The Dead Lands Diary Vol. II)
Page 19
ALAN: You know my vote, hasn’t changed, won’t change. I want the man dead.
ME: Well, you vote that tomorrow then when we bring him in front of everyone. We ain’t voting right this minute. I just want to hear any thoughts.
MINDY: He’s evil. Simple as that.
LILY: Yeah…I don’t want him here. I have two young boys!
KELLY: Oh, he’s not staying here! He’s-
ME: I don’t want to hear votes…save it. I just want a discussion about the man and his story.
TINA: I feel bad for what happened to him. Who wouldn’t? You’d be lying if you say you don’t. But…be that as it may, he’s still a horrible human being. It doesn’t excuse what he’s done.
REGGIE: Tina said it best there. I’m sorry for what happened to his ass, but he’s a fuckin’ psycho! Total whack job.
ME: Anyone else?
ALEXIS: Nothing else to really be said. I’ll just be happy when it’s settled.
RACHEL: Exactly.
ME: Okay. Those he enslaved have the right to vote first and say their piece. They will ultimately decide what happens to him. They were the ones who suffered most. We will vote as well because we lost people, too because of the bastard. So, tomorrow at noon. We’ll do this on the east end at the wall. Victor will be held by Larry and Ray atop the wall for his own protection. When he’s seen by some of our new guests they may want to just take him out right then and there. See you then.
We dispersed and went to our homes, making sure first that our new friends were settled. Jim and Alexis relieved Larry and Ray for the night. The night dragged a little bit and I fell asleep at Reggie’s house. He woke me around ten’ish and we sat for a time and drank instant coffee; as usual. We just shot the shit about any little thing until noon neared. About ten minutes before noon we made our way out. I told Jim and Alexis to escort Victor to the wall about twenty minutes before. Ray and Larry would then relieve them. Others were already making there way to the wall behind us. A few ahead of us. Everyone looked pretty somber.
I looked at the wall as we approached and saw Victor sitting down on top of the wall. Some of the refugees were glaring at him and I knew it was a good idea that we placed him up on the wall to prevent a lynch mob. If it wasn’t so personal to Alan I would have gladly let him handle this part, but he wouldn’t be able to and I knew it. I climbed up the ladder and stepped onto the wall.
ME: Okay…we all know why we’re here. You’ve all heard his story as I told, yes? And Wayne, you retold it all to your people?
[nods everywhere]
ME: I want to retract something I just said…not your people, our people. We’re all together. Now, those of you that would like to speak and say your piece, raise your hand and I will call on each one of you, okay? So who wants to speak?
[multiple hands were raised]
ME: You.
RACHEL: You killed my uncle and my friends you son of a bitch! You’re going to get what you deserve for everything!
[Victor went to speak. I cut him off]
ME: You can say your piece at the end of this, so just shut up for now.
[he eyed me with a smirk]
ME: Next…you.
BETH: You’re a monster. Now I can finally say that to your face without being shot for it [gives finger].
[Victor smiles back at her]
ME: You.
HANK: This is what you deserve, Victor. Only wish it happened sooner.
[Victor chuckles lightly]
ME: You
TINA: I’m sorry for your family…what happened to you. I really am. But that didn’t give you some kind of right to destroy other people. You could have helped but you let it turn you into…this. What would your wife and son think if they saw you now? This obviously isn’t who you were before.
[Victor’s face was now blank]
ME: Anyone else? Okay then…Victor, stand and say your piece.
[Victor stood with the help of Larry]
VICTOR: Ah, where to begin. I’m only going to address those that actually chose to address me at all. Firstly, you! Rachel, was it? I sent men here to kill most of you. I admit that, sure. You had a friend die here I was told. And one of my men…a good friend, actually…he killed another of your friends. However, that was at The Retreat. He chose to join the attack on my territory. That’s war, honey. As for your uncle…yeah, I didn’t kill him. Blame that on the dead. They’re the ones that killed him. Oh, and devoured him. Not me!
