The Journal of Madie Beartri

Journal 124

I didn’t want Anna to recognize me. I pulled my hat down over my face. I kept sneaking quick peeks at Joshua. He looked different and I just couldn’t figure out why. It was bothering the heck out of me. It wasn’t the robes. It wasn’t the semi blank stare on his face. It wasn’t the missing cowboy hat. There was something else and then it hit me. Anna had cut Joshua’s long curly hair short. I blurted out the words “They cut his hair” louder than I should have. Everyone in the room looked my way. Tony said a few things under his breath that I’m not going to repeat, and he gave me the biggest pinch on the top of my hand.

We couldn’t run. The room was filled with people. The exits were on the other side of the room. I pulled my hat farther down over my face. I was hoping my outburst would only draw a moment’s attention and then forgotten. Unfortunately, Anna had recognized my voice. She said my name. I ignored her so she said my name again. Anna had her guards shuffle Tony and me to the front of the room.

Journal 122

We waited all day for Kate to return to Bear Country. I was beginning to think Anna caught her or someone else at the Spurs Fort and wouldn’t be returning. Kate, Lynette, Travis, and Pepper finally arrived in Bear Country just as the sun was beginning to go down and more snow was beginning to fall. Kate and her friends were in a rush. We had to hurry if we were going to make it back to the Spurs Fort before the evening rally. Tony and I quickly changed into the white clothes provided by Kate and bundled ourselves up against the cold. We practically ran all the way to the Spurs Fort.

Kate almost had a heart attack as we reached the Spurs Fort. She started swearing and cussing like a sailor. Backed against the cellar door was a truck. Several people were unloading the supplies from the truck into the cellar. I thought we were going to have to scrub our mission and come back on another day. Luckily, Lynette and Travis were quick thinkers. They suggested we tell the people who were unloading the truck Anna sent us to help. They were in a hurry to get things unloaded so they allowed us to help with no questions asked. After the truck was unloaded, we continued to sneak into the Fort through the cellar and then through the kitchen to the back stairs up to Kate’s room.

After a glass of gin to warm our bodies, we left for the rally. Gin tasted nasty but it did warm up my insides. The gin also made my nose feel funny and I couldn’t stop smiling. I also got giggles. Tony kept giving me stern looks.

Journal 121

We all have choices. Sometimes choices are easy and sometimes they are not. Sheriff Pete said several of the gang leaders from our gang association want to join the followers of Aloysius. How do you argue against a group of people who offer cures from sickness, food, and shelter to those in need? We are in one of the coldest winters I have seen in a long time. Life is hard especially since the meteors and the earthquakes. The followers of Aloysius are offering a chance of survival to those who would not survive on their own. The only thing they are currently asking for in return is a little worship. (Just a little worship.)

I have always had bad feelings about the followers of Aloysius. Something about them has always rubbed me the wrong way. Now that I know the followers of Aloysius manipulate people with drugs, I dislike the followers even more. Lisa and Tyson’s change in attitudes with life makes more sense now.

Kate said when the followers of Aloysius offered her gang help, she gladly accepted what they had to offer. Without Anna’s help, more people would have died from the flu. Kate is thankful for Anna’s help, but Anna and her fellow followers of Aloysius have taken over the Spurs Fort and made it their own. Except for Joshua, no one from the Spurs Fort is in any position of authority. Joshua is in his position because he is drugged and under the influence of Anna.

Kate wants to show us what is happening inside the Spurs Fort. We will have to be very sneaky. Kate said we could enter the fort through the cellar underneath the main house.

Journal 120

I was still in bed hiding from the cold when Kate and three of her friends stumbled through the front doors of Bear Country. They looked like beggars covered in blankets from head to toe. The guards covering the front doors tried to push them back outside. Poor Kate, out of desperation she started yelling my name. I sleepily stuck my head out from underneath my covers. I was thinking to myself that it better be a good reason if I must get out of my bed. It took me a few moments to figure out who exactly was calling my name. I pushed Tony over and sat up.

It took a couple of cups of hot chocolate water before Kate and her friends were thawed out enough to tell us about everything that was going on at the Spurs Fort. The Followers of Aloysius had totally taken over.

Kate was sure Joshua and most of her gang mates were under the influence of some sort of drug. Anna placed the drug in the drinks given during the ceremonies. I asked Kate if she had met this Aloysius person. I was curious about what he looked like. The answer was no but Anna was calling most of the shots at the Spurs Fort. Anna has a few key officers that help maintain order.

Kate said the Spurs Fort has been receiving supply shipments from an unknown destination. Food, computers, various equipment, and lumber filled the trucks. Anna has most of the people working on construction projects in and around the Spurs fort.

For reasons they couldn’t explain Lynette, Travis, Pepper and Kate remained unaffected by the drugs.

 

 

Journal 119

Shake, rattle and roll. The quakes continue although much milder than yesterday. It’s extremely cold. The earthquakes broke out several of our windows in several of the classrooms. Sheriff Pete divided chores. About a half a dozen people spent the day trying to seal up those classrooms with broken windows. We closed and sealed the unused rooms. Matt, Pete, and Jonas when looking for fire barrels or similar items. Victor, Hemy, Lisa and I went looking for items to burn.

I hate the cold. I hate it more now that I must go out and play in it. There are several new buildings collapsed around town. It’s sad we used to have a beautiful town. The area around Bear Country looks very much like a war zone. A snow-covered war zone.

While out searching for items to burn, we ran across several people looking for food and a place to stay. I hate beggars, they make me feel uncomfortable. Every time we saw a group of people begging, we went the other way. I know it’s hypocritical. I have been a beggar, but Bear Country does not have the resources to help everyone in need.

