The Zombie Project

by Gertrude Chandler Warner

  Jessie put her hand on Benny’s arm. “It’s just in the movies, Benny. Zombies aren’t real.”

  “But this work is real,” said Henry. “Benny, we need your help.”

  “You can count on me,” said Benny. He went back to cutting bushes. Clip! Clip!

  The Aldens worked on the trail for the rest of the morning. Henry and Jessie cut the high branches while Violet and Benny cut the low ones. When the pile in the middle of the trail got too big, they pushed the cuttings off to the side.

  “It looks like we’re making a wall,” said Benny.

  Dong! Dong!

  “There’s the bell,” said Benny. “It’s time for lunch!”

  The Aldens put their tools into the wheel-barrow, just like Maude had asked. Then they walked back down the winding trail to the lodge. The closer they came to the main lodge, the more people they saw.

  “Look,” said Benny. “Everyone is coming at the same time.”

  “They all want to eat lunch,” said Henry.

  “I hope they save some peach cobbler for me,” said Benny. “I’m hungry.”

  “We all worked up an appetite,” said Jessie. “But I’m sure Maude will save some peach cobbler for you.”

  When the Aldens walked into the main lodge, they saw three teenagers. They looked to be a couple of years older than Henry. There were two boys and a girl. A boy with short, curly black hair had his arm around a girl with a blond braid that reached all the way down to her waist. The other boy had long brown hair. He was sitting at the table with his eyes closed.

  “Which one do you think is Maude’s grandson?” asked Violet.

  “The one with the curly hair,” said Jessie. “It’s just as curly as Maude’s hair.”

  Madison was sitting with the teens. “You grew up here, Jake,” said Madison to the boy with curly black hair.

  “My great grandparents opened this lodge a long time ago,” Jake said to Madison. “Our family has lived here ever since.”

  Jessie looked at Violet. “You were right, Violet,” said Jessie.

  “Let’s go sit with them,” said Violet.

  “Good idea,” said Henry. “We can meet someone near our own age.”

  The Aldens walked over and sat at the teens’ table.

  “Can you tell me more about the Legend of the Winding River Zombie?” Madison asked Jake. “I want to write about it on my blog.”

  “You have a blog?” asked the girl with the long braid.

  “Yes, I do, Abby,” said Madison. “It’s called Hauntings.”

  Jake poked the boy with his eyes closed. “Do you hear that, Caleb?”

  Caleb opened his eyes and took out an ear bud. “What?”

  “Madison has a blog about haunted things,” said Jake.

  “Whoa,” said Caleb.

  “What do you write about?” asked Abby.

  “Oh, I have stories about haunted places all over New England,” said Madison. “I’d love to add your zombie story.”

  “Our zombie?” said Jake.

  “Whoa,” said Caleb again.

  Abby sat up and smiled. “We’ll be famous!” She hugged Jake.

  “That’s the plan,” said Jake.

  “Can you tell me your zombie story?” said Madison.

  “Sure,” said Jake. “We want everyone to know about our zombie.” Jake looked around the room to see who was listening. Most of the guests at the tables nearby were watching him. Henry, Jessie, and Violet moved in closer to hear the story. Benny stayed where he was. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear such a scary story.

  “It’s an old story, really,” said Jake. “I’ve heard it all my life.”

  Violet took the camera out of her pocket and started filming.

  “Well,” said Jake. “As the story goes . . . one day a body was found in the forest by the river.”

  Maude came out of the kitchen. “Jake,” said Maude. “Don’t tell campfire stories now. It’s only lunchtime.”

  “Awww,” said the guests.

  Violet turned her camera off.

  “I’ll tell you tonight,” said Jake, “at the campfire.”

  “I hope so,” said Madison as she stood up. “I want to hear all about it.”

  Benny looked at Violet. “Is it true?” he asked. “Is there really a zombie?”

  “I don’t know,” said Violet. She looked over at Jake. “I hope not.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Working Together

  After a hearty lunch and two helpings of peach cobbler, Benny was nice and full. “Now I’m ready to go to work,” said Benny.

