The Lurking Lima Bean by Joe McGee

Author:Joe McGee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2021-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

8

Madeline led the group down the alley, away from the radio station. While there was no immediate sign of where DJ Kool and the rest of the radio station horde had gone, there seemed to be plenty of possessed zombie-folk in the streets.

“Look, there’s more of them,” said Gilbert.

A small group of people led by Mayor Stine shuffled down First Street, while another bunch followed Mr. George along Pine, cutting off any hope the kids might have had of escaping that way.

“They’re everywhere,” Sally said. “How are the lima beans spreading so quickly?”

Madeline shrugged. “I’m not sure,” she said, “but we’re going to wind up just like them if we stay out here. Let’s get out of sight.”

They were behind the movie theater now, and it too had a back entrance.

Madeline hurried up the back steps of the movie theater and tugged at the back door.

“Rats!” she said.

“What?” asked Gilbert.

“Locked.”

“There’s a spare key taped under the railing,” Sally said. “My brother works the popcorn booth. He told me about it. I won’t deny that I may have snuck in to catch a show or two.”

Madeline felt around under the railing. There it was.

“Bingo!”

The lock clicked, and they slipped inside.

Madeline listened for a moment, peering around the dim room behind the screen. There didn’t seem to be anyone else in the room.

A thick black curtain separated the back room from where the audience sat. Rows of cushioned red seats sat facing the screen, and one central aisle ran the length of the theater. The main lights were off, but the dim walkway lighting made it so that the kids could see well enough. The projector room loomed up above the audience. It too appeared to be dark and empty.

Madeline collapsed into one of the front row seats. Gilbert and Sally did the same.

“Okay, Madeline,” said Sally, “spill it.”

“Yeah,” said Gilbert. “What the heck is going on?”

Madeline told them everything that had happened, from the very first plate of lima beans she had refused to eat, to the basement, to her grandma, and to what had happened in the grocery store.

“And here we are,” she said. “They just don’t quit!”

“Why do they want you to eat them so badly?” asked Sally. “You’d think they’d be happy that they’ve gotten, like, half the town to eat them.”

“Maybe because I refused to eat them in the first place?” Madeline asked. “Maybe because I said they tasted like dog throw-up?”

“So they’re angry,” said Sally. “Maybe if you apologize—”

“I am not apologizing to the lima beans,” said Madeline. “No way, forget it.”

“Maybe you just need to eat them,” said Gilbert.

“Did you hear the part where I said they taste like dog throw-up?” Madeline said. “Let me see your eyes!” She leaned over and looked closely into Gilbert’s eyes. They weren’t green, and they weren’t glowing, but still—he couldn’t be serious. Eat her lima beans? She’d end up just like everyone else in town: a mindless, drooling, crazy-eyed zombie.

“Well, there’s got to be some way to stop them,” said Sally.

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