World War Z_ An Oral History of the Zombie War ( PDFDrive )

mimics a deep, low voice] “please stay calm, the ‘thorties’ are coming, just stay calm and wait
for the ‘thorties.’” No one was listening to him. Everyone was talking, nobody was sitting. People
were trying to talk on their things [mimes holding a cell phone], they were angry at their
things, throwing them, and saying bad words. I felt bad for Pastor Dan. [She mimics the sound
of a siren.] Outside. [She does it again, starting soft, then growing, then fading out again
multiple times.]
Mommy was talking to Mrs. Cormode and other mommies. They were fighting. Mommy was
getting mad. Mrs. Cormode kept saying [in an angry drawl], “Well what if? What else can you
do?” Mommy was shaking her head. Mrs. Cormode was talking with her hands. I didn’t like Mrs.
Cormode. She was Pastor Dan’s wife. She was bossy and mean.
Somebody yelled…“Here they come!” Mommy came and picked me up. They took our bench and
put it next to the door. They put all the benches next to the door. “Quick!” “Jam the door!” [She
mimics several different voices.] “I need a hammer!” “Nails!” “They’re in the parking lot!”
“They’re coming this way!” [She turns to Doctor Kelner.] Can I?
[Doctor Sommers looks unsure. Doctor Kelner smiles and nods. I later learn that
the room is soundproofed for this reason.]
[Sharon mimics the moan of a zombie. It is undoubtedly the most realistic I have
ever heard. Clearly, by their discomfort, Sommers and Kelner agree.]
They were coming. They came bigger. [Again she moans. Then follows up by pounding her
right fist on the table.] They wanted to come in. [Her blows are powerful, mechanical.]
People screamed. Mommy hugged me tight. “It’s okay.” [Her voice softens as she begins to
stroke her own hair.] “I won’t let them get you. Shhhh….”
[Now she bangs both fists on the table, her strikes becoming more chaotic as if to
simulate multiple ghouls.] “Brace the door!” “Hold it! Hold it!” [She simulates the sound of
shattering glass.] The windows broke, the windows in the front next to the door. The lights got
black. Grown-ups got scared. They screamed.
[Her voice returns to her mother’s.] “Shhhh…baby. I won’t let them get you.” [Her hands go
from her hair to her face, gently stroking her forehead and cheeks. Sharon gives Kelner a
questioning look. Kelner nods. Sharon’s voice suddenly simulates the sound of something
large breaking, a deep phlegm-filled rumble from the bottom of her throat.] “They’re
coming in! Shoot ’em, shoot ’em!” [She makes the sound of gunfire then…] “I won’t let them
get you, I won’t let them get you.” [Sharon suddenly looks away, over my shoulder to
something that isn’t there.] “The children! Don’t let them get the children!” That was Mrs.
Cormode. “Save the children! Save the children!” [Sharon makes more gunshots. She balls her
hands into a large double fist, bringing it down hard on an invisible form.] Now the kids
started crying. [She simulates stabbing, punching, striking with objects.] Abbie cried hard.
Mrs. Cormode picked her up. [She mimes lifting something, or someone, up and swinging
them against the wall.] And then Abbie stopped. [She goes back to stroking her own face,
her mother’s voice has become harder.] “Shhh…it’s okay, baby, it’s okay…” [Her hands move