the gymnasium. We are in a freaking mansion that is surrounded by an eight-foot high wall of brick. There is one big entry-gate—bricked over recently—and one small gate that opens to trails and thickly wooded forest. The Mitchell twins were sons of some Sudanese businessman. Their father’s grave is in the center of a large garden that I imagine is quite beautiful in the spring. They go out there several times a day with their prayer rugs and do whatever it is Muslims do. I must admit that I’m impressed with their religious diligence in the midst of all that has happened. What’s more, they don’t show any signs of wingnutedness like The Genesis Brotherhood folks.
From my balcony, I can see over the several-story hospital below, and all the way to the concrete tomb that is the gymnasium of Cedar Junior High. I can also see the large black swathe that was the field we’d been crossing when things fell apart. There is a large crater in the center where the fuel truck that the Mitchell Twins blew up was parked.
That is how they saved us.
Antoine and Jamaal rigged a tanker and drove it into the field. That is why it took them so long to get to us. It seems that Jamaal was awake that morning and reached the balcony I am sitting on right now in time to see us disappear into the gymnasium.
The boys certainly used their heads. They took advantage of the mostly empty hospital and hauled three van loads of medical supplies—everything from sterile bandages to antibiotics to saline bags—back to their little haven. Once they were satisfied with their haul, they went for the tanker. They had to travel a few miles down Highway 26, pull almost fifty vehicles out of the way while fighting off any zombies that came along, then bring the tanker back. They even apologized for taking so long! They saw our packs and assumed we’d had supplies.
After they parked the tanker, the twins drove over to the horde surrounding us and whooped it up until they were confident that a majority was now on their heels. They had a fuse ready and waited until they could see the doors of the gymnasium before lighting it. Then they circled back through the neighborhood.
When we first heard the pounding and yelling, nobody paid any attention. Then a brick came through one of the windows. We felt a bit silly. Later, Antoine told me that they were okay with risking the possibility of an injury to one of us by falling glass or even the brick if it meant saving us. Also, had we not answered, they would’ve left right after the explosion. I have to say, it was way cooler than anything I’ve seen in the movies.
Friday, January 23
Jamaal and Shari went through the gear that the Mitchell boys brought back from the hospital. Shari was most excited to find a batch of pre-natal vitamins—amidst every sort of anti-depressant, antibiotic, garbage bags of medications and assorted pharmacy stuff. Then there is the belly-sling. It is this stretchy band I can wear that takes the weight of my baby off my back. I’ve been walking around with it on today, and it has been a slice of Heaven.
Antoine and Jamaal have been wonderful hosts. They even invited us to stay, but I explained our plans. I noticed Jonathan and Jenifer didn’t contribute a whole lot to that conversation. I know they’d stay if I agreed. The thing is, they could stay now if they wanted. I’m not the boss of what we do. I simply know what I want to do.
There is one more development that has me itchy. This place has a radio. There is a bank of solar panels up top on the roof. The panels are even mounted on a device that senses the sun and turns with it throughout the day, then resets after sunset. They have enough power to operate the radio and a few knick-knacks (like their iPod and its docking station, what a luxury to have music). They have heard a few dozen transmissions on the AM-band from Las Vegas! The last was ten days ago!
My plan is to get to the warehouse complex and,
From my balcony, I can see over the several-story hospital below, and all the way to the concrete tomb that is the gymnasium of Cedar Junior High. I can also see the large black swathe that was the field we’d been crossing when things fell apart. There is a large crater in the center where the fuel truck that the Mitchell Twins blew up was parked.
That is how they saved us.
Antoine and Jamaal rigged a tanker and drove it into the field. That is why it took them so long to get to us. It seems that Jamaal was awake that morning and reached the balcony I am sitting on right now in time to see us disappear into the gymnasium.
The boys certainly used their heads. They took advantage of the mostly empty hospital and hauled three van loads of medical supplies—everything from sterile bandages to antibiotics to saline bags—back to their little haven. Once they were satisfied with their haul, they went for the tanker. They had to travel a few miles down Highway 26, pull almost fifty vehicles out of the way while fighting off any zombies that came along, then bring the tanker back. They even apologized for taking so long! They saw our packs and assumed we’d had supplies.
After they parked the tanker, the twins drove over to the horde surrounding us and whooped it up until they were confident that a majority was now on their heels. They had a fuse ready and waited until they could see the doors of the gymnasium before lighting it. Then they circled back through the neighborhood.
When we first heard the pounding and yelling, nobody paid any attention. Then a brick came through one of the windows. We felt a bit silly. Later, Antoine told me that they were okay with risking the possibility of an injury to one of us by falling glass or even the brick if it meant saving us. Also, had we not answered, they would’ve left right after the explosion. I have to say, it was way cooler than anything I’ve seen in the movies.
Friday, January 23
Jamaal and Shari went through the gear that the Mitchell boys brought back from the hospital. Shari was most excited to find a batch of pre-natal vitamins—amidst every sort of anti-depressant, antibiotic, garbage bags of medications and assorted pharmacy stuff. Then there is the belly-sling. It is this stretchy band I can wear that takes the weight of my baby off my back. I’ve been walking around with it on today, and it has been a slice of Heaven.
Antoine and Jamaal have been wonderful hosts. They even invited us to stay, but I explained our plans. I noticed Jonathan and Jenifer didn’t contribute a whole lot to that conversation. I know they’d stay if I agreed. The thing is, they could stay now if they wanted. I’m not the boss of what we do. I simply know what I want to do.
There is one more development that has me itchy. This place has a radio. There is a bank of solar panels up top on the roof. The panels are even mounted on a device that senses the sun and turns with it throughout the day, then resets after sunset. They have enough power to operate the radio and a few knick-knacks (like their iPod and its docking station, what a luxury to have music). They have heard a few dozen transmissions on the AM-band from Las Vegas! The last was ten days ago!
My plan is to get to the warehouse complex and,
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