The Perfect State: A Fictional Commentary on Humanity and Politics

The Journey: Chapter 1

Great North American Wasteland, 29 January 2048

6.15 AM, the Convoy of Cars lead by Quent headed deeper and deeper into the Great North American Wasteland. Relying on the few maps which provided to them by Derrin it would be a tough ask to navigate, the endless dead fields only broken by the covered over reminders of human existence was easy to get lost in.

Quent was tired, he had been driving now for a solid nine hours and his eyes were heavy but he had to keep going then a most majestic sight; the sun rose over the wastes blinding Quent for a second.

In the daytime, the Great North American Wasteland was even more hellish than it was at night. All around him was signs of the old United States but now decaying, rotting away. From the odd rusted sign for a diner to the collapsed wooden farmhouse, the metaphor was prominent.

The danger only increased as now the feral wildlife which inhabited the wastes would awake. Quent for such an occasion, had five magazines of ammunition for his handgun just in case of an animal attack but was five magazines enough for the 1600 or so mile journey?

Quent turned his mind to how they would survive out in the wastes. The second civil war wouldn't have many places unravaged and the invisible threat of the chemical weapons used within the conflict would be a danger throughout.

Quent decided that the best place to find food and supplies would a diner in one of the ruins of the small towns dotting this particular part of the Great North American Wasteland. It was not a certainty he would find food there but options were slim, his daughter was getting hungrier by the minute.

Leading the Convoy, he stopped to get out of the car and read an old map that he had taken with him just in case such a situation arose. Mane and Miss Adelaide got out to consult with him on the matter. The conversation went as followed:-

"We need to find a place where is food? My daughter keeps complaining about hunger and it wouldn't hurt to stock up before the next drive."

"I agree Dionysus but where? All I've seen is flat wasteland littered with the occasional reminder of the past. Could tinned food survive for twelve years or so anyway?"

"Probably wouldn't taste the best but it would not make us ill at least. Jacobus, Your thoughts?"

"I am reluctant about it, We are putting ourselves at risk of attack by whatever is out there and wasting fuel we need, however, there is no other choice. No point having more fuel but being too malnourished to drive to the location."

"Couldn't put it better myself."

"That's agreed. Which ruined town though? Some are closer than others, the logical way would be to go to the ones closest to us to save as much as we can."

"Closest town first, For sure."

"Agreed, What ruined town is the closest?"

"That small town there on the map, see it? It's only at maximum twenty miles away from our current location."

"Can we expect any dangerous wildlife or tribals? If so, I'll get my handgun prepared."

"Dangerous wildlife possibly, Feral dogs would be the most likely bet. Tribals are a myth, You've seen the area, no human life could sustain itself here, at least I hope. If they have, God help us."

"No human could survive here without resorting to cannibalism or accepting diseases."

"You both make good points. Make sure if you see a human put it out of its misery as soon as you see it."

"Agreed."

"Let's back in the cars, Our families are probably wondering what we were out here discussing. Good luck to both of you, When we reach the town we'll convene again to discuss the plan to retrieve any supplies. Right now, the main objective is getting to the town itself."