The Journal of Madie Beartri

Journal 141

The crowd continued to increase. The Black Cobras struggled with their restraints that held them to the post. I think everyone was holding his or her breath. Most of Bear Country was present, including Tony. Tony was having a great deal of trouble letting Joshua handle the situation. I was having trouble letting Joshua handle the situation. He was doing well considering the circumstances. It would have been stupid to intervene with the dialog Joshua was establishing with Hess. All the people gathering around were starting to make Hess nervous. She started waving the torch at people and talking about how the Cobras have ruined her life. I was holding my breath hoping Joshua could convince Hess not to torch the Black Cobras, especially not Victor. He made several bad choices, but he didn’t deserve to die burned at the stake.

Yates whispered in my ear that he had an idea. He silently sent a couple of his soldiers around behind Hess. The next few minutes were extremely intense as Joshua tried to get Hess to focus her attention on him. Yates’s soldiers slowly crept up on Hess. The crowd, aware of what was happening said nothing. There were a couple of Blue Monarchs in the crowd. I continued to hold my breath hoping no one would tip Hess off that someone was sneaking up behind her. One soldier grabbed Hess as the other grabbed the torch before it hit the ground igniting the Black Cobras.

After the ordeal ended, I offered to take the now bound Hess back to Bear Country. She was not herself. The Blue Monarchs in the crowd said they had been having difficulties with her. Their numbers had dwindled down to a few because she was out of control. They welcomed having her out of their hands.

Journal 139

I didn’t go to bed until late. I was up talking with Yates, Tony, Hemy, Matt and Pete. We sat in the cafeteria, discussed the Black Cobras, and ate cinnamon buns until way after midnight. Hemy stumbled across the cinnamon buns at a roadside stand and traded a rechargeable battery for them. They were so good. I haven’t had a cinnamon bun in years.

I slept so well after I crawled into my bed. I think it’s because General Yates and his soldiers were sleeping out on my front lawn. I offered to let them sleep in the gymnasium, but Yates said they would be more comfortable sleeping outside underneath the stars. Actual soldiers posted around Bear Country have eliminated my worries of an invasion by the Black Cobras, at least for the moment.

By the time I woke Yates and his soldiers had already put in a full day of work. Yates sent some of his men out on a mission to gather information. They were returning by the time I finished my breakfast. Joshua arrived shortly after that. He apologized for not being able to attend a meeting yesterday but there had been trouble out at the Spurs Fort.

Joshua hasn’t had a lot of difficulty or problems out at the Spurs Fort unless you count the cattle raiders that were a significant problem when they first moved to Bear Country. Most of the local gangs look at the Spurs as an asset to the community. To my surprise, the difficulties yesterday involved the Blue Monarchs. A couple of Joshua’s gang members were on security rounds and discovered two dead Monarchs sitting against their south wall. It looked as if they had overdosed on Bliss.

Journal 138

Joshua sent a return runner to Bear Country. He couldn’t attend a meeting until tomorrow. He had issues to deal with at the Spurs Fort that couldn’t wait. Our runner sent to get in touch with Hess of the Blue Monarchs returned without an answer. She has once again gone into hiding.

General Yates and I had a long talk. When I sent Sheriff Pete and Jonas to Fort Shasta, I was hoping General Yates could help us with a solution to get rid of the Black Cobras. Our own efforts are failing. We have tried to stop their supply lines but Bliss continues to pour into the community. We have placed posters all around town discouraging people from joining the Cobras. We have held rallies protesting against the Black Cobras and their production of Bliss. The Black Cobras retaliate by placing people in their jails, humiliating them in the streets or worse executing them for everyone to see. Life as a Black Cobra is not an easy one, they have a great deal of enemies. I have run across several dead Cobras displayed in the streets. No one claims the kill for fear of retaliation. Their numbers continue to grow.

People fill the streets that are unable to stand, walk, or talk clear sentences. They sleep in the gutters. The Black Cobras continue to recruit. Their gang numbers grow daily. Individual gang assets are quickly becoming Black Cobra property. Out of desperation and the need for more Bliss people, swear their allegiance and hand over their property to the Cobras.

