Entry 66: Billy Grayson

We keep having to drive all night and rest during the day in shifts.  These new zombies, banshees we've taken to calling them, they'll stalk us without end, running almost thirty miles per hour it seems.  We're able to keep driving and get on ahead of one cluster of them to rest, but if we wait too long another pack will come in and wail for the others that there's fresh food.  They've got very little in the way of strength, unlike the brute zombies, but these banshee zombies have pack intelligence, swarming us in preparation from multiple sides when they hear the moaning even before it turns into a wail.  As soon as we hear that distinctive moan we just pack up immediately and get going.  They're thankfully few and far between while driving, but at night they come out to the highway.  Some instinct telling them that they're harder to see at night and more likely to catch their prey.  Just last night, we saw a brute biting into someone not far from a crashed motorcycle and the banshees kept ripping off parts and running away before the brute zombie could grab hold of them.  Opportunistic predators I guess.  Damn bastards make it difficult to get any sleep without resorting to earplugs.  Definitely need to pick up a few of them for everyone if we can next time we pull into a town or gas station if they've got them.  Can't have those on watch or driving wearing them, but the rest of us need to get our rest so we're not falling asleep on duty.  Already when it was Kathy's turn once she started swerving a little at night before someone in the bus took over for her.

Entry 65: Jamie Bryce

Jamie:  Been a while since I had anything to really say.  We're on the road again and I brought a few books from the grocery store's aisle.  Most of them have been garbage and thus gone into the fire for more fuel when we stop to cook up food.  It was mostly quiet except the sounds of the engines until three days ago.  Seen only one living person outside our group, chasing some cows in their fields in the distance.  We stopped and were going to help, but Billie saw that there were brute zombies following after, about six of them.  Whoever it was, they didn't get away, and two of the cows were taken down as well.  Nothing we really could have done, so we just started off on the road again.  Been hearing some strange sounds at night since then, like, a zombie moan, but much louder in pitch and volume.  Always late at night, so we haven't taken to cooking away from the vehicles.

Unknown:  Horrific wailing.

Jamie:  There it is again.  Sounded a lot closer this time though.

Unknown:  Wailing changing to a warbling wail.

Jamie:  What the hell?  It's never sounded like that before...

Sound of two car-doors opening and shutting.

Billy:  Fuck I hate whatever that thing is...  Bad enough with the noise it was making before.

Ellis:  Damn banshee, wailing like-Hey!  Did you see that?

Jamie:  Shit, yeah, I see it.  It...  It's looking right at us.

Unknown:  Wailing warble that turns into a shriek.

Billy:  Gah!  Fuck you!

Gunfire and wet splat.

Ellis:  Damnit Billy!  You're going to draw in every zombie around-

Unknown:  Deep moan and hissing.

Jamie:  That's new.

Steve:  Who fired that?!  Billy?  Damnit, use the arrows, not-

Ellis:  Back inside!  Get the engines started!

Unknown:  Hissing growing louder.

Billy:  Fuck fuck fuck!  They're in the grass.  I see them moving.

Gunfire and engines starting.

Car-doors shut.

Jamie:  Go!  Go!  Go!

Jane (on radio):  Everybody hit the gas, this things are fast!

Steve:  Crap!  What the hell are those things?

Entry 64: Jane Knight

Finally enough of the snow has been moved for the vehicles to start plowing through again.  Certainly helped that the temperature picked up into the seventies during the day at least.  We've packed up on what medicine was available in the grocery store, as well as all of the perishable foods that hadn't gone to their expiration date yet, and some canned goods as well.  Even if they still go to my thighs, a single ho-ho cake once a day for a few weeks is definitely going to brighten each day for a few weeks.  We saw more frost zombies today, so packed in the snow that they hadn't been able to do more than moan as the snow started melting.  Hell, I think I even saw a couple frozen completely like popsicles.

Entry 63: Miriam Prager

We've all hunkered down in a grocery store.  The blizzard had let up and we thought to get some good distance on the road, but another picked up two days ago.  The place was overrun with zombies but they hadn't fed in a long time, so we managed to use carts to keep them back as we put them to rest.  Almost all of the fresh produce spoiled and we had to dispose of it, and the freezer and refrigerator units must have ran out of power at least a month ago by Jane's estimates, so all that was in there had to go as well.  Thankfully there was a lot of bleach and other cleansing products to disinfect everything and bottled water since the city water was out.  We didn't bother burying the food or the zombies because the snow was coming down heavy enough we could just get them out there and let it do the job for now.  Thank you whomever stocked the shelves last for junk food and dry cereal.  Almost all the other grocery stores we've seen have been empty on them.  It was good just to have some Lucky Charms for the first time in a while.  There were canned goods as well, but we didn't open anything needing cooking since we didn't want to waste our fuel on it.  The power is off inside here, but we've got flashlights we brought with us as well as some from here and every single pack of batteries that we found here.  Definitely going to be useful to have both now and later.  The store is very cold, but at least its warmer than outside and there isn't wind in here, so we're just bundled up.  Hope it dies down soon, but even if it does, we'll probably have to spend another day or more after just getting the vehicles unburied enough to plow forward on the road again.

