ME: I’m so sorry.
KEVIN: Thank you. In the morning we looked around the house and found a patchy area of flowers in a small wooded area on the side of the house. I found a shovel in the garage and we buried him there. It felt wrong leaving him there but we didn’t have a choice. We went on our way mostly in silence for a long time. I just drove and drove. Eventually we crossed the Ohio line and I stopped in Diamond. We needed to rest. Didn’t feel like we did but I knew we did. I found an old dirt drive that was between two fields of high grass. Maybe it was hay, I don’t remember. Didn’t care. We slept there all night and woke up to recalling everything. Later that day we ended up at The Retreat and stayed trapped there. I was sure that was how we were going to spend the remainder of our lives. As slaves for some lunatic. Until you guys came along and gave us a chance for something good here. A gratitude that words can’t express. We owe you everything.
ME: Just doing what any decent people would do.
KEVIN: Still…many wouldn’t have, decent or not. You put yourselves in harms way for strangers. You lost people in that process. Which is why, even decent, many wouldn’t have and that’s understandable.
ME: But we also gained so much in that war. You lost some, we lost some…but we all knew what we were fighting for and they were willing to die for it. Now we have two thriving communities and some bad men will never hurt others again.
KEVIN: Yeah. That’s all true. Thank you again though.
ME: Not needed but you’re welcome.
KEVIN: Is there anything else you would like to know?
ME: No, that’s fine.
KEVIN: Alright. I’m gonna go see what Sandra wants to do for dinner. Want to stay for dinner?
ME: I don’t want to be a-
KEVIN: Don’t even. Come on inside. Let’s get some food.
**
Catching up with Kelly.
ME: What’s new?
KELLY: Same old shit, how about you?
ME: That’s about the extent of it.
KELLY: You see Jim? I haven’t seen him all day and needed to ask him something.
ME: Can’t say that I have, no. What was he supposed to be doing today?
KELLY: Working with Larry on something, I have no idea.
ME: How’s Ben?
KELLY: Same as always. Teenagers will be teenagers. Stubborn but he’s starting to mellow I think. He’s out with Rachel doing some inventory.
ME: That’s good. How do you think everything has turned out?
KELLY: With?
ME: I mean both communities and all the newcomers.
KELLY: Oh. I think it’s good. Things became stable and it’s worked well. I wasn’t sure how smoothly things were going to go when we brought in all those refugees. Then clearing out what was left of The Retreat to rebuild. Amazing we didn’t lose anyone on that endeavor.
ME: Agreed. So how have you been? I mean really?
KELLY: I’m fine. Just glad things are calm and have been calm.
ME: You ever talk to Doctor T-
KELLY: No, jack. I don’t need a fucking shrink so I’m gonna go ahead and stop you right there.
ME: [laughs] I didn’t say you need one. Just asking in general, it’s good to talk to someone and get things out. Nothing wrong with it.
KELLY: I know that, I just don’t want to. Like I said, I’m fine. If I needed to talk about anything I would.
ME: Okay. Sorry for bringing it up.
KELLY: [sigh] No, I’m sorry. Just kinda stir crazy lately. Hasn’t been much going on and you know how I get. Remember how bitchy I was stuck in the house in Hiram? It’s like that.
ME: Hell, no wonder you can’t find Jim.
KELLY: Hardy fuckin’ har.
ME: [laughs] Sorry.
KELLY: I really need something to do, Jack. Getting cabin fever.
ME: Well, I need to go over to The Retreat and help Wayne and Valerie with a few things. More than welcome to come, we could use the help.
KELLY: Yes! I’m game, let’s go. Don’t hesitate to ask me more often.
ME: Will do, promise.
**
Roger (last name not given. He states: “What’s it matter anymore?”) is a lean and scruffy man in his fifties. He was another of the unfortunates to arrive at The Retreat before it was truly a retreat. He’s lighthearted and straight to the point. He’s very pleasant to talk to but don’t expect sugar coating.
ME: Thanks for the sit down.
ROGER: Don’t mention it. How are you?
ME: I’m well, thank you. Yourself?
ROGER: Also well.
ME: So you’re ready for an interview? I heard you were looking for me?
ROGER: You heard correct. I keep hearing about you talking to everyone and getting their story and I was like, hell, I’ll tell mine if he wants it.
ME: Had I known you were so eager, I’d have come to speak with you much sooner, that I can say.
ROGER: Not saying eager, just open to speak it is all.
ME: Nonetheless, I’m glad.
ROGER: So, my story. Ready?
ME: Indeed I am. Please.