I took Yates on a tour of the safer parts of town around Bear Country. I wanted him to see what was happening. (We didn’t go alone we had several armed guards carrying weapons.) Even in the safe part of town, you could see the effects of Bliss on the community. Yates was impressed by the tour and at the same time appalled by what he saw. He asked me to leave this behind and return with him to the safety of Fort Shasta. I think I need to try to fix the problem. For some reason it just feels wrong to walk away. I am tempted.

Journal 137

Sheriff Pete and Jonas returned home safely and in time to save the day. I think I worried the entire time they were gone. The walk toward Fort Shasta led right through Alexandria City and Mathias’ slave trade. Security has not been the same since Pete left. His deputies did a good job, but I feel safer when Pete is here. Matt was glad to see his brother again. He never mentioned Jonas being gone but you could tell on his return that Matt missed him. Hugs and High fives were everywhere.

I felt tremendous relief when I saw Yates jump off the truck. If anyone could help solve the Black Cobra and Bliss problem, it would be Yates and his soldiers. I could have avoided this entire Black Cobra issue if I had stayed with Yates at Fort Shasta. I was so very close to giving up everything here.

Yates had his soldiers park their trucks around Bear Country and he posted guards. I am hoping to have a gang meeting. I sent a runner to get Joshua. I also sent a runner to try to get a hold of Hess and the Blue Monarchs. If we find Hess, I don’t think she will attend the meeting, but I thought it would be politically correct to invite her.  She is very allusive and has her own agenda.

Information travels fast. It wasn’t long before gangs from the surrounding area were checking out Yates’ soldiers and the trucks he brought to Bear Country.

Journal 136

Yesterday was a long and tiring day. Matt, Hemy, Tony, Lisa and I went hunting for Black Cobras. We didn’t catch any. Actually, we didn’t make much of an effort because even if we did capture a Cobra while in the middle of town, we wouldn’t have been able to get him out without capture. There were entirely too many blockades to get through. I think catching Black Cobras should be reserved for those Cobras traveling on the edge of town or those near Bear Country. Bear Country has not given up on its fight with the Cobras; our efforts to undermine their hold on our town continues in many other ways.

I was exhausted and my feet hurt by the time we got back to Bear Country. Tony and I grabbed something to eat. He was in the mood to talk. I don’t think I actually comprehended half of what he was saying during the meal. Afterward, I went up to my room in the admin hallway and went to bed.

Around 8 am this morning, one of Sheriff Pete’s deputies interrupted my perfectly good sleep by knocking on my door. The Black Cobras were on our front lawn. They were trying to place signs on our campus claiming Bear Country was under new management. Yesterday I made a regrettable decision. Signing those documents to get patches to gain easier access to areas blocked off in town was a mistake in judgment. I should have followed my gut feelings.

I think I was the last person to know the Black Cobras were in Bear Country. (See what happens when I sleep in.) Almost everyone residing in Bear Country was already outside.  Hemy, Tony and a couple of Pete’s deputies were holding back the Cobras trying to keep them from entering Bear Country. Matt was actually fighting with one of the Black Cobras on the front lawn. Matt looked like he was winning. I was getting ready to break up the fight when I heard trucks coming up the street. It was General Yates and a group of his soldiers from Ft Shasta. The army had arrived. I have never been so glad to see someone. The Cobras didn’t hang around but the leader of the little gang trying to gain access to Bear Country said they would be back. I don’t doubt they’ll try.

Journal 135

Matt, Hemy, Tony, Lisa and I went traveling through town looking for Black Cobras to abduct. I felt like we were mice in a maze. It seems like every time we turned a corner we would run into a blockade. The only people allowed through the blockade were those wearing Black Cobra patches. Matt and Hemy suggested we all get patches. It would make our travel through town easier and less time consuming. I was totally against that. I was not going to wear one of those patches and be associated with being a follower of the Black Cobras. We all ducked behind a building and debated the issue. After several minutes of a semi loud discussion, I agreed to wear the patch. I was not wearing it on a daily basis and it came off as soon as we were on the edge of town. The five of us walked up to a Cobra Barricade. We joyfully asked for a patch.

