We spent all day yesterday travelling. By the time we got to the next town (the sign said 'Tbry' but there were some lets missing) i was completely shot, and even though we had to squat in a retching pit of a house, I went like a stone soon as my head hit the covers.
When I woke up the others had gone to look for an orb, cept Nate who got stuck with chib-watching. I tried to teach him Two Man Trip so we wouldnt be so fargin bored, but I guess he feels shifted that he has to look after me while Rothe's off doing the real work, and he wants me for blame. Let him, I node.
I started looking round the house (Nate wouldn't let me outside) for something I could bring back to show the chibs, and maybe trade with Bail at the shop so I an finally get my rod back. There were some dirty nifes and weird pots with some eld's face on in the kitchen, but I guess they wouldn't be worth anything to Bail. He'd want something he could use, like for cooking or reading.
I went upstairs, didn't think there would be anything there, but I was so bored and curyus that I figured i should just do. Well, there wasn't anything up there except and eld body up there, so now I'm bored and stuck in a house with a corp. (Wel, two if you count Nate.) Something in the air had kept her neat, her skin was peeling but still there. I don't wanna think about it.
But it's weird. That's the one corp I've seen in this town. They were piled in the streets before, even in the alleys and crooks there was one or two. I didnt take much notice when we got here yest, but I know I would've noticed a skelt if there was one about. There just aren't. Maybe they got out like Gram and the elds did. But that many? Wouldn't we know of them?
I hope theyre not still around. When we hucked it through the woods last, I could be sure that I heard a whisper or two. Like somebody watching us and talking to their friends about us. Rothe couldnt hear a thing, and Nate just thought I was fooling, and I node maybe it was my imagination. But where are all the people? Speaking of, Rothe should be back by now.
Rothe'll come back. If anyone was around, I node he'd know. He'd say. I'm sure.
Nel
Monday, August 31
Sunday, August 30
Saturday, August 29
29 August, A-M 17
Hey. Sorry I didn't write anything yesterday, we were walking for most of it, and I was wiped by night. Didn't help that I fell and almost cracked myself in some overgrown field! My arms itch from the scratches. But it was kind of luckful, because I found something I (and apparently Rothe) had never spied before - a CAM!
I tripped on a rock, and where does my face land but in front of this shiny tech? It was a little covered, so I wouldn't have seen it if I'd gone any other direction, and as soon as I grabbed it, the fargin thing lit! I don't know if it still corded or anything, but it was the most exciting thing on this whole jern.
But, Rothe got a little scared for me, thought I musta busted my head or somesuch and came wailing. I answered him, but he pulled me up really rough and when he saw the cam I spose he thought it was a sploder or else, cos he chucked it, and called me a chib for touching tech I didn't know. Kind of mean, I reckon.
I went back to pick it up though. Rothe doesn't know, and the others don't, but it's not live or anything, so it couldn't hurt! I wanna keep it to show dad once we get back. Maybe I could cord some of the stuff we see to show everyone? Or cord all us so we can leave it in a form hub or some place so other people can see? You might even be watching me on some tape when youre reading this!
Either, i'll have to wait. Rothe'd go balls on me if he noded that i went against his hand. Even for this harmless cordbox.
We're almost at the next town now. Following a 'riv' along to it - another first! It's so weird to see water that isn't open and endless, more that you can even drink. Or that you could, any. Rothe won't let me even dip in it, but I guess I should trust his word on that, least.
Nel
I tripped on a rock, and where does my face land but in front of this shiny tech? It was a little covered, so I wouldn't have seen it if I'd gone any other direction, and as soon as I grabbed it, the fargin thing lit! I don't know if it still corded or anything, but it was the most exciting thing on this whole jern.
But, Rothe got a little scared for me, thought I musta busted my head or somesuch and came wailing. I answered him, but he pulled me up really rough and when he saw the cam I spose he thought it was a sploder or else, cos he chucked it, and called me a chib for touching tech I didn't know. Kind of mean, I reckon.
I went back to pick it up though. Rothe doesn't know, and the others don't, but it's not live or anything, so it couldn't hurt! I wanna keep it to show dad once we get back. Maybe I could cord some of the stuff we see to show everyone? Or cord all us so we can leave it in a form hub or some place so other people can see? You might even be watching me on some tape when youre reading this!
Either, i'll have to wait. Rothe'd go balls on me if he noded that i went against his hand. Even for this harmless cordbox.