Entry 62: Steven Bryce

We had a few days of sun, but winter isn't going out easily.  A blizzard kicked up from the east and we're all hunkered down for now.  I think all the excess heat from industry and pollution might have otherwise lessened it before Z-A Day, but I'm no weatherman.  The good news is that the howling wind and snow will keep any of the frost and brute zombies from being able to smell or see us clearly in the blizzard.  The bad news is we can't see them either, so no one is going out of our vehicles unless we absolutely have to.  Thankfully we have enough food still for another couple weeks, but we're going to need to get more the next town we come to.

Entry 61: Ellis Vaughn

Bad news that, about the new mutation popping up.  The only good news from learning about their existence is that we were wary when a pack came towards us.  We had to leave a few cans of beans behind and some firewood that had been gathered, but a small price to pay in comparison to more loss of life.  Twelve of them, too impatient to feed to keep quiet.  We heard them coming and everyone grabbed what they could and ran to the vehicles.  Sargent Hook, Steven, Tiana and I kept firing into the brutes but crossbows didn't cut it, they're fast enough to make it a grazing shot or at least miss the brain.  A couple lost ears and one their tongue and throat, but not enough to severe their spinal column.  We brought out our guns right away, but everyone else was ready, so we just high-tailed it out of there.  No sense wasting ammo fighting a battle we can just leave behind.  Besides...  We might need that ammo later when we get in a situation we can't just leave.

Entry 60: Tiana Iverson

Turns out the two government dweebs have been trying to figure out what causes the infection and subsequent mutations since it all happened.  Unfortunately, there's about sixty different bacteria and viruses they've never seen before, and different strains of each, so its been slow-going, especially since its been just them and their test subjects for the last month when their previous assistant left in frustration.  They've got a fully automated hydroponics bay underground and enough MREs and canned food to last them fifteen years or more, so they've been mostly eating the fresh and canned food for the time being.  They still don't know whether its a virus or bacteria that causes the zombie infection, but either way they did confirm that the frost zombies and this new breed they've dubbed 'Brute Zombies' are mutations of the previous kind, not a different new infection sprung up from nowhere.  They had a few zombies they slowly saw change into frost zombies and then one of those that changed into a brute.  Turns out the frost ones turn to eating even their own kind if need be and bulk up on muscle mass.  That and and a bunch of adrenaline and other hormones pumping regularly into them makes them push themselves like the one did outside.  Skin gets a bit tougher as well, slowing penetration.  Might have to ensure we save the higher caliber stuff in case we encounter more of them along the way.  The dweebs were disappointed that we weren't the government goons they were expecting and refused to come with us, but we're back on the road again at least.

Entry 59: Unknown

Unknown Voice One on Loudspeaker:  Stay back!  This is government property!

Steven: Sir, you called for help on the radio, didn't you?

Metal door slammed open

Unknown Voice Two on Loudspeaker:  Quarantine breach!  Quarantine breach!

Zombie roars

Jane: Shit, over there, aim at-

Gunfire

Sargent Hook (shouting over the gunfire):  Come get some you bastards!

Gunfire and zombie roars dying off

Ellis: Weren't so tough.

Louder roar and smashing of metal

Tiana:  What the fuck was that?

Steven:  I...

Unknown Voice One on Loudspeaker:  You're going to need something stronger than-

Load roar and metal door frame broken and scrapping on asphalt.

Jane: It's huge, how can it be so fast when it's-

Sargent Hook: Just fucking fire already!

Gunfire, loud roar and sound of feet slapping on pavement.

Steven:  Everyone back up!

Sargent Hook:  Shit!  Fire in the hole!

Explosion of grenade.

Tiana:  Is it down?

Unknown Voice Two on Loudspeaker:  Don't let up!  For god's sake keep firing!

Loud zombie roar

Jane:  Fuck!

Gunfire and loud roar until it dies off.

Unknown Voice One on Loudspeaker:  Is...  Is it dead?

Single gunshot followed by a slap of meat (Presumed to be a kick or other prodding).

