[killJOY]

WITNESS STATEMENT


I, Doug Cramm , DO HEREBY MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TO ________________________, WHO HAS IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS A PRELIMINARY INQUIRY OFFICER:


1. My name is Douglas Cramm, my address is P.O. Box 95, Meguntik, although I do not actually reside there.

2. I began living at the Harbour Mountain community last winter (November). I was taken on as labourer. Also animal husbandry and small engine repair. I lived and worked there up until the day of the incident.

3. Matt Hanson was my immediate supervisor, even though he didn’t much like working with the animals. Which was probably why he’d rather supervise.

4. Previously I was employed at Meguntik Heavy Equipment until they were shut down. I worked there twelve years as a mechanic and finally got promoted to floor supervisor two years before their dissolution. Luckily, I did not have a family to care for.

5. I did not know Mr Hanson until they took me on at Harbour Mountain.

6. On the day of the incident Mr Hanson and I were on a run to the port for supplies. They do this a couple of times a year to stock up on essentials for the people of Harbour Mountain. I usually don’t like to go mobile unless I have to. But I have a full size pickup with horde tanks so Matt elected me to go. Matt said the community would pay for the fuel, I said that was the least of my worries.

7. The trip down was not good. The roads had broken up badly over the winter and it took twice as long to get to port as I would have liked. Then it turns out they had only half the fuel we need there. We were not allowed to take any fuel back to Harbour Mountain beyond what I could get into just one horde tank. The armed guards made sure of it. When Matt started beating his fists against the dashboard, I tried telling him we were lucky to get the supplies we had, we had to tie and bungee all the boxes down, but his eyes just flashed out like a knife blade and I knew he wasn’t listening. He doesn’t think much of manual labour. He tried to swap out crates of dry goods for fuel with some other folks but they just laughed at him.

8. As I said I do not like going mobile anymore. And then to not get back until before dark on top of it all. Luckily there was nobody on the road on the way back inland, until we got within about thirty miles of Harbour Mountain.

9. 'Get out,' he said.

10. 'What?' I said. About a mile up the road was another vehicle. It looked like just another heavy truck to me, not military. It seemed not even to be moving.

11. 'Just get out. And leave it in neutral so we can push it off to the side of the road. We’ll act like we’re out of fuel.'

12. While we waited, he told me the story about how he got to be so paranoid:

13. ‘When I get burned I get burned only once. Like, on my first run to port, I came upon this van that looked like it had bounced out of a pothole and ended up in the pucker brush. Two guys were trying to push it back on the road, the wheels spinning in mud, so I got out to help. I put both hands on the hood and started shoving ... When I woke up, it was near dark and that van was gone. I had this sore, sticky knot on the back of my head. I stumbled back to my truck to find that my locked tank cover had been pried right off.’

14. We got my truck pushed over to the side of the road long before the other vehicle approached. We also stacked boxes on top of the horde tanks so they weren’t so obvious. Turns out the reason it took forever for them to get to us was because they had a flat tire.

15. 'Just remember,' Matt said. 'If it looks like I’m helping them, I’m really helping myself.'

16. The guy slowed down to check us out. Matt was already rummaging behind my seat.

17. The guy spoke to us through his P. A. system. ‘I’d love to help, but we gotta get to a hospital.’ He has a flat tire, yet he’s apologizing to us for not being able to help!

18. I looked inside: A woman, his wife, I assumed, had a kid sprawled in her lap, looked to be about two. The kid wasn’t moving. She was stroking his hair.

19. Matt brought out my tire iron. 'We don’t have any fuel so don’t get any ideas.'

20. 'Matt,' I said, 'they really have a sick kid in there—'

21. 'You’re so fucking naïve,' he said.

22. The guy started to say something over the P. A., but Matt had come around and landed that iron square against his window. You could hear the woman screaming, even without the mike.

23. The window didn’t shatter so Matt landed three more blows before the guy had time to think. The tire iron kept bouncing off the glass. Matt turned the iron around and poked the pointed end right through the glass. Now her screams came right out at us.

24. 'Matt! The fuck you doing?'

25. It was like I wasn’t there. He reached in through the window with the iron and knocked the guy’s head in with the wrench end. That woman acting like an animal caught in a leg hold trap. That kid of hers still not moving. Matt got the door open and pulled the guy --dead already, I guess -- out onto the broken pavement. Then he walked around to the woman’s side. 'Matt, fucking stop!' But it was like I wasn’t there. He dragged the woman shrieking out of the vehicle.

26. I honestly don’t know what happened next. I just found myself standing there holding that kid in my arms. Matt laying in his own blood on the pavement. My truck with both horde tanks now full, which I know is a capital offense. That man and woman sprawled out on the broken asphalt, both of their doors open, tire flat. That kid sweating and burning up in my arms. It was like I had just taken him out of an oven. At least I knew he was alive.

27. I looked down at Matt. His eyes still had that knife flash in them.

28. I did what I thought was the only sensible thing to do: I took the kid with me back up to Harbour Mountain. We do have medical personnel up there. It might not seem like such a bad life to him since he’ll know no other.