We're almost at the next town now. Following a 'riv' along to it - another first! It's so weird to see water that isn't open and endless, more that you can even drink. Or that you could, any. Rothe won't let me even dip in it, but I guess I should trust his word on that, least.
Nel
Friday, August 28
Thursday, August 27
27 August, A-M 17
I didn't sleep much last night, which is just as well, because Nate came brigging to my tent before the sun even woke. We got ready and set off, and I said bye to my dad over the walkies before we lost sig. He sounded weird, like someone had cracked his stomach or something. If he was trying not to be worried for me or something, he did no job of it, because he scared the farg out of me, he was so tense. Either way, we lost sig once we came down from the cliff, so he can't make me feel any worse, right?
It feels kind of odd not being on, or even being able to see the Romanza. I've never been away from it this far. Sure, I've been fishing on one of the littlers, but at max we were only fifty feets away. I know it's dumb. I know I'm on dry land, but it feels like I've got no steady ground beneath me.
We're on what Rothe called a 'moto-way'. It's a really long stretch of hard, flat rock that, I guess, lets people go from one prov to another. Autos went on them, and there are a few still here, but most are gone. I guess they were in town, trying to get to the shelt. The hard moto-way feels awful under my feet. I really miss the deck.
When we came down from the cliff we could see the town. Quite a ways away, but I made out a browny-cream patch near the mid. Rothe saw me looking and pulled me behind him, and Nate chucked to himself. I thought he was just being a bastard at first, but I get that he wasn't laughing at me, he was laughing at Rothe for treating me like a chib. I'm not even teen anymore, but everyone wants to protect us, like we're chicks in eggs.
I hope the next town has less bodies.
Nel
It feels kind of odd not being on, or even being able to see the Romanza. I've never been away from it this far. Sure, I've been fishing on one of the littlers, but at max we were only fifty feets away. I know it's dumb. I know I'm on dry land, but it feels like I've got no steady ground beneath me.
We're on what Rothe called a 'moto-way'. It's a really long stretch of hard, flat rock that, I guess, lets people go from one prov to another. Autos went on them, and there are a few still here, but most are gone. I guess they were in town, trying to get to the shelt. The hard moto-way feels awful under my feet. I really miss the deck.
When we came down from the cliff we could see the town. Quite a ways away, but I made out a browny-cream patch near the mid. Rothe saw me looking and pulled me behind him, and Nate chucked to himself. I thought he was just being a bastard at first, but I get that he wasn't laughing at me, he was laughing at Rothe for treating me like a chib. I'm not even teen anymore, but everyone wants to protect us, like we're chicks in eggs.
I hope the next town has less bodies.
Nel
Wednesday, August 26
26 August, A-M 17
...So, land isn't what I reckoned.
We shored today, coming in on one of the paddlers that came on the ship. When we actually ported it was fascine, there were all these empty boats up on the piers. Not on the water, or even beached, but on the piers, next to all the docklands. We even saw one leant against a lighthouse! All that was pretty sig, but Rothe and the others wouldn't let me look at the ships for long, or even in any of them. We had to keep moving, they said.
When we got into the town, we headed for the local shelt, where they'd have kept all the important supplies, including orbs. Rothe wanted me to stay near the boat, in case they did find an orb here and we could just go back today. The others said that was dumb, though, so I came with them anyway. I think I know why dad didn't want me to go now.
We walked through the town, and I node it was what I thought it would be, from the pics I've seen of the old world, but it was weird seeing it up close. Glass was all over the floor, even places where there were hardly any windows, and crashed autos were everywhere, sticking in buildings and upside down in shops.
We stopped to eat at a field (the first grass I've ever sat on) with a few water pools in it, which I guess might've been nice if there were people around, or even some noise. It just felt kind of empty, and I didn't feel like we belonged there. The big stone man in the middle of the field was dressed real weird, all buttons and buckles, with a really weird hat that seemed to be turned sidewards. He did have a wickt blade, though, it was kind of like the one Rothe has, but sharper.
The shelt was only a few mins away, so we headed there. And that's when it got bad. I'm not sure if the elds actually know how the old world finished exactly, but I know why they don't wanna go back to it. I saw my first body today. And my second, third, fourth...I couldn't count them. They were skelts, really, but still. They were people. The closer we got, the more there were. Rother said they were all trying to get to the shelt in time. For what? He just shrugged.
