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 Now we have to fix up the other problem. Augusta wished she could have
sounded more positive but she knew it would take more than a loss of memory spell to
get rid of the zombies.
 I will not let those zombies take you. Titch was adamant.  I would be happier if
Argon knew.
 If Argon knew what? The man in question said as he pushed opened the half
closed door.
Bugger. Hiccup, hiccup, hiccup.
 Augusta? Argon went and stood before her?  What s going on? And don t tell me
it s nothing as we know your hiccups betray you.
To lie or not to lie? Technically she would be saving his life if she lied. Augusta
looked into his dark, soulful eyes and her heart contracted with love. I can t lie to him.
 Well you see I sort of made a deal with the zombies. They wanted you but would
accept me instead.
Argon sucked in a deep breath, then blew it out.
 I would have gone with a lie, Tilly murmured, meaningfully looking at Titch.
 Why, Augusta? His hands went to her shoulders gently.
God, wasn t it obvious to him? She would do anything for him.
 I love you.
 And I love you but I can t and won t live without you.
 Aww&  Tilly sighed and moved in close to her beloved.
It was sweet and exactly what she expected Argon to say.
 You re immortal. But the meaning behind what he said was enough even if the
actual ability was there.
Titch smiled.  You re not any more, are you Argon?
Augusta clutched at his chest. What had he done?
 What does Titch mean?
Argon cupped her face in his hand.
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 It took some persuasion but the powers that be set me free. I feel like a huge
weight has been lifted from my shoulders. He exchanged a meaningful nod with Titch,
who had also given up his immortality to be with the woman he loved.  I don t want to
live forever, Augusta True, if I don t have you. It s my birthday gift to you.
It was everything she wanted to hear Argon say but Augusta feared that it might
still be too late for them.
 Damn, Tilly cursed in annoyance.  We could have used your magic to get rid of
the smelly walking dead guys.
 My dear Tilly, we will have to use logic instead.
Tilly mumbled something about  logic sucking badly which made Argon smile.
He turned back to the woman he loved.  You are not going to sacrifice yourself for me.
Argon kissed her softly.
Augusta licked her lips as she rested her hands on his chest.
 I think it s more a case of them coming to me.
Argon shook his head at this.  No, we ll think of something.
 We need to get into the city and stop them. The Zombie Walk is due to start in
twenty minutes. Titch ran a hand through his shaggy blond hair.  Not a good time to
lose the power to orb us there.
 It s okay. If Tilly drives we ll get there in no time. The woman was a speed
demon and normally it scared Augusta to death to drive with her but time was of the
essence. Driving with Tilly was only marginally less dangerous than being zombie bait.
 Don t worry about this, Augusta True, something will come to us. We will not let
those bastards win.
* * * * *
Dead bodies littered the Queen Street Mall in the heart of Brisbane City. It was
exactly like Augusta s dream. She clutched Argon s hand scared that he would leave
her as he had in the dream.
 I m not going anywhere, he said as he leaned down and whispered in her ear.
 And they re not dead, Augusta True, they re just pretending.
Almost on cue the zombie walkers rose up and started trudging slowly along, eyes
glazed and hands outstretched. Their clothes were splattered with fake blood, some had
limbs missing while others had weaponry protruding from their bodies.
 I don t get it. Tilly watched as the would-be zombies pretended to be the living
dead.
 People are strange, murmured Augusta, searching the crowd for the real
zombies.
 We re not strange, Tilly responded.
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 Of course not. Augusta only knew what two of the zombies looked like. One was
tall and elegant and the other a feral looking wombat of a zombie. She was relying their
telltale smell and body heat to identify them.  I can t smell anything.
 Let s spread out, Argon suggested.  Titch, you and Tilly head north and we ll
head south. We ll come back and meet in the middle at the news stand.
Augusta scanned the crowd, impatient to find the zombies. As going armed in
public wasn t an option, she wasn t sure how they would get rid of the creatures she
sought. They could only be killed with a decisive blow to their head, crushing their
brain. She held tight to Argon s hand holding faith in the man who believed
 something would come to them .
Augusta looked around at the building works being carried out in the mall. It had
been awhile since she had been in the city and she was surprised at the cranes and
safety barricades that were set up to protect shoppers during the creation of the new
buildings. She stiffened as she smelled garlic and mold.
 Yeah, I smell it too, Argon surveyed the crowd. One figure instantly stood out.
 Fred.
Augusta turned in the direction Argon faced. Fred Ward, building manager, was
coming toward them and the stench of garlic was vile.
 Oh, poor Fred. The zombies had gotten to him.  I feel kind of guilty. She saw
Argon s incredulous look.  Well, because of me and the curse, Newton wouldn t have
come to Brisbane out 
 None of this is your fault.
 Uh-oh. Augusta saw Andervarle and Warren in the crowd stalking the walkers.
She had an idea. Augusta called out to them.  Hey Warren, Andervarle, I think you are
a pair of sissies who could not fight their way out of a wet paper bag. The zombies
turned angrily toward her.  I have a plan.
 What? Argon started pulling her away.
 Run. They took off at a fast pace with zombies joining in and giving chase.
Augusta was not the most athletic person and already she was puffing and panting.
They ran down Albert Street until Augusta skidded to a halt. A sudden, irresistible urge
had come over her.  In here. She pushed past a safety barricade and into a building
that was in the midst of being repaired.
Argon looked around him.  There are no exits.
 Go with me on this, she told him.  I have this feeling I am meant to be here.
Argon pulled her close to his side, ready to do whatever he had to in order to
protect Augusta.
 Well, well, Andervarle murmured in pleasure as he came to a halt before them,
his zombie companions behind him in a bunch.  Looks like we get both the witch and
the immortal.
 Let her go. Take me.
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Augusta looked at Argon in horror. They would tear him limb from limb when they
realized he had no power.
 No, I am worth more to you.
Andervarle threw up his hands in disgust.
 What is it with you two? Always trying to save the other. It s quite nauseating.
 Like your stench?
Feral little Warren ran for Augusta. Argon slapped the man down with one meaty
blow to his head.
 What the hell was that?
 That s Warren. He gets slapped quite a bit. Augusta looked around the virtually
gutted building. She wondered why she had been urged inside. There was nothing but
old heavy metal beams supporting the ceiling, workmen s tools and plastic sheeting.
She looked at the beams again. An idea struck her? Could I? What do I have to lose?
Augusta concentrated on the beam that was directly above the zombies. Hester, you owe
me. Help me.
 Enough talk, Andervarle snapped.  We will have both of you and you have no
say in the matter.
 Come and get me stinky, Argon urged, as he moved away from the woman he
loved. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]