Brinker's Contract: Part 4 by Michael A. Kechula

Editors' Note: This is the final part of "Brinker's Contract." If you missed them, read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Brinker asked the waiter if the woman was a zombie.

“I’m not sure. Ask her to come closer. The exorcist sprinkled blessed salt around the café to keep those monsters away. They cannot cross the salt. If she refuses to come near, she may be one.”

“Hey, lady,” Brinker called. “Come here, and I’ll buy you a drink.”

When she didn’t move, Brinker went to her. “Take me to Zambulu,” he said, waving fifty dollars.

“Do…you…believe?” she asked.

“Believe in what?”

“The…undead.”

“Yeah, sure. Next you’ll tell me you’re one of them.”

“I…am…zombie.”

“And I’m Spiderman,” he snickered. “Do you wanna make fifty dollars or not? I don’t have all night.”

As they rode slowly in the carriage along a jungle path, she sang a strange voodoo melody. It was the weirdest thing he’d ever heard. He found himself so unnerved, he wondered if she really were a zombie.

“Stop the carriage!” he yelled. “If you’re a zombie, prove it.”

“Look…my…face.”

When her countenance took on a greenish glow and vibrated, he was glad he’d worn the armor.
“If you can make your face do that during the day and in front of a camera, I think you could get an important part in a new movie. How would you like to go to Hollywood and play Queen of the Zombies? Not only that, if you can point out more zombies, I’ll pay you two dollars for each one. Is it a deal?”

When he reached out to shake her hand, she lunged for his stomach.

Slamming her head with a blackjack, he knocked her out of the carriage. When she hit the ground, he heard growls. Dozens of figures with green, vibrating faces came out of the jungle and headed toward him.

As he tried to get away, the horse bolted, throwing Brinker out of the carriage. Dazed and disoriented, he didn’t realize he was staggering toward the approaching zombies.

Mulu knocked him to the ground from behind. Baring mottled teeth, she ripped his shirt open and went for his stomach.

“Stop it!” he yelled, punching her face. “Don’t you wanna be a movie star?”

He screamed horribly when her teeth pierced the armor and slashed his stomach.

His body flooded with so much adrenalin he managed to break loose and disappear into jungle thickets. He ran until he blacked out.

When they asked him at a hospital how he got there, he couldn’t remember.

* * *

Galaxy Pictures paid his medical bills for a few weeks. When he didn’t improve, they canceled his contract.

Medical doctors couldn’t understand why Brinker’s stomach kept discharging pus. Nor could they comprehend why space-age medicines couldn’t stop the flow. They scoffed when he told them it was a zombie bite.

But Haitian folk doctors didn’t scoff. Though they sacrificed countless chickens to jungle gods, nothing stopped the pus or kept Mulu from invading Brinker’s lucid dreams and feasting on him while he slept.

One morning, he woke and found he was hemorrhaging. Mulu was chewing his intestines.

Too weak to fight her off, he groaned, “Please stop…I can…still…get you…to Hollywood. You…can…become…a great…movie star.”

She tore at his guts until he took his final breath.

About Michael A. Kechula
Michael A. Kechula's stories have been published by 134 magazines and 41 anthologies. He’s won first place in 12 contests and placed in eight others. He’s authored three books of flash and micro-fiction: The Area 51 Option and 70 More Speculative Fiction Tales; A Full Deck of Zombies--61 Speculative Fiction Tales; I Never Kissed Judy Garland and Other Tales of Romance. eBook versions available at www.BooksForABuck.com and www.fictionwise.com. Paperbacks at www.amazon.com. His latest book, Writing Genre Flash Fiction The Minimalist Way - A Self Study Book, will be released December 2010.

Brinker's Contract: Part 3 by Michael A. Kechula

Editors' Note: If you missed them, read "Brinker's Contract" Part 1 and Part 2.

Brinker put on his stomach armor and headed for the café.

When he arrived, he ordered rum and coke. As the waiter placed the drink on his table, Brinker said, “I hear this is the place when I can find zombies. Any around tonight?”

“No, Sir. They don’t come here anymore. They stay away ever since the new owner brought in priests to exorcise the café.”

“Where can I find some?” He flashed a ten-dollar bill.

“They say many have gone to Destrudo.”

“Where’s that?”

“In the jungle. They say it’s a terrible place of black magic and terrifying voodoo ceremonies.”

“How do I get there?”

“I don’t know. But I urge you, for the sake of your mother, don’t go there.”