When we rounded the corner was the worst, cos I wasn't esxpecting it. A mound. I'm telling you. All trying to pile into the shelt, they were jammed at the door. Rothe told me to wait with Nate back round the corner while he and the other two went. No need for all us to go, I guess. I just closed my eyes and waited for him to come back, so he could tell us we can go home now. That there was still a working orb. Didn't hap. Came back after maybe three mins, but it was so much longer in my own thoughts.
They crunched bones under their feet when they came back, there was that many. I looked at Rothe, and he just shook his head in that way when he doesn't wanna trib me, but when he also can't say.
They gave me the walkie to call dad and tell him the obv, and he sounded like he hadn't heard me in years. They told us which town to head for first, and Nate put it on the map. We headed out of town along a cliff, and we're putting up camp now so we can still see the ship.
Even though it seems like a much better home than this does now, I'm still glad I'm here on the open land.
Nel
We shored today, coming in on one of the paddlers that came on the ship. When we actually ported it was fascine, there were all these empty boats up on the piers. Not on the water, or even beached, but on the piers, next to all the docklands. We even saw one leant against a lighthouse! All that was pretty sig, but Rothe and the others wouldn't let me look at the ships for long, or even in any of them. We had to keep moving, they said.
When we got into the town, we headed for the local shelt, where they'd have kept all the important supplies, including orbs. Rothe wanted me to stay near the boat, in case they did find an orb here and we could just go back today. The others said that was dumb, though, so I came with them anyway. I think I know why dad didn't want me to go now.
We walked through the town, and I node it was what I thought it would be, from the pics I've seen of the old world, but it was weird seeing it up close. Glass was all over the floor, even places where there were hardly any windows, and crashed autos were everywhere, sticking in buildings and upside down in shops.
We stopped to eat at a field (the first grass I've ever sat on) with a few water pools in it, which I guess might've been nice if there were people around, or even some noise. It just felt kind of empty, and I didn't feel like we belonged there. The big stone man in the middle of the field was dressed real weird, all buttons and buckles, with a really weird hat that seemed to be turned sidewards. He did have a wickt blade, though, it was kind of like the one Rothe has, but sharper.
The shelt was only a few mins away, so we headed there. And that's when it got bad. I'm not sure if the elds actually know how the old world finished exactly, but I know why they don't wanna go back to it. I saw my first body today. And my second, third, fourth...I couldn't count them. They were skelts, really, but still. They were people. The closer we got, the more there were. Rother said they were all trying to get to the shelt in time. For what? He just shrugged.
When we rounded the corner was the worst, cos I wasn't esxpecting it. A mound. I'm telling you. All trying to pile into the shelt, they were jammed at the door. Rothe told me to wait with Nate back round the corner while he and the other two went. No need for all us to go, I guess. I just closed my eyes and waited for him to come back, so he could tell us we can go home now. That there was still a working orb. Didn't hap. Came back after maybe three mins, but it was so much longer in my own thoughts.
They crunched bones under their feet when they came back, there was that many. I looked at Rothe, and he just shook his head in that way when he doesn't wanna trib me, but when he also can't say.
They gave me the walkie to call dad and tell him the obv, and he sounded like he hadn't heard me in years. They told us which town to head for first, and Nate put it on the map. We headed out of town along a cliff, and we're putting up camp now so we can still see the ship.
Even though it seems like a much better home than this does now, I'm still glad I'm here on the open land.
Nel
Tuesday, August 25
25 August, A-M 17
Okay, so this is what the fuel teams do: When we port somewhere, they get sent off to shore in one of the paddlers, and search the town for any orbs. They're not really looking to find them there, as some other's usually already gotten there before us. They do anyway, but mostly just so gran and her pals don't set off. I node there aren't too many of them around now.
So, when they don't find one in that town (which they never do...), they have to head into the land to search other towns. They take our yammer-boxes with them so we can still chat, but they only reach a few mils so it's lacking in point somewhat when they always have to hike somewhere or other. Dad's totally petrived every time they go, but they always bring an orb back! Oh, I should probably...yeah, you might not know what an orb is, right? Sorry bout that.
