Читать книгу Diary: Alone on Earth - JD Weldy - Страница 13

November 25, 2016

6:14AM

Dear Diary

I have been up since 5:30 this morning. I have once again loaded up the Honda Gold Wing, which is filled up with gas from one of the many cars here in Lagrange. I have about a 70 mile drive to Atlanta. Ordinarily, that would take just slightly over an hour, but I’m sure it’s going to take much longer than that due to the thousands of cars abandoned on I-85. I feel much better this morning after puking and duking yesterday. I can’t afford to take any more chances as I did with those wieners. I have to learn that I’ve got to give up meat now, I have no choice. It is a beautiful day today…sun is shining, blue sky, slight breeze. It’s about 40-45 degrees, so it’s going to be a cold ride to Atlanta. Really, the only thing missing to make this a perfect day would be to hear birds singing. It would be even better if there were people for me to talk to. I will probably make my next entry around lunch. I figure it will take about two or three hours to get there due to the vehicles on I-85. Time to go.

1:05PM

Dear Diary

Desolation. Complete, utter desolation is the only way I can describe this once thriving, booming city. Wind is whistling through the massive skyscrapers making an eerie, haunting noise that I simply can’t describe. I am sitting in front of the aged Georgia Dome, eating canned beef stew, crackers and some slim jims for dessert. I think they are OK since they are tightly wrapped and air tight. I am drinking some warm beer on this cool day in front of the dome. First beer I have drunk in about 20 years or more. In fact, I may just drink the entire six-pack. Before I forget…the number of cars on I-85 were something out of a horror movie. I may write more about that later. Right now, I’m trying to forget that scene. I have been to Centennial Park...the Georgia Aquarium…all created for use during the 1996 Summer Olympics, I think. I have yet to make it to the CDC on Clifton Dr. I remember it as being near Emory University. I’m going to be here for at least a couple of days, I’m in no hurry. I’m going to wrap up in my sleeping bag and try to sleep a little.

5:11PM

Dear Diary

I got about two hours of sleep, which was interrupted by the sound of glass breaking. I have no idea about what direction it came from, since everything here echoes. It could have been one of the skyscrapers losing a pane of a window. It was loud. I’m getting that old feeling again of being watched. I have to say I am disappointed with what I've found thus far. I expected to find some people here. I thought that way since all the traffic tie up on I-85 was headed toward Atlanta, as if it were a safe haven of some sort. I still don’t know what scared so many people. With the constant blackouts on the 16th, I lost a lot of important information. Or the information was not passed along. I remember staying up and listening to CNN. There was no mention of a threat that would cause all these people to panic. All these people…what people? Damn.

6:52PM

Dear Diary

Once again, the sound of glass breaking has shattered the tranquil calm of this city. Once again, it was very loud. I have the safety off of my .38, and my rifle is resting on my lap as I write this. I have decided to stay in the main lobby of the Georgia Dome for the night. It is warm in here. I am at a position to where I can see anything coming through the whisk doors. My candles are glowing; I’ve had a good meal of canned turnip greens, corn, bread pudding and some stale bread. Eventually, except for canned goods, all meat, bread and pastries at the Starbucks will not be safe to eat. I will have to consider starting a garden soon back home. First, I have to check out this entire city, especially the CDC. Maybe I can find out something there. But even if evidence is staring me straight in the eye, will I even recognize it? I am not a scientist…sound of glass breaking again. I have to go check this out.

7:46PM

Dear Diary

I walked all the way down Andrew Young Parkway to the Centennial Park. It was not completely dark since there is a half moon tonight. But I thought I saw something move near the memorial for the Olympic bombing that took place back in 1996. I yelled, and no response. So, I very cautiously walked toward that area. I am still shaking…But I could see nothing. I know I saw something…or thought I saw something. It is difficult for me to know reality from hallucination. I think I am hallucinating out of the confusion and fear I've been experiencing since The Event took place. If someone did walk up to me, would I be able to realize in time that it is a real, live human being? Would I pull the trigger on this .38 before it is too late? This scares me as much as the thought of never finding anyone in this city. I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.

10:07PM

Dear Diary

The sight on I-85 coming into Atlanta was a nightmare straight out of hell. I don’t know what could have caused so many cars to literally smash each other. Practically every car for at least five miles was involved in the worst massive pileup of cars I have ever seen or heard about. And, as is par for the course, not a trace, nada, no inkling of a human being. Nothing. It was as if they were plucked from their vehicle and that was that. This was not ordinary Atlanta traffic, which I’ve experienced before, it was something else. What that something else could be I just don’t know right now. Hell, I’m just fooling myself, I may never know what has happened to so many people. Going to the CDC is just a shot in the dark for me. If there was anybody in this city, surely they would have heard my motorcycle as I came into the city. I even fired a couple of shots into the air this morning. No response. I’m not sure what course of action to take next, I’m at a loss of what direction my search should take.

Regardless of my doubts, I will go to the CDC in the morning. I will check out Emory University, Hartsfield-Atlanta International Airport, Turner Field, where my beloved Atlanta Braves played…or did play at one time. I’ll check as many buildings as I deem necessary. But I’m not going to spend over two nights here. I am contemplating a drive to Nashville, TN before I head back home. I am homesick now. Even in this strange, Godforsaken world that I now find myself an integral part of, I miss being home. After I get home, I will take stock of my plight. Then I will decide if I want to go west and see if I can find anything in Texas, Arizona, and on to California. But that is further down the road. Right now, I have to get some sleep. I am weary of this all. It’s only been 8 or 9 days since this world disorder first took place. But dear God, it seems so much longer. How can I take it if this stretches into weeks, months or years? How can I survive? Why would I even want to survive any longer? I find myself crying for no apparent reason. I find myself angry for no apparent reason. And it’s only been just over a week. Time for sleep.

11:38PM

Dear Diary

Again, for about the third or fourth time today, the sound of glass breaking. I don’t even care any longer. Whatever the hell it is, if it wants me, it can come get me. But I’ll keep my rifle and .38 ready anyway. I won’t go down without a fight. To hell with this…I’m going back to sleep.