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    Mr. Pakool's Spice
    Mr. Pakool's Spice
    Mr. Pakool's Spice
    Ebook45 pages45 minutes

    Mr. Pakool's Spice

    By JZ Murdock

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    About this ebook

    It is months beyond the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. A father and his two young children are trying to make it through the wintry backwoods of Oregon state to somewhere, anywhere safe.

    They have been without food for far too long now and are weak from evading the walking dead they call P.U.D.S. Between the cold, lack of proper shelter and their fear, life is wearing them down. On top of all this, it feels like they are being followed but it has become hard to tell if it is a normal, or an afterlife creature, or--?

    They met up with a man who had a strange hat. He acted nice and even gave them some of the spice he had, to make what little food they may find taste better. Sometimes it's the little things in life that make the day worth living. He tells them a rumor of a safe encampment.

    But there is something strange about this man that makes the father uneasy. Something about the man is familiar and if the father could just remember what it is... Uneasy, they move on without him.

    Is it this man who is following them? Are they even being followed? Can they survive the deadly afterlives who wander about everywhere?

    ALSO included is a second short-short story that had only been published in an anthology (Hunger Pangs, Dark Confessions) until now. The story is called, The Regent's Daughter - or, An Eye for an Eye, which once won a tiny online award between authors.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJZ Murdock
    Release dateOct 25, 2014
    ISBN9781311659316
    Author

    JZ Murdock

    JZ Murdock: A Master of the Dark and the Strange JZ Murdock is not your ordinary writer. He is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and screenwriter who explores the realms of the unknown, the bizarre, and the terrifying. From speculative and science fiction to horror and non-fiction, his works will challenge your imagination and keep you on the edge of your seat. If you are a fan of Rod Serling, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, or Philip K. Dick, you will love JZ Murdock's stories. His style is unique, his vision is original, and his voice is unforgettable. His very first published horror story, "In Memory, Yet Crystal Clear," is a chilling tale of a dystopian America when a single mentally unbalanced man alters his physiology in order to handle all of America's advertising. Bizarrely, America buys frighteningly into it. Also available as an audiobook on Audible and Amazon. Don't miss this opportunity to discover one of the most versatile and creative writers of our time. JZ Murdock will take you on a journey you will never forget. With an impressive repertoire of short stories published in his own books and various anthologies alongside other esteemed authors, JZ Murdock seamlessly combines his passion for storytelling with his academic background. After earning a degree in psychology and phenomenology from Western Washington University, he has played significant roles as a Sr. Technical Writer in the world of PNW IT, contributing to the successes of high-level IT teams including one dedicated to national and international cybersecurity issues. Since 2010, JZ Murdock has captivated readers and enthusiasts alike through his popular blog at Murdockinations.com. The extensive collection of 1500+ thought-provoking articles serves as an invaluable archive, preserving his unique perspectives and insights. It's life as he has seen it and evolved into our ever new world. Adding to his creative endeavors, JZ Murdock's latest film production is an antiwar documentary, "Pvt. Ravel's Bolero," which stands as a remarkable "filmic poem" and has won over 150 film festival Official Selections and winning laurels. Garnering acclaim within a week of its release in January 2022, the film has repeatedly triumphed as "Best Film" in various categories including Best Documentary, Best Experimental film and other categories across international film festivals. Continuing his success, JZ Murdock's p...

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      Book preview

      Mr. Pakool's Spice - JZ Murdock

      Mr. Pakool’s Spice

      by JZ Murdock

      Published by JZ Murdock at Smashwords - copyright 2012, 2013, 2018

      Here, we’ll tie this like—so. Jake tied the dirty bandage around his daughter’s wrist. She looked up at him with that look. The one that children give their parents when something hurts but they aren’t quite sure how to react. Jake finished and smiled. He looked into her eyes, inches away from his. She forced her own tiny smile.

      He looked around. It was bleak here. It was gray. And it was cold.

      Jake put their meager medical supplies back into his pack, next to the fifteen spices in small plastic pouches he carried, next to the water purification tabs, and next to the acetaminophen, naproxen, blood coagulant packs, and,just some good old aspirin. Of any of their supplies they all felt the spices were the most highly prized.

      Jake rubbed his hands together to warm them. He cinched up his pack and threw it over his shoulder. He looked Char over one last time. Touching her leg, he smiled and watched as her face broke into a weak grin in return. They were all so weak from lack of food.

      Winter, to state it blandly, sucked. Jake gently rubbed his daughter’s arm, looked at her lovingly and then stood up. As he helped Char to stand, she looked up at her father through eight year old eyes. They were innocent, lost and hurt just as they all were. Her brother Vic, the older at twelve, walked up shaking his head.

      Th-there’s nothing beyond, Dad. He appraised his sister. She seemed fine to him. Vic looked back at his dad, then down at himself. Oh, they were filthy. Their clothes were torn in places. Char dusted herself off. Not that it did any good. They hadn’t seen the inside of a building in days, hadn’t eaten a real meal in seemingly forever.

      Their multiple layers of clothing were somewhat made up for their condition. They were mostly warm though, amazingly enough. At least these Oregon woods were typically subjected to fairly mild winters. Thank God they weren't in the mid west, or worse. At least they weren’t any further into the interior of what used to be these United States. Vic watched for his dad's next direction.

      Okay. We’ve rested long enough, guys. Let’s get moving. They’ll be closing in soon enough. Jake gave a quick eval of his kids. They were hardy enough, clothed warm enough. If Char would only stop tripping so much. Eventually she was going to fall and cut herself really badly and a serious infection will set in. Without antibiotics, they wouldn’t have a chance. But it didn’t really take anything serious to quickly become serious. She didn’t have the strength to pick up her feet and Jake had needed to stop carrying her as he was having trouble himself walking over the uneven forest floor.

      Jake knew some woodsmanship from years of growing up with Jim, his father, a Montana Salish tribe Native American. A Flathead as surrounding tribes used to refer to them. Simply because they wouldn't use planks to give their infants pointed heads, a sign of beauty.

      He hadn't had learned enough from his father. Not nearly enough to be trailing children through this mess. Not in this situation. Not in this frightening new world.

      'If only Jane had been a faster runner.' Jake had that thought sadly for about the millionth time. Hefting his attitude he smiled at the kids and tried to act as self-assured as he could. 'No sense dwelling in the past. This is what it is.' He had saved the kids but lost his wife, their mother. The guilt was killing

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