Orbs I don't really 'stand, but they do us fine. Dad always says they're a "superficient power source" or something like, but basically they're squish little circs that can keep any doodle that needs lectristy running for years. "GOD knows how they work," dad says. He usually sounds pretty fuming, and once I heard him say post, "...and GOD must be dead by now." I don't think he knew I was lurking, though. I don't really know who this GOD felser is - nobody tells me much about him - but everybody seems to have a pretty shift opine of him, and he seems like the kind of guy you would use BIG letters for. Might be someone they all knew, and forsoke, too. Though he seemed to know a deal.
Maybe you all have a better scratch who he is.
And maybe I better stop scribing away and get ready for land! We're here much more early than supposed, so we're shoring this aft, me, Rothe, Nate and a couple others. Dad's coming back from the greens early to barge me with 'helping' advice, so I should pack my sack to save the time.
Next time we speak, I'll be on solid ground!
Nel
So, when they don't find one in that town (which they never do...), they have to head into the land to search other towns. They take our yammer-boxes with them so we can still chat, but they only reach a few mils so it's lacking in point somewhat when they always have to hike somewhere or other. Dad's totally petrived every time they go, but they always bring an orb back! Oh, I should probably...yeah, you might not know what an orb is, right? Sorry bout that.
Orbs I don't really 'stand, but they do us fine. Dad always says they're a "superficient power source" or something like, but basically they're squish little circs that can keep any doodle that needs lectristy running for years. "GOD knows how they work," dad says. He usually sounds pretty fuming, and once I heard him say post, "...and GOD must be dead by now." I don't think he knew I was lurking, though. I don't really know who this GOD felser is - nobody tells me much about him - but everybody seems to have a pretty shift opine of him, and he seems like the kind of guy you would use BIG letters for. Might be someone they all knew, and forsoke, too. Though he seemed to know a deal.
Maybe you all have a better scratch who he is.
And maybe I better stop scribing away and get ready for land! We're here much more early than supposed, so we're shoring this aft, me, Rothe, Nate and a couple others. Dad's coming back from the greens early to barge me with 'helping' advice, so I should pack my sack to save the time.
Next time we speak, I'll be on solid ground!
Nel
Monday, August 24
24 August, A-M 17
Hi! Got a bright start to the day, helping Rothe and Dad out with the green pulling. Mostly we took out the ridge sticks, which is always fun because Rothe "hates the fargin' things". Then dad sat me down and told me that we're porting soon, at a new town. I didn't really get why he had to tell me away from everybody else at first, but then he told me that I was on the list for the fuel team.
We should be there in a couple of days, maybe even tomorrow night. I know Dad's scared for me, because he's not coming with, but I'm geared! Haven't been on land since before i was in double digits, and I really miss seeing stuff that isn't attached to water. 'Sides, Rothe is gonna be ketching me, so I think it'll be a whale.
Nel
We should be there in a couple of days, maybe even tomorrow night. I know Dad's scared for me, because he's not coming with, but I'm geared! Haven't been on land since before i was in double digits, and I really miss seeing stuff that isn't attached to water. 'Sides, Rothe is gonna be ketching me, so I think it'll be a whale.
Nel
Sunday, August 23
23 August, A-M 17
...not much really happened today. Maybe I should rethink this whole journal thing, save it for when something actually interesting happens? No, I node that was the kind of thinking that made me stop scribing last time, so I'll keep going.
Been pondering what I should write about, other than what happens day-to-day on this floating hunk, and I realised that - this sounds stupid, I know - people reading this won't know what I know, what I take for granted, and writing about Rothe's sexual conquests won't really mean a lot to the people of the future!...Huh. Maybe that'd sound cooler if it were mine.
Anys! I decided I should let you all know how we're living (or lived, I don't know) at the moment, and how we got here. One little sidenote: We know what day and month it is, and some made calendars to keep track of them, but we don't know what year it is, exactly, at least by the old dates, so we made a new system to count the years since we regathered ourselves: After Man.
Kinda depressing, right? I thought so too, but it was grandma and her gang's call, not mine. It's now 17 A.M, so I was only a little chib when they started anew.
17 years since we set sail, and we haven't met anyone - anyone worth bringing along, at least.
We've been sailing on this boat, the Romanza, ever since year zero. Dad said that before we found her, our whole clan was on the verge of starving, and a lot of us actually fought over the little food we have. Some died, he says, and I want to ask him more about it, but every time I mention it he gets really quiet, and can't make eye contact with me. A lot of the older people here are like that. I think it has something to do with what happened to mum.
