"You can do that without a human sacrifice, right?"
"Most animators can’t do it with one," I said.
She gave me a look. "Are you that arrogant, or that good?"
"That wasn’t arrogance, Ms. Zell, just the truth."
She looked strangely satisfied. "Then raise him for me. Raise him and let him be alive. He will feel emotions, right?"
"Yes," I said.
"Fear? Can a zombie feel fear?"
"One that thinks it’s alive and looks alive will be afraid. Most of them are afraid when they realize they’re in a graveyard. Some of them freak when they see their own tombstone. It’s actually best if you don’t let them see that. It can make them begin to lose focus on your questions or your vengeance."
"But he’ll see me, know me, and when I hurt him, he’ll be afraid of me, right?"
I nodded. "Right . . ."
"That’s perfect. So, you’ll do it?"
"Are you honestly going to use an axe on your deceased husband?"
She nodded, and her face was very firm and sure of itself. Her eyes glinted and the gray seemed to get even darker, like clouds before it storms. "Oh, yes, I am. I’m going to chop the bastard up while he begs me to stop. I want him to think I’m killing him for real."
I studied her face and wanted to ask if she was joking, but I knew the answer. "You want the last memory you will ever have of your husband to be you chopping him up?"
She nodded.