A Rational Zombie

Chapter 65

Twang!

I already missed four arrows. The fifth one is bound to hit. And it did. The prey werent ready. The big one couldnt use the dead one as a shield. The one with the box was too preoccupied with the white cloth. It didnt use its bag as a shield like it did before. The other prey with the injured hip was the only one that reacted. It jumped to the side. But it didnt matter; I wasnt aiming for it.

The arrow struck the prey with the white cloth, the one that dodged my arrows, baiting me into shooting at it. The prey yelled, falling onto its side. The arrow had pierced through its body from the front to the back. It almost went all the way through. But the feathered part was stuck inside, the arrow hanging out of its back. The prey were shouting. I couldnt hear what they were saying. But the big one grabbed the dead one, ready to guard again.

Im not going to shoot. I only have one arrow left. But the prey dont know that. They dont know the exact number of arrows I have. They wouldnt have let their guard down if they did. Now, all three prey are injured: one stepped on a spike trap. One was shot in the hip. The last was hit in the stomach. But its odd. The one hit in the stomach, its injury is worse than the rest. The other two could stand after being injured. This one cant. Its lying on the ground, letting out little whimpers. At least they sound like whimpers. Its too far to tell.

The prey with the bow, it was readying to shoot me. But the prey on the ground lifted an arm. The bow lowered. A shame. More arrows wouldve helped. Theyre hard to make. I can find straight sticks, sharpen them. But they dont fly straight when I shoot. I think its the feathers at the end. Thats the only difference between the ones I make and the preys. The big one grabbed the front of the arrow sticking out of the injured preys back. It hesitated. The injured prey let out a scream when the big one pulled the arrow out.

I didnt think a shot to the stomach would be so effective against prey. The stomach is where food goes. It doesnt play a role in movement. The big preys foot is damaged, the bow-using preys hip has part of an arrow in it. But those two can still move. Despite the stomach not being important, the prey lying on the ground cant move. The two prey are tugging on its arms, lifting its torso up. Is this another chance? The big ones using one arm to help the injured one. I dont think it can manage the shield with only one hand. Yes, its a perfect chance.

But which one do I aim for? I only have one arrow. The big one, I want it as an other with as intact arms and legs as possible. If I shoot its stomach, if its similar to the prey on the ground, it should stop moving. The prey on the ground, theres no point in using another arrow on it. It cant do anything without the help of its companions. That leaves the prey with the bow. Its dangerous. It can kill me. It almost did. Without my dome, thered be an arrow in my brain. But if I shoot it, the big one can escape. But if I dont shoot it, it can kill me. The choice is obvious then. If Im dead, it doesnt matter if I can catch the big one.

Twang!

I didnt need to think that hard. My last arrow missed. It didnt hit any of the prey, not even the one on the ground. It grazed the bow-using preys dome. But grazing doesnt matter. Unless the prey shoots at me, gives me another arrow, I cant do anything to them. The bow-using prey has no intentions of shooting me, only staring, waiting to see if Ill shoot again. The big one is waiting too. A shame. If the prey are going to retreat, I cant stop them. I can climb the fence, chase them with a metal stick or spear. But thatll get me killed. Even if theyre injured, its three prey against one of me.

Wait. What if I copy the prey? The prey baited me into shooting arrows at it. Can I do the same? The bow-using prey isnt shooting at me because it doesnt want to give me arrows. But it wanted to until the prey on the ground raised its arm to stop it. Why? It wanted to kill me. Is it the dome? Perhaps, if I take the dome off, is that enough to goad the prey into shooting me? Ill try it. I placed my hands against the bottom of the dome, pushed it up, off of my head.

Is that enough? The prey with the bow dropped the injured preys arm. It might be. It stood up, readied its bow. But the prey on the ground touched its leg, distracting it. They seemed to be talking, staring at each other. The prey on the ground was shaking its head, telling it no. But the prey with the bow was fiddling with an arrow, preparing the bow to shoot. A little more. What else can I do to provoke the prey? One more push is enough to make it shoot.

Other than killing me, what did the prey want to accomplish? Breaking the spikes, saving the prey impaled on the fence. But its already dead. Thats why they retreated, along with the threat I presented by pointing my bow at the big one. Why did the prey come in the first place? Food? Theres no time to enter the food-preservation room. If I disappear from its view, the prey will have even less of a reason to shoot. And the others might swarm into the room, eating my hard work. I cant let that happen. But isnt there food right there? On the fence? The prey were forced back, unable to get it off. What if I taunted them? Took the food while they were watching? I know Id be annoyed if others stole my foodannoyed enough to kill them.

But first, I have to pry the prey loose from the fence. A spear can do that. I lowered the bow, grabbed a spear. Its long enough to stab past the spikes on the fence. Its long enough to poke the prey off the fence too. Like this.

Thwip.

That familiar sound. I ducked. An arrow struck the wall behind me. As I thought, getting food in front of them makes them want to kill me.

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