Why Not Murder

53. Past and Future

53. Past and Future

Maya noticed there was someone else in the graveyard. The person was stooped which gave the impression they were older and when she saw the white beard she knew who it was and called out, "Spark! Spark!" and walked towards him. The sun was rising over the little church steeple. Spark turned and waved, "Maya!" he called out in return. They sat on the steps of the little church and chatted, happy to see each other.

"The groceries at the shop were looted and the building was burned," Spark said, "There were residents in that building too and some of them couldn't get out and died. The fire truck couldn't get near the building because of all the protesters. The building was old, mostly wood. I was lucky. I was in the shop at the time, staying out of the way of the looters, and got away when the fire broke out. I heard about the clean-up of the oil spill and had to see for myself. My parents, my wife and my sisters are all at rest here, but they all died before the XX disaster."

"I came to visit the graves of my daughter and husband," Maya said. "The oil is gone and the place appears clean but I don't know how much I trust the reports that the water is drinkable and the soil fit for grazing and cultivating. Where has everyone gone I wonder?"

"Maggie Smith is back and she says others are returning," Spark said, "mainly because the lives they are living elsewhere are worse than life here, even given that the pollution may be continuing and about the water. Maggie says to boil the water thoroughly. At least it looks clear. I'm staying with her for the time being. Our family cabin has collapsed from disuse. I will rebuild it. There's not much trustable to eat. There are a few vehicles that don't run and I am going to repair those too."

"I don't remember Maggie," Maya said, "but I never knew most of the people here."

"She's older than me," Spark said, "that's probably why and she came here when she was in her seventies. She used to live on land that was expropriated for XX Fuel use."

"Sorry to hear about what happened to the shop in Marhaven," Maya said, "Are you still a member of Justice Will Come?"

"Once a member, always a member," Spark replied, "You'll always be a member too, even if you don't participate in any meetings or protests."

"I never attended any meetings," Maya said.

"I have," Spark replied, "Last one was shortly before mayhem broke out. No one at the meeting ever even hinted something like that was in the works. I don't think any of us knew. It was a spontaneous outbreak, a venting forth of many people of many groups. It was awful. Were you in Marhaven at the time?"

"No I was in the country with some friends," Maya answered, "we felt distant from it all until marauders attacked us."

"Life was impossible while all that was going on here in Marhaven," Spark said, "I wouldn't have left if there was any other option. I went to Brockton but it was impossible for me there too and so I came here. Glad I did."

"So what's going on?" Maya asked, "Why the mayhem? Who is responsible? No named group has come forward. The manifesto does not have a group named within it. All I know is that the authors of the manifesto must be taken seriously. The reporter from In-Depth who was getting to the truth has disappeared."

"I've only heard rumours and don't know how or who started them," Spark said, "The manifesto was leaked. I heard XX received the manifesto in the mail and it was given to the appropriate executive. It could have been leaked by someone within XX or by someone in the protest group who authored it. I heard about the connection of Crawford Mills. I know Rayelle Lewis and that many people are wondering if she is connected and I have also heard that the leader of the freedom fighters is Grey Feather. Their notion of freedom is anarchy."