put these things together, Frederick. You plan to conveniently take over the land, somehow. Don't bother denying any of it, either. You can't convince me I'm wrong. Not this time. But I'm appealing to your better parts. I'm begging you: don't do this. Don't let this war happen. You don't need it, I don't need it, your family doesn't need it, and the world certainly doesn't need it.
—
TO: Kathy Horstmann
FROM: Frederick Evenstad
SUBJECT: RE: The Park
SENT 5/21/2074 AT 4:56 p.m. EST
Ms. Horstmann,
I realize that your life underwent something of an upheaval when we had to part ways. Such financial distress can be hard on anyone. I realize that it might be difficult to believe, given my current situation, but I am not a stranger to monetary troubles. In my younger days, I went through quite a number of jobs, myself.
Unfortunately, I must inform you that this is a private email address. I will forgive it this time, but do not contact me here in the future. Otherwise, I will be forced to inform the legal department of this, and they will likely spin it as a case of harassment. I believe both of us would like to avoid such a mess.
However, if it would be helpful to you, I will of course be happy to write a letter of recommendation to any employer. Merely contact Veronica, my secretary. I trust that you also kept her email address. If not, it is available on the Contact page of our website.
I wish you the best of luck, as I do all of our current and former employees. I look forward to seeing you back on your feet.
Frederick Evenstad
Chief Operating Officer, Evenstad Technologies
JOURNAL 06RITA
ENTRY 011
DATE: 5/24/2074
Evenstad, I want you to know something. Pay really, really close attention to this, all right? Good.
I hate you, you slimy asshole. I've never hated anything, I can tell you that much, but I damn well hate you. If there's a Hell, I hope you don't go there. You don't deserve the fucking luxury of it.
This Manfred, I just don't know how the hell you could drag him into this. He's obviously too old, and he's obviously sick. He's trying to hide it, too, but it's just so damned obvious to anyone with eyes. And you bastards have eyes everywhere in this place. I don't know if he was healthy when you fucking kidnapped him and dropped him here, but he's obviously not well now, and I bet he hasn't been well for a long time, to look at him. But you had to play out your psychotic little game, didn't you? So you'll just leave him here to wither while the world watches.
How's that going to look to the viewers, if they watch him die off, day after day? Don't you assholes have a drug company or a medical company under your control? Yeah, I'm pretty sure you do, somewhere in your damn collection of companies. But that's okay. You just worry about your rules and your games and your fucking bullshit TV show. We're just lowly humans, anyway. Not even your damned employees. We all may as well be scum, those of us who are left.
I want you sons of bitches to know one more thing, though: I'm going to live. I'll live through your torture even if it's only to spite you. Fucking count on it.
ENTRY END
BREAKING NEWS: EGYPTIAN INSURGENCY ENDED
5/27/2074 at 3:14 p.m. EST
This afternoon, US, Russian, and Indian forces removed a group of terrorists from power in Egypt. The group, calling themselves the Egyptian Restoration Movement, had taken control of the main government offices in Cairo some weeks ago. The ERM's goal, according to their mission statement, is to 'bring Egypt back to glory' by restoring economic health and general prosperity. While troops from several countries were deployed, they did not arrive in time to save Egyptian President Chatuluka bin Awad al Misri, who was murdered not long after the Egyptian Restoration Movement took power. More troops will be arriving in the following weeks to aid in the stabilization of the Egyptian government.
Specialists from Evenstad Farms will also be arriving shortly to provide humanitarian aid. They intend to help revitalize the economy so as to avoid a group like the ERM from rising again. A temporary president is to be elected later this week by the remaining members of the now restored Egyptian government.
We will keep you updated as more information is made available to us here at The Cruise.
UPDATE: 5/27/2074 at 6:08 p.m. EST: After deliberation, the Egyptian government has agreed to allow US troops to stay in Egypt as protection until they can be certain that the threat has fully passed. In order to minimize the risk as much as possible, Evenstad Farms has agreed to buy out the farmers they initially came to aid. Marta Evenstad, COO of Evenstad Farms, says that it is a temporary measure, implemented 'to keep the farmers safe while still providing them with financial stability.' The specialists will work the land in their place so that 'fertile croplands aren't left to die and become useless.' This measure will protect the farmers' current and future interests, and the land will be returned to them 'when the Egyptian government deems the country safe from terrorist activities.'