I SWEAR THAT THE INFORMATION IN THE STATEMENT ABOVE IS TRUE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF.


Douglas Cramm.

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO BEFORE ME THIS DATE.


(Investigator's signature and date)

[erl]

I'm impressed.

Is this something of yours?

If it's yours, have you published this?

Is it part of a larger work?

I want to see more.

erl

[killJOY]

It's here, among others:

http://tinyurl.com/94cdc

This is a fiction contest that got very little press. I have two stories there. Here's another:

[killJOY]

Off the deep end

For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. (Matthew 10:35)

Subject: I made it
From: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>
Date: SUN Oct 29 11:47 PM
To: Bertha Davis <die_trying@northstar.net>

Wanted to let you know I’ve made it back to VA. Hideous standing room only on the Eagle like always, I wish they’d make that illegal. Now turn off that computer and go to bed. You worry about too many things.
--
Praise = prays.

Subject: your trip
From: Geoffrey Davis <protagrid20@protagrid.com>
Date: MON Oct 30 11:04 AM
To: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>

You get back from Maine in one piece? Also, have you heard from Justin lately?
--
“When the going gets wired, the wired turn to ProTaGrid!”

Subject: Re: I made it
From: Bertha Davis <die_trying@northstar.net>
Date: MON Oct 30 11:12 AM
To: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>

what’s wrong with worrying about this apocalypse? what’s wrong with wondering why my grandson is in the desert? i’m preparing for the worst and i don’t understand why the rest of you CAN’T SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE!! they’ll never get rid of SRO flights because they can’t afford to, mark my words!!! so i will never get to see you again, do you understand? you were barely able to pay for that flight on eagle air and what makes you think it’ll get any better? you think you’ll want to drive all the way up here in that fatass vehicle when gas stays over $5 a gallon? families should never split apart and move away.

Subject: Re: your trip
From: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>
Date: MON Oct 30 12:30 PM
To: Geoffrey Davis <protagrid20@protagrid.com>

Yep, I’m back and, big surprise, I’ve received one of Mom’s rants already. I think she’s really gone off the deep end. She’s still on the meds but I don’t think they’re doing any good. I’ve never looked forward to getting out of there so much in my life. Would you believe she now has goats in the yard and is making goat cheese in the cellar? Everything we ate came out of those old bail lid glass jars that Nana used to have. I could barely choke it down, thinking of botulism. I’m afraid we’re going to get a call because someone found her out with her goats. I have no idea what to do about her. I doubt she’d let anyone near the place. Did you know she has a shotgun? She spends all night on these internet forums chatting with other crackpots predicting when hell’s going to freeze over. We hear from Justin almost every day, thank God for cell phones. He says he’s fine, but he always says he’s fine. We all know how he wilts in hot weather. The word is they’ll be shipping him out of Kuwait through the Straits of Hormuz to some base on the coast of Iran. Tom and I are worried sick all the time.
Now I have to answer Mom’s email. Wish me luck. Love ya.
--
Praise = prays.

Subject: Re: I made it
From: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>
Date: MON Oct 30 12:41 PM
To: Bertha Davis <die_trying@northstar.net>

Next fall will come like always, and I’ll visit you like always. Last time I filled up gas was down to $3.35. I plan on having Justin with me. I agree with you on one thing: families should never split up.
--
Praise = prays.

Subject: your trip
From: Geoffrey Davis <protagrid20@protagrid.com>
Date: MON Oct 30 1:04 PM
To: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>

I’d be the last one your mother would let know she had a shotgun! ;]
--
“When the going gets wired, the wired turn to ProTaGrid!”

Subject: Fwd: we reap what we sow!!!
From: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>
Date: MON Oct 30 10:12 PM
To: Geoffrey Davis <protagrid20@protagrid.com>

See what I mean, Dad? I just got this from Mom. What am I supposed to do, ignore it?
----Forwarded message from <die_trying@northstar.net>----
Date: MON Oct 30 22:00:11 EST
From: Bertha Davis <die_trying@northstar.net>
Subject: Re: we reap what we sow!!!
To: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>
i can’t say i’m surprised you don’t take me seriously. when has anything i said mattered to you. you think it’s crazy that an old lady tries to take care of herself just like you thought it was crazy i left your father. you probably think it’s crazy that i keep saying we’re fighting a world war over the last oil. if you only knew how much i read and think about this. if you only knew how much i think of that grandson of mine. it is breaking my heart to think he has been “selected” to guard his country’s ravenous appetites in the heart of hell. you who call yourself a christian why aren’t you outraged. i want you to look at the graph, figure 4 http://dieoff.org/page224.htm you see how it says we’re off the “slope” now and headed down the “slide?” that means the oil is declining and we’re in for it now. i’m saying this not to scare you but because i care and i’ll have nobody here with me when the lamps go out.
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/Prepare.html
we’re going into the decline and now your only child is up to his eyeballs in quicksand and i wish i could have you both here with me (you and Justin, I mean).
if you care at all you’ll check this out too.
http://www.wolfatthedoor.org.uk/
please please please think about what these people are saying!!!

