The Park (Evenstad Media Presents Book 1) (14 page)

JOURNAL 03BLAKE

ENTRY 008

DATE: 5/20/2074

I shouldn't have doubted Rita. She's never led me wrong yet.
I feel like I need to make it up for her, giving in to my own fear and paranoia
like that. I thought she was up to something, running off by herself and not
willing to tell me what's going on. But she was just scoping things out. She
was keeping me safe, this time. She said she felt bad, with me basically being
her bodyguard, and didn't want me to feel obligated to tag along.

I told her she was being ridiculous about the whole thing.
She's kept me sane and kept me going. A little bit of risk on my part is hardly
enough to pay her back. She understood once everything was out in the open, of
course.

I don't necessarily like the idea of going down there and
talking to this guy. She says that we could take him for sure. He's old. Like
really old, according to her. But she says that going down there and acting
nice and peaceful to him is the best way to get in and really gather
information. It makes sense. But I don't have to like it. Old people can be
dangerous long enough to kill one or two people. Which is all we've got between
us. I'll definitely be on guard. I'd like to see him do a lot once he's taken a
shotgun to the chest.

ENTRY END

US TROOPS DEPLOY FOR AID IN EGYPT

5/20/2074 at 8:17 a.m. EST

This morning, the first US troops have landed in Cairo,
Egypt. As we have previously reported, the Egyptian government made a request
for aid. No more details were given at that time, but more information has been
made available since our first report. A terrorist group has overthrown the
Egyptian Government and taken control. We here at The Cruise feel it is safe to
assume that the troops have been deployed to handle this issue. We will keep
you updated as we receive more information.

Obituary of Lars Michael Krane (2016-2074)

Lars Krane (2016-2074) was found dead in his home in
Milford, Pennsylvania early this morning. A valued member of the community, and
a devoted husband and father, he is succeeded by his daughters, Cynthia Krane
and Margaret Blake, and his son, Michael Krane. He was an avid reader and
writer, and even contributed to the well-known news and opinion blog, RealTalk.
Services will be held at Stroyan Funeral Home on Friday, May 25
^th
,
beginning at 10 a.m.

JOURNAL 05CRAIG

ENTRY 014

DATE: 5/22/2074

It took a couple of days, but I found someone. Or at least
where someone was and left the lights on. Either way, it's a sign of another
person out here. I can't say that I'm getting closer, because that's a ridiculous
assumption. But it's heartening. It's a reminder, if nothing else, that I'm not
totally alone. I was starting to forget a little bit, wandering around. I even
considered the possibility that everyone else was dead. There's still a chance
that they are, and I'm just waiting for someone to retrieve me. Or they really
don't intend to let me out of here after all. A tomb for the winner so I can't
go out and hack their CESUs in the real world, or do anything to ruin their
good name.

I'm going to go up to that house. Part of me hopes it's
empty. Part of me hopes that I find one final person and I can kill them when
their back is turned. Honestly, the only thing I really don't want is to find
Manfred in there. God willing, I won't.

ENTRY END

JOURNAL 10MANFRED

ENTRY 012

DATE: 5/23/2074

Once more, fate plays to my favor. I do not fully
understand, still, but I know better than to raise pointless questions of such
a nature. Craig has come back. I do not know how he found me. I do not know
what happened to him since last I saw him. I have apologized, of course. He
deserved a much better goodbye than I was able to offer him. I always knew
that, but I stand by my decision. A quick and non-distracting break.

He is welcome to stay, of course, but I can no longer hide my
illness. It is simply too much energy to put forth. I haven't vomited lately,
but I am not such a fool as to think that I will not throw up again while he is
here. I have already found myself fighting back the urge to puke twice since he
arrived. It can't have been more than twelve hours.

Craig can tell something is wrong. I know that just from
watching and listening to him. He has been so cautious around me since he
arrived. He always offers to help me, fetch water and such. He acts like I am
so fragile, as though I would break apart at the slightest gust or breeze from
his arm passing by too fast. It's sweet, but I hate that I'm doing this to him.