TO: Evenstad Media
FROM: Natalie Klein
SUBJECT: Manfred
SENT 5/27/2074 AT 4:47 p.m. EST
I have seen the latest episode of your program, only to watch my husband, not to support you. And yes, I have written to beg you. My Manfred is unwell. More unwell than I've ever seen him. So unwell that I am unsure that he could pull back out of it, even with the finest medical care. But he deserves a chance, and you will give it to him. You have to. Have him forfeit. Have him buy out his contract somehow. We will find the money we need for it. But please, let him come home, while there's still something of him left to send home.
Natalie Klein
—
TO: Natalie Klein
FROM: Evenstad Media
SUBJECT: RE: Manfred
SENT 5/27/2074 AT 4:52 p.m. EST
Mrs. Klein,
As we have told you before, your husband has signed a contract, and he knew full well the possible risks when he did so. We apologize for your hardship, but the contract is legally binding.
Regards,
Evenstad Media
JOURNAL 03BLAKE
ENTRY 010
DATE: 5/27/2074
Well, we're staying here with the old man. I'm kind of okay with it. I mean, I never thought I'd be okay, putting myself into potential danger like this, but I am. Yeah, Manfred's pretty harmless. And he looks like hell. But that Craig guy just isn't sitting right with me for whatever reason. He makes Manfred happy, though, and keeps the old guy comfortable. Which is okay. You shouldn't die alone. Grandpa told me that before he passed. It was hard for him. He didn’t have people the whole time, for days. That's when I started sticking around there, once I found out. It just wasn't right in my heart. It sounds so mushy. I've never admitted that to anyone. Well, anyone but Grandpa. The day before he went, he told me that, in the end, all that's important in life is having people around you that don't want anything. No money, nothing in the will, no life secrets from an old man or anything like that. Just someone who wants to be with you because they know that this is going to be the last time they might see you.
So yeah. I'm okay sticking around. If Rita changes her mind and decides we need to leave, I'll go. I may not be happy, but I'll go. I just hope that doesn't happen. Not if he's dying.
Dying. I think he really is dying, though. Not fake. Really, really dying. And Evenstad is just letting it happen. I really don't want to think this is real, that I actually… and I don't want to think that Rita lied to me. But this Manfred guy? He's like… I don't really know what to think anymore.
ENTRY END
JOURNAL 02CHRISTINA
ENTRY 016
r /> DATE: 5/28/2074
I found lights on in a house. It's the first time I've seen that so far, so I can only assume there's actually some people. I could be wrong, but what the hell? Even if I am, it doesn't put me in any worse of a situation than I'm in at this exact second.
I'm not going to head over there yet, though. Yeah, I can pretty much handle anyone in there with that golden light thing I found in the house, but I'd still rather try to get a count, if I can. It doesn't really matter how long it takes to ferret out the information I need. What do I have to live for, other than seeing Evenstad burn?
ENTRY END
Obituary of Kathleen Marie Horstmann (2034-2074)
Kathy Horstmann (2034-2074) was found dead in her home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania late last night. She is survived by her son, Damian Horstmann. Funeral services at Terry Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 30th starting at 9 a.m.
JOURNAL 10MANFRED
ENTRY 014
DATE: 5/28/2074
This will not last long. I am weak. I can barely type, and I do not even bother pretending to eat. I cannot hide this any longer, not even from David's murderers. At least Craig does not leave my side. None of them do, actually. It is particularly odd, but I welcome the company. It is not my Natalie, and it is not my children, but it is some comfort, at least.
ENTRY END
JOURNAL 05CRAIG
ENTRY 015
DATE: 5/29/2074
Rita's brought something up to me, and I really have to agree with her. I'm damn sure not happy about it, but it's the right thing to do. Manfred is miserable and I just can't watch it any longer. It's