Sargent Hook:  Is now.

Unknown Voice Two:  Oh thank god.  We've been broadcasting for a month, our supplies were almost-

Unknown Voice One:  Please identify yourselves.  Who are you?  Are you the military?

Tiana:  Who are we?  We're the people that just saved your sorry asses.  Now let us in already.

Steven:  We have a lot to talk about.

Sound drifting off.

Barely heard, female voice, assumed to be Jane:  Shit, I think I dropped my recorder.

Steven:  Don't worry about it, we'll look for it later.  Let's just get inside.

Entry 58: Sargent John Francis Hook

The frost zombies are dropping in number a little bit.  We may be past the worst of them.  Maybe.  We remain vigilant and keep listening for radio contact of any sort.  Today we heard a distorted call for help, but clearly not Vergil or Tessa.  Unknown who it is, but not too far off of our route, a few days if we take it cautiously as we have been.  Can't afford to be burning through fuel without refilling at every chance we can get.  The snow is melting a bit, but not gone yet.  Lots of slush and ice forming at night.  Some of the frost zombies are becoming more visible when the piles get smaller.  Soon we may not need the snowplow for its intended purpose, but it still has a lot of horsepower.  If nothing else, perhaps for plowing fields with some modification at some later date.

Entry 57: Kathy Ross

Those damned frost zombies swarmed us last night, but everyone got up quick enough to put them down.  Everyone is getting used to waking up at the sound of gunfire or shouting now.  We have to.  Today marks the first day I've actually hit one of them.  Graham and the others would deal with them before so easily since the normal variety were so easy to see coming.  One day when my child grows up, he or she is going to learn how to use and respect a gun as soon as they can.  They'll need to.  But...  Ammo is something that won't last forever.  I'm not really able to pull a bow back properly right now, not to mention how the others who are learning take so long to prepare their second shot.  Ellis and Steven are working on trying to make a couple crossbows out of various parts they found at a hardware store in the nearest town two days ago.  And the men grabbed another frost zombie for Jane to dissect.  They tried to talk me out of it, but I watched until I needed to vomit and then came back after.  Graham died to this variety of zombie.

Entry 56: Jane Knight

Seems we've got somebody on the radio when we went on a curve in the road for a stretch.  we've managed to direct our vehicles toward where the signal seems stronger, but its mostly static, probably a broken microphone.  Everyone is hoping it is Vergil and Tessa, but its doubtful.  Even I'm hoping it despite thinking it won't be.  Managed to get a lone frost zombie captured and tied down long enough to kill it and do an autopsy.  Still don't know what causes the infection, but the strange thing is all of the fat in the zombie has been changed to brown fat cells.  That would explain their energy and staying warm, if not how the mutation did that...  Regardless, just a little food for them gets burned up into energy, and otherwise they seem to be able to just hibernate.  I'm not even sure what else to try to figure out from it, but we've got no more use for it if I don't have more reason to study it, so its being dumped next stop.

Entry 55: Miriam Prager

No sign of Vergil and Tessa still.  They know the highway we were taking, but we have no clue if they're still alive or if they're able to find a way back to it from wherever they are now.  Richard tried the radio a few hours after we were away from the horde, but got no response.  Should have still been in range of Vergil's radio though, but Richard said they might have it turned off to keep from making noise.  He's had one of us try it again every two hours, but now we're finally past the edge of its reception.  I hope they're alright. More frost zombies when we tried hunting today, but we managed to take them down without gunfire.  A good thing too, because we managed to get a deer afterward.  Getting closer and closer to the farm, another couple days at this pace.  Damn snow is getting heavy though, and we've put in all of our backup gas into the vehicles.  Billy and Jamie are getting more at one of the gas stations in a nearby town.

Entry 54: Steven Bryce

No one wants to talk about it, but, I need to say it, even if no one ever hears these recordings.  Markus Pierce got infected last week, and tried to hide it.  Spent more and more time in the freezer of his truck, checking on everything he kept saying...  When he finished turning, we thought that he must have snapped and then let himself freeze to death in the back of his truck.  Didn't think to check him for bites...  Just saw lay there, unmoving for hours.  We tried to give him a proper burial, but just as we finished the hole he got up and bit Graham.  Markus, he got a shot to the head from the Sargent, before he could bite anyone else.  Graham, he just...  His eyes welled up and he ran for the gas station.  Ellis and the Sargent got to him before the rest of us could.  They...  They decapitated him after taking him back into the freezer.

