee Who are you9"

"Ztigma Zhombie "

Breanna paused, and Dolph knew she was consulting with Justin Tree "Stigma9 As in a mark of disgrace or disease9"

"Yez"

"Fair enough," she said "Stigma, I'm going to give you a welcoming kiss Hold out your arms "

The zombie did Breanna stepped into that clumsy embrace, wrapped her arms around the decaying torso, and planted a solid kiss on the lipless mouth She held that pose for a more than sufficient moment, then disengaged "You will like it here," she said "Now you can meet King Wolverton " She turned to face the werewolves

"She did it," a werewolf said, shuddering
 
"We're stuck for it "

"So we are," the king said "Well, a deal's a deal " He strode forward and shook the hand of the zombie "Welcome," he said gruffly, and walked away, his hand stiff, as if needing to be plunged into a vat of boiling soap

Dolph knew that after that, no other werewolf would criticize the zombie He would get along

Breanna walked back to join him There was smear of ick on her mouth, and a chunk of rot on her shoulder Her green eyes were staring, as if encrusted with sickly slime "Help me," she whispered

Dolph picked her up and flew her to another section of the beach, out of sight of the werewolves. He led her to the water, and then into it, setting her slippers on the dry sand He scooped up a handful of sea and washed oft her tace and hands Then he touched up aspects of her clothing, though this made them damp

"I had to do it," she said
  
"But it was awful "

"You showed real courage," he said "That zombie was far gone ''

She became more animated "But I survived it And I got the job done The zombies can't help the way they are They don't deserve to be shunned."

"True The Zombie Master, who makes them, is a nice man, and his wife, Millie the Ghost, is nice too They are both human, but getting old ' *

"Who will represent the zombies when those two move on9 I

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mean, apart irom King Xeth7 Doesn't there have to be some living interaction?"

"Yes, I think so I never thought about it'

"I feel another impulse coming on
 
Is there time to visit there7'

"Time before dark7 I doubt it'

"Let's go anyway
  
Now
 
I want to meet the Zombie Master " 'He may not be awake "

"Well, then Millie
  
I want to knovv how they relate to the zom bies "

So she donned her slippers, and Dolph picked her up again, slightly dripping, and flew across the sea to the mainland, and then on over land to Castle Zombie By the time they arrived, it was dusk The castle was brooding in the shadows, but it could manage that almost as readily in full sunshine

They landed at the drawbridge
  
"Halsh1" the zombie guard cried losing a tooth

Breanna stooped to pick up the tooth "Here," she said, returning it to the guard

Zombies
   
were
   
seldom
   
startled,
   
but
  
this
   
one
   
managed
   
it "Thanksh " He put the tooth back in his mouth

"We ha\e come to see the Zombie Master," Dolph said "I am Prince Dolph, and this is Breanna of the Black Wave "

"Thish whay " The guard led them across the mold-encrusted bridge to the mildewy front gate

Breanna looked around
 
"It's beautiful, inside "

"Millie is a good housekeeper "

"You sure can't tell by the outside " She tilted her head thoughtfully "Which I guess is true of people—and zombies "

Soon they reached the interior office This time the Zombie Master was there along with Millie "Why hello Dolph1 I did not expect to see you back so soon " He glanced at Breanna "But Aurora has changed significantly "

"This isn't Aurora," Dolph said quickly "This is Breanna of the Black Wave Aurora is \uth Erica, another winged mermaid Breanna is the one King Xeth wanted to marry "

"But she looks to be only fifteen
  
' Millie protested

"Yes So she was not suitable But Xeth didn't understand Now he has decided on another woman—

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"Yes, Zyzzyva." the Zombie Master said. "We have word that they are coming here soon."

"But after her experience with zombies, Breanna wanted to learn more about them, so we came here."

"Well, I finally managed to locate Planet Zombie," the Zombie Master said. "It is well along in the chain, but most of its creatures and plants are zombies, and its rocks are well eroded. Now Millie and I will be able to retire there, together with any zombies who wish to come. I believe that the majority will. But there remains one problem."

"Who is going to run Castle Zombie," Breanna said.

"Yes. We are the only living folk here, and there needs to be someone living, because other living folk may have a certain problem relating to zombies. So we will wait a few more years, until we train in someone else for this. Then at last we'll be able to go and relax."