  “That’s wonderful, Benny,” said Maude. She walked around the table and put her hand on Jake’s head. Jake turned around and looked up at his grandmother.

  “Jake,” said Maude. “I want you to go and help the Aldens with the trail.”

  “Okay, Grandma,” said Jake. “I’ll help.”

  Maude looked at Abby and Caleb. “You can help, too,” said Maude.

  “We’d love to help,” said Abby. She put her long braid over her shoulder and stood up.

  Caleb didn’t say anything. He was listening to his music. His ear buds were in and his eyes were closed. His long brown hair swung from side to side as he moved his hands up and down and pretended to play the drums.

  “Caleb!” said Maude.

  Jake put his hand on Caleb’s shoulder. Caleb stopped drumming and opened his eyes. “He’ll help out,” said Jake.

  Caleb looked at Jake and then at Maude. He nodded his head.

  “Good,” said Maude. She looked at Jake. “You know where the tools are.”

  “We’re on our way,” said Jake.

  The Aldens went with Jake and his friends to the toolshed.

  “We already took some of the tools out on the trail earlier,” said Henry.

  “That’s okay,” said Jake. “Grandma has lots of tools. She used to have a big work crew come up every summer. Now we do it all ourselves.”

  Jake picked up three clipping shears and three rakes and put them into a wheelbarrow. Then he picked up the wheelbarrow handles and pushed it out of the toolshed.

  Violet took the camera out of her pocket as they all walked along the trail. “It must be so nice to live here all year,” she said.

  Jake looked at Violet. “That’s a small camera,” he said. “Can I try it?” He put the wheelbarrow handles down.

  “Sure,” said Violet. She handed the camera to Jake.

  Jake looked at the camera carefully. “How long can you film on this?”

  “It records for two hours,” said Violet.

  “That’s a long time for such a small camera,” said Jake. He gave the camera back to Violet. Then he picked up the wheelbarrow by the handles and pushed it down the trail.

  “Here we are,” said Benny when he saw the wheelbarrow the Aldens had left on the trail.

  “We started after breakfast,” said Henry.

  “I can see that,” said Jake.

  “I was asleep,” said Caleb.

  “You always sleep through breakfast,” said Abby.

  “Musicians don’t do mornings,” said Caleb. He closed his eyes and moved his hands as if he were playing the drums.

  Jake looked at the trail. “You’ve done a lot of work so far,” he said. “This won’t take long.”

  With everyone working together, they cleared the brush along the trail very quickly. Henry and the teens trimmed the tall branches. Jessie, Violet, and Benny did the lower ones. And everyone helped move the brush to the edges of the trail.

  “The trail is much wider now,” said Benny.

  “That’s what Grandma wants,” said Jake. “Then anyone can go to the old fishing lodge.” He pointed to a small cabin by the river. “She likes to keep it open in case someone wants to use it.”

  “Is anyone staying there now?” asked Jessie.

  “No,” said Jake. “We don’t use it as a guest cabin anymore. We just keep it open in case the weather gets bad and someone who is fi
shing needs shelter.”

  “How is the fishing out here?” asked Henry.

  “Pretty good,” said Jake. “Every day, Grandma asks someone to catch our dinner.”

  “Talking about dinner is making me hungry,” said Benny. “Can we go have a snack?”

  “Let’s put the tools away first,” said Jessie. “Then we can ask Maude.”

  “Grandma’s kitchen is always open,” said Jake.

  “That’s my kind of kitchen,” said Benny. He picked up his rake and put it in Henry’s wheelbarrow. Jake and Henry pushed the two wheelbarrows back to the toolshed. After everyone put their tools away, they all went into the kitchen.

  “We’re home,” blurted out Benny.

  “Now sit down and have something to eat, Benny,” said Maude. “I know you must be hungry after all that work.”

  “I am,” said Benny. “I am.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Maude put a basket of apples and a bowl of cheese slices on the table. Benny walked up to the table.

  “Wash up first,” said Maude. “Then you can eat.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” said Benny. He walked over and stood in line at the sink.