Brinker gave him the ten and pondered his next move.

After three drinks, he went from table to table offering fifty dollars to anyone who’d take him to Destrudo and back. He figured he’d take a quick look. If it seemed promising, he’d rent an SUV and go back the next day with his zombie-capturing gear.

Nobody would take him.

“What the hell’s the matter with you people? Doesn’t anybody want to earn fifty dollars? Know what that can buy in this miserable country?”

“Perhaps Mulu will take you,” somebody whispered. “She’s from Destrudo. Some say she’s a zombie. She’s in that carriage across the street. The one with the large horse.”

About Michael A. Kechula
Michael A. Kechula's stories have been published by 134 magazines and 41 anthologies. He’s won first place in 12 contests and placed in eight others. He’s authored three books of flash and micro-fiction: The Area 51 Option and 70 More Speculative Fiction Tales; A Full Deck of Zombies--61 Speculative Fiction Tales; I Never Kissed Judy Garland and Other Tales of Romance. eBook versions available at www.BooksForABuck.com and www.fictionwise.com. Paperbacks at www.amazon.com. His latest book, Writing Genre Flash Fiction The Minimalist Way - A Self Study Book, will be released December 2010.

Brinker's Contract: Part 2 by Michael A. Kechula

Editors' Note: Did you miss Part 1? Read it here.

Four days later, Brinker arrived in Haiti. He was in a holiday mood until he stepped off the plane. Though he’d been in a lot of weird places during his bounty hunting days, none had ever made him feel so creepy. Something about the atmosphere seemed unholy. Ethereal sounds of jungle drums rode on humid breezes, fading in and out. Strange voodoo symbols fes-tered on graffiti-covered walls. He found himself getting the willies.

On the way to the hotel, he asked the cab driver where he could find zombies.

Laughing, the driver said he’d seen too many horror movies.

The hotel clerk said the same thing.

Somebody knocked while Brinker was unpacking his suitcase.

A chambermaid entered, carrying a vase of flowers. “Compliments of the hotel,” she said, putting the vase on a table.

When Brinker handed her a tip, he noticed a small black figurine with red eyes hanging from her cheap looking necklace.

“That’s quite interesting,” he said.

“What is, Sir?”

“The black thing on your necklace. What is it?”

She grabbed the figurine and tucked inside the top of her maid’s uniform.

“It’s nothing, Sir.”

“Then why did you hide it?”

“It is not for the eyes of unbelievers. Please, Sir, I do not wish to anger the gods.”

“Which gods?”

“I must leave now,” she said in a shaky voice.

“See this? It’s five American dollars. It’s yours if you answer my question. What gods will be angry with you?”

“Mazuzu and Azolu. The gods that protect me from zombies. They do the same for anyone who offers sacrifices to them. I must leave now.”

Brinker dropped another five on the table. “I have another question.”

She picked up the money and said, “What is your question?”

“Have you ever you’ve seen a zombie?”

“Many times. Like everyone else in Haiti. You’ll see them too, if you stay here long enough.”

“I have three more five-dollar bills. They’re yours if you sit down for a few minutes and answer a few more questions.”

Realizing how many chickens she could buy with so much money, she took a chair.
“What do you want to know?”

“Let’s start with your name.”

“Bahody.”

“Well, Bahody, here’s the situation. I made a bet with some of my friends back in America. They said zombies don’t exist. I bet them $10,000 that they do. So to win the bet, I must find some zombies and take their pictures as proof. Where can I find them?”

“Zombies prowl everywhere in Haiti. Especially tonight under the full moon.”

“Perhaps you can tell me exactly where to go so I can find some, especially females.”

“You should never have made such a bet,” she said. “Especially about the living dead. It’s bad juju.”

“I’ll take the risk. Tell me where to go.”

“Café Rico. It’s not far from this hotel. It’s an unholy place. They say rats drop dead when they get too close.”

“When I get there, who should I see to get in touch with zombies?”

“Don’t go. You’ll lose your soul.”

“It’s more important that I don’t lose my $10,000 bet. How do I get there?”

“Any cab driver will know the way.”

“It’s such a nice evening, I prefer to walk. Who knows, I may even see a zombie or two along the way.”

Clasping her black figurine, she hoped the gods would forgive her for leading the foolish American to zombies. But she needed the money he offered. "When you leave the hotel, turn left. Go three blocks. Turn right, and go six more.” She grabbed the money and hurried out.

