Zombies of the World: A Field Guide to the Undead by Ross Payton

Author:Ross Payton
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-12-08T06:00:00+00:00

Western Mall Zombie

Mortifera immortalis consumptus

Description: A slow and shuffling animated corpse, always dressed in contemporary casual attire suitable for a shopping mall. They are distinguished from Gray Shamblers by their attraction to displays of consumer goods and their much milder odor. A Western Mall’s scent is mild and inoffensive but reports are contradictory as to its exact nature. Many observers claimed it reminded them of ‘new car smell’. It is believed that this odor gives the Western Mall Zombie an advantage when hunting prey in its natural environment, as its scent won’t alert unwary victims to its presence until it is too late.

Habits and Habitat: Physiologically similar to the Gray Shambler, this species is obsessed with shopping malls and similar consumerist venues valuing them over hunting grounds. When a Western Mall Zombie is confronted with a display of high end consumer merchandise, it will be lulled into a state of calm.

Many survivors of Zombie attacks have lived only after hiding behind a large television or a window display case of the latest fall fashions. It is also possible to lure a horde away through clever use of a P.A system or bullhorn. Announcing a sale at a different store will cause the horde to leave its current location and attempt to find the sale. They are easily herded using this technique.

It should be noted that Western Mall Zombies are highly protective and will attack anyone who damages or steals from ‘their’ territory. They do eat the flesh of the living if it’s available but make no great efforts in acquiring it. They clearly value consumer goods and shopping venues above food.

A few corporations have begun experimenting with using the Western Mall Zombie as night guards for shopping malls. They release the zombies at night and lure them into holding pens in the morning. So far, it has proven a highly successful deterrent against theft but insurance costs might make it impractical as a solution for all shopping malls.

Reproduction: Western Mall Zombies spontaneously mutate out of existing Gray Shamblers. An avid consumer in life who dies after being infected by a Gray Shambler may arise as a Western Mall Zombie instead. The two species are found together. Some may view the Western Mall Zombie as a Gray Shambler that has adapted itself for a specific environment—consumer retail outlets.

Range: Found throughout the world. They prefer suburbia and urban sprawl. Hordes of them will besiege the nearest suitable mall even if it is well protected.

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.