CHAPTER 6
Susan
“Welcome to another edition of Under Big Blue, with Susan Elmsmith. I’m Susan Elmsmith. It’s Day 301, and we’re broadcasting from the mayor’s office in Winoka City Hall, which is currently occupied by today’s Under Big Blue guest, Mr. Hank Blacktooth—”
Mayor Hank Blacktooth.”
“Mr. Blacktooth, as you know, yesterday rogue dragons attacked Winoka Hospital. Two died as a result of that conflict, and the famous and beloved Jennifer Scales almost died as well. You claim a leadership role in town—”
“Again, I’m the mayor.”
“What are you doing to resolve the crisis?”
“Susan, we’re working as quickly as we can to eliminate the threat to this town’s innocent residents—people like yourself whose families came here for protection. We take our responsibility seriously, and I can guarantee you that by the end of the upcoming winter, Winoka will be dragon-free.”
“Dragon-free?” Susan looked nervously at the camera, balanced on a tripod between two of Winoka’s peace officers.
Hank leaned forward and repeated quietly and calmly, “Dragon-free.”
Unsure of how much this man knew about her personal relationships, Susan returned her focus to the questions she had prepared. “What is the status of your peacemaking efforts—”
“Spare me your mouthpiece questions.”
“Um, okay.”
“I know the chief of surgery at Winoka Hospital has written most of them for you. I did not agree to have you here so I could waste time answering them. I agreed so I could broadcast a statement, using your web log as a vehicle.”
“My web log?”
“Yes. Inexplicably, it gets regular coverage.”
“Thanks.”
“Gallingly, it is the only dependable way to get my message to the outside world.”
“Okay, well. Thanks again. Prob’ly.”
“Here’s how this will work. I will momentarily give a statement. My assistants here will then take temporary possession of your camera and edit our session using city-hall equipment. They will post the result to your web log, using log-in information you will give them. They will then erase all source information from your camera and return it to you. You will then go back to your friends at the hospital and pretend however much you like to be in charge of your destinies.”
Once upon a time, Susan would have found this vastly intimidating. All right, she still did. But still: she was a journalist. “And I’ll give you my log- in information because . . . ?”
One of the peace officers drew his sword. Hank motioned him to lower it.
“Susan. This doesn’t have to be confrontational.”
“Just surreal and creepy.”
“I know your father—he serves in the National Guard, right? Commands a cavalry battalion. He’s a good man. He moved here to protect you.”
“My mother actually was the one who moved us.”
“But he agreed. Surely, he wants what is best for you. He wants you to be safe. And now, by accident of fate, here you are in this dome. He is outside, if I’ve heard correctly?”
Another threat? Susan nodded. “He was on shift when it happened.”
“I’m sure he’s worried about you.”
“You’re not as subtle as you think you are, Mr. Blacktooth. If your goons are going to hurt me, have them get started. I’m not giving you shit.”
Hank sighed. “May I please record the statement, and then you can decide how intransigent you’d like to be?”
Susan shrugged.
He turned to the still-running camera and tried to smile. “Good evening. I am Mayor Hank Blacktooth. I’ve asked Susan Elmsmith, a local reporter for this town, to come to city hall and transmit this statement in her web log, and she’s graciously agreed to do so. I have two announcements.
“First, in two days this town will have a noon rally on the Mississippi bridge, where our valiant Mayor Glorianna Seabright died over three hundred days ago. Our activities should be visible from beyond the dome, including by press helicopter. I encourage everyone to attend.
“Second, as some of you know, I have a son named Edward. When the dome appeared, he was trapped on the other side. It has been some time since I have heard from him, and like any father . . . I am worried for him. Here is a recent photo of him.” He held up a school photo of Eddie. “If anyone has news of my boy, I’d appreciate hearing it. Susan regularly posts contact points for the city—it’s been a long time since anyone used them. We’d love to hear from you.
“I know this crisis has the town, and the outside world, worried. Please know that we are doing all we can to keep the good people of Winoka safe. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. Take care.”
Once done, he looked at the camera for an edit-ready three or four seconds and then turned to Susan. “Well?”
Susan pursed her lips. She thought of Eddie, alone in the forests surrounding the town. “Edit the statement. Put it on my equipment. I’ll go back to the hospital, log in myself, and broadcast it.” Pause. “So, what’s going to happen at the rally?”
An infuriating smirk was the only response.
Rise of the Poison Moon
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