I understand the reasons they...  released him like that.  But...  That's three now dead since we started heading toward the farm.  Is this going to be our El Dorado?  I mean, we don't even know for certain what we'll find there.  We have to hope, because, what else is there?

The zombies attacked us the next day when we were camped.  They literally popped out of the snow that had covered them and started attacking.  These damn Frost Zombies, as Tiana called them yesterday...  They're the proof to what Richard had said a month ago.  The zombies aren't just dying out like we hoped.  They're mutating.  Getting smarter.  Stronger.  Adapting to the cold.  I don't know where Vergil or Tessa are right now.  During our stand against the horde we managed to clear enough for our vehicles to get out, but when Vergil tried following on the motorcycle with Tessa they hit a crawler and crashed the bike.  I told everyone to turn around, but Vergil shouted into the radio for us to keep going and they'd meet us up at the farm once we got there.  I tried to argue, but he cut me off.  I saw them in our rearview, being chased by the frost zombies closing in, slow, but untiring.  I swear, just as we almost got out of view, I thought I saw them head into a small town, but it could be wishful thinking.

Entry 53: Unknown

The recording device listed as ZR13D2 was found in the shirt pocket of one of the male zombies found with the infected of the Zombovirus17 strain (also known as the Frost Zombie strain), in South Dakota.  The zombie itself was missing its head so dental records could not be gathered, and dna testing found no public records.  This was not unusual in pre-Restoration years, as prior to the Day of Infection it was not required to have dna samples on file in a public database (See Craven vs. the State of Dakota court file 134zr, 4 AR).  Due to the pose of the subject and removal of its head, it is believed to have been terminated with mercy shortly after its turning.  Since it was not buried and instead found shut inside a powerless freezer of a gas station, it has been surmised those who terminated it may have intended to return when they could, or have done it so as to at least protect the body from being fed upon by insects and other infected.  The recording device ZR13D2 was damaged and unrecoverable, but due to its found location, and similarity to those in the Bryce records, it is theorized that one of the members of the group that had traveled with Steven Bryce during the seven years before restoration.

Entry 52: Vergil

Damn fucking zombies!  Lost the bike and nearly myself and Jamie today.  Did a fast drive scouting while everyone was cooking meals and on the way back zombies had blocked up the road.  No idea where they came from, no house within view.  Just snow.  Snow everywhere.  Shit.  The bike got through those bastards, but the damage made the tires go flat.  No spare with us, so we had to leave it.  Damnit.  Maybe what Richard said before is right.  The deadheads are changing.  Something about them...  I mean, fuck, where were they hiding?  How were they keeping warm enough not to freeze up?

Entry 51: Ellis Vaughn

One of the good things about the whole damn mess is having plenty of things to take aggression out on without being stared at so much.  Admired more like it.  Not like me and the boys' return from war.  The zombies...  So far I haven't met anyone who does anything but fear or pity them.  Sad to say that I did see a soldier from the war earlier today.  Had saved his platoon back then, but now...  He and his family were in a farm we gathered supplies from.  He shot them and then himself.  Had a radio turned to a local news station, though without power it wasn't still playing.  He gave up without putting any bullets into the deadheads.  I checked his gun's magazine and the ammo boxes we took along with it.  I didn't let anyone else see the family but the Sargent and Steven.  Together we buried the family in the back.  All the animals on the farm were already starved, so beside the ammo we didn't take much with us.

Entry 50: Tessa Cooper

Finally starting to...  Not hurt as much.  My brother's gone, but, not completely.  Fuck, that sounded so sappy.

*empty air for two minutes*

Let's try that again.  Uh.  Right.  My brother got infected before we even spotted the first part of the group I'm with now.  He staved it off longer than he should have been able to, but...  He was protecting me, knew he couldn't forever.  He died so that I wouldn't get infected as well.  At first, I hated him for it.  Hated the people that killed...  No, put him to rest.  Then I hated the zombies.  Killed as many as I could each day I saw them.  I still hate that they exist, but, they were people too.  Like my brother before he got infected.  He's gone, and he was losing what made him my brother.  Just like the zombies have lost it.  I can't even hate them anymore.  I hate the infection.  And I'm learning to put down the infected faster now.  To put them to rest.  It still hurts, but its getting better.

Entry 49: Graham and Kathy Ross

Graham:  First time eating chipmunk today.

Kathy:  It was...  Different.

Graham:  That's for sure.

Kathy:  Also some canned peas and carrots from a grocery store.

Graham:  Very little else there that wasn't gotten into by animals that wasn't past expiration or taken earlier by looters.

Kathy:  Some jelly beans though.  Keep our energy up, even if not the best of food.