Perhaps I look worse than I feel. I must. There's no other
explanation that I can come to. And if that is truly the case, then my chances
of seeing my Natalie again are lower, perhaps, than I thought before.

I shall miss her.

ENTRY END

JOURNAL 02CHRISTINA

ENTRY 015

DATE: 5/23/2074

Well, I guess that someone here thinks they're something
big. Something real big. I found this house with all sorts of different booby
traps and shit. Of course, there was no one in there, but whoever put this
together had good damn reason to protect it, though. Four medallions, all in
the same building. Hell, I almost would have thought those Evenstad jackasses
put the whole thing together, if I hadn't found two of the medallions broken
apart and wired up to something outside. I didn't touch either of those. I have
no proof that they're safe to work with. For all I know, screwing around with
them got whoever it was killed and that's why the place is empty. But the other
two are totally untouched, as far as I can tell. When I tried them out, they
both worked without knocking me dead. Or I'm a fucking ghost, now.

One of the medallions was a laser kind of thing. Really
weak, but it could probably slow someone down. I'm not above injuring someone
before they die, as long as things get done. But the other one… it's more than
a little useful to me, I think. A big destructive ball of light. I don't need
to know more than that. I just know that it does some good damage, it's not
subtle, and I can't think of a God damn thing that's going to stop it. Except
probably the walls around this place. I can't imagine they'd give us something
that could help us bust out. It won't stop me from trying, given the chance.
But it's not going to get in my way. I'll find whoever's left alive, and I'll
fix that little affliction.

ENTRY END

JOURNAL 03BLAKE

ENTRY 009

DATE: 5/24/2074

Well, we're leaving today. Rita wanted to do one more check
over things, and I'm taking the chance to update this. After all, I don't know
if I'll get the chance to update again after we go down there to see the old
man. Since I could die… I guess I don't need to talk about anything else in
here. It's mine, and I already know what's going on. And if anyone does end up
reading this, I trust that they're smart enough to figure out what I'm talking
about. I just really don't want to write it. It's like that makes it actually
be real. I know it's completely ridiculous, but I just don't want to fucking
write it down.

Just, you know, to anyone out there who knows me and might
care, or even if you don't know me and you're just reading this, goodbye. I'm
hoping that it's not really goodbye. I want to have the chance to say it in
person. I guess for now, I just have to write it again.

Goodbye.

ENTRY END

JOURNAL 10MANFRED

ENTRY 013

DATE: 5/24/2074

I never, not even once, thought I would find myself in this
situation. The young man and woman who killed David came to my door today. What
is perhaps even stranger is that I allowed them in. But what more could I do? I
would much rather have them in sight than waiting around for me outside, I
suppose. It is the only rationale I can come up with to explain what I have
done.

I have not told Craig the history between us, but he is a
smart lad. I'm certain that he's at least suspicious of things. As for the two
of them, I don't believe they realize who I am. Either that, or they are acting
far better than I could ever manage.

I must be brief. They believe I am fetching water, and I can
only make that last so long before their suspicions will be a sure thing.

ENTRY END

TO: Frederick Evenstad

FROM: Kathy Horstmann

SUBJECT: The Park

SENT 5/21/2074 AT 12:15 p.m. EST

I realize that I have no say in anything, but I can't keep
my conscience clear and not bring this up again. Things are escalating too far.
It was bad enough when you had us build CESUs for your brother's ridiculous
game show, but now they're out in the world. It's too much. If you have
anything left in you that's moderately human, you'll find a way to put an end
to all this.

I know this was all so you could get your war and get your
farmland and get your money. I didn't go to Yale on a sports scholarship, after
all. I can put these things together, Frederick. You plan to conveniently take
over the land, somehow. Don't bother denying any of it, either. You can't
convince me I'm wrong. Not this time. But I'm appealing to your better parts.
I'm begging you: don't do this. Don't let this war happen. You don't need it, I
don't need it, your family doesn't need it, and the world certainly doesn't
need it.

