"This is a consequence of the destruction of the environment which was caused by white colonisation and rape culture," yelled the woman. "If women were more fairly represented then this could have been avoided.
Listening to this caused Dave to stand still. None of what he heard made any sense. Racism, sexism, representation. He understood these words but not how they were being put together in this situation. Did this woman really have evidence of how the environment had caused the dead to rise? Dave's logical mind struggled at the sequence of random words that he heard.
"We welcome those people of colour," shouted the woman with lunatic eyes as large as saucers. "We welcome them into our safe place. Let's go forth and greet them with open arms."
At this the crowd murmured and appeared unsure. Dave knew that he should speak out against any idea of hugging the dead, but he was so surprised by the stupidity of the idea that he found himself frozen into inactivity. Was she actually suggesting that people hug the dead?
Seeing that she was losing the crowd around her, the woman pointed to one of the men that had been with her in the tent. Obviously this man was a loyal follower of the woman, and one must ask what indecent act had created that bond of loyalty. "Go. Go out as an example to all of us. Show the justice of our cause."
The man in reference went pale and seemed to be about to say something.
"We are on the right side of history," claimed the woman before stabbing a finger towards Dave. "Don't listen to the white supremacist. Listen to us righteous ones who oppose hate speech."
Dave was stumped and couldn't understand how to argue back. From Dave's silence, the woman thought that she had won some sort of battle that Dave wasn't even aware of being a part of, and she turned her attention back to her apostle. "It's time to show the justice of our cause. Go out and show people what someone who fights racism looks like."
The old man spoke up again, "I don't see you leading the way."
"Women have traditionally been oppressed by men so it's only right that we send out a man to greet these poor victims."
Dave finally cracked through what had locked him in place and spoke up. "So you admit that there is a danger."
"There isn't a danger."
"By bringing up the historical suffering of woman you expect that this man will experience his own suffering."
"That is a lie. There is no danger."
"Then if you are a leader then show us by leading. After all, you've told us that there's nothing to fear."
The woman confident expression faltered and she looked at the walkers who had emerged from the forest. They were really close and were showing their own form of agitation as they approached the crowd. To Dave those dead appeared to display a hunger that Dave wished to not see being fed.
"Everyone," called out Dave. "There's still time. We're going to shelter in the dance hall at the other side of the field. These dead can only move at walking pace. If you run now then you should be safe."
At first no one moved, but then the larking old man started walking away from the crowd. He momentarily paused, turned and talked to no one in particular. "I'm an old man. You don't get old by being foolish. Those things coming are the dead. They must be the jealous type because they like to make other people dead, and I'm not interested in such a clingy way of thinking."
Dave nodded his appreciation to the old man. "Dumb fucks," said the old man as he turned away and calmly walked off. Dave would have preferred that the old man would at least try jogging but an old body can't do what it once did when it was younger.
"Everyone," said Dave turning to the wavering crowd, "please retreat to the dance hall. We should be able to make that place safe."
"You can't tell me where my safe place is," screamed the woman trying to regain control of the crowd around her. "Leave us alone you privileged, white male."
The crowd seemed stuck in a confused state and Dave saw a chance to help them. "Those are the dead that are coming. I'm sure that you've all seen them in action before. They grab the living and rip the living apart with their teeth. You can only live by running away from them. Get to the dance hall. You'll be safe there."
The woman could see the crowd being swung by Dave's word's and in a fit of jealousy screamed, "Don't listen to his lies. He's trying to control you like all Nazis try to do. Not all grey people are evil. Let's prove this fascist wrong by greeting our fellow people of colour." The woman turned to some of the men in the crowd, who were clearly her nearest followers. "Go forth," she yelled, "Go forth and hug a grey person of colour today. Show your solidarity and support."
The men that the woman had singled out went pale with fear, prompting further cajoling from the woman. "We are the truly right. Nothing we say is wrong. Trust me and go forth. Grey lives matter!"
A few men looked up the woman who gave them a stern stare, and walked reluctantly away from the crowd and towards the nearest walkers. At first their steps were slow with reluctance but soon they seem to find belief in their cause and walk faster towards the incoming walkers with their arms outstretched.
Dave had only a moment to shout, "No don't!" when the first man reached a walker and gave the