Graham:  True, though more as an emergency snack than for a meal.  Can't go having a sugar crash.

Kathy:  Mm.  And the beans and hot sauce.

Graham:  Be a lot better with eggs and toast on the side.

Kathy:  But none to be found.

Graham:  Of course not.  Anyone sensible took those things early on.

Kathy:  Shame about the deli man in the freezer.

Graham:  Rather go out fighting than freezing to stay hidden.

Entry 48: Jane Knight

Good to see Miriam doing well.  That at least she's healed up physically.  She grabbed some rocks alongside the road today with Tessa.  Showed her how to pitch them with decent accuracy.  A zombie shambled close from one of the fields and they got live practice.  I...  I wanted to join in after seeing the zombie, but I didn't.  I shouldn't just let myself get used to them.  There has to be a way to stop it all.  I just don't know how.

Entry 47: Miriam Prager

Finally able to walk without limping again.  Able to help out again instead of being so useless trapped inside.  I think I'm getting the hang of the bow and arrows.  And I helped chop up some logs for firewood to cook our meals today.  Best not to waste fuel and electricity if we don't have to.  Vergil says once we get to the farm we can setup some kind of windmill to get power, but on the road its going to be really hard to get it.  Good thing we have batteries for the van at least, but we don't have spares for the other vehicles.  Maybe the batteries can be wired up to work regardless, just without being in their normal cradles, but we'd need some way to keep them secure along the way.  Vergil and John have been talking about checking out the next town for parts they could use to that end.  Going to go with them.  If I don't, I'll lose my edge and be a liability later.  I have to do something.  Felt stir crazy just staying in, especially worrying if Steven...  I just have to.

Entry 46: Steven Bryce

The additional members of the group are proving increasingly useful with every passing day.  The bow and arrows they and Billy made took down a deer, and we ate our fill and still had some to put in the freezers of the ice cream truck.  They've already started making more.  The Sargent...  He seems to be a bit shell-shocked or something, everything is strict and ordered about him, always measuring everything out and speaking mostly on effectiveness of our survival skills, helping us improve what he can.  But he's looking to me for orders.  So eager to give up the command of the two he had with him and surrender the burden of responsibility.  I'll bear it, but its hard.  I wish Richard was still here more than ever.  He grew to trust me, but still argued anyways to make sure we had the bases covered.  Always trying to learn more, to understand what was going on, to piece it all together like it was more than just survival he was aiming for us.  Like, wanting to see if the early-stage zombies could be cured somehow.  Gave himself so we'd have a better chance, took the responsibility I...  I don't know if I could have.  Not in that way.

Entry 45: Vergil

Now, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!  Fucking firepower and some muscle.  Zombies best stay out our way.  Hell, between John, Tiana and Ellis they didn't even spend a bullet on the six deadheads at the gas station we stopped at today.  Just knocked them on their ass and snapped their necks like pretzel sticks.  Got some fuel loaded up for all the vehicles and a few extra gallons besides.  Guess the soldier boy had some solid training in how to get the gas out when the power is off or something, I was asleep through most of it.  Feels good to have things going our way again.  Hope they stay that way.

Entry 44: Sargent John Francis Hook

Seven-hundred hours, early morning.  Currently down to four hundred thirty six rounds for the em-twos, twenty six slugs for the twelve gauge, ninety rounds of the twenty-two cal, eleven of the forty cal, sixteen improvised grenades an now thirty arrows for the improvised bow that Grayson and Markus worked out.  Still have not seen its effectiveness on taking down an animal, but target practice is promising thus far.  Very accurate within a hundred yards, given a steady hand.  The food we have will last us three weeks, though insufficient for nutrition after nineteen days.  Multivitamin supplements appropriated from abandoned pharmacy will suffice for three months if further food is gathered, especially protein.  Vitamins and similar other items were left by early looters due to ignorance of importance for peak physical shape needed for survival.  Gathered up as much as we could, though little antibiotics had been left to find.  Now with the larger group we have joined there is more strength and coverage of the watch rotation.  In agreement that the prospective location we are headed toward would be most appropriate to fortify and begin reclamation if it is not overrun when we get there.  Sargent Hook, over and out.

