The Zombie Principle Read online

  THE

  ZOMBIE PRINCIPLE

  BY

  David R. Vosburgh and Daniel J. Pinkham

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead (or undead), is purely coincidental

  All rights reserved

  Copyright 2013

  Number Five Publishing LLC

  146 Pedersen Ridge Rd

  Milford, Pa 18337

  ISBN:978-0-9913393-0-3

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  PROLOGUE

  The old proverb states that, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” If only humanity would have learned to heed that warning, things may have gone differently. In early 2021 an elaborate cave system was discovered in the depths of the Amazon River rainforest. Located near the famed Jumandi caves near the town of Tena in the Napo Province of Ecuador, it had remained undiscovered by humans, until now. It appeared to have been created by an underwater river system similar to the one discovered in Brazil in 2011. It was in this cave that scientists made a startling discovery; an ancient bacterium unlike anything modern science had ever encountered.

  A small collection laboratory was quickly built near the discovery site. Samples were collected, labeled, and categorized based on where they were unearthed in the cave.

  The samples were then transported to a secret research facility in Southern Florida. A group of top scientists from around the globe, each with a particular specialization, were called in to study and document the amazing find. At the insistence of the donors funding the project, it was decided that secrecy was best for the safety and security of everyone involved. The scientists really had no idea what they were dealing with, so the strain was simply referred to by the code name: The Principle. Unsure how to proceed; each scientist was given time to study the bacteria and present their findings. A few became frustrated and left. Others presented their ideas with all the conviction of a bad poker player. After several years of trial and error which yielded underwhelming results, an interesting discovery was made.

  Dr. Lemuel Sanderson, a noted neurologist specializing in neurodegeneration diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS) and severe brain trauma, noticed a slight similarity to Levodopa, a drug commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Under his supervision, the few remaining scientists and research assistants began conducting tests with lab rats as subjects. Initial results were disappointing. The rodents seemed unaffected by the bacteria. Different doses and combinations were tried. Finally in the delta test group a breakthrough was achieved, several subjects seemed to have improved cognitive ability. They were able to solve simple problems or obstacles put before them by the researchers.

  Through his connections with the Brain Research Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Dr. Sanderson was able to obtain volunteers for the experimental procedures he was planning next. These were unfortunate individuals suffering from late stage dementia, advanced Alzheimer’s, ALS, and several patients with traumatic brain injuries. With little to lose, these patients and their families were willing to try anything to get better.

  The patients were given individual doses of varying amounts. At first, nothing happened. Then in the echo test group, subject number five awoke from a long slumber and not only could remember his name but knew the names of the research staff, the particular day of the week and the name of his second grade teacher. Photos were shown to him of his family members whom he recognized immediately. The results were astonishing.

  Soon after, others were starting to show similar results, all except those suffering from ALS. The bacteria seemed to have little to no effect on them. These ALS patients were soon returned to the care of their former physicians. Those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, however, made amazing strides. It was as if something had awakened from deep inside them, something with great patience; something willing to wait in a dark cave for a millennium to be discovered.

  Largely forgotten by a fickle populous, the small research team now operated in anonymity. What was once front page news was now merely an interesting footnote in history. The lack of progress had bored the general public. They couldn’t care less what was happening in that laboratory in the Florida Everglades. That, however, was about to change.

  Chapter 1

  Number 5

  Test subject Number 5 had arrived eight months earlier, the victim of a horrific auto accident which left him in a deep coma. Number 5 was completely unresponsive and showed very little sign of brain activity. Three months after introducing the bacteria into Number 5’s brain stem, the first sign of improvement was observed. As the weeks progressed and the dosages increased the brain became more active. Three weeks ago Number 5’s brain had been repaired to a point where he awoke from the coma. Beyond just waking, Number 5 had regained his full memory and had regained full use of his body. Surprisingly there was no muscle atrophy as would normally be the case in a person waking from a lengthy coma. As Number 5 was observed and put through tests, the scientists discovered that the bacteria was no longer confined just to the brain; but had traveled down the spinal column and into the nervous system, slowly spreading throughout the entire body. Outwardly Number 5 looked and acted normal but inside his body, he was undergoing something that none of the scientists could explain.

  As the automatic glass door slid shut and sealed behind Dr. Sanderson he could not help but turn his nose up at the smell. He had been a doctor for 25 years and would never get accustomed to the sterile smell of a medical lab. It was a long, fairly narrow room with a rectangular table, or work bench, in the center of the room. Smaller benches were located on either side. In the near corner was a refrigerator with cabinets above it containing supplies, most notably, test tubes. An incubator was located in the far corner and scattered throughout the room you could see a scanning electron microscope, cell counters, centrifuges, and micro-plate readers. At the far end of the lab, a Plexiglas window looked into a medical ward. A keypad secured door separating the ward from the lab was next to the window.