Enough yamming! So, we've got this old boat, which I think used to be a party ship or something like, and lucky us, it has fully working engines and pretty much okay solar power. It powers the ship well for the most part, but we still need fuel every odd, so we have to make port in these creepy old ship-spaces and a gang travels into town to get some. Gets kinda tense then.
Food's never really a problem, 'cos there's plenty of room for the baa's we've got and a whole floor for the greens, but
Oh, crap, Tehra just called the snuff. I can't scribe any more today, so I'll catch you up tomorrow.
Nel
Been pondering what I should write about, other than what happens day-to-day on this floating hunk, and I realised that - this sounds stupid, I know - people reading this won't know what I know, what I take for granted, and writing about Rothe's sexual conquests won't really mean a lot to the people of the future!...Huh. Maybe that'd sound cooler if it were mine.
Anys! I decided I should let you all know how we're living (or lived, I don't know) at the moment, and how we got here. One little sidenote: We know what day and month it is, and some made calendars to keep track of them, but we don't know what year it is, exactly, at least by the old dates, so we made a new system to count the years since we regathered ourselves: After Man.
Kinda depressing, right? I thought so too, but it was grandma and her gang's call, not mine. It's now 17 A.M, so I was only a little chib when they started anew.
17 years since we set sail, and we haven't met anyone - anyone worth bringing along, at least.
We've been sailing on this boat, the Romanza, ever since year zero. Dad said that before we found her, our whole clan was on the verge of starving, and a lot of us actually fought over the little food we have. Some died, he says, and I want to ask him more about it, but every time I mention it he gets really quiet, and can't make eye contact with me. A lot of the older people here are like that. I think it has something to do with what happened to mum.
Enough yamming! So, we've got this old boat, which I think used to be a party ship or something like, and lucky us, it has fully working engines and pretty much okay solar power. It powers the ship well for the most part, but we still need fuel every odd, so we have to make port in these creepy old ship-spaces and a gang travels into town to get some. Gets kinda tense then.
Food's never really a problem, 'cos there's plenty of room for the baa's we've got and a whole floor for the greens, but
Oh, crap, Tehra just called the snuff. I can't scribe any more today, so I'll catch you up tomorrow.
Nel
Saturday, August 22
22 August, A-M 17
Hi there. It's me, Nel. I guess you already know that, but apparently it's been a while since I last wrote in here, so you might not remember. I really should write in here more. I don't know if anyone else is keeping a journal of everything that's happened, but I always thought it was really important to.
Or at least I did. Obviously I haven't been keeping track much lately.
But something Rothe said yesterday really got me thinking. We were cleaning the deck after the weekly piss-up, sweeping all the splotch and spilled drinks into the water, and we were just yamming, more to keep our minds off of what was in each yellow pile, and suddenly Rothe just comes out with it. Straight out of the blue:
"You know, if this boat sank, or if we all starved or killed each other, no-one would know we were ever here."
I must have forgotten that, cos I had no idea what to say. Rothe never says that kind of stuff, it just weirded me out. Usually just yammers about fems' parts and all the pulpies he reads. But I guess he has a lot of time on his hands...like the rest of us.
So, yeah, I guess I'll try to write in here from now on, let the world know what happened during this now, if there ever is a world again. If we do sink, I guess I can, what? Put it in a bottle, maybe?
Right. Maybe. Anyways, I'll try to scribe something everyday, just to keep every little square in. This one seems well enough, so that's it from me today, I'll node.
See you on the new day, huh?
Nel
Or at least I did. Obviously I haven't been keeping track much lately.
But something Rothe said yesterday really got me thinking. We were cleaning the deck after the weekly piss-up, sweeping all the splotch and spilled drinks into the water, and we were just yamming, more to keep our minds off of what was in each yellow pile, and suddenly Rothe just comes out with it. Straight out of the blue:
"You know, if this boat sank, or if we all starved or killed each other, no-one would know we were ever here."
I must have forgotten that, cos I had no idea what to say. Rothe never says that kind of stuff, it just weirded me out. Usually just yammers about fems' parts and all the pulpies he reads. But I guess he has a lot of time on his hands...like the rest of us.
So, yeah, I guess I'll try to write in here from now on, let the world know what happened during this now, if there ever is a world again. If we do sink, I guess I can, what? Put it in a bottle, maybe?
Right. Maybe. Anyways, I'll try to scribe something everyday, just to keep every little square in. This one seems well enough, so that's it from me today, I'll node.
See you on the new day, huh?
Nel
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