The Park Read online

Park will receive twenty million US Dollars, which works out to over twelve million pounds, after conversion. That would be enough to live on for some time. And, in the unfortunate event of his death during filming, you and your children would receive a biannual stipend to cover all of your living costs. Manfred thought only of his family, I assure you. I was present during contract negotiations personally.

  As for why he didn't inform you, we can only guess. The most logical answer, of course, would be that he simply didn't want you to worry about him. However, beyond mere speculation, we can't offer anything on that front.

  Hopefully, this answered your questions. And again, we here at Evenstad Media thank you.

   

  Evenstad Media

  JOURNAL 04JUSTICE

  ENTRY 005

  DATE: 2/19/2074

   

  I finally managed to find another one of the medallions. I almost missed it. I mean, if there'd been any sort of fucking light in here, it would have been easy. Probably would have seen the metal glinting. I found it hanging from the eaves of one of the trailers. I mean, I would have thought they would have at least fucking tried to hide them. Probably part of what made it so hard to find, just sitting out there for the taking.

  As soon as I found it, I headed back. Just in fucking time, too. I caught Desiree wandering toward the door. It took me a solid minute or two to even get her attention. Totally fucking dazed. Out of her skull.

  I was lucky to have found the medallion when I did. I definitely can't leave Desiree alone now. I haven't even been able to get away and test the medallion out. No idea what it fucking does. But at least I've got it. I'm better armed and Desiree's going to be better protected. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway. For all I know, it could be some stupid decoy they put out to mess with our fucking heads. And wouldn't that be fantastic?

   

  ENTRY END

  JOURNAL 08DESIREE

  ENTRY 004

  DATE: 2/20/2074

   

  Justice took me back inside. I think I'm thankful for it, but I just can't be sure. I keep hearing this voice and these words. I know it's You, God. I think I know. I just… I need a sign. Any sign. If You've truly chosen to speak to me, give me a sign. I need Your guidance. Should I listen to the words I hear? I want to do right. I want to do Your will. But I need a way to be certain. I don't want to succumb to the Devil. Please, God, just help me decide. Tell me who to listen to.

  Amen.

   

  ENTRY END

  JOURNAL 11SUSAN

  ENTRY 005

  DATE: 2/22/2074

   

  Tina's pushing to leave. Heard her talking to Craig. Starting to work. He's considering. Don't like it. Don't want him against me. Her I can deal with. I've put it off long enough now. She's getting shiftier. Don't like it. The two of them could take me out. Pretty sure on that. Just a matter of going first. Don't think they have the stomach to kill. Never thought I did, either. But here I am. Can't have Tina around much longer. She's been leaving when she thinks I'm asleep. Think she's looking for something to help. One of the medallions, probably. She gets one, that could end everything. Don't like it.

   

  ENTRY END

  JOURNAL 02CHRISTINA

  ENTRY 004

  DATE: 2/23/2074

   

  I'm a fool. An even bigger fool than I thought. Apparently, I'm feeding Julia's delusion now. I didn't see it until after the fact, but that's exactly what I did this morning. Probably means I'm falling into it right alongside her.

  I was starting to feel guilty about how well she was taking care of me. It's not like I ever did anything for her. Not once since I found her, in fact. So I made sure I was up before she was, which wasn't an easy thing to do in the first place, and I made breakfast. Or I tried to. I burned the canned ham right down to the center. Yeah, not just the outside. All the way through. I guess there aren't any smoke alarms in these trailers. But I made up for it. The frozen hash browns didn't even get cooked all the way through. So I guess that balances it all out.

  I was going to throw it out, but that's when Julia walked in. Trust me, I could tell that she wasn't thrilled about the whole thing, but she smiled and sat down. I tried to give her as little as possible, but she just kept asking for more until she had a good, full serving in front of her. And she ate it and said how wonderful it was, even as we both struggled to choke it down.

  I don't know. We have enough food to not worry about it running out. It's all frozen or canned, so it won't spoil. There's no logical reason for her to have eaten it. But she did.

   

  ENTRY END

  JOURNAL 09TINA

  ENTRY 006

  DATE: 2/26/2074

   

  I did it. I finally found another medallion. It was right over by the wall. I was worried about setting off the alarms and giving myself away, but I've been looking for almost a week, now, and this was the first one I'd found. I don't know if they just shut the alarms off or if this spot is somehow unprotected or what. If it was, it could be a way out. Not going to risk that, though. It's pretty clear I'm supposed to stay put.

