The Park Page 18
this new conviction, fate has seen fit to assuage my difficulties. I have strength again. Perhaps not the same strength I had when I arrived here, but certainly more than I have in the past weeks and months. I would otherwise think that this would be wonderful news. At my age, an increase in energy, or an increase in anything, to be totally frank about the whole thing, is normally cause for celebration. As I get older, things always seem to be going down. Energy, libido, finances. They go down more and more every year. Everything except cholesterol, it seems. That and the number of pills you end up taking every morning.
It never occurred to me before, but perhaps the lack of pills are to blame, in the end. I always considered myself lucky. I never had to take half as many medications as others my age. Even a quarter. I even prided myself, being able to skip them without ill effects. But that was one day or two days. It's been almost half a year. I can't see where that would be good. And I can't see where I missed it, either. I can only imagine it was the shock of the situation. I want to believe that. I do not want it to be the fault of my subconscious. I do not want to believe that I have so little control over my own mind that I would choose death like that, even while struggling to survive with David, and with Craig.
Yet I fear I already believe it. How could I not?
ENTRY END
TO: Frederick Evenstad , Niels Evenstad
FROM: Marta Evenstad
SUBJECT: Farming Initiative
SENT 4/18/2074 AT 4:18 p.m. EST
Brothers,
We have found several very fertile areas, and they should be very simple to access. Most are in underprivileged countries, which will of course make our resources stretch further than they would in less impoverished areas. Our largest obstacle will be Egypt, but I'm confident that what we have will be more than sufficient.
I anxiously await your reaction, Brothers,
Marta Evenstad
Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Farms
—
TO: Marta Evenstad
FROM: Frederick Evenstad
SUBJECT: RE: Farming Initiative
SENT 4/18/2074 AT 4:22 p.m. EST
Continue on. You are in charge of this part of things. I trust you implicitly in this matter.
Frederick Evenstad
Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Technologies
—
TO: Marta Evenstad
FROM: Niels Evenstad
SUBJECT: RE: Farming Initiative
SENT 4/18/2074 AT 4:31 p.m. EST
Sister,
I knew from the beginning that you would be the right choice for this. I am so very proud of you. Words can hardly suffice. Carry on. We will support you in any way necessary. I will see to that personally. You know I would never let you down, dear sister. And I know that you will do what you think is best to see this plan to fruition.
Niels Evenstad
Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Media
JOURNAL 05CRAIG
ENTRY 013
DATE: 5/19/2074
It's time, I think. I'm armed, I've killed. And I'm okay with that. As okay as I can be with that. The house will be safe. I doubt Susan made it through the first time, so even if someone chases me, they'll either get caught in a trap when I get here or have to stop and figure it out. Unless they just kill me from afar. But I don't see that happening. I'll take the darkness medallion out with me. That should be ample camouflage.
Yeah. I'm going out. It's against everything I've worked for so far in this game, but I've also changed my focus. I don't just have my own survival in mind, now. It's that money. I know I can get my hands on it. I just have to be the last one.
I'm really ensuring my own safety, anyway, taking the others out of the picture. I just hope Manfred's dead. I don't think I could do anything so vile to him. Of course, I could just wait him out, if we're the last two. I don't like to think about it, but he's not a young man, and he wasn't well last time I saw him. Chances are good he's dead or dying. And if he's already dead, the only way I can keep my promise is to get the money and give some of it to his family, or make them shareholders in the computer business, or name them as my beneficiaries when I die. Which means I have to make it out of here. Which means I have to be the last one. Or Manfred does. I could die and let him leave. Which is another reason I kind of hope I don't have to take part in him dying. I don't think that the best thing for him could be a hole in the head. I think leaving might be better, if he's alive. I know I'd prefer it. Just thinking about it, my promise is at odds with the idea of that money.
But I can't focus on that now, anyway. He's probably dead already. Poor guy. So I have to get the money. I'm taking a few of the CESUs with me, but not my work laser, or that damn heat gun thing. That still doesn't need to be in anyone's hands. Not even mine. I can just hope that it rots away in here after this is all over.
