Day Two Hundred and Twenty Three - Wrap
I'm expecting the power to go out today. Most of the major regional centres have lost power, well have had it taken from them to keep the capitals partial powered. It's chaos out there, we've moved the bikes into the apartment as most of the garages have already been broken in to. It's been a long twenty four hours. I'm not proud of last night. I crept out with Sam and we stole some fuel from a car parked in an apartment block down the street. The owner caught us and was screaming, a horrible desperate scream "Please please my family". He was grabbing at us and we both freaked out. I hit him. I think I broke his jaw. I stood there stunned as he fell to the ground crying. I realised that Sam was shouting at me and as the apartment block lit up like a Christmas tree we ran with the fuel.
If he'd cared about his family he'd have left a week ago. The roads are carparks of fueless cars now. They remind my of cicada shells, clinging eerily empty to long, bark roads. Sam and I will leave tomorrow; we'll be carrying the extra fuel in backpacks we've rigged up. Getting out of the city will be the first problem. I'm pretty sure all the bridges between here and Port Macquarie are still crossable, but they might not be for long.
Six months ago, Sam having guns in the apartment offended my beliefs. In this crazy mess his guns are about the best chance of making it home. I’m glad his family is safe, and Marnie, but even more I’m glad he was here, which is selfish, but about now he’s the only family I’ve got. Today I thought we’d argue. I told him I was going to go tonight and try convincing her to come with us. I expected yelling, maybe violence but he just nodded and I loved him all the more; it was going to be hairy with just two.
I’ve seen some messed up stuff in the last few days and I’m not sleeping. Every time I close my eyelids the images are burning there in the dark. I want to take something to knock me out... but we need to leave early. Dawn. We need to see the road, the obstacles... people waiting.
My crazy old man. He was fucking right. He thought it would be rising sea levels but still, he was almost dead on the money and buying that place was the best decision he’s ever made. It’s isolated, there’s a wide view in every direction and it’s naturally fucking powered. He’s got his own little arsenal waiting I’m sure. I worry that he’s had a heart attack and mum is alone with Joan. I think if he made it through the shock of the first few weeks and doesn’t worry about me he’d be fine. Eddie should have made it there too; cold coming from a brother, but I think if it came to kill or be killed out there then Eddie would go in teeth first.
It’s going to be a long night.
A long, long day.
I hope we make it.