Entry 43: Markus Pierce

Seems the team we've joined up with has got a good strategy for our trip into the next town.  Needing to stockup on supplies, preferably frozen goods to put in my truck if able.  Ice cream went by pretty fast even with rationing since Tiana, John and I had ate a lot of it since we didn't have much else due to the high volume of zeds.  There's some energy bars and canned food, but not much else.  Tiana shot a cow near the highway, but when we got to it there was almost no meat on it due to its starving in the winter due to no farmer around.  The noise drew a few zeds, but we could see them far enough off to be able to leave before they got anywhere near.  Also spooked off a couple crows that had been pecking at something in the snow not too far from the cow.  Definitely agreeing with Billy that we need to start working on making bow and arrows to be able to take out food at least silently.  There was a lot of snow on the highway since the last time it was plowed, but between the plow they had taken with them and the Humvee we still made some decent distance today.

Entry 42: Tiana Iverson

Bloody deadheads are going to have to find some other poor saps to play with now.  John, Markus and I have joined up with a larger group, and they've been downright hospitable, even gave us these voice recorder things.  Not really sure what they're intending by having so many, but I know I'll certainly be able to put mine to good use.  Remembering.  Not just remembering things worth grabbing now, but the past, before the big mad-day, or Z-A Day as these other people have been calling it.  Remembering my parents, and the summers spent at the lakehouse.  Remembering childhood crushes and friends who I lost touch with, and remembering teachers and classmates and lovers and even the little shits who made my life more difficult with their petty bullshit.  Even them.  Because things can't go back to how they were.  But we can remember.  Learn from it.  Try to remember why we still fight to stay alive instead of giving up.  Remembering hurts, but its better than forgetting it all.

Entry 41: Ellis Vaughn

Steven and Jane made it back safely finally, but Richard was lost while I was sleeping.  Heard about it when I woke and then mostly had to help the others keeping zombies away from us so the two of them had a place to come to once they got out of the city.  Never expected them to pickup more people on the way.  Sargent John Francis Hook of the 25th Infantry, home on leave when things went to shit and unable to connect up with his troop.  Markus Pierce, an ice cream salesman before the big Z-A Day and a former high school football coach.  Tiana Iverson, a butcher, hunter and she's a fine dancer or so she says.  The lot of them came blaring in with an ice cream truck's cheer and a Humvee behind, engine roaring, machine guns hooked up to both of them, and a few hand-made grenades beside.  Seems they noticed the zombies forming a siege and decided to see what had gotten their interest.  Came in like the good ol' cavalry and got Steven and Jane out of town to us.  Seem decent sort, if a bit eager to make a ruckus in putting the zombies to rest.  They have a plow on their Humvee, mostly used for ramming zombies, but its still good enough to push the snow despite the blood stains and rust that won't come out.  On our way again it seems.  Glad to be leaving, though I wish we had two more with us who could have been...

Entry 40: Steven Bryce

The ladders held for the first four buildings we bridged, but the sixth it fell out of the window opposite us before we could grab it.  Landed on a bunch of zombies, decapitated a couple of them I think.  At least we're down to only twenty floors up now, but I'm not seeing how we're going to get further to the group.  Nothing in the top few floors we've explored to help us get further.  Still got a way to go down, but there's no way we're going to just walk out into the zombie siege and come out uninfected.  There's just too many of them for that.  The others are on the radio checking in every now and again.  Heard about Richard and setup a small marker for him, even if what remains of his body is in the city still...  Jane thinks maybe we can-what the hell?  *distant pop-goes-the-weasel jingle heard along with a loud motor, followed by a roar of machine gun fire*  Jane!  Jane, come look at this!

Entry 39: Jane Knight

Richard is gone.  He got bitten yesterday in the leg when we had to jump up to reach a fire escape that was jammed.  Steven tried to pull him up like he did me, but he didn't get hold of Richard before a zombie got to him.  He...  He kicked it off and came up with us, but we all knew he'd start changing within a couple days.  He was brave about it.  Needed our help to get inside the building and up to the roof.  Thankfully the building still had a backup generator that someone hadn't used up yet.  Got an elevator going for all but the last three floors before it drained completely.  I thought we'd be stuck there and need to climb up, but Richard pulled the doors open himself.  The infection...  It gives a surge of adrenaline for a while, he said something about it trying to help its carriers stay alive long enough to fight off people who might try to kill them, or to help them overpower others when they change enough to lose themselves and start spreading the infection...  Steven and I helped him up the rest of the way and said our goodbyes before he jumped.  Now we're eating up some rations and trying to find a way to another building, but they're all too far to just jump to.  Steven's found a few ladders, but none are long enough.  Might have to lash them together tightly and hope to make a bridge strong enough to support us.  It's about all that we have.  If...  If someone finds us, or this recorder separate from us...  Don't give up.  Richard gave himself so that we wouldn't spend time and resources on what we all knew wouldn't help him in the end.  He took his life bearing the pain so we wouldn't waste medicine we might need later.  He jumped so we wouldn't waste even one bullet.  I thought he was a coward when I first met him, afraid of his own shadow it seemed.  I was so wrong about him and I will miss him greatly.  Richard Dolan was the bravest man I ever knew.

