Zombies vs. Romans! The year is 37 AD; a mysterious living severed head is delivered to Rome from the far reaches of the Eastern Empire. The head, and a lone Chinese monk arrive in the city of Capua, near Rome"s capitol. They have been captured by the Roman Governor of Syria and sent to Rome as holy gifts for the Emperor-the notorious tyrant, Caligula. Before the head magistrate of Capua-a Roman named Pullus-can make the arrangements to speed the bizarre gift to the Emperor, the magically animated severed head bites the finger of a ferocious Centurion; and the real fun begins. The curse of the Dead spreads through Capua like a field of wheat set ablaze, but Rome does not care, all her Emperor cares for is the arrival of the head-now called the living head of Apollo-and the magic and power this will bring him. Pullus struggles to combat the Dead and save his citizens, but as the numbers of Dead grow exponentially, he realizes he is fighting a losing battle-the Madness has taken hold. Convinced the head of Apollo is a powerful omen of his own divinity, Caligula demands the head be sent to him in a Triumphal Parade, and the Madness begins in Rome itself. Conflict is set between Pullus and Caligula-pragmatism vs. outlandish caprice, man vs. the will of the gods-but can anyone save Rome? Perhaps the narrator, young Atticus, and the lone Chinese monk he has befriended have the answer.