Desolation Boulevard
Page 80
Chapter 80
Extract From Sally’s Journal:
“It’s mid morning and they’re still not back. I’m trying to function normally for Gabby’s sake, but I’m a wreck. The crowd continues to build outside the fence and the road to the farm is starting to resemble a car park. To be honest, I don’t know how much longer we can stay here, but I feel a little safer with all those people out there. If marauders attack us, they should at least be slowed down by that mob. I know Bonnie wants to head west as soon as possible, because she thinks we'll be safer in a larger community, but I feel like crying every time I think about leaving the others behind. Deep inside, I think Bonnie believes that Matt, Dylan and Montana are dead, but I just can’t bring myself to consider that. They will be back! They will! If Bonnie decides to move Gabby to Diamond Creek, though, what would I do? Should I wait here alone for the others to return, or go with Bonnie and Gabby, and abandon my friends? What a question to have to answer! Bonnie’s calling me. I’ll be back.
-
Wow. That was amazing! The reason Bonnie called me was because she decided to take Gabby down to meet the people in the crowd. Since this morning, Gabby has been asking to go down and play with some of the kids down there, and Bonnie finally relented - she feels Gabby will end up meeting these people at some point anyway, so she might as well get it over with (or “stop delaying the inevitable”, as she put it). We walked down to the gates together, and the whole crowd (kids included) just stopped and stared at Gabby. I got serious goose bumps, and not from the cold either. There was a really freaky silence as we walked towards that crowd, and when we got to the gate, everyone moved a little closer to the fence, but there was no pushing or shoving. People just waited patiently and stared as Bonnie unlocked the gate. Then, when we went through, a sad little girl (she couldn’t have been any older than about three) came up to Gabby and asked, “Are you my sister?” Gabby turned around and looked at Bonnie who just shrugged her shoulders. So Gabby went to the little girl and gave her a big hug. It was extraordinary. People were crying. God, I was crying! I don’t even know why! It was like they just witnessed a miracle or something. I can’t explain it. Then, when Gabby finished hugging the girl, she just went off into the crowd and started hugging everyone! If Bonnie didn’t wade in after her and stop her, she would have hugged every single person! No one complained if they didn’t get a hug, though. They just seemed ecstatic to be so close to our little angel.
Then Jean came over (the lady we spoke to yesterday) and thanked Bonnie for bringing Gabby down. She said that Gabby’s presence had made everyone’s journey worthwhile, and that it would strengthen our resolve when the time came. She also told Bonnie that when the confrontation comes we should stay up at the house and protect Gabby, whatever the cost. I have to admit that just writing this down is scaring me, and I feel an enormous sense of dread hanging over us. Jean promised that Gabby’s followers would never submit to the 'dark forces' and would do anything necessary to protect Gabby! These people are willing to die for us! Actually die! I don’t understand any of this. I was quite satisfied just living a simple life on the farm, but it seems as if we’re going to have to face another horrendous challenge before too long. The people at the fence see themselves as a strong band of soldiers, but what happens if they fail, and the marauders (or feeders or whatever) get through the fence? It would be over for us. I can’t fight. We can’t protect Gabby on our own! I want the boys and Montana home - that’s all.