The Tribe of the Dead

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Anna, David, John, Mary, and Peter were among the few survivors of the zombie outbreak that had ravaged the world. They lived in Honiara, the capital city of the Solomon Islands, where they had managed to fortify a small area near the coast. They had a boat, some weapons, and a radio, but they had not heard from anyone else in months. They were running low on food, water, and hope.

One day, they decided to take a risk and explore the nearby islands, hoping to find some resources or other survivors. They boarded their boat and set sail, avoiding the zombies that roamed the shores. They had a map, a compass, and a GPS, but they did not know what to expect.

They reached a small island that looked uninhabited. They anchored their boat and went ashore, carrying their backpacks and guns. They scanned the area for any signs of life or danger, but they saw nothing but trees and rocks. They decided to split up and search the island, agreeing to meet back at the boat in an hour.

Anna and David went to the north, John and Mary went to the south, and Peter went to the east. They walked through the forest, looking for anything useful. They found some fruits, nuts, and berries, but they also encountered some wild animals, such as snakes, lizards, and birds. They avoided them as much as possible, not wanting to waste their bullets or attract attention.

As they searched, they noticed something strange. They saw some stone tools, such as axes, knives, and spears, scattered around the island. They also saw some animal bones, some of them charred, as if they had been cooked. They wondered who had made these tools and used them. They wondered if they were still on the island.

They continued their search, becoming more curious and cautious. They reached the other side of the island, where they saw a large clearing. In the middle of the clearing, they saw a camp. It was made of wooden huts, animal skins, and fire pits. It looked like a primitive village, but there was something odd about it. There were no people in sight, but there were some clothes, pots, and baskets, as if they had been left behind. There were also some skulls, bones, and blood, as if there had been a fight.

They approached the camp, feeling a mix of fear and curiosity. They wondered who lived there, and what had happened to them. They wondered if they were friendly or hostile. They wondered if they were human or not.

They entered the camp, looking for clues. They saw some paintings on the walls of the huts, depicting scenes of hunting, fishing, and fighting. They saw some symbols and words, but they could not understand them. They saw some maps and charts, but they did not recognize them. They saw some radios and batteries, but they did not work. They saw some books and magazines, but they were old and torn. They saw some photos and IDs, but they were faded and illegible.

They realized that the people who lived there were not natives, but outsiders. They had come to the island, perhaps as refugees or explorers, and had decided to live as if they were in the Pleistocene, the epoch of the Ice Age. They had abandoned their modern technology and culture, and had adopted a simpler and harsher way of life. They had become hunter-gatherers, living off the land and the sea. They had become warriors, fighting off the zombies and the animals. They had become a tribe, with their own language and customs.

They wondered why they had done this, and how they had survived. They wondered if they had gone mad, or if they had found a new meaning. They wondered if they were happy, or if they were miserable.

They heard a noise, coming from one of the huts. They turned around, and saw a man. He was tall and muscular, with long hair and a beard. He was wearing a loincloth, a necklace of teeth, and a bandana of feathers. He was holding a spear, a knife, and a bow. He looked at them, and smiled. He spoke, but they could not understand him. He sounded like he was greeting them, or maybe warning them.

They did not know what to do. They did not know if he was friendly or hostile. They did not know if he was human or not.

They raised their guns, and pointed them at him. He lowered his spear, and dropped his knife and bow. He raised his hands, and showed them his palms. He looked at them, and nodded. He sounded like he was surrendering, or maybe inviting them.

They did not know what to do. They did not know if they should trust him or not. They did not know if they should join him or not.

They looked at each other, and wondered what to do. They wondered if they had found a new ally, or a new enemy. They wondered if they had found a new home, or a new hell. They wondered if they had found a new way to survive, or a new way to die.

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