  “Jake,” said Maude. “Can you take the Aldens to a good fishing spot after you eat? It’s their turn to catch our dinner.”

  “That will be fun,” said Jessie.

  “How many fish do we need to catch?” asked Henry.

  “We’ll eat whatever you catch at dinner tonight,” said Maude. “But don’t worry. We’ll be serving other food as well.”

  “I’ll catch a big fish for you,” said Benny. He held his hands out to show how big it would be.

  Maude smiled. “That sounds great, Benny. Are you sure that will be big enough for you to eat?”

  Benny looked at his outstretched arms. “I think so,” he said.

  “Oh, Benny,” said Violet.

  After everyone ate their snacks, Jake took the Aldens back to the toolshed behind the main lodge. He opened a tall cabinet. “All of the fishing gear is in here,” said Jake.

  Benny walked up and looked inside the cabinet. He saw a small fishing rod. “This one is just my size,” he said.

  Jake handed Benny the short fishing rod. “Then it’s yours,” said Jake. “I used the same rod when I was your age.”

  “Did you catch a lot of fish?” asked Benny.

  Jake smiled. “Of course!”

  “I thought so,” said Benny. He put the fishing rod over his shoulder.

  Jake looked at Violet. “I have one for you, too,” he said. He gave Violet a medium-sized rod.

  Then Jake looked at Henry and Jessie. “You can both use taller rods.” He gave them each a tall fishing rod. “Now I’ll take you to a good fishing spot.”

  “Good,” said Benny. “I want to catch a lot of fish.”

  “We have a lot of people to feed,” said Henry.

  “We’ll do our best,” said Jessie.

  “Maude said that whatever we catch is fine,” replied Violet.

  Jake picked up a tackle box and a big plastic bucket. “Follow me,” said Jake. The Aldens followed Jake out of the toolshed. Jake led them back down the winding trail they had just cleared.

  “It’s a lot easier to walk this way now,” said Jessie.

  “It’s still pretty,” said Violet. She took the camera out of her pocket and started filming.

  Jake walked past the old fishing lodge and stopped at the edge of the river. “Here we are,” said Jake. “It’s my lucky spot.”

  “Why is it lucky?” asked Benny.

  Jake pointed at the cabin behind them. “That’s the first place our zombie was seen,” said Jake.

  “Your zombie?” said Benny.

  “The Winding River Zombie,” said Jake. He patted Benny on the shoulder. “I’ve always had good luck fishing here, and you will, too.”

  “You said that was just an old family story,” said Henry.

  “It is,” said Jake. He looked at the woods and smiled.

  “Have you seen the zombie?” asked Jessie.

  “Well, uh, yes,” stammered Jake.

  “You have?” said Benny. “What did it look like?”

  Jake shrugged his shoulders. “Oh, you know. It walked like this.” Jake put his arms out and slowly lurched forward. Then he turned to leave. “I have to go help Grandma now.”

  The children watched as Jake walked back down the trail.

  CHAPTER 4

  Zombie Luck

  “Will we see the zombie, too?” asked Benny.

  “Jake said it’s just an old story,” said Jessie.

  “But he said he saw it,” said Violet.

  “I’ve seen zombies in the movies, too,” said Henry, “but they’re not real.”

  Henry put his hand on Benny’s shoulder. “It’s a good story for the tourists, Benny,” said Henry. “Nothing more.” He pointed at the old cabin behind them. “They call it the old fishing lodge, not the old zombie lodge.”

  Benny looked at the cabin. Then he turned and looked at the river. The sun was shining down on the river as it flowed past. The birds were singing. Everything was calm and peaceful.

  Henry knelt down and opened the tackle box. The lures were in the small, open drawers at the top. Some lures looked like small, shiny metal fish. Some had feathers and beads with long hooks that pointed in three directions at once.

  “What kind of lure do you want to use, Benny?” asked Henry.

  Benny looked at the shiny-fish lures and the lures with the feathers and beads. Then he saw the long plastic worms.

  “Fish love worms,” said Benny. “But which color is better? Do I want red or blue or black?” Benny looked at the plastic worms in the tackle box again. What would a fish like?