ROGER: Well, once upon a time I was a worker for a road crew. Waving people around and all that good stuff. Orange vest, you get the gist. That went to shit about a year before the outbreaks. Motorcycle lost control and bam! Plowed right into me. Had multiple fractures to my leg and knee. Busted a few ribs and had a concussion. Could have been much worse, so I’m not going to complain. Needless to say though, I wasn’t able to stand around all day anymore for those kind of hours. I went on disability and just kind of went into myself ya know? I loved my job. Nothing glamorous but I liked it. It’s all I really knew. I didn’t go to school for anything and I didn’t plan to. I never pictured leaving the work I was in.
ME: Sorry.
ROGER: Yeah, it sucked. I had to find a little one bedroom and developed a drinking problem. Now, I’m not going to go ahead and blame my issue for my drinking…that was all me. I ain’t gonna make any excuses. I just kept drinking and getting bitter and stopped paying rent and ended up in a few shelters and on a few park benches. I was on that roll for about six months or so. I finally pulled my head out of my ass and dropped the bottle. Well, eased up and then dropped it for the most part. Eventually got another one bedroom and found odd jobs to help me out some more.
ME: Where was this?
ROGER: Tallmadge.
ME: Oh, okay. I started in Akron.
ROGER: Small world, eh?
ME: It is.
ROGER: It sure is. So, fast forward to the start of the outbreaks. I knew it was starting to get bad so just in case it got worse I went to some stores and stocked up on more water and cans of food than I could afford. But that was okay, cause better safe than sorry and if it all went to shit, then the money didn’t matter anyway.
ME: True story.
ROGER: I was in a small apartment community, all one level apartments. Quiet enough. Suited me anyway! But I just kept tuned into the TV like I assume most folks did.
ME: I did and my friends.
ROGER: Exactly. I mean, what else could you do? I saw the footage of those things attacking people. Watched as dumb reporters stood in the streets thinking they were at safe distances. Could see those things behind them here and there with the military blasting them. Wouldn’t have caught me out there. Just report from a damn chopper. Why be on the ground and shit?
ME: I sure as shit wouldn’t have been.
ROGER: Cause you and I are smart! Eventually it reached my town as it eventually reached yours! I could hear the screaming and gunshots and everything else. Then the power went out. I about shit myself when that happened. At least you had your friends. I had no one. I have no shame in admitting that I was scared. I was alone and in the dark. I watched the apartments empty out and everyone was fleeing but I had nowhere to go and no one came to ask if I was okay and I wasn’t going to try and speak to anyone and impose. I just stayed put.
ME: I
can’t imagine.
ROGER: You don’t want to. So, now the neighborhood was empty. Just me. I ate and drank as little as possible each day. I was terrified of when I’d run out of food and water and knowing I would have to go outside. I observed plenty of them plain walking ones. I was scared of them but I knew I was faster. Then when I saw the other ones, man. They could move! There I was with a busted leg and I knew I couldn’t run. Not for long before my leg would give and even before then, not fast! When I first saw them my stomach sank. If some of them spotted me before I could get into my car or something I was fucked.
ME: In all fairness, even someone in great running shape isn’t going to do so hot trying to run away from them. They’re not only fast but they don’t get winded.
ROGER: An aspect I hadn’t considered. That’s a scary thought indeed. So the parking lot had been pretty full the last time I came home so my car was forty or fifty yards away. Just my luck, right? The day came when I was down to five cans of food and a few bottles of water. I could sit there till they were totally gone but I decided to throw them in a backpack and just go. I may need that little bit later. What if I couldn’t scavenge something right away? I was scared but at least thinking rationally a little bit. I realized I didn’t have any weapons. So, suddenly I felt really stupid. I threw a big butcher knife in my bag and grabbed a frying pan. A fucking frying pan! That was my only defense! It took me about two hours to work myself up to open that door and start that walk to my car. I remember looking out my window and thinking my car looked about a thousand miles away. I felt like it would take me an hour to reach it even though I of course knew better. I stretched my leg a little bit and took some breathes. Then I was like fuck this, let’s get to that damn car! Scared as I was to open that door I was excited for something I hadn’t had in awhile! Fresh air! The coast looked clear and I opened the door and was slapped in the face. The fresh air I was eagerly anticipating wasn’t really there! The breeze was nice but the smell of smoke and rot permeated. I wasn’t sure if a body was around or some of them were around. The thought made me want to retreat back inside and wait another day but I stood there and listened and waited. I walked forward. My car getting closer and closer. I was twenty yards or so when I heard footsteps behind me a ways. I turned and there was one following me. A slow one. It must have been around the side of the building and saw me walking through the parking lot.
ME: They are terrifying to say the least.