Subject: holy cow!
From: Jeff Davis <protagrid20@protagrid.com>
Date: MON Oct 30 10:24 PM
To: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>

I guess I had no idea. I’d sit on this awhile before answering if I were you. You really don’t want to set her off.
--
“When the going gets wired, the wired turn to ProTaGrid!”

Subject: Re: you reap what you sow!!
From: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>
Date: MON Oct 30 10:32 PM
To: Bertha Davis <die_trying@northstar.net>

Mom, this “Die-off” stuff has me concerned about your well being, but it’s my first day back and I’m tired. I’ll write you later.
--
Praise = prays.

Subject: another thought
From: Geoffrey Davis <protagrid20@protagrid.com>
Date: MON Oct 30 10:33 PM
To: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>

What makes her think anyone could do anything if it was really as bad as these internet prophets say? I think it’s time you thought pretty aggressively about her future.
--
“When the going gets wired, the wired turn to ProTaGrid!”

Subject: Get a damn cell phone!
From: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>
Date: FRI Nov 17 1:45 PM
To: Bertha Davis <die_trying@northstar.net>

Mom, I have been going crazy wondering how you weathered the disaster. We just got back home from spending the entire blackout at Tom’s parents’ house. I hear you got over two feet of snow. Please let me know right away how you are.
--
Praise = prays.

Subject: Checking up on everyone
From: Geoffrey Davis <protagrid20@protagrid.com>
Date: FRI Nov 17 7:12 PM
To: Undisclosed recipients

Dear everyone, Now that we’re all back online again, I’m trying to touch base with everyone and make sure you got through OK. I will be at the office all through the weekend until things settle down more. As you can imagine, between the storm and the blackouts this has been about the worst week of my life. At last count the death count was over 100,000. Keep everyone in the Northeast in your hearts and prayers.
--
“When the going gets wired, the wired turn to ProTaGrid!”

Subject: Re: Checking up on everyone
From: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>
Date: FRI Nov 17 8:55 PM
To: Geoffrey Davis <protagrid20@protagrid.com>

Dad, I’m so glad to hear from you. Don’t worry about us. Tom and I just locked up the house and fled straight to his parents’ summer home in S. Carolina. I’ve been thinking of you constantly. That, and we’ve gone nearly insane with worry since Justin hasn’t been able to call in over a week. I can’t watch the news anymore, I can hardly sleep. Tom had chest pains in the middle of it all and we took him to the hospital in SC. Luckily they diagnosed it as stress related.
Also, I’ve been trying all day to get in touch with mom with no luck. When she didn’t answer my email I tried the phone but the lines were tied up until about an hour ago. I’ve left two messages with no call back. Have you heard anything about what’s going on in Maine? Were there as many fatalities there as in upstate NY? I heard they got record snow (so much for “global warming”). I can’t imagine her being without power and alone for eight days straight.
--
Praise = prays.

Subject: Good to hear from you!
From: Geoffrey Davis <protagrid20@protagrid.com>
Date: SAT Nov 18 9:04 AM
To: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>

I would’ve gotten back to you right away, but by the time I had a spare moment it was too late and I just collapsed on the sofa in my office. I hope I never have to deal with another blackout again. I’m getting too old for this stuff.
About your Mom, I believe the power never went out in her part of Maine, so she should be fine. The grid failed as far north as the outskirts of Portland and that was it. I’d keep trying her. Maybe you can start talking her into making a plan for getting out of there.
How was South Carolina?
--
“When the going gets wired, the wired turn to ProTaGrid!”

Subject: Re: Good to hear from you!
From: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>
Date: SAT Nov 18 3:33 PM
To: Geoffrey Davis <protagrid20@protagrid.com>

I think God’s trying to tell you something. I told you it was time to retire! I hate to brag, but SC was lovely, as you can imagine. The lights never even flickered! Oh God, I just thought of Justin. That happens, my mind gets occupied, and then, wham, it hits me again. I’ve been trying mom all day. I can’t imagine why we haven’t heard anything. You’d think she’d at least let us know she was all right.
--
Praise = prays.

Subject: About your mother
From: Geoffrey Davis <protagrid20@protagrid.com>
Date: SUN Nov 19 10:12 AM
To: Nancy McDoughall <navymom432@passages.net>

I’ve gotten confirmation that the grid in Central Maine remained up during the hurricane. There were a few local outages from falling trees, but nothing that couldn’t be repaired in a couple of hours. Personally, I think she’s just being stubborn.

Subject: tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him
From: Bertha Davis <die_trying@northstar.net>
Date: MON Nov 27 5:02 AM
To: Undisclosed Recipients

I hate to say I told you so but ITYS!

[erl]

Nicely done.

I like the first better than the second. The second seems too much a push for P.O.

Still, I remain impressed.

Did you do well in the contest?

[killJOY]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'D')id you do well in the contest?

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('killJOY', ' ')It's fun just to have the stuff appear on line.

[medicvet]

Killjoy, that was very well done.