  “I want this one,” said Benny. He took a long, red plastic worm out of the tackle box. “It looks like a real worm.”

  Benny put the fishing line through the loop at the end of the worm lure. Then he tied a knot. “Now what?” asked Benny.

  “Cast your line into the water,” said Henry, “like this.” Henry flicked his wrist and the end of the fishing line flew back over his shoulder. Then Henry moved his arm toward the river and the end of the fishing line flew over his head and dropped into the water. Benny watched as the red-and-white bob on Henry’s line floated on the surface.

  “I can do that,” said Benny. He flicked his wrist back and the fishing lines flew back over his shoulder. Then he moved his arm forward and the line flew over his head and into the river. His red-and-white bob floated on the water next to Henry’s.

  Jessie cast her line into the water and so did Violet. Benny watched their lines bob up and down in the water.

  “Come on, fish,” said Benny.

  Crack!

  Benny turned around. What was that?

  The sound came from behind the old fishing lodge. Was someone there?

  Benny squinted his eyes. He could see something in the forest behind the cabin. And that something was moving!

  Benny leaned in closer to take a better look. Then a man came out from behind the trees.

  Benny watched as the man lurched across the clearing. Why was the man moving like that? And why were his clothes torn?

  Benny gasped! Could it be the zombie?

  Benny grabbed Jessie’s sleeve and pulled on it. “Look!” said Benny. Then he turned and pulled Henry’s sleeve. “There it is!”

  “What is it?” asked Jessie.

  “It’s the zombie,” said Benny. “Over there!”

  Benny pointed at the trees behind the fishing lodge. But the figure was gone.

  “I don’t see anything,” said Jessie.

  “Neither do I,” said Henry.

  Violet gave the camera to Henry. “Can you see it with this?”

  Henry pressed the button on the camera so he could see up close. “It’s just trees,” said Henry. He gave the camera back to Violet. She put it in her pocket.

  Benny put his fishing pole down. �
��But I saw a zombie,” said Benny. “He was right behind the old fishing cabin.”

  “Benny,” said Jessie. She put her hand on Benny’s shoulder. “Even in the movies, zombies don’t come out in the daytime.”

  “It must’ve been something else,” said Henry.

  Benny looked at the woods again. “Who was it?”

  “It was probably Jake,” said Jessie.

  “Maybe that’s how they keep the zombie legend alive,” said Henry.

  “By pretending to be the zombie?” said Violet.

  “Maybe,” said Henry.

  “How will a zombie give me good luck when I fish?” asked Benny.

  Henry laughed. “That’s an old story, too.”

  “An old fishing story,” said Violet.

  “Fishermen love to tell stories about the fish they catch, Benny,” said Jessie. “But that doesn’t mean the stories are true.”

  “Oh,” said Benny. He picked up his fishing rod. A moment later, his line was back in the water.

  Benny looked back at the woods one more time. Zombies weren’t supposed to come out in the daytime. That’s what Jessie said. But what if the zombie didn’t know that?

  Benny felt a tug. He turned around. It was his line.

  “Henry,” said Benny. “It’s a fish!”

  “Reel it in slowly,” said Henry.

  Benny turned the handle on his reel. Then there was another tug on the pole. Benny turned the handle on the reel again. The pole bent down as the fish tried to pull away. “It’s a big one,” said Benny.

  “Keep reeling it in,” said Henry.

  Benny turned the handle on the reel again. It was getting harder and harder to make it turn.

  Splash! The fish came up out of the water.

  “You caught it,” said Jessie.

  Violet took the camera out of her pocket and turned it on. “Wait until Grandfather sees this.”

  “I caught a fish, Grandfather,” Benny said to the camera.

  “He will be so proud,” said Jessie.

  The Aldens fished the rest of the afternoon. Henry caught two fish and Jessie and Violet each caught one.

  “Five fish,” said Henry. “Pretty good for one afternoon.”

  “Let’s bring these fish back to Maude,” said Jessie. “She can cook them for dinner.”