Entry 38: Richard Dolan

Richard:  I...  I never got to ride a horse before, you know?

Jane:  Please, let me give you something for the pain.

Steven:  Richard, you don't have to do it this way.

Richard: No pain, no gain, right? Fuck, it hurts so bad.  Ah, watch my leg!

Steve:  Shit, sorry.

Jane:  Lift him up more!

Richard:  Nnnggg...  Shit, don't worry about it too much.  Not like it'll make a difference in the long run.

Steven:  I'm sorry Richard, if I had pulled you up faster...

Richard:  Forget it.  Just forget it.  It is what it is.  I'm sorry too.

Jane:  You don't have to go out this way, like Steven said.

Steven:  I've got a few rounds in the pistol and the building is already surrounded by zombies.

Richard:  No.  Save the rounds.  And save them.  Get the others out of here.  It's too late for me, but not for them.  Not yet.

Jane:  Do you want me to stay with you for a bit before you...

Richard:  Fuck no.  I mean-Thank you, but no.  I've got this.

*Richard grunting*

Richard:  I can go the rest of the way.  You two find a way to get out of this building and to the vehicles before the zombies get in here.  Been, well, not exactly fun, but still, glad to have met you and the others.

*Jane sniffling*

Jane:  Richard...  I'm sorry.  Goodbye.

*Footsteps away and more sobbing from Jane*

Steven:  I'll take care of them.

Richard:  You'd better.  I don't believe in ghosts, but if there are such a thing, I'll be checking up to make sure you are.  Now get out of here.

Steven:  Goodbye Richard.

*Footsteps away, Richard grunting*

Richard:  Damn...  That's a long drop.  Still, better than the alternative...  Here goes...  Something.

*sharp intake of breath, followed by the rushing of wind and a loud thump and crunch.  Zombie moaning audible followed by ripping sounds and silence*

-Voice recorder recovered next to skeletal remains at the base of building.  Zombie virus infection present in traces of remaining bone marrow, though cause of death is impact trauma following fifty story drop.  Richard Dolan, estimated to be deceased day 93 AZAD (After Zombie Apocalypse Day).

Entry 37: Miriam Prager

Still hurts to put my weight on my injured leg.  Probably going to hurt for a while, slow me down.  Slow the group down.  At least I can stay inside for now and do what I can to help that won't put me in danger that might risk someone else in order to get me out of it.  I hate this.  Its healing, but I'm almost useless like this.  And Ellis keeps checking back every so often for some reason.  Kinda scared me seeing him so concerned and not looking at the road for a good time before he looked at it again.  Just got to hold on for now and try to stay strong.  Been doing push-ups and sit-ups and pull ups as best as I can to stay in shape.  Finally on the other side of the city earlier in the day, but waiting for the others to come out of it.  Hope they're all alright.

Entry 36: Graham and Kathy Ross

Graham: Tessa's resting up with us for now while we're still driving to the other side of town.  Almost there, but we had to not go too fast or we'd just alert zombies from further than we could spot them that we were coming.

Kathy: Jamie in the van, Billy is driving the plow, Ellis is in the bus with Miriam, and Vergil is riding the motorcycle they found.

Graham:  There's really not much else to say for now, just needing to take our minds off the horde around in the city still about, moving toward the earlier gunshots Tessa set off.  Some have wised up and wandered off again, but there's a lot of older zombies in there that can't figure it out anymore.

Kathy:  I'm just glad that we aren't staying here in this city for much longer.  There are at least a thousand of them out there.  I can't imagine what it was like for Ellis, Jamie and Vergil to go through even before the gunfire, and now for Jane and Richard and Steven...

Graham:  I'm sure they'll pull through just fine.  I'm sure of it.  They know how to keep silent and move carefully.  I'm sure they'll be okay.

