On a beautiful tropical island in 1598, three men face challenges that test their integrity to its core: zombies, Komodo dragons, and each other.

Inacio, an educated sailor from Portugal who is shipwrecked on Flores Island, believes non-Europeans lack honor and intelligence. Buti, an Indonesian villager, has a well-deserved reputation as a lazy and cowardly drunk. Belly, a cave-dwelling Ebu Gogo, desperately wants to pass his rite of manhood.

The lives and destinies of these men intersect one terrifying day in 1598 when the peace and beauty of Flores is desecrated by zombies from Inacio's ship.

Based on substantial research, this novelette is as historically and ethnographically accurate as possible (like all the author's historical works) except:

(1) The Ebu Gogo (Homo floresiensis) probably died out on Flores Island thousands of years before this story takes place (although local folktales of the Ebu Gogo live on and date them much more recently).

(2) Zombies did not invade Flores Island in 1598. In fact, according to my research, zombies have never invaded Flores Island. If you do not want to ever have to use your zombie invasion plan, you may wish to move to Flores Island. Remember to create a Komodo dragon evasion plan first.