  Seeing his young lab assistant, Keith, in the corner sitting on one of the many stools in the lab and working with the light florescent microscope, Dr. Sanderson cleared his throat.

  “Any new developments with test subject Number 5?” he asked picking up a nearby chart.

  Given a small start, the young assistant adjusted his glasses and replied, “Just more of the same boss, and it’s starting to creep me out. It’s just not normal.”

  “What about any of this is normal? It is not every day you find an ancient b
acteria that has been lying dormant in an unexplored cave, that just happens to have miraculous healing powers in the human brain,” replied Dr. Sanderson with a smile.

  “That’s not what I’m talking about boss. It’s just the way they look at you sometimes. It’s like looking into the eyes of something that’s not really there, something dead … like a zombie.”

  “Come on Keith, that’s ridiculous, you used to work for the CDC, so you know there is no bacteria or virus that can reanimate dead tissue. I simply think the patients sometimes get lost in all the memories they can finally remember. There has got to be a lot going on in their minds that we don’t even know about.”

  “You’re probably right Doc, but it still gives me the creeps,” Keith said rolling his chair over to the computer.

  Keith was short, with wide brimmed glasses, and an overactive imagination. He had come highly recommend to Dr. Sanderson from the CDC for his work with clinical trials. He was now Dr. Sanderson’s go to guy for test results and observation records.

  As Keith cycled through the camera feeds on the monitor he said, “Number 5 is the oddest of all. Ever since he woke up something seems different with them all. It’s probably just me though; I haven’t been above ground in 4 months now. I think it’s time for a vacation, boss.”

  “You’ll get your vacation after we present our findings to the World Health Organization, unless we need you to clean this place up once we are done with the tests,” Dr. Sanderson said with a chuckle. “By the way where is John? I thought you two were on the night shift?”

  “Where do you think he is boss? He says he’s sick again but I’m telling you he snuck out to the local watering hole and he’s just hung over again.”

  “You sound jealous Keith.”

  “Laugh all you want, but look who showed up for work.”

  “And that’s why you’re in charge.”

  “Whatever you say, boss, how about you keep me company tonight?”

  “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. I’ve got a conference call with our benefactor, and then I need some sleep. Tell you what I’ll do, on the way back to my quarters, I’ll stop by John’s room and see if he’s really sick. Maybe I can persuade him to come down and keep you company. If not, you’ll be fine on your own. But if you run into trouble you can give me a call. I might be able to drag myself down here and give you a hand.”

  Dr. Sanderson gave one more look to the computer monitor and put the chart back, then turned to leave. “Night Keith, I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Yeah, see you in the morning,” Keith said as the automatic glass door slid shut behind the Doctor.

  After he was sure the Doctor was gone, Keith rolled over to the mini fridge across the room and pulled out a soda and a microwave pizza. Opening the small microwave he put in the pizza and turned it on. Putting his feet up on the computer desk he pulled out his book reader and turned it on.

  “I don’t even know why we have to have a night shift. All the test subjects do is sleep, they don’t even look like they dream, they just lay there,” Keith mumbled to himself. He did not need to check up on the subjects for another hour so for now he would engage in his favorite activity at work, getting paid to read sci-fi books.

  Keith’s head jerked back and he almost fell out of his chair. His book reader lay on the floor alongside his empty soda can. Franticly looking at the clock Keith realized, to his horror, that he had fallen asleep for the better part of four hours. Quickly waking his computer, he began to switch through the test subjects’ video feeds. To his dismay every image he brought up was the same. The test subjects lay just as they had every night before, however, the vitals that accompanied the image showed that every test subject had flat lined. He typed away furiously on his computer bringing up the full real-time vitals of each test subject. It was all the same, each test subject was clinically dead.

  “The one night I actually fall asleep at this job and everything goes wrong,” he thought.

  Picking up the nearby phone Keith dialed Dr. Sanderson’s number. Nine agonizingly long rings later a very groggy Dr. Sanderson answered the phone, “…um ... hello ...”

  “I’m sorry boss, I didn’t mean to fall asleep, I really didn’t. I was just reading and nothing ever goes wrong and -”

  “Whoa, slow down Keith, what time is it?”

  “I … I ... don’t know, it’s almost 2 in the morning. You’ve got to get down here boss.”

  “Alright, alright, Keith take it easy. Let me just wake up. What happened?”

  In a rush of words Keith explained what he had discovered. By the time he finished talking Dr. Sanderson was fully awake and in a small state of panic.

  “OK Keith, let me get dressed and I’ll be right down. Have you run a diagnostics test on the computers?”

