Fragmented Zombie

Becker and the Mudmen

My ears were filled with growls and snarls. Everyone was yelling at me like I just kicked a puppy. They were clearly upset- but for all the wrong reasons. "Hold it! Will y'all calm down?" I stated firmly. "I know you're upset, but this doesn't help. I understand that your brains have been wired differently due to the Green Death Virus, but you don't have to lose your shit over it."

I looked at each and every one of them. Their muddy bodies stained their freshly washed clothes. They were clothes that I provided them with to tell which one I was talking to. In hindsight, it wasn't the best idea to give a semi-living being covered in mud a white shirt to wear. I hadn't thought about it when I provided them with a new set of clothes. But it was too late to change that.

Thomas, a 5'11 mudman wearing a blue dress shirt, black jeans and a black tie, shrieked angrily. He told me that what I was doing wasn't fair to the mudmen and that I should be helping them before anyone else. Dennis, a 5'9 mudman wearing a green polo, blue jeans and a red bowtie, snarled in agreement. Their anger was understandable. However, since I had complete control over them, I had a say in almost everything. That doesn't mean that they don't have a point. But at the same time, it was hard for me to make a promise to them when that promise could contradict the promise I had made to the humans.

"Guys, listen, I understand you're angry. However, I'm just one person. Y'all can't expect me to make a promise that I can't guarantee I can keep," I stopped and took a deep breath. "And besides, who's to say I can't help you AND the humans?" I braced myself for a doubting reaction. A doubting reaction that didn't happen.

It was quiet. The mudmen were all muttering to themselves. I was amazed that they weren't yelling at me like they had been for the last three and a half hours. Thomas was the first to speak up. He told me that they'd cut me a deal; if they promised they helped the human -and tried NOT to harm them- I had to repay them in some way. Unfortunately, some of the mudmen got upset over the deal I was making with them. It appeared that they weren't all on the same page. I assumed that some of them had other ideas in mind. Larry, a 5'11 mudman wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and black jeans -which were torn slightly- was furious. Larry screeched in protest to the deal Thomas was trying to make with me.

I looked back at Thomas and Dennis to see how they'd react. Thomas appeared to be tense but unbothered. Thomas' hair was sticking to his forehead, which seemed to bother him. Although, that wasn't what caught my eye the most. What caught my eye was that his hair was short and buzzed on the sides and in the back. It bothered me that I couldn't tell if the curls in Thomas' hair were natural or caused by the mud. Dennis, on the other hand, was distressed. Dennis' hair was evenly length on all sides except for the front. Dennis' bangs sat just two inches above his eyebrows and curved to the left. I assumed that the yellow in his hair was either urine or he was naturally blond.

Larry ran a hand across his bald head and attempted to lunge at Thomas. Only, he had been stopped by Garry and Jerry. I found it amusing that the trio's names rhymed. I may not have shown it, but the humour in their names was there. Garry and Jerry pinned Larry to the ground, lashing at him for his inconsiderate stupidity. I sighed and hopped off the rock I was standing on. I approached Larry and picked him up by the shirt. "Listen here, you piece of shit; you're lucky to still be alive. Because if I hadn't had a reason to keep you around, I would've had your head on my wall." I spoke through gritted teeth. I was growing sick and tired of his shit. But I had several reasons to keep him around, so it wasn't like I could've given him a ruby necklace right then and there.

Larry grunted in defeat. I let go of Larry's shirt, letting him fall to the ground. I turned my back on Larry and made my to the rock I was standing on. Once I was on the rock, I turned to make sure I was facing the mudmen. Once I had gotten in position, Larry picked himself up off the ground. He tried to brush himself off, but he only smeared more mud on his clothes. The mudmen were all quiet. Some even overheard my threat against Larry and refused to speak up. Seeing Larry's refusal to apologize, some of the mudmen apologized on his behalf. They explained that Larry wasn't the kindest person even before I met them. No one could trust him, and I didn't blame them. Although, I could sense that something was causing Larry's behaviour. And I was going to find out one way or another.