Getting the patch wasn’t as easy as we thought it would be. We all had to agree to have our pictures taken, fingerprints and sign a document that said we agreed to the rules and laws set forth by the Black Cobras. I almost backed out. I did not want to sign on the line. I felt as if I was betraying Bear Country. I could tell the others were having the same thoughts. Traveling through town was easier with the patch. The Black Cobras just waved you through the barricades. This could partly explain why so many people had them.

The patch didn’t solve our other issue. Even if we caught a Black Cobra, how were we supposed to get him or her to the Blue Monarchs holding area for disposal?

Journal 134

We voted and Victor lost.

I felt sorry for Victor. He stood in the center of the room staring at the floor. Not once did he raise his head. I think he knew how the vote was going to play out before we even began. I gave everyone in the room the chance to voice their opinions on why Victor should be allowed to stay in Bear Country. Not one person spoke up to defend him. It was unanimous vote. Victor would have to pack his things and leave.

After the vote, everyone returned to whatever he or she was doing before the meeting. Victor received a few words of encouragement and pats on the back. It was nice that people didn’t just walk out of the room and ignore his feelings. After everyone cleared the room, I asked Tony if he wanted me to escort Victor out of Bear Country. He said “No” he would do it himself. Tony escorted Victor to the basement and let him gather his things. A short while later, with a sack of belongings on his back Victor left Bear Country. I have no idea if he even has a place to stay. I am hoping he doesn’t have to spend too much time on the streets. Life outside of Bear Country can be a scary place. I wish him well.

Journal 133

After bandaging Victor’s wounds, we put him in one of the empty rooms down the hall to recover. I would have sent him down to the basement to his own room, but Tony doesn’t want him there. Victor hasn’t stepped one foot out of that room for more than a day. He is still alive. I checked in on him a couple of times. He has to be hungry. The offerings of food from the garden the agriculture club is raising remained untouched. I think he feels guilty about his actions. He should feel guilty. What he did was wrong. The Black Cobras are our worst enemies since the Hulk was in power.

Sometimes life gets complicated. I hate hard decisions. After I returned from the meeting with Hess, I ran into Tony in the admin hallway. He said Victor had to go. If I hadn’t been thinking the exact same thing I would have thought Tony wanted Victor out of Bear Country to get back at the little Cobra want to be. Tony was making perfect sense. I couldn’t think of one good reason why we should let Victor stay, except for maybe his age.  Bear Country is at war with the Black Cobras and having Victor among us compromises our mission.

We are holding a meeting in an hour to tell Victor he has to leave Bear Country.

Journal 132

You’ll be glad to know that Hess of the Blue Monarchs is alive and well. I guess this is a good thing. I’m not sure anymore.  She no longer dresses in her usual kimonos. Instead, she was dressed in fatigues. She tied her hair up in a ponytail. Her personality has changed too. She lost the “Let’s all live in peace” attitude. I think she has gone over to the dark side of the force.

Hess invited me to another secret meeting. It was the same drill as before including the blindfold to the undisclosed location. Hess scolded all of us for not making more of an effort to get rid of the Black Cobras. Apparently, our laziness, indifference and unsupporting allegiance to the cause have allowed the Cobras to thrive in our community. The Blue Monarchs gave us a new list of tasks to perform against the Cobras, which included capturing as many Black Cobras as possible and delivering them to a holding area. The Blue Monarchs would take care of them from there. Hess said our time of playing nice is over. I tried to talk to Hess after the meeting, but she wasn’t interested in hearing anything I had to say. She looked at me straight in the eye and said, “You have been given your responsibilities.” In a little snippy voice, she adds, “Try to follow through this time.”

Before I could reply, she adds, “If you need anything else talk to one of my admin officers.” Then she walked out of the room. “What the (insert dirty word/s here).” The girl has gone over the edge. I have my doubts about her sanity. She is not the person I knew during the mail war.