  “Of course, the computers are working fine. They are all dead. I’ll go in and physically check them myself.”

  “Alright, I’ll be there in about 20 minutes. It’s going to be OK.”

  Keith hung up the phone and rushed to the door separating the lab from the test subject’s quarters. Hurriedly, he punched in the combination into the keypad. With a hiss the door slid open. Grabbing the crash cart next to the door Keith wheeled it into the medical ward where the test subjects lay, apparently dead. Going from bed to bed Keith checked the monitors only to discover there were no errors, everything was functioning properly.

  Keith checked his watch anxiously counting the minutes before Dr. Sanderson would arrive. “He’ll know what to do, he always knows what to do,” he thought frantically.

  Moving from bed to bed Keith checked for signs of breathing or a pulse from the test subjects, each of which remained unresponsive. Rushing back into the lab he grabbed the medical kit and brought it back into the ward. Setting it down on the crash cart Keith opened it and then stopped realizing there was nothing he could do.

  Sinking to the floor with his head in hands Keith thought, “There’s nothing I can do. I cannot just bring the dead back to life. It’s all my fault, I fell asleep and they died. It’s as simple as that.”

  Keith was startled out of his thoughts by what sounded like a cough. Looking toward the lab, it did not appear that Dr. Sanderson had arrived yet. Slowly standing, Keith looked down the line of patients, his eyes settling on Test Subject Number 5 who again let out a strangled cough. Rushing to his side Keith checked for a pulse but strangely felt nothing. None of the monitors showed any signs of life. In fact, Keith could not detect any respiratory activity from Number 5. As he began to check the machines again Number 5 let out another ragged cough, but this time his eyes sprung open.

  Before Keith had a chance to process this development, he heard the same guttural coughs coming from the other nine test subjects around him. Making the rounds again to each bed he could detect no signs of life from any of the subjects. Somehow they all continued to cough and one by one their eyes opened. Unnerved and completely confused, Keith made his way to the far end of the room to hit the reset button for all the diagnostic machines. The lights dimmed as all the machines turned off and then back on again.

  When Keith turned back around he was surprised to see Number 5 standing next to his bed staring at him. It was the same stare that Dr. Sanderson attributed to the subjects being lost in thought, the same one that gave him the creeps. In fact, by this time, each of the other nine test subjects had begun to get up and stand beside their beds. Each turned to stare at Keith with vacant eyes.

  “Hey … are … are you guys ok? What’s … ah … going on?” Keith stammered.

  As if in response, Number 5 made a sound like a moan and cough combined. Then all 10 test subjects started stiffly moving towards Keith.

  Putting his hands up Keith managed to say “Whoa hold up there. What are you guys doing? Dr. Sanderson will be here any minute.”

  His confusion quickly turned into fear as the patients drew closer. “Hey, wait don’t touch me, what are you doing?”

  Pressing hi
s back to the wall, Keith tried to keep the test subjects at bay but they cornered him and were now grabbing for him. With the path to the door blocked, Keith tried to fight back but there were too many of them, each one grabbing at his arms, chest, and face.

  “Stop it, I said stop it! Help, somebody help me! Somebody hel … mprhhh … mprhhh,” Keith screamed in vain as Number 5 slowly and deliberately put a big cold hand over his mouth.

  Keith let out another muffled cry as one of the patients bit into his arm and another into his leg. With one last adrenaline fuelled effort Keith pushed off from the wall toppling to the ground onto two of the test subjects, the others quickly piling on top of him. They began to claw and bite at Keith’s clothes and body. The last thing Keith McFadden noticed before losing consciousness, as the test subjects began to tear into his flesh with their teeth, was that he had left the door to the lab open.

  Chapter 2

  The Students

  “Another beautiful day in paradise,” thought Stephen Russo sarcastically as he looked out his second floor bedroom window. “The weather around here never changes; quite boring really.” It is said the easiest job in America is a weatherman in Southern California. “It’s another gorgeous day out there today … over to you Tim with sports.” Stephen was hoping his upcoming trip to Six Flags amusement park would be a little less boring. Having just finished packing for the trip, he was antsy and ready to go.

  His father traveled quite a bit for business when he was younger, before settling here in Anaheim. They would move every few years, requiring a new school, new friends, and a new house. On family vacations they would go to the nearest (or in some cases not so near) Six Flags park. Most likely born out of guilt for moving his family around so much, his father would ask him where he would like to go on vacation and little Stephen would scream “Six Flags!” So off they would go. They always had a great time and it became something of a family tradition. The family had, as a matter of fact, managed to see every one of the parks. Every one, that is, except the park outside of Washington DC. That would be where he was heading today. The difference this time was he was not going there with his family. He and some friends from school were making the trip.