Dolph found this interesting. "Who will come here?"

"We don't know," Millie said. "Jonathan asked the Good Magician Humfrey, and he said he would work on it, but so far no prospects have appeared. We're looking for a man of experience and judgment, or perhaps a couple." She glanced at her husband. "We found that works well enough."

"The Good Magician will surely come up with someone," Dolph said.

"Yes, it is not an easy search." the Zombie Master said. "The man must have maturity, yet be young enough to remain for some time. The woman must be sensible enough to accept the presence of zombies. Age and youth combined."

A light flashed over Dolph's head. "Grandfather Bink" he exclaimed. "Bink and Chameleon! That must be why they got youthened!"

The Zombie Master's jaw dropped. "I never thought of that. Yes, they would be perfect. But they would have to want to do it. Do they?"

"I don't know. The subject never came up. I don't think Magician Humfrey ever spoke to them."

"Curious," the Zombie Master said. "Maybe he is waiting for them to think of it themselves. It's not the kind of position that anyone should be urged into; the desire should come from within."

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"Maybe." Dolph agreed dubiously. "Yet Bink was right here, and didn't think of it."

"Some things take time," Millie said. "I did not understand zombies at first. Maybe Chameleon does not."

"Could be," Dolph agreed. He turned to Breanna. "Do you want to see the rest of the castle?"

"I am curious," Breanna said. "If it's not too much trouble."

"I will be happy to give you a tour," Millie said. "I don't see many living women here."

"I guess you don't." Breanna agreed half ruefully. She glanced at Dolph. "You won't mind waiting?"

"Go ahead," he said. "I'll tell Jonathan about your experience with the werewolf."

"Thanks." Breanna looked as if she were suppressing a grimace.

The old woman and the young woman went off. Dolph turned to the Zombie Master, who was looking at him with a question mark. "We encountered a zombie werewolf coming to the Isle of Wolves. Breanna used to be scared of zombies, but once she worked it out with King Xeth she defends them. She got the werewolves to accept a zombie."

"Oh, that would be Stigma. He had hoped to be with his own kind. But often there can be prejudice. How did she do it?"

"She kissed him on the mouth."

"But he doesn't have any lips."

"She kissed his teeth, I guess. It was a nervy thing to do. After that they couldn't deny him. They were shamed into it."

"She must be more of a person than she looks."

"I think so. She can be feisty and blunt, but she means well, and she learns from experience. After that, she was curious about Castle Zombie, so I brought her here for a visit." Dolph paused, then remembered something else. "She n more than she looks. Justin Tree is with her."

"Justin Tree! But isn't he firmly planted in the North Village?"

"Yes. But he craved some human adventure, so made a deal with Breanna. He shares her adventure, in exchange for his good advice. So she has the advantage of a truly mature perspective."

"Interesting things are happening. I would never have thought of that." The Zombie Master changed the subject. "Have you learned

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who is to be married at Castle Roogna7 We received an invitation, and will attend
 
but we wonder '

"No word yet' Dolph said "We're trying to help the Werewolf Prince Jeremy find his true love, so that we can get back in time for that ceremony But it s not going well He is cursed not to know his true love until she comes to him, but she doesn't know it either, so won't come "

"That is a bad curse, ' the Zombie Master agreed

"I understand that the Curse Fiend Woman who made it was really angry She wanted him to truly suffer, and she succeeded "

The women returned "It's such a lovely castle," Breanna said "Millie showed me everything '

"It was nice to have an appreciative audience,' Millie said "You must stay for tee and crumples "

It was now full night "I think we had better get back to the Isle of Wolves before we are missed," Dolph said with regret

"We can wait a little longer," Breanna said

So they stayed for the refreshment, and it was good Breanna asked for the recipe, and Millie gave it to her Then at last they departed "They're really nice," Breanna said "I'm glad we visited "

"To fly at night, I must assume another form," Dolph said "It may not be as comfortable for you

"That's okay I needed to unwind, after—after Stigma This worked just fine "

Dolph became a large night hawk She made herself halfway com fortable in his talons, and he launched into the night sky
 
His vision in this form was excellent

"Oh, look—there's Xeth and Zyzzyva walking south," Breanna said

He looked down, and sure enough, there they were He had forgotten that her talent was to see in darkness Obviously it was a good one