The Beginning at the End of the World: A Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian Series (The Survivor Diaries Book 2) Read Online Free
he is too much of a hot-head to be carrying a gun around. And tell Jackson to collect that weapon from him.”
“But he was just expressing his feelings,” said Ammie. “Doesn’t he have that right?”
“Of course he does,” I tried to explain. “But he has proven his anger management problems on other occasions, too. We can’t have him running around with a gun. People have a different take on life and death since the Last War. I will have him checked by Katie before we pull his gun, okay?”
“Okay,” said Ammie. “That sounds fair.”
“So, Ambo, how is the medical life treating you?” I changed topics.
“It’s alright. Hard, though,” said Ammie. “I have been studying the respiratory system and how bio-chemicals have affected all of our bodies. It’s interesting, but I like my work with Thomas better. He is a brilliant engineer, and I think that some of his ideas will revolutionize this place. He is working on a system of multiple wind turbines that can be used to heat all of the houses here.”
“Do you think that we should add him to the council, Amanda?” I asked.
I could see her puff with pride at being asked her opinion. “Yes, I do. We need to get started on all of his projects soon. Our lives will be much better when we do.”
I think my niece is smitten with a much older man. Hmm?
∞
Tonight I sat down with Mark in our bedroom. He didn’t seem ready to talk, but since I found out that he knew what I did in Carmel, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.
“So, I killed someone. Thoughts?” I know my sarcasm was not lost on him, but it just kind of slipped out like that.
He stood and paced the room for a moment. He stopped in front of me and swayed back and forth as he spoke; an old habit of his. “Some. I was in the army. I took lives. A man threatened my wife’s life, and I only wish I was there to do it for you. Laura, why wasn’t I there?”
“You know why,” I responded, trying to not become too emotional. “I left because I needed a few days away from our arguing. You gave me an ultimatum. You said that I couldn’t be alone with Jackson. You didn’t trust me, and I think that you still don’t. You know what the big irony is, Mark? It’s that you saved his life after the fire. You carried him all the way up the hill to get him away from the danger,” I said.
“He is a human being,” Mark said with resentment. “I believe that human life, now more than ever, is valuable. Even his.”
“Me, too,” I said. I was tired of arguing about the “Jackson” topic, and it had nothing to do with me killing that man. “Since the moment we heard his voice over the walkies, we knew he was someone who cares deeply about the survival of the Village. Mark, I can’t do my job if I am constantly looking over my shoulder waiting for your jealousy. Have I ever done anything to make you think that I am not faithful?”
“No,” he said.
We left the conversation at that. I don’t have much confidence that the truce will last, but we seem to have reached an understanding for the moment.
October 31
It has been snowing hard, on and off, for the last few days. Today is Halloween, and a very miserable Bailey has been moping around the house all day. We had intended on having a Halloween event at the Town Hall, but obviously that couldn’t happen now. Everyone was too sad and stressed out to make new plans.
Mrs. Ingram was able to remake our costumes, Ma and Laura Ingles dresses, that were lost in the fire. She had to sew them by hand because we also lost all of her sewing machines. Poor Mrs. Ingram. The house that we had moved her from, the one that she had lived in for forty-two years, burned to the ground. She lost most of the photos of her husband in that fire, and the rest when our house burned down. I am envious of how cheerful she remains in the face of so much loss. The good news is that Bailey’s mood changed this evening, and I have to admit that mine
“But he was just expressing his feelings,” said Ammie. “Doesn’t he have that right?”
“Of course he does,” I tried to explain. “But he has proven his anger management problems on other occasions, too. We can’t have him running around with a gun. People have a different take on life and death since the Last War. I will have him checked by Katie before we pull his gun, okay?”
“Okay,” said Ammie. “That sounds fair.”
“So, Ambo, how is the medical life treating you?” I changed topics.
“It’s alright. Hard, though,” said Ammie. “I have been studying the respiratory system and how bio-chemicals have affected all of our bodies. It’s interesting, but I like my work with Thomas better. He is a brilliant engineer, and I think that some of his ideas will revolutionize this place. He is working on a system of multiple wind turbines that can be used to heat all of the houses here.”
“Do you think that we should add him to the council, Amanda?” I asked.
I could see her puff with pride at being asked her opinion. “Yes, I do. We need to get started on all of his projects soon. Our lives will be much better when we do.”
I think my niece is smitten with a much older man. Hmm?
∞
Tonight I sat down with Mark in our bedroom. He didn’t seem ready to talk, but since I found out that he knew what I did in Carmel, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.
“So, I killed someone. Thoughts?” I know my sarcasm was not lost on him, but it just kind of slipped out like that.
He stood and paced the room for a moment. He stopped in front of me and swayed back and forth as he spoke; an old habit of his. “Some. I was in the army. I took lives. A man threatened my wife’s life, and I only wish I was there to do it for you. Laura, why wasn’t I there?”
“You know why,” I responded, trying to not become too emotional. “I left because I needed a few days away from our arguing. You gave me an ultimatum. You said that I couldn’t be alone with Jackson. You didn’t trust me, and I think that you still don’t. You know what the big irony is, Mark? It’s that you saved his life after the fire. You carried him all the way up the hill to get him away from the danger,” I said.
“He is a human being,” Mark said with resentment. “I believe that human life, now more than ever, is valuable. Even his.”
“Me, too,” I said. I was tired of arguing about the “Jackson” topic, and it had nothing to do with me killing that man. “Since the moment we heard his voice over the walkies, we knew he was someone who cares deeply about the survival of the Village. Mark, I can’t do my job if I am constantly looking over my shoulder waiting for your jealousy. Have I ever done anything to make you think that I am not faithful?”
“No,” he said.
We left the conversation at that. I don’t have much confidence that the truce will last, but we seem to have reached an understanding for the moment.
October 31
It has been snowing hard, on and off, for the last few days. Today is Halloween, and a very miserable Bailey has been moping around the house all day. We had intended on having a Halloween event at the Town Hall, but obviously that couldn’t happen now. Everyone was too sad and stressed out to make new plans.
Mrs. Ingram was able to remake our costumes, Ma and Laura Ingles dresses, that were lost in the fire. She had to sew them by hand because we also lost all of her sewing machines. Poor Mrs. Ingram. The house that we had moved her from, the one that she had lived in for forty-two years, burned to the ground. She lost most of the photos of her husband in that fire, and the rest when our house burned down. I am envious of how cheerful she remains in the face of so much loss. The good news is that Bailey’s mood changed this evening, and I have to admit that mine
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