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“Well, the doctors here are a little baffled,” his voice spoke over the car’s sound system. “And frankly so am I. I’ve never seen anything like it. One thing’s for sure: she’s completely dehydrated and they’re trying to get some fluids into her now.”

“But what about her skin? She looks horrible.”

“Yeah, she’s suffering from some kind of rash,” said Tex, and after telling her he needed to go, hung up.

“A rash,” Harriet echoed. “That’s putting it a little mildly, don’t you think?”

“I still think she’s going to infect this entire town,” said Brutus. “She’s probably patient zero, and soon they’ll wish they never laid eyes on her. Mark my words.”

“Oh, will you stop it, already?” said Harriet. “I’m sure the doctors at the hospital know what they’re doing.”

“It’s a virus, Harriet,” said Brutus. “Zombieism is a virus, and it spreads like wildfire. I just hope one thing.”

“What?” asked Dooley, who’d listened to Brutus’s exhortation with wide-eyed attention.

“That cats are immune to the disease. Even if humans all succumb to the horrible virus, I hope we will be spared.”

“Let’s talk about something more fun,” Odelia suggested now. “How do you feel about the Peppard Pet Food Company, huh? Are you guys excited?”

We all yipped in acknowledgment, except Brutus, who was now somberly staring out the window, presumably on the lookout for the army of walking dead that soon would engulf the entire town.

“I hope we’ll get to take some of the food home with us,” said Dooley, clapping his paws excitedly.

“I’ll bet we will,” said Harriet. “How else are we going to enjoy the full experience? They have to give us a cat bag.”

“I think the common term is doggie bag,” said Odelia with a grin.

We’d arrived at the address indicated, and I saw it was located in a semi-industrial zone with other, similar low-slung buildings. Odelia drove up to the front door and parked the car.

As we set paw for the squat concrete structure, more people drove up, escorting their pets, only they were all carrying their beloved animals inside pet carriers.

“We’re the only ones not locked inside a cage,” said Harriet, noticing the same thing.

“That’s because you guys are all on your good behavior,” said Odelia. Though as she glanced back at the other pet parents, she added, “Maybe I should have put you in pet carriers, too? Maybe this is some kind of policy they forgot to mention?”

“If that’s the case, we might as well turn back right now,” said Harriet. “I’m not going inside a cage for no one, not even for the Peppard Pet Food Company.”

Odelia opened the door and we all streaked inside, our excitement undiminished.

The woman at the front desk smiled as she saw us tripping up to her, and after she’d ascertained that we were esteemed guests, pointed us in the direction of the welcome room, as she called it. As we entered Peppard Pet Food’s Valhalla, I saw we’d arrived in the right place: the walls were covered with pictures of happy-looking pets, and dozens of other cats and dogs and even pet rabbits, hamsters, ferrets, guinea pigs and turtles were all waiting patiently with their humans, all looking equally exhilarated to finally find themselves in pet food paradise.

I was suddenly feeling like Charlie upon entering Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.

Chapter 20

When Chase arrived at the precinct, he was surprised to see the reception area overrun with concerned citizens. Dolores was handling them with her usual flair and no-nonsense attitude, and when he joined her to see what was going on, she croaked,“Zombies, Chief Chase. Zombies everywhere.”

“Zombies? You mean…”

“Yeah, all of these people have come to report zombie sightings, or even a zombie confrontation. Several found zombies in their bathrooms, or floating in their pools, and one even found a zombie in his jacuzzi. And let me tell you, they ain’t happy about it.”

Chase scratched his scalp.“So what happened with the zombies?”

“Some of them brought the zombies along,” said Dolores, gesturing to an elderly gentleman with a resolute look on his face. “It’s almost like a Take Your Zombie to Work Day. Kinnard!” she yelled. “Tell Chief Chase what you done did with your zombie!”

“Tied him up well and good, Chief Chase,” said Kinnard, a determined look on his wrinkly face. He ran the local liquor store, even though he looked old enough to have retired years ago. “Dumped his ass in the back of my truck. Ain’t no zombies gonna eat me or mine!”

“Show me the zombie, Kinnard,” said Chase, and followed the man out the door and into the parking lot.

And as Kinnard had indicated, the zombie was trussed up and lying in the bed of his truck.“He ain’t going nowhere,” announced the old man proudly.