Some would say we've gone too far. This may or may not be
true. What cannot be argued, especially in the case of industrialized,
First World countries, is that it is possible to assert complete control
over the forces of nature. In the comforts of your own home, you control
the elements. You decide when it should be hot or cold, wet or dry.
You decide to erase the day by pulling the shades, or purge the night
by simply turning on a lamp. Even the smells and, in some cases, the
sounds of the outside world can be expunged by the walls and closed
windows of the artificial bubble you call home. In that bubble, the
environment takes orders from you; out in the world, on the run from
a mob of ferocious zombies, the exact opposite is true. You will be at
nature's mercy, unable to change even the slightest aspect of the environment
that you previously took for granted. Here, adaptation will be
the key to survival, and the first step to that adaptation is to know your
terrain. Every environment you encounter will have its own set of
rules. These rules must be studied and respected at all times. This
respect will determine whether that terrain becomes your ally or
enemy.
1. FOREST (TEMPERATE~TROPICAL)
The density of many high trees enhances concealment. Animal noises,
or lack thereof, can provide warning of approaching danger. Soft earth
will serve to muffle your footsteps. Occasional sources of natural food
(nuts, berries, fish, game, etc.) will supplement and extend your
packed rations. Sleeping in the branches of a large tree may permit you
a safe night's rest. One imtating disadvantage comes from the canopy
above. If you hear a helicopter overhead, you will not be able to signal
it quickly. Even if the crew does spot you, they'd need a large clearing
to land. This may be frustrating as you hear but are unable to see
possible salvation flying right above your head.
2. PLAINS
Wide open spaces allow zombies to spot you at great distances. If possible,
avoid them. If not, keep a sharp lookout for the undead. Make
sure you see them before they see you. Drop to the ground immediately.
Wait for them to pass. If motion is necessary, crawl. Stay down
until you've cleared the danger zone.
3. FIELDS
For concealment, nothing works better than tall crops. The question is:
Will this work to your advantage or to a lurking ghoul's? Noise will be
a critical factor. Traipsing through dry crops will create enough din to
attract zombies from far and wide. Even at their wettest, travel through
fields slowly, listen carefully, and be ready for close combat at any
time.
4. HILLS
Traveling through rolling terrain will limit your visibility. If possible,
avoid high ground. Stick to valleys. Keep an eye on the surrounding
hilltops in case the unexpected zombie should spot you. High ground
can be useful for getting your bearings, confuming your route, and
confirming zombie locations within the area. Approach high ground
with extreme caution. Travel low, on your stomach, with eyes primed
for a slouching figure and ears alert for that distinctive moan.
5. SWAMP
If possible, avoid wetlands altogether. The noise of splashing through
water prevents any chance of stealth. Poisonous and predatory wildlife
are as much a threat as the undead. Soft mud will impede your
advance, especially with a heavy pack. Always stick to firm, dry
ground. If necessary, wade through only the shallowest water. Watch
for ripples or any subsurface motion. A zombie might have sunk
through the soft mud and be trapped just below the waterline. Look for
tracks and animal carcasses. As in forests, listen to the wildlife. Their
physical presence will also act as an early-warning mechanism.
Hundreds of different animal and bird species live in this ecosystem.
Only the threat of large predators would be enough to silence them. If
you find yourself in the middle of a swamp and suddenly hear
absolutely nothing, you will know the undead are close.
6. TUNDRA
This subarctic environment is the most human-friendly on earth. Long
winter nights are safe for travel, as the extremely low temperatures
freeze zombies in their tracks. The long summer days put sightdependent
humans on equal parity with their omnisensed, undead pursuers.
This allows for more time spent on the go. Ironically, this
subarctic twilight has also proven to aid in deeper, more relaxed sleep.
Escapees bedding down for the "night" have consistently reported the
ability to truly rest without the fear of a putrid mob rushing at them
from out of the darkness.
7. DESERT
Apart from urban areas, hot, arid zones can be the most dangerous
environments on earth. Even without the threat of zombies, dehydration
andlor heatstroke can kill a healthy human in several hours. The
best way to avoid these lethal conditions is, obviously, to travel by
night. Unfortunately, this will be impossible, as night movement is
highly discouraged during an outbreak. Traveling should take place for
three hours after dawn and three hours before dusk. The brightest,
hottest part of the day should be spent immobile and shaded. Use hours
of total darkness for rest. This will slow your journey but greatly
reduce the risks of attack. More than in any other terrain, mak
you either have enough water for the trek or know exactly wt
obtain it. If possible, avoid deserts altogether. Never forget that this
environment can kill you just as easily as any walking dead.
8. URBAN
As stated before, areas of high population density should be avoided
at all costs when on the rnn. Within their boundaries will be a maelstrom
of unspeakable chaos. Imagine a large number of people-say,
half a million-left to their own devices in a city without running
water, electricity, phones, food delivery, medical attention, garbage
collection, fire control, or law enforcement? Now add thousands of
carnivorous humanoid creatures prowling the bloodstained streets.
