Kenneth E. Baker - Zeb the Dogman (The Earth Cleansing Series, Book 3)

Book 3 of The Earth Cleansing Series

by

Kenneth E. Baker

WHISKEY CREEK PRESS

www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Published by

Whiskey Creek Press

PO Box 51052

Casper, WY 82605-1052

www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Copyright ? 2006 by Connie Baker

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

ISBN 1-59374-405-6

Credits

Cover Artist: Jinger Heaston

Editor: Chere Gruver

Printed in the United States of America

Other Books by Author Available at Whiskey Creek Press:

www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Border Life

Remnants of Love

The Chosen One

Stalkers Revenge (sequel to The Chosen One)

Dedication

This novel is dedicated to all readers who dream of a better world.

Zeb/Org stood on top of the hill looking at the sealed doors of the tunnel. Hundreds of dogs, small and large, sat around him, waiting for him to tell them what to do. Beside him, a small mongrel dog lifted its head. Zeb asked, What are we going to do now? The human, Joe, is out of our reach.

Dont worry, old one. He wont be in there for very long. Things are happening which will compel him toleave the shelter of the mountain. All we can do now is bide our time until he is out in the open where we can get tohim, Zeb heard in his mind.

Zeb heard and knew everything happening to him, but was unable to control many of his actions. A few months ago, he was a ninety-one-year-old man trying to make sense of a world gone mad. Now he was locked in a small portion of his own mind, while an alien force used the rest of it, and his body. Although unable to control his actions, Zeb discovered if he was careful, he could fool the alien who had taken over his body. He discovered the force in control of him had a few misconceived ideas about humans. For one thing, the being thought that because Zeb was ninety-one years old, he required a lot of rest. Actually, Zeb was as hearty and healthy as a man in his late forties. He used this knowledge to give Joe and his people a chance to escape. By faking exhaustion, Zeb forced the being to rest more than it would have preferred to.

He discovered the small dog, Squeeker, that had been his companion for the last several years, was the true alien force that controlled him. Somehow, the being had placed a small part of himself in Zebs mind as he slept a few months ago. Used to living by himself, Zeb had no living relatives. Several months ago when the world started going crazy, Zeb noticed a change in Squeeker. She became listless for awhile, then overnight, she became aggressive as all get out. Zebs first thought was she had been bitten by a rabid animal and he was concerned. He was about to take her to the vet in town when she appeared to become her old self again.

He lay down to sleep one night and woke up the next morning feeling strange. His thoughts were muddled and he had a hard time concentrating on anything. As the day progressed, he heard a voice in his head asking if he was in control yet. Zeb thought he was getting the sickness spreading across the country at the time.

His head hurt so bad, he took a whole bottle of aspirin that day. It felt like something was inside his mind, shifting portions of his brain around. The morning after that, he woke up and discovered that even though he was still Zeb, something had sealed away the part of him that controlled his body. At first, the alien was confused as to how the human body func-tioned. Zeb remembered his body taking its first jerky steps under the aliens control.

It took a while for Zeb to realize what had happened to him. Never a quitter, Zeb tried to fight the alien for control of his mind. Almost at once, Zeb found himself forced into the background and shut off from any control of his own body.

After awhile, the alien learned the basic functions of the human body, but not before Zeb had soiled his pants. The ripe aroma of feces continually assaulted Zebs nostrils before the alien realized this wasnt the way humans eliminated their waste.

Near the end of the day, Zeb heard, Zeb, can you hear me?

Still in a state of shock, Zeb asked, Who are you? What have you done to me?

Who I am is unimportant. I have taken control of your short, furry friend. The one you call Squeeker. I haveplaced a small part of myself in your mind. It is useless to fight it. What I want to tell you is if anything shouldhappen to me, you will also die. What I require is your knowledge of this world so I can function properly. I couldobtain this knowledge by force, but it would destroy your mind. I would rather you gave it freely than have to takeit, but I will if I must.

What have you done with Squeeker? Zeb asked.

I am afraid the small furry animals mind was destroyed when I took control of her body.

Zeb gave a mental sob of anguish. Why did you have to kill the only companion I had left? he asked, in a tormented voice.

Her mind was of no significanceto me. If I had left it, it would have caused problems with my controlling thebody.

Why not take control of me and leave Squeeker alone?

Her body suited the plans I have. This way, I share your knowledge and it helps me carry out the job I wascreated to do.

What job is that? Zeb asked.

To eliminate the few humans who can stop what is happening to this world.

You said you were created. Who created you?

Of my creator, I have no knowledge. I only know that I am to stop these humans.

Why take on the form of an animal? Why not a human? Zeb asked.

In this form, I can control all the animals of this species. My maker deemed these creatures, you call dogs, to bethe most efficient predators on this planet. In a few years, your human culture will begin to decay without all themodern tools you have to make life easier for you. In the years to come, many humans will die. They will not havethe skills to survive in a world without technology.In the meantime, the dogs will survive and flourish because oftheir instinct for survival. I shall allow a small percentage of people to live so they can do my bidding. Your kindcan do so much more than we can.We will keep some of you around to build the things we need. Mankind willnever again be rulers of this world. In fifty years, the human race will be totally dependent on us. That is the planmy maker has set out to accomplish. The only thing standing in the way are these people I am to destroy. My makerhas another enemy that is very powerful, but he says he can handle her without too much trouble.

Zebs interest perked up on hearing this. He asked, Who is this powerful enemy of your maker?

Why do you call it her?

How little you puny humans know about the world you live on. The enemy I refer to is the planet itself. It mayshock you to learn the planet is a living and dynamic entity in its own right. My maker estimates this entityenveloped this world right after it was formed and has been here since then. Because of a complicated set of rules,