And so I go.
ENTRY END
THE PARK: REALITY SHOW OR WAR MACHINE?
5/16/2074 at 6:59 a.m. EST
If you've had access to TV, radio, internet, or snail mail in the past five and a half months, you've most likely heard of The Park, the newest brain baby from Evenstad Media. A dozen 'random' strangers thrown into a locked down trailer park and ordered to be the last one standing. But not unarmed. They're given CESUs, little medallions that, for lack of any better example, work like magic. This one makes fire, this one makes lightning, this one shoots a laser.
But now, we're starting to see CESUs outside of the realm of entertainment. First, the US military bought an unspecified number of CESUs directly from Evenstad Technologies. Now, other countries, former US allies, have announced the same things. Suddenly, the world is flooded with tens of thousands of these devil machines, all put in the hands of trained soldiers.
And then came Evenstad Farms. Out of the blue, from a conglomerate that has never before shown any interest in agriculture, we see this new project. They want to not only help poor farmers in other countries, they want to increase food production to try and keep the world fed. A wonderful, noble cause, undertaken by what is arguably the largest corporate giant in existence today.
Personally, I just don't buy it. It's all too convenient. All the sudden, as soon as the announcement was made about Evenstad Farms, we start seeing US military aircraft around the Nile Delta. The most fertile land since the Garden of Eden.
The Park was just a commercial. They wanted important figures to see exactly what the CESUs could do. They wanted to work a deal. Evenstad Enterprises, as a whole, has enough influence to get its way, and they've done so in grand fashion, not even trying to hide what's happening. I'd put down good money that we're going to see one of the first Evenstad Farms popping up somewhere in Egypt, and not too long from now. And when that day comes, I can only hope that the farm gets burned to the ground. People have to send a message to companies like Evenstad. We can't be caught up by them, become their puppets. If we do, we're no better than lab mice. They'll keep us around until we're no longer necessary. You can call me crazy all you like, but human beings are already a valuable commodity in certain circles. If Evenstad is willing to start a war to make some profits, or whatever else they might be after in this new scheme, what's going to make them stop there if no one stands against them? What's to stop them making Evenstad Escorts, or Evenstad Medical Test Subjects, or Evenstad Soylent Green? Not a damn thing but time and opportunity.
Be wary, friends,
Lars Krane
JOURNAL 02CHRISTINA
ENTRY 014
DATE: 5/19/2074
Evenstad is going to pay dearly for what they've done to everyone here. For what happened to Julia. For what happened to me. I'
m going to get that money, and I'm going to sink every last penny of it they give me into ruining them, once I get out. For years, I worried about them. They're the main competition for us in the TV broadcasting business. It's probably why I was 'randomly' selected in the first place. Good fucking outcome for them either way. Even if I survive, how will we ever compete with the ratings and new subscriptions they've gotten out of this show?
But now, in the middle of their stupid game, I'm not all that concerned. I can win this, and then I can end them. Michaels-Clark Broadcasting might not be as big as Evenstad Media, but we certainly never did anything like this show. We're not murderers. And I'll play the angle. I'll play it as hard as I have to to get them gone.
But I have to win first. Which means I have to start playing the way Evenstad wants me to. I'll feed into their ratings for now. I'll kill. I'll hunt. And I'll live on pure fucking rage until they let me out of this hell. But once I'm out, that rage is all theirs. Hope they're ready for it.
Actually, I don't.
ENTRY END
JOURNAL 06RITA
ENTRY 010
DATE: 5/19/2074
Well, I've done it again. I've played out my best game, and it's going to raise your ratings. If I'm going to keep Blake here with me, I'm going to have to show him the old man. Not just show him. We're going to have to make a trip down there and see him. Face to face. I have to make a pretty damn big move if I'm going to keep his loyalty. Plus it'll give me a good chance to see exactly what kind of old man you decided could actually compete in this ridiculous