Imagine half a million human beings-frightened, frantic, frustrated,
fighting for their lives. No conventional battlefield, no riot, no "normal"
breakdown in social order can possibly prepare you for the
nightmare that is a city besieged by the living dead. If you must
ignore all common sense and travel through an urban area, the following
rnles will improve (if by no means guarantee) your chances
of survival:
A. Know the Area!
This rule begs repeating, because nowhere is it more vital than in urban
areas. How large is the city you are entering? How wide are its roads?
Where are the choke points, such as bridges or tunnels? Where are the
blind alleys or dead-end streets? Are there factories, chemical plants,
or other places that store hazardous materials? Where are the construction
sites that might present obstacles? Are there flat, open areas
such as playing fields and parks that would cut your travel time?
Where are the hospitals, police stations, churches, and any other buildings
where zombies might he attracted to hiding humans? One city
map would he essential, an additional guidebook even better, but firsthand
knowledge is the best.
B. Never Use Four-Wheeled Vehicles
The chances of finding a continuously open street from one end of a
city to the other are practically nil. Unless you have a constant stream
of up-to-the-second information about such a route, don't even think
of attempting to find one with your car, truck, or SUV. A motorbike
will allow you to skirt blocked roads. Its noise, however, cancels this
advantage. By traveling on foot or bicycle, you have the advantage of
speed, stealth, and versatility in this concrete maze.
C. Use Freeways
If the outbreak has moved from active battle to full infestation, the
safest route will be by freeway. Since the 1950s, freeways have been
built through every large and medium-sized city in the United States.
Their layouts are generally straight, decreasing travel time. Long sections
are lined with tall fences or are suspended above ground, which
makes it almost impossible for ghouls to reach you. If they do find an
on-ramp or breach the fences, you will still have the speed to either
ride away (on your bike or motorcycle) or simply mn. Four-wheeled
vehicles are, again, not an option, as every freeway will undoubtedly
be jammed by static vehicles. Many will contain zombies-bitten
humans who attempted to flee the city, succumbed to their wounds,
and reanimated while still belted into their seats. Examine each vehicle
before approaching, and watch for those with open or broken windows.
Keep your machete handy for the sudden grasping hand. Be
extremely cautious when using fitearms, silenced or otherwise.
Remember you are waking among a minefield of full or partially filled
fuel tanks. One stray bullet or a single spark, and the living dead will
be the least of your problems.
D. Remain Above Ground
Storm drains, subways, sewers, and other types of underground strnctures
can shield you from the hordes above. However, as on freeways,
you run the risk of being cornered by zombies already lurking in the
area. Unlike freeways, you do not have the luxluy of hopping over a
wall or jumping from an overpass. If confronted, there may be no place
to run. Traveling below ground also ensures permanent darkness,
already one strike against you. The acoustics of most tunnels are far
better than what you find above ground. While this may not allow zombies
to get a fix on your position, it will set off a chain reaction
throughout your subterranean passage. Unless you have expert knowledge
of the system-unless you helped design, build, or maintain itdon't
go anywhere near it.
E. Watch for Friendly Fire
Even if a city or section of it has been declared "overrun" (completely
taken by zombies), there may still be pockets of humanity. These survivors
will undoubtedly shoot first and identify their attackers later. To
avoid friendly fire, be on the lookout for gatherings of zombies. This
could indicate a still-raging battle. Also, look for piles of dead bodies.
They could mark the kill zone of a sniper from a nearby stronghold.
Listen for gunfire, try to determine its location, and give it a wide berth.
Look and listen for other signs such as smoke, lights in windows,
human voices, or the sound of machinery. Again, watch for the bodies.
Mounds of corpses, especially those facing one direction, denote a concerted
attempt by the undead to reach an objective. The fact that they
fell in the same place could mean that a well-trained sniper picked them
off from a fixed range. If you feel yourself close to humans, do not
attempt to contact them. Making recognizable noises or shouting,
"Don't shoot!" along the way will only attract the undead.
l? Enter by Dawn, Leave by Dusk
Unless the city is too large to traverse by daylight, never stop and rest
within its limits. As has been said before, the perils suffered by rural
nocturnal travel multiply a hundredfold in an urban setting. If you find
yourself entering a city with only several hours of daylight remaining,
retreat back into the countryside for the night. If you find yourself near
a city's limits with only minutes to sundown, keep going until you are
well clear before stopping to make camp. This is the one time when
traveling by night is acceptable. The countryside in darkness is always
safer (relatively) than the city in broad daylight.
G. Sleep with an Escape
Some cities may be logistically impossible to cross in one day.
Especially now, with urban sprawl and "in-fill" (the development of
land between two urban centers), it is becoming more difficult to
define a city's limits. In these cases, it will be necessary to find a snitable
place to sleep or, at least, rest for the following day. Look for
buildings, preferably no more than four stories, situated close to (but
not touching) each other. A building with a flat roof and only one
entrance is your best temporaq shelter. First, ensure that you can
jnmp safely from one roof to another. Second, seal the door to your
roof. If that proves impossible, barricade it with items that will make
the greatest possible noise if broken. Third, always have a long-term
escape plan as well as a short-term one. If zombies do stumble onto
the roof, waking yon in time to jnmp to the next roof, possibly the
next one, and finally making it to the street, what then? Without a
long-term escape plan, all yon will have done is jumped into the
proverbial fire.
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