We must save ourselves and survive this winter. I can’t think of anyone who hasn’t been a beggar. It is an unpleasant fact. There are times when the weak are going to die. I was feeling awful about ignoring the pleas of the beggars until I saw a group of Followers of Aloysius offering food and a place to stay to those who needed help.

Journal 118

The ground has once again started to shake. It has been a very unnerving day. Everyone is on edge. I was sleeping very soundly next to Tony this morning when the entire building started to shake. For a few moments, I thought the entire roof was going to come down on our heads. Everyone panicked. The big oak tree out in the front of the school uprooted from the ground. This tree is a hundred years old with a circumference of at least six feet. It hasn’t fallen over but it’s close to falling. What a shame the little ones love to climb that tree.

I climbed that tree once before the virus ruined everything. I ended up with detention for a week. My detention would have only been for two days, but I was a little mouthy. I should have just climbed down when Mr. O’Hara asked me too. Instead, I stood up on one of the branches and boasted of my courage and defiance against the school’s dumb rules. Mr. O’Hara didn’t have a sense of humor.

The teachers didn’t allow us to climb the tree, but it was another rite of passage that half the school aspired to. You had to get to the school before the teacher who was on yard duty got on patrol but late enough for other students to see you up in the tree as proof of your bravery. It took me forever to get brave enough to climb the tree. I got detention but I also got lots of praise and pats on the back from the other students in the school. It was my 15 minutes of fame.

Journal 117

I feel so incredibly obsolete. I think I miss being a gang leader. I miss people coming to me and asking me for advice. I miss other gang leaders asking for my input on community situations. Sheriff Pete is doing a wonderful job as Bear Country’s gang leader. He is more organized than I ever was. I think Bear Country has benefited from Pete’s guidance. The people living inside of Bear Country elected Sheriff Pete to his post and he deserves my respect and support, but I still wish I were Bear Country’s leader.

Earlier today, several gang leaders from our gang association arrived at Bear Country to talk to Pete. It must have been a scheduled meeting because Sheriff Pete wasn’t surprised when the other gang leaders appeared on our doorstep. It was a private meeting. They didn’t invite me to attend. I tried to attend the meeting, but Pete pushed me aside. Pete said he would discuss the issues of the meeting later with everyone living inside of Bear Country. I didn’t want to hear what the meeting was about later. I wanted to hear about things firsthand. I vented my anger on Tony. Tony gave me no sympathy at all.

Journal 116

I slept well last night. I can’t remember the last time I slept without some sort of difficulty. If there was any noise through the night, I didn’t hear any. I don’t even think I dreamt about anything. Tony and I snuggled the entire night. I had been sleeping alone with half a dozen blankets wrapped around me but still the cold was there. I was nice to feel warm for a change.

Lisa and Tyson brought a couple of friends home to Bear Country today. Sheriff Pete was not happy. Pete doesn’t like Tyson and with good reason. Tyson had not been good to Lisa in the past. Pete cares for Lisa greatly although I don’t think he has actually told Lisa this. I really don’t know, maybe he has told Lisa how he feels. I really haven’t heard any rumors on the subject.

I could see the anger stirring in Pete’s eyes as Tyson and the Followers of Aloysius entered Bear Country. Pete was getting ready to have Tyson and his friends forcibly thrown out of Bear Country when they uncovered a box of food. The whole room gasped, including me. They revealed an entire case of Spaghetti with meatballs. It was the most glorious site. Bear country has food to sustain us through several more weeks but most of what we have is boring and lacks taste.

There was silence as everyone in the room stared at Pete. I was secretly hoping Pete would set aside his disdain for Tyson just long enough for me to get a can of the Spaghetti. To make a long story short, Pete allowed the followers of Aloysius and Tyson to stay. We ate well. My stomach is full.

Journal 115

Everyone is lying around listening to the radio. I like this Daedalus person. He can be funny, and he plays decent music, most of the time. Daedalus has begun to sell airtime. If you want a certain artist or group to play, go to the station, provide the CD and barter for airtime.

I’m in charge of preparing the main meal today. We are having beans. I hate beans. The only other thing I have eaten today is two spoonfuls of peanut butter. Sheriff Pete sent Matt and Hemy out looking for food. Of all the chores we are required to share I am thankful that today I don’t have to do that one. I know I’ve said it before but it’s so frickin cold outside.

The snow continues to fall. You can’t tell where the street and the front lawn begins or ends. The temperature inside Bear Country isn’t much better even though we keep the fire barrels burning at all times. We are a sad looking bunch. A clean bunch but a sad looking bunch.

The stench inside of Bear Country was getting awful. Not able to stand the smell any longer, Hemy suggested we all take baths. The question was raised about how we were supposed to do that when we had no running water and the air inside Bear Country was near freezing. I don’t know why I didn’t think about the solution myself. Hemy suggested we gather snow, lots of snow, melt it, and then heat it over the fire barrels. We could bathe in the heated water.

Victor and a couple of other people weren’t thrilled about having to remove their clothes to bathe but Tony said that anyone who didn’t freely choose to bathe would meet his wrath. We all took turns. Life smells a little better now.

Journal 114

I had another nightmare about Aloysius. I don’t remember exactly what happened in my dream. I just remember being overwhelmed with panic. I know my dream was scary, frightening, and very disturbing. I must have been crying and making a fuss while sleeping because both Sheriff Pete and Tony woke me from my nightmare. I had a few moments of confusion. Sheriff Pete got a little too close to me. I bopped him hard and gave him a bloody nose. Tony in return slapped me across my face to bring me back to reality. His handprint is still on my cheek.

After apologizing to Pete and helping him clean up his nose, I sat out on the front steps and talked to Tony. We talked about nothing. I’m not even sure how long we were outside. I ignored the cold. Tony suggested we go back inside and go back to bed after he couldn’t keep his teeth from chattering.