—

TO: Kathy Horstmann

FROM: Frederick Evenstad

SUBJECT: RE: The Park

SENT 5/21/2074 AT 4:56 p.m. EST

Ms. Horstmann,

I realize that your life underwent something of an upheaval
when we had to part ways. Such financial distress can be hard on anyone. I
realize that it might be difficult to believe, given my current situation, but
I am not a stranger to monetary troubles. In my younger days, I went through
quite a number of jobs, myself.

Unfortunately, I must inform you that this is a private
email address. I will forgive it this time, but do not contact me here in the
future. Otherwise, I will be forced to inform the legal department of this, and
they will likely spin it as a case of harassment. I believe both of us would
like to avoid such a mess.

However, if it would be helpful to you, I will of course be
happy to write a letter of recommendation to any employer. Merely contact
Veronica, my secretary. I trust that you also kept her email address. If not,
it is available on the Contact page of our website.

I wish you the best of luck, as I do all of our current and
former employees. I look forward to seeing you back on your feet.

Frederick Evenstad

Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Technologies

JOURNAL 06RITA

ENTRY 011

DATE: 5/24/2074

Evenstad, I want you to know something. Pay really, really
close attention to this, all right? Good.

I hate you, you slimy asshole. I've never hated anything, I
can tell you that much, but I damn well hate you. If there's a Hell, I hope you
don't go there. You don't deserve the fucking luxury of it.

This Manfred, I just don't know how the hell you could drag
him into this. He's obviously too old, and he's obviously sick. He's trying to
hide it, too, but it's just so damned obvious to anyone with eyes. And you
bastards have eyes everywhere in this place. I don't know if he was healthy
when you fucking kidnapped him and dropped him here, but he's obviously not
well now, and I bet he hasn't been well for a long time, to look at him. But
you had to play out your psychotic little game, didn't you? So you'll just
leave him here to wither while the world watches.

How's that going to look to the viewers, if they watch him
die off, day after day? Don't you assholes have a drug company or a medical
company under your control? Yeah, I'm pretty sure you do, somewhere in your
damn collection of companies. But that's okay. You just worry about your rules
and your games and your fucking bullshit TV show. We're just lowly humans,
anyway. Not even your damned employees. We all may as well be scum, those of us
who are left.

I want you sons of bitches to know one more thing, though:
I'm going to live. I'll live through your torture even if it's only to spite
you. Fucking count on it.

ENTRY END

BREAKING NEWS: EGYPTIAN INSURGENCY ENDED

5/27/2074 at 3:14 p.m. EST

This afternoon, US, Russian, and Indian forces removed a
group of terrorists from power in Egypt. The group, calling themselves the
Egyptian Restoration Movement, had taken control of the main government offices
in Cairo some weeks ago. The ERM's goal, according to their mission statement,
is to 'bring Egypt back to glory' by restoring economic health and general
prosperity. While troops from several countries were deployed, they did not
arrive in time to save Egyptian President Chatuluka bin Awad al Misri, who was
murdered not long after the Egyptian Restoration Movement took power. More
troops will be arriving in the following weeks to aid in the stabilization of
the Egyptian government.

Specialists from Evenstad Farms will also be arriving
shortly to provide humanitarian aid. They intend to help revitalize the economy
so as to avoid a group like the ERM from rising again. A temporary president is
to be elected later this week by the remaining members of the now restored
Egyptian government.

We will keep you updated as more information is made
available to us here at The Cruise.

UPDATE: 5/27/2074 at 6:08 p.m. EST: After deliberation, the
Egyptian government has agreed to allow US troops to stay in Egypt as protection
until they can be certain that the threat has fully passed. In order to
minimize the risk as much as possible, Evenstad Farms has agreed to buy out the
farmers they initially came to aid. Marta Evenstad, COO of Evenstad Farms, says
that it is a temporary measure, implemented 'to keep the farmers safe while
still providing them with financial stability.' The specialists will work the
land in their place so that 'fertile croplands aren't left to die and become
useless.' This measure will protect the farmers' current and future interests,
and the land will be returned to them 'when the Egyptian government deems the
country safe from terrorist activities.'