  I haven't even gone back to the house yet. I need to wait a little bit and get my head clear. I tested out the medallion, and just having it scares me. All I saw was this ball of gold. It was shimmering like a really hot fire, and it went far enough that I didn't see it fizzle out. Maybe it even hit the wall. I don't know. But it was fast and hot and it's only been a couple minutes and it's already ready to go again.

  I found the mother lode. As in winning might actually be possible

   

  ENTRY END

  TO: Niels Evenstad

  FROM: Frederick Evenstad

  SUBJECT: Golden Gun

  SENT 3/31/2072 AT 11:14 a.m. EST

   

  Brother,

  The reports about the CESUs we made for The Park have caught my eye. Enough that I'm emailing you directly. I don't want word of this to get out. It's very sensitive and could be very bad for both of us if the information ever got out.

  One of the CESUs that my people made, the lab techs started calling it the 'golden gun.' It's a thermal weapon. They designed it to be a secret weapon, the kind of thing that would make someone almost invulnerable. A potential range of miles and enough heat to kill on contact. The timing unit they installed is incredibly fast as well. Less than two minutes before it can be fired again. It's quite a long time, but not compared to the potential destructive capacity

  I think we have to cut it. It's bad enough that we know that one can be made. I'm in full support of this program of yours, but with this, I fear that the bad press could be too much to overcome.

  Please consider what I've told you,

   

  Frederick Evenstad

  Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Technologies

   

  —

   

  TO: Frederick Evenstad

  FROM: Niels Evenstad

  SUBJECT: RE: Golden Gun

  SENT 3/31/2072 AT 12:22 p.m. EST

   

  I'm aware of all of this. I've already approved all forty CESUs to be used. I realize that this 'golden gun' of yours is dangerous, but the ratings, Brother. The ratings will get word out about your product, and the money will buy us real family security.

   

  Niels Evenstad

  Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Media

  JOURNAL 10MANFRED

  ENTRY 006

  DATE: 2/26/2074

   

  Secrecy is more important than ever. People draw close to me. I saw a flash of light go by. I can only assume that it came from one of the medallions. Nothing in nature, and certainly nothing I have yet seen here, would cause such an effect. I worry that the young man and woman may have tracked me here. I must cut back on my journal even more, to avoid the light of the screen revealing my location. Hopefully, my mind is strong enough to withsta
nd the wear without it.

   

  ENTRY END

  JOURNAL 05CRAIG

  ENTRY 004

  DATE: 2/28/2074

   

  Oh God. I can finally stop for a moment. I've left Susan behind after what she did. I just… I couldn't believe it. She didn’t have any difficulty with it and didn't show any remorse about it.

  Tina's dead. I didn’t stay a single second after that. Why would I? How could I? There was no reason for Susan not to turn straight on me. I left while her CESU was still recharging and just ran.

  I'm alone again, and all I have to show for the time I spent with Susan is Tina's corpse and paranoia. I'm no closer to taking apart these CESUs than when I first went looking for tools.

  Well, I guess that's not entirely true. I think I know how to get into them. But I don't like it. I think I have to use another CESU to do it. It's just too bad I couldn’t have grabbed Tina's. Maybe that would have worked.

   

  ENTRY END

  09

  JOURNAL 11SUSAN

  ENTRY 006

  DATE: 2/28/2074

   

  Tina's gone. Craig ran. Probably smart. Way he was acting, I might have had to take him out, too. Not an immediate problem. I can remove him when I need to. Nabbed the other medallion she had. Nasty piece. Keeping it close at hand. Between that and my first one, I don't see where I'll be in much danger. Just have to be careful. Don't let them go without a charge for too long.

  Think the money is safely mine. Haven't met everyone yet. If Craig and Tina are the average, I should be fine. Not issues. Might get some respect from the girls at work. Lot of people might quit work. Twenty million is good, but not really enough for a good life. Not after taxes. Have to stay behind the cash register for a bit, still.

   

  ENTRY END

  WHO IS GOING TO WIN THE PARK?

  POLL2

  1: Susan (32%)

  2: