I arrive at the yellow house to see Thalia sitting on the porch. I set my bike against the fence and walk up to her. I notice her hair is up, providing me with a clear view of her face. The silver scars on the right side of her face catch the light. I am greeted warmly by Thalia, and upon her request, I place my tape recorder on a coaster.
(I apologise for the lack of structure to this interview, but I believe the public would be more..enticed, by your story if they knew smaller bits of information in the beginning rather than...lets say telling the whole story all at once - if that is alright with you?
(Thalia raises an eyebrow. I slide a paper bag over to her. She peers inside and smirks
Of course, ask away....)
Mercy. I was a woman of mercy. I gave mercy to those who needed it, and, in certain situations, to those who didn't deserve it. That was one of my greatest strengths in that world, having the ability to do horrible things and justify them. I'd give you an example but...there would be too many to choose from...
How did you stay alive in the first few weeks of the outbreak?
Hope. The hope that one day I could tell my children my story. The stories of what I went through to make the world they grew up in a safe place. I used to want a big family, five or six kids. Now, I would never think of bringing a child into this world - the aftermath of my story. I also stayed alive because I ate nothing but noodles and chocolate, if we are going for a true retelling of my survival - I never had the dehydrated goods, the canned foods or the bottled water in the beginning - no one did. I had to survive off what was available to me. I made 6 days worth of half clean water last 2 weeks, 1 weeks worth of chicken noodles and snickers last 4 weeks, and 1 box of pads last 2 periods. It was all about rationing, knowing when you should, and should not use your supplies. I don't really know what else to say about it.
Can you confirm that you used a hot water bottle as a water bladder?
(Thalia lets out a soft chuckle)
Yes, that is true. I came up with that idea after my big ass 2 litre water bottle got stolen by bandits, leaving with me and Jack with no water for about 4 days. I was hiding in this house, with Jack, and he was looking in the basement for any water caches. I was ready to succumb to the dehydration, so I crawled into the king sized bed, ready to die, and just as I drifted off, I felt my foot brush against a hot water bottle, I jumped up, threw the covers off me and tore into the water bottle. The water was cold, and had a rubber taste to it. I didn't care, I drank every drop in that bottle. I then ran to the next bed room, tore to covers off that bed, and found a bright blue one. I gave that one to Jack, he kissed me not long after.
Was that the first kiss you shared?
Yes....We're straying into dangerous territory, perhaps we will talk on THAT another time, what's next?
Jones, how did you meet him and how did he give you the Beacon device?
Jones....
(Thalia reaches for something under her scarf, a set of dog tags. She un clips the chain they are on and passes them to me. The tag reads " Jones, Fergus". )
He gave me those tags the day he supposedly died. It was around 4 am when he came banging on the bathroom window. I opened it to find him covered in blood, Beacon in hand and pistol in the other. He thrust the Beacon into my hands, I threw it onto my bed. I took his hands, ready to pull him in, but he said no, that if he stayed out here, he could lead the infected away, giving me more time to get out. He tore off his dog tags - those, dog tags. He told me they would get me, and me alone into any military camp I found. He was right, I got into the Newston base without any trouble, as well as Launsdown. It was a thing, he and his mates were doing, if they gave their dog tags to anyone, it would get them into any base, and help get word of either their distress or death, to the Generals. I told the Newston General that Jones was most likely dead, and they believed me, but when I found him in the Launsdown base, I almost killed him, I was so pissed.
(Thalia takes a sip of what I presume is tea, yet she lets out a small hiss as she swallows it - no steam rises from the cup - its moonshine, in a tea cup? Thalia looks at me)
No time for brewing tea, you just have to put whatever you can in a cup and hope for the best.
My mother would agree with you, June Isaacs, do you remember her? You fought together in the Batt-
Yes, I remember, very much so, God, she must be nearly 50 by now?
Yes, 48, same age as Evelyn... Speaking of parents, what happened to yours?
(Thalia sucks in a breath, almost chocking on her booze. She narrows her eyes at me)
You know how to catch a girl off guard, don't you? Well...(Thalia looks out to see her dog, Issa, chasing the dust) My mother died a week after I amputated her arm, turns out, once you have been bit, and amputation wont work if you had got the Needles. The bite would trigger the dormant virus in your body, just as the zombie bit into you, so, no matter what, you turned. I was there when it happened, saw her turn. I couldn't put her down, I don't remember who did. (Thalia's eyes are watering) Then, my dad, I never knew what happened to him. He would be dead by now, alive or not. I presume he either turned, or just never found his way back home and died alone. The thought of him dying alone makes me so heartbroken....Everyone deserves to die with someone, whether it be their greatest enemy.. (Thalia turns to see Jack slowly wheeling himself into the driveway) Or with their greatest love.
(Thalia's eyes meet mine)
No one deserves to die alone. That's something I have always believed in, and always will..
(Thalia clears her throat, straightening herself) One last question, make it count buddy
Have you become numb to the pain of death? After everyone you have lost?
Yes, I have.
(Thalia's eyes float back to Jack, who is now playing with Issa. He looks up at Thalia, blowing her a kiss, she smiles weakly)
For now I have. But the day i loose him, the pain will be greater than anything i will have ever know. For he is my greatest love, and we have been through and lost everything together. I wouldn't be here today without him, and he would certainly not be here if it wasn't for me. I just hope the day he comes, he doesn't turn. I know that's asking the impossible, because he got the Needles but.....
Its a long way away, his death, lets not end this interview on a sad note, hm?
(Thalia nods in agreement. I stand and shake her hand. She walks my to my bike, She thanks me for what was in the contents of the brown bag. She confirms next weeks interview; Tuesday morning. I ride away seeing her walk to Jack, see him taking her in his arms, and embracing her lovingly.)
YOU ARE READING
Veteran interviews.
General FictionBefore the death of Thalia. After the War. These are the interviews that were conducted, but never made it to the publishers or the screens. They were thought to have been lost in the fire that took the warehouse where the interviewer was living, y...