Who’s next? Beth! Such harshness from you! When Harry hit you, I hit him! Many times! A thank you would have been appreciated.
And Hank! Only when I’m defeated and captive do you actually have the nerve to speak to me. Typical. You were always weak…not sure why I took a liking to you and made you a watch guard. Should have turned you into a slave…after all, you look right at home standing among them.
[anger from crowd]
Lastly, Tina? I sincerely…really…thank you for your condolences. I haven’t heard that in…well, a very long time. I wasn’t always like this…but that was then. Most of me died with my family that day and this is what was left. You’re too kind, but thank you.
So! In closing, I just want to say that…I’d like to say I’m sorry. I’d like to…but I’m not. The only thing I’m sorry for is underestimating you all. For not launching a much better attack and burning this place to the ground. For that, I am sorry. NOW! Can we please get this over with? I tire of it.
ME: Alright. You’ve all heard his story and you’ve said your pieces…those that chose to. And you heard his piece. Now we vote. All those who would like to see him locked away for the rest of his life please raise your hand.
[Tina’s hand went up]
ME: And everyone that wants him executed?
[every other hand goes up]
ME: Then it’s settled. Tomorrow at noon, Victor will be executed. We are giving him a choice of execution method. Two choices. Hanging or firing squad. Your choice, Victor.
VICTOR: I like surprises, how about you just go ahead and vote on that too, when I’m not around.
ME: As you wish. Please take Victor back to holding and everyone else, we will meet in a few hours.
They voted firing squad.
**
We stood in a field the next morning just before twelve. Victor didn’t need to be told his method of execution. It went without saying. His executioners were Alexis, Ray, Larry, Todd and Jim. All five of them had their rifles aimed at Victor, who stood ten or so yards away.
ME: Last words, Victor?
VICTOR: Just remember one thing. You’re all no better than me. You didn’t keep people and make them slave labor, no. You didn’t throw anyone from any rooftop, no. But you did sneak up on unsuspecting men and butchered them. You did set up an ambush and slaughter my men when they came. We’re not the same…but you’re not better. Now, you go ahead and finish this game. This faux trial you orchestrated just to make you feel better about yourselves.
That is all. Finish this.
ME: Aim…set…fire…
The shots rang out and echoed across the fields and inside the walls. The bullets tore through his entire midsection and he stumbled backwards, blood seeping from his mouth now. A bullet caught him in his left cheek and another in his forehead. They stopped firing and he fell forward and into the high grass. My ears rang but there was nothing to hear anyway. They just stood and stared at where Victor vanished into the knee high weeds.
People began to make their way silently away. Alan walked up and spit in the general direction of Victor’s body and strolled off with his daughter and her friends.
I walked forward with Todd and Jim and Reggie. We looked down at his bloody carcass and together we lifted him up and carried him all the way to the front gates and across the street into the empty garage where we sometimes interviewed newcomers. Where me and my crew were once interviewed.
Later, we drove him miles away and at least dug him a grave in a patchy wooded area off
the side of the road. Alan said why bother, just throw him in a ditch and let the animals or wandering dead have him.
I was inclined to agree at first. He deserved it…but then I thought about who he once was. The man who truly died with his family. That’s who we buried.
Later, I pondered his final words. He was right. We were no better than him, despite how or why he killed, we were killers, too. We knew we did it for defense. To help those he was terrorizing, but we had to be just as brutal in doing that. Not the same. But not better.
We lost good people but we saved so many…they didn’t die in vain. They’d be happy to know we won the cause. I looked out across the yards one day and thought about all of our newcomers. Plenty of them stayed with us, but it was a little crowded and we didn’t have more walls and room yet. Wayne decided to rebuild The Retreat and run it with those who went with him. To make it truly a retreat and take people in just like Haven does. Now we had two communities.
I also had a lot more interviews to conduct with all of them. It was time for their stories to be told.
As well as so many others that came along…