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I DECIDED ON CHLORINE GAS.


The ‘mustard gas’ appealed to me because it is simple and made of easily obtainable household chemicals.


I drove down the Gallegos driveway, as my gas delivery system is a bit bulky and awkward. I checked that the horde were in stasis in the courtyard.


Yep.


Then I made 9 trips back and forth to my pickup- 4 with red and blue beachballs, and 4 with green and yellow beachballs. And a final trip with my bow and quiver.






Yes, beachballs. I found a dozen packets each with 2 inflatable balls at the little market. I have no idea why; we have no beach…


A bit of experimenting showed that a slightly underinflated ball holds two gallons of liquid, easily loaded with a small funnel. The filled balls can be rolled fairly accurately, and a practice arrow pops them open nicely.


I had to be careful of the surface- don’t want them leaking near me! The underinflation seemed to help.


I used water for my experiments. Today, red and blue means vinegar; yellow and green means bleach. So long as the liquids combine, I knew the fumes should be lethal. But to zombies?


I rolled the first ball- a red and blue- into the courtyard. It was good, it stopped just resting against the leg of one of the nearest creatures.


None of the horde even reacted.


I rolled in a yellow and green that stopped a couple feet to the right of the first. It was a little farther apart than I would’ve liked, but I figured if I popped them on their closest sides, they’d mix ok.


All together I rolled in 4 pairs, each a little to the right of the previous ones. A little tune called “Bowling for Zombies” was inventing itself in my head, and I almost laughed out loud.


It wouldn’t have mattered, I guess- laughing. But I’ve hunted for many years, and I think it’s foolish and disrespectful not to take it seriously when one is out to kill another being.


My first 2 shots were perfect. I didn’t want to waste time, since I didn’t know how fast or far the gas would travel. But I needed to know if it worked.







Damn, I wasn’t expecting that. Almost immediately, the 3 that stood nearest the beachballs just keeled over where they stood. No coughing, no gasping, just- falling. Then the ones nearest them fell too.


Success beyond belief.


I shot the rest of the beachballs. The next to last took 2 arrows- my shot was hasty. This was working so well I got really worried I’d gas myself.


It’s dark now, and blessedly quiet.


With the local horde gone, I’ll travel to Agua Sana Fire Station, where I finally made contact on the State Fire radio channel.


Two firefighters, one with his family, are living there. It’s a good defensible metal building, without those fancy windowed bay doors.


I’ll steal Stevie’s little trailer and hit the shops in town first- for arrows, bleach and vinegar, and all the beachballs I can find.


Plus bottled water, fuel tanks for the pickup and generator, some beer (and steak, if I can find it), and of course dog food.


Humans will be the hunters again.


The story will continue, but I won’t have time to write it- I’ve got some hunting to do.