ROGER: You ain’t got to tell me! And when they get in chase they move a little bit faster. He was wearing a white tank top that was blood stained. It’s eyes caught my attention first. So devoid of anything remotely human. It had gained some steps toward me just because I was fear struck. Then it started growling and opening it’s mouth and I snapped out of it and started to jog away. I only had maybe fifteen yards or less and my leg gave. I fell but caught myself. I could hear that thing getting closer and I started to panic. I got to my feet and turned. It was just feet away and I raised that damn pan and cracked it on the head. It stumbled and looked baffled. I took advantage and cracked it again. It fell down that time. I thought about stomping on it’s head but I didn’t wanna risk really hurting my leg. So I bent down and hit it in the head a few more times. It stopped trying to attack but for good measure I hit the thing again but this time I was off shot and the pan partially hit the pavement and that metallic clang echoed out. My breathe caught and somewhere off behind the apartments there was that screaming they do. I panicked and got to my feet. I hobbled my ass as fast as I could to that car and got inside. I felt so safe even though I knew I wasn’t. I reached the field goal though! I started the car and something caught my eye. It was two of them fast ones. Came from behind the apartment and were darting right at me. I can’t explain how scary that was but I can assume you know.
ME: I do.
ROGER: I floored it. I just kept thinking had it been those two things…just one…and not the slow one, it would have been done. I couldn’t have fought one of those things.
ME: Again, people in good shape have a hard time with one of them. I speak from experience. Where’d you head off to?
ROGER: Well, the smart thing to have done would have been to dodge towns and cities. But my adrenaline was high as fuck and I just wanted some fast distance between me and those things in the parking lot. I was driving aimlessly and probably a little recklessly, too. So I ended up in Kent and those fuckers were walking here and there and all over. I drove around until I found a street where none were in sight. I found a bar and it was unlocked. I was scared shitless but I went inside. It looked clear and it was quiet. I shouted hello and nothing moved or made a sound and that was good enough for me! A distant shriek made me jump and I rushed in and shut the door. It was a pretty good solid door. There was a window at front of bar but it was dark. Anything on the outside couldn’t see in. It was creepy watching them walk past and me just sitting there casually watching them. Sometimes they’d stop and look around or sniff around and I always got nervous but they always went about their business. They couldn’t smell me. But, man…it was always scary when every now and then one would look at the glass. Sometimes felt like they were looking right at me and I just froze. Every time. But they were just catching glances of their reflections. They looked so baffled and confused by their reflection. It was kinda sad. Sometimes the fast ones would rush past and startle me. The place had quite a few cases of water and lots of food, so you can bet your ass I stayed put there!
ME: How long were you able to stay?
ROGER: Early October. Honestly, could have been longer but I didn’t always ration that well. Some nights I was just plain hungry and I ate more than I should. Again, I gathered some stuff and put it in my bag and headed out. Fast forward, I ended up at The Retreat working for that son of a bitch. And that is my story. Not much to tell.
ME: It’s all important. It really is. I really appreciate it. And I’m glad you’re with us and not alone.
ROGER: Me too! Me too! Thank you so much for that. You need any help with anything?
ME: We got some stuff, yeah. I’ll come over later.
ROGER: Okay, sounds good. I can’t do much with my leg for too long, but I’ll give it my best till then!
ME: Even if we just need you to drive that’s enough.
ROGER: That I can do all day.
**
Catching up with Jim
JIM: So, working hard or hardly working?
ME: Little of both to be honest [laughs]. How’s it going?
JIM: Same as always. Helping out with everything, keeping track of Ben and trying to keep Kelly happy.
ME: How’s that last one going?
JIM: She was in some shitty moods for awhile but after you asked for her assistance with stuff the other day she’s been much better.
ME: Remember how she was before? Just getting that cabin fever again.
JIM: Well you can take her to help all you want if it keeps her in the mood she’s been in the last couple days. She doesn’t wanna do any work around here with me. She thinks seeing me too much when we live together anyway would be bad. She’s probably right, we’d clash too much. Especially when she’s in one of those damn moods, shit.
ME: You’re welcome.
JIM: Yes! Thank you!
ME: So how’s Ben?
JIM: He stays busy and he stays out of trouble. He hangs out with Rachel and the others a lot. I only get nervous when he hangs with Heather a lot one on one. You know how adventurous she can be.
ME: Ah, I wouldn’t worry about Heather anymore. After all that happened she’s stayed out of trouble and grew up a lot.
JIM: Yeah, I suppose you’re right.
ME: You gotta lighten up. Things are good! We’re all good. Enjoy it.
JIM: Don’t go and fuckin’ jinx us. We have came a long way though. Such a long way…
ME: Yes. Yes we have.
JIM: What’s on your agenda?
ME: Today? Nothing really. Just
going around catching up and touching base with people. Maybe seek a few more interviews.
JIM: You’re like one of those annoying paparazzi people from the old world.
ME: I ain’t that bad!
JIM: [laughs] No, and make sure you don’t get that way.
ME: I’ve just about gotten from all that are willing to talk. We haven’t even had any newcomers really lately. I think this series of interviews is near over.
JIM: Who was the last one you interviewed?
The Dead Lands Diary [Vol. III] Page 9