Читать книгу Diary: Alone on Earth - JD Weldy - Страница 10

November 22, 2016

5:55AM

Dear Diary

I am up early today because of a long journey ahead of me. The Honda Gold Wing bike is fully loaded with everything I need. I have eaten a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, grits, toast and hot coffee. That may be the last hot meal I'll have in a while. It’s almost like old times due to this generator, but I have to make sacrifices until I get a bigger one. This 2000 watt generator can’t run both the refrigerator and hot plate at the same time, it must draw a lot of current. I had planned on going into Mobile to look for a bigger generator, but that is going to have to wait. I cannot run this generator while I am gone to Atlanta, so once again the refrigerator will melt down and so will the ice trays. Before I take off for Atlanta, I am going to visit my sister and brother’s homes about 20 miles north of here. I dread what I’m going to find…or not find. As usual, I will bring my diary notebook with me to record everything. Maybe it can help someone who is a lot smarter than me figure out what has happened to this world. I hope Ralph is here when I come back…if I do come back.

7:28AM

Dear Diary

There is nothing to be found at either my sister’s home or my brother’s home, where I am sitting on his couch writing this entry. I am looking at a picture of my brother and I as young boys, holding up a full line of fish. Seems like so many years ago, and now I will never know what has happened to him or my sister. His home is like so many I’ve been to; like they just up and left without packing anything. My sister-in-law’s purse is still on the dining room table. No woman would leave her purse behind. My heart is heavy as I leave. I wish I had some idea what I am facing. Tears fill my eyes as I finish this…I need help with this. It’s too much for one person to bear. I must go…now.

11:50AM

Dear Diary

The enormity of what has happened has greeted me as I have driven up I-65. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of abandoned cars on I-65 North and South. Some have crashed into each other and burned. But there was no trace of human bodies to be found. Others have flipped over on the side of the road; again, no trace of anyone. Nothing. I have stopped in Greenville, AL. This is normally about a two hour drive up I-65, now it has taken me 3 and ½ hours to get here due to the carnage on I-65. My top speed on the Honda is about 45MPH. I can’t afford to have an accident. If I get hurt, I’m done, and I now realize I did not bring anything for first aid. I have gone completely around this little Alabama country town without seeing anyone. I have found some stale sandwiches at a Shell station; they look OK. I am going to drink some warm Coke, eat stale sandwiches and Lays potato chips. Then I will head for Montgomery, which is only about 30 miles ahead, where I most likely will spend the night. Mere words can’t convey what I have witnessed on my trip from Mobile. I would have brought a camera. But then again, no batteries are working in this new world in which I find myself. Time to eat.

2:36PM

Dear Diary

I have done a little cruising around Montgomery. I even went to Maxwell Air Force Base, where I had my physical prior to going into the Navy many, many years ago. No sign of life anywhere. The same situation here as everywhere else; abandoned cars in the middle of the road, no people, no animals and no insects. Nothing at all. I will be staying at a Motel 6 just off I-65 for tonight. Unfortunately, they forgot to leave the light on for me. I went in to “register” at the front desk, rung the bell for service. Wouldn’t you know it? No one has shown up. So, I am staying at a room closest to the front desk, I have opened up the window to get some fresh air in this stuffy, stale smelling motel. At least, the beds are all made up. I have used my siphon hose and gassed up my Honda motorcycle. I wish I could find a generator, but I’m just too tired to even look. It is getting colder…I am going to have to find some more blankets for tonight.

6:13PM

Dear Diary

I have eaten more stale sandwiches and potato chips that I took with me from Greenville. I really would love to have some hot soup on a cool, crisp night like tonight. I have closed the window. I don’t know what the temperature is, but it’s getting cold and I should have brought a bigger jacket with me. In fact, in the morning, I will go to the Target just outside my window and look for a bigger, thicker jacket. I have got to be careful with these candles. I don’t want to set this place on fire, but why should I even care if I do? Who’s going to say anything? I heard a noise after writing that last question. I took my .38 plus the candle, and looked around in the lobby. The front door was open, although I know I closed it. I got nervous about that, so I checked every room in the motel. I could find nothing. I’m scared enough without having to deal with strange noises. This is all surreal to me. It’s like I am watching that Twilight Episode - “Where is Everybody?” - that frightened me as a child. But this is real; this is my world right now. I don’t think anyone is going to walk in on me and tell me it’s all an experiment. I wish to God someone would. I wouldn’t even get mad. Well, maybe just a little.

9:20PM

Dear Diary

I lie here on my bed with nothing to do but write in this diary. With only candlelight, it’s a strain to read the magazines that are available. So many thoughts go through my mind as I'm lying here tonight. I keep thinking back to the 16th when the humming noise first started, that seems so long ago now, but in reality it was only 6 days ago. I remember all the animals at the vet’s office acting strange, Ralph growling at me for the first time ever, and birds falling out of the sky onto my truck. And then the very next day…nothing…nobody but me to try and figure out what is going on. I refuse to believe there aren’t other people somewhere. That is why I am going to the CDC in Atlanta. If there are others like me, most likely they're headed there thinking it was a chemical or disease that caused this. But even if that is true, where are the bodies? I pray that I find someone, I've got to find someone to talk to. Just the thought of talking to another living, breathing human being gives me even more of an incentive to continue on with my journey. But what if there is no one in Atlanta? What then? Where do I go next? I don’t know, I honestly do not know.

10:06PM

Dear Diary

I again heard a noise. The front door was closed this time, but in the darkness of the lobby I could almost “feel” a presence. That may be my mental instability playing tricks on me. At this point, I have to consider the possibility that this whole event has affected my mental capacity, or it may just be fear. It is dark, and there's no light except for the faint flickering of this candle. I have to get more candles also. I will keep candles burning tonight, I’m that scared. I’m scared about a lot of things right now. What happens if I get sick? Who is going to take care of me? Where can I get aid? I have to find other people. I just have to. Where is God? Mama always told me that even in the deepest of valleys, God is there with you. But this is something Mama wouldn’t have thought could ever happen. My faith is all I have left right now, I must not lose faith in God. I don’t know why this happened. Surely, this is some kind of test for me. The light is so dim that I can’t read one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, Psalm 23. But I know it by heart:

The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

It’s odd…I've never been nearly as religious as Mama wanted me to be, I just wasn’t built that way. But after writing that in my diary, I think I can sleep now. I need to. I have another long day ahead of me.