About Michael A. Kechula
Michael A. Kechula's stories have been published by 134 magazines and 41 anthologies. He’s won first place in 12 contests and placed in eight others. He’s authored three books of flash and micro-fiction: The Area 51 Option and 70 More Speculative Fiction Tales; A Full Deck of Zombies--61 Speculative Fiction Tales; I Never Kissed Judy Garland and Other Tales of Romance. eBook versions available at www.BooksForABuck.com and www.fictionwise.com. Paperbacks at www.amazon.com. His latest book, Writing Genre Flash Fiction The Minimalist Way - A Self Study Book, will be released December 2010.

Brinker's Contract: Part 1 by Michael A. Kechula

“Do you believe in zombies,” asked the beautiful, leggy lawyer representing Galaxy Pictures.

“About as much as the Tooth Fairy,” replied Brinker, a private investigator.

“I’ll bet you’d change your mind if Galaxy Pictures offered you a lucrative contract to find some.”

“Why give me the honor? This town’s full of hungry PIs who’ll do anything for a buck.”

“You’re the only one in Los Angeles who used to be a successful bounty hunter. If you found elusive fugitives, we figure you could find zombies. But before I say more, I’d like you to sign a confidential nondisclosure agreement.” Removing a document from her attaché case, she handed it to Brinker.

“Hmm. It says when I sign this you’ll tell me about one of Galaxy Pictures’ confidential projects. And if I mention it to anybody, especially to Galaxy’s competitors, your company will prosecute me to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Right. If you violate this agreement, I’ll make it my personal crusade to ruin your life. I assure you, Mr. Brinker, I’m very good at my job.”

Brinker couldn’t believe how such a gorgeous, innocent-looking woman could sound like a mafia bone buster.

He signed the agreement out of curiosity.

Tucking the document into her case, she said, “Galaxy is planning to produce a spectacular new movie. Something no studio has ever dreamed of much less attempted to produce. This will be the biggest project in the studio’s history. I’ve read the script. It’s dynamite. We expect ticket sales in the billions. Plus it could lead to a dozen sequels. Mr. Brinker, Galaxy intends to make the first movie in history that includes real zombies.”

Brinker chuckled. “That’s one of the craziest things I ever heard. Zombies don’t exist. Better inform your boss in case he hasn’t heard.”

“You’re wrong,” she said. “I’ve been to Haiti. I’ve seen one. Let me get to the point. Galaxy Pictures will hire you to go to Haiti and capture as many zombies as you can. We have lots of parts to fill in the new movie. However, you must include at least one female to play the key role as Queen of The Zombies.”

“What happens after I snag them?”

“Take them to the airport where we’ll have a chartered airliner waiting to fly them back here to Los Angeles. The company will pay $5,000 for each one you capture, as well as $300 per day for expenses. And once the zombies reach Los Angeles, you’ll be paid a bonus of $100,000. Do you believe in zombies now, Mr. Brinker?”

“You bet,” he said. “For that kind of money I’d believe there was an Emperor of Mars, and deliver him to Galaxy’s main gate. By the way, is it true that zombies eat human brains?”

“No. That’s an invention of Hollywood.”

“What do they eat?”

“Human intestines. But don’t worry. Galaxy’s model shop has developed tummy armor that’s thin, extremely strong, and very flexible. We’ll fit you before you leave. Make sure you wear it when you go zombie hunting.”

“How much time will you give me to deliver them?”

“Two months.”

“I’ll do it,” Brinker said.

Editors' Note: Read "Brinker's Contract: Part 2" December 23.

About Michael A. Kechula
Michael A. Kechula's stories have been published by 134 magazines and 41 anthologies. He’s won first place in 12 contests and placed in eight others. He’s authored three books of flash and micro-fiction: The Area 51 Option and 70 More Speculative Fiction Tales; A Full Deck of Zombies--61 Speculative Fiction Tales; I Never Kissed Judy Garland and Other Tales of Romance. eBook versions available at www.BooksForABuck.com and www.fictionwise.com. Paperbacks at www.amazon.com. His latest book, Writing Genre Flash Fiction The Minimalist Way - A Self Study Book, will be released December 2010.

Brinker's Contract By Michael A. Kechula

"Brinker's Contract" by Michael A. Kechula is a weekly, four-part serial about Brinker, a bounty hunter sent to Haiti for one thing: zombies.

Part One coming this Thursday.