Monument 14 2.5 - What Mario Scietto Says (2 page)

Crunch ’n Munch. Ever heard of it?

Crunch ’n munch? Yeah. It’s, like, popcorn.

Ever had it? Yeah? Then you know it’s delicious. Buttery toffee and popcorn and some nuts glommed on in there. When I say Crunch ’n Munch, do you want to eat it?

Do you?

Tell the truth.

Yes.

That’s it. The will to eat Crunch ’n Munch is the will to live, just on the tiniest, most superficial scale. Get me?

Yes.

We start with Crunch ’n Munch. Food. Sweets. Pleasure. Make that animal part of your stomach happy. What calls next is laughter. That’s the next step to regaining your will to live. Making someone laugh. Laughing at any old thing.

And after that?

I see you don’t believe me but I’ll tell you anyway. The urge to help other people. That’s it’s own reward. And by the time you’re helping other people you’re really rolling. You help other people and you’re living again.

Do you have any?

Any what?

Crunch ’n Munch.

No . . . but I got Fiddle Faddle.

Ha! See there. I got a smile out of you! We’re already on our way to step two.

Jesus Christ Almighty, what was that?

Mario?!

Oh, my God.

Mario!

It’s bombs, Josie.

They’re bombing?

Must be. It’s the only thing I can—Whup! There goes the electrical.

Where are you?

Over here. On the couch. Careful! Follow my voice. Watch for the—

Ow!

That’s the table. I know, it’s got that sharp edge. Down here. Here’s my hand.

Lord, you’re shaking like a leaf, Josie. It’s all right. We’re in a bomb shelter. It’s made to last through this kind of thing.

It’s so loud!

You’re scared. Me too.

And that’s good. Shows you got your will to live, Josie! Hear me?

I’m scared. It’s hot. It’s hot!

God, we’re scared down here. Me and Josie are scared down here and we want to make it through. It’d be a pretty rotten trick to kill her off at this point.

Mario, the floor is burning hot.

Water. We’re gonna wrap ourselves with towels soaked with water. Here, from the tank. The sink won’t work.

Oh.

That’s better.

I don’t know. I don’t know, Mario. Oh, God, we’re going to burn up.

We’re not ready to die! Say it!

We’re not ready to die.

I want to live.

I want . . . I want to see my friends again! I want to see Niko!

She wants to see Niko!

I want to find my parents!

She wants to find her parents!

I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die yet.

Hear that, God?

They’re slowing down.

It’s so hot.

They’re slowing down, anyway. Put some more water on you. We gotta keep wet.

Are you okay? Mario?

Give it to me. I’ll do it. You sit down.

Mario, drink this. Can you breathe? Breathe through the towel. Good. Good. It’s okay. Just breathe slow.

Lord, it’s hot.

Mario, do you think we’re going to die?

If they’re done bombing upstairs, then everything should cool down. I don’t know why it got so hot. It’s not supposed to. I have a radiation detection system. It’ll tell us if it’s safe to go up. Now let’s be quiet for a minute.

Mario?

Mario?

Don’t go to sleep. Oh, God. Wake up, Mario.

I’m not dying. I’m just tired.

Please don’t go to sleep.

Okay. I’ll try.

Tell me about Annette.

Annette?

What was she like?

Funny. Lord, she was funny. Had a way of looking at me. She’d cock her eyebrow and I’d know just what was on her mind. She was classy but she never held it against you. From an upper crust family. Manhattan Park Avenue crust Her mother had this ancient sprawling apartment and it was like a museum. Smelled like old varnish. How’d they like it when she and I met—I am not kidding you—on a dude ranch? Not very much. She married me as a rebellious act. Dropped out of Smith. But we got lucky. It was love and it lasted.

Her hair was this copper color. Like. Oh . . . like chocolate if chocolate was red.

Don’t go to sleep.

I’m old. Old people get tired. This is a lot of excitement for me in one day.

What happened to her?

She was like you. O. And when the chemicals hit the air, she—Lord, it was awful, she turned purple and started shaking. She was in a wheelchair. Had arthritis that bad and she got up and started clawing over to me, dragging herself along the kitchen counter sideways. I was watching the news, hearing about the leak, and I turned to ask her what type blood she had and she was making her way to me, pure murder in her eyes.

I tried to talk sense into her.

Her heart must have gave out on her, because she fell over then.

I’m sorry, Mario.

She didn’t mean it. I promise you she didn’t.

I know. Think of how strong those chemicals must be, if they could make an eighty-year-old lady who loved her husband a hell of a lot try to kill that same husband.

They’re terrible.

Say, Josie?

Yes.

We’re gonna have to leave sooner than later, you know that, right? I mean, the air filtering . . . without the filter, we really can’t stay. And you know, they may have eyes on the area—looking for survivors, that kind of thing.

Okay.

How about I make you a promise: I do everything in my power to help you find Niko and your family.

And in return?

In return you forgive yourself for what you done up there.

Mario, it’s not that easy.

That’s my deal. Take it or leave it. You didn’t want to kill them. You weren’t in control of your actions! I know you weren’t! You were like Annette. And she was insane. She was gone.

But I could have stopped myself. I could have. Maybe not other people, but I could.

I don’t believe it.

I’m just saying it’s not that simple.

You’re not going to punish yourself for doing something you had to do to keep your friends safe.

We’re going to go and find them. And they’re going to be so happy to see you, Josie. Of course they will. I mean—can you imagine Niko’s face when I show up—with YOU? He’s gonna kiss me right on the mouth. He’ll probably break all my ribs hugging me. Loving me.

Come on. Yea or nay. What do you say?

Yea, Mario. I say yea.