The Swiss Family RobinZOM (Book 5) by Perrin Briar

with cudgels,” Bill said. “Another method.”
    “And how are we going to do that, exactly?” Fritz said. “They’re as different from zombies as zombies are from us. They’re unstoppable.”
    “Nothing’s unstoppable,” Bill said. “You just have to figure out its weakness.”
    “But these things have no weakness,” Ernest said. “No self-control, nothing. They just go mad.”
    “Then that is their weakness,” Bill said. “They’re blind to their actions, to where they’re heading.”
    “So?” Fritz said.
    “So, we’ll give them a little prod in the right direction,” Bill said.
    “Which direction is that?” Liz said.

Chapter Five
    The wave smashed into the rocks, turning the sea foamy white. It hissed with bubbles as another wave came in. The Robinsons stood on the edge of the cliffs on the west coast, looking down at the rough sea and vicious rocks.
    “We’ll lead them here,” Bill said. “And push them over the side onto the rocks below.”
    “Sorry to be the wrench in the works,” Fritz said, “but how exactly are we going to lead them up here in the first place? They’re not like normal zombies. They’re not going to follow us just because we look tasty. These monsters can’t see or think.”
    “Fritz, it pains me to say, is right,” Ernest said. “We can’t get near these things. If we do, they’ll scratch us and that’s it. Game over.”
    “Then how do we overcome these bloody things?” Fritz said. “We can’t go near them, and we can’t attack them. So what can we do?”
    “We’ll push them,” Liz said.
    “And call them names?” Fritz said.
    “No,” Liz said. “They spin, right? So why don’t we use their momentum against them? They don’t have eyes or ears or know which way they’re going, so why don’t we gently – or rather, not so gently – nudge them in the direction we want them to go in?”
    Bill nodded.
    “We’ll push them like bumper cars,” he said. “We’ll make strong shields and push them back until they go over the cliff edge. They’ll land on the rocks, exploding into a thousand pieces.”
    “Sounds like a plan,” Liz said.
    “We’d better get started soon,” Bill said. “Eventually they’re going to find our home and tear through everything we’ve built.”
    “Then let’s get started,” Liz said.

Chapter Six
    “There they are,” Bill said. “Is everyone ready?”
    The family hefted their tall wooden shields – Jack requiring both hands to lift his – and carried them forward, toward the Spinners. They stopped a dozen yards away and lined up into one long row. The shields were thick, made from the hardy outer shell of bamboo trees. They were relatively light considering their size. They were each the same height as the bearer, and two feet wide.
    “Remember,” Bill said, “we’ll separate one of them from the rest and shepherd it toward the cliff edge. Jack, Ernest, you’ll watch our backs in case any of them sneak up on us from behind. If one gets through, shout. We’ll turn and defend ourselves. Is everyone ready?”
    They all nodded.
    “All right then,” Bill said. “Let’s do this.”
    They moved forward with their shields raised, one step at a time, closing on the Spinners. The Spinners twisted, beating the ground and trees, cartwheeling away in a dozen directions. One broke away from the rest and headed straight for the family.
    Flap, flap, flap, flap.
    “Form up!” Bill said.
    The family slammed their shields down, forming a solid wall like something from the Roman era, bracing their shields with their shoulders. They waited but nothing made contact. They exchanged confused expressions. Bill peeked through the gap between his and Liz’s shields.
    “It’s gone,” Bill said. “It must have changed direction at the last moment.”
    The family lowered their shields. The jungle was empty of Spinners.
    “Where did they go?” Liz said.
    “Deeper into the jungle, I suppose,” Bill