Entry 35: Billy Grayson

Damn fucking zombies came out in force!  Had to radio the others and tell them we were driving to the other side of town to avoid becoming food or infected.  Tessa picked up one of the guns and blew six of them away before we got her inside the bus.  Girl is a damn good shot.  Have to be to be out with just her brother for this whole time I guess, but the noise is going to draw every zom for a mile around to the sound, possibly even further.  Its a lot easier to just take to the rooftops or camp away if you're silent, or fast enough to avoid all the incoming zombies, but in a larger group its harder to coordinate.  A lot of the zombies tonight were still pretty fresh, though it seemed hard for them to move through the slush.  Had a bit of a warm day, made a lot of snow melt, but it'll get cold again overnight, turn a lot to ice.  Hate that we can't do much for our people in the city right now, but the noise of the vehicles would draw all the zombies in town to come and chomp down.  Best only for escaping or sticking to the highways were the zombie population is down.  Less people before Z-A Day who wanted to live next to the traffic noise.  Now there isn't any except us so far as we've heard.  Just made it a lot more difficult for our friends though.  The zombies that might have holed up in buildings are going to be going toward where we were parked, and some will be passing right by them.  Fuck.

Entry 34: Jamie Bryce

Damn.  That sucks about Tessa's brother.  And I was about to try to chat her up when...  Fuck.  Vergil, Ellis and I are resting up for now while Richard, Jane and my bro head into town.  Tessa's out at her brother's grave, everyone's giving her some space for now.  A couple shambling zombies came near when I brought out some food for her.  She...  She mutilated them.  Just lucky they were slow and I knocked down the secoond while she was busy with the first one.  I ended the zombie fast and just watched the area while letting her keep wailing on it.  Saw a couple zombies at the treeline in the far distance, but...  They just wandered off instead of coming closer.  Guess they have some survival instincts in them or something still?

Entry 33: Vergil

Fuck...  Knew this sort of shit would happen eventually.  Tessa reminds me of one my cousins.  Her dad died in a car accident a few years before everything went to shit, and the creep who t-boned the car got away with only a few months in jail.  Sylvia...  She went after the guy once he was free.  Got shot in the process by him, just defending his home they said.  Didn't help that she ended up dying on the way to the hospital.  I mean, I get that Tessa's brother was infected and that he wanted someone to kill him, but...  She's got plenty of reason to blame us.  I saw the look on her face when we got back.  She's trying to stay calm, but she wants to share the hurt.  Hopefully we can get her to vent it on the deadheads.  If not for the infection none of us would be in this mess.  The others...  I'm pretty sure none of them save Ellis know much about fighting except defending themselves after Z-A Day, against zombies.  Its different when its someone living.  Shit.  Our trip into town didn't help much really.  I mean, stuff that'll help us for now, but not stuff that'll get us back on the road and away from here.  Definitely going to need Ellis' help with her.  I thought he was just a geezer when we first met, but the dude's a fucking vet marine.  Swear, one of the zombies hid in shadows on one of the streets we were checking, still fresh, rushed us.  Ellis grabbed the damn thing and snapped its neck, dusted off his hands like it was nothing.  He's aight in my book.  He knows what's what.

Entry 32: Ellis Vaughn

Casualties of war I guess, of survival.  Not right that a man should have to force someone to kill him.  This disease, it brings out the best and the worst of these youngsters and the others I've seen since it all happened.  Trying to save his sister from what he was becoming, but injuring a stranger in the process.  At least Miriam's up and moving around, and the young Brad Cooper got a proper burial.  Tessa seems to be taking it well, though its hard for the others to tell due to how reserved she's been.  I know though.  I've seen a lot of desperate men and a lot of death even before this big Z-A Day.  She'll open up eventually if they give her the time and don't pester her.  I had to take Jamie aside right away when we got back, he was so struck by seeing her.  He didn't even seem to notice how hurt she looked when we were walking up and started stammering when introducing himself.  Not the time yet for that, but who knows?  Steven and Jane seemed relieved that I took him aside.  Vergil...  He's got experience that one.  He saw Tessa and just gave her a nod, glancing at the others and waiting until after the burial to ask what happened.  The journey into town took a long while, but we had a few zombie hordes to work around slowly.  Didn't find a snowplow for the bus, but we did find some other useful things.  More winter coats since we'll be needing them.  Tip-up fishing poles for winter and others for later.  Caught a few for us to eat while we were in the city.  The fish don't seem to have noticed anything strange about the world above their waters.  Also some books, and a motorcycle with a sidecar.  Vergil started trying to hotwire it, but Jamie found the keys on the sidewalk nearby.  There were a few other bags of clothing we took, as well as some various junk foods.  Plenty of jerky.  Sunflower seeds and peanuts.  I'd like to grow them if Jane's uncle's farm is good for us.  I'd like to see a sea of sunflowers smiling at the sun, mocking the grip of fear that the zombies bring.  Sunflowers.

Entry 31: Tessa Cooper

*sniffles*

Tessa Cooper:  "My brother was an idiot, but he was just trying to keep me safe.  We didn't have any more food.  And besides that..."

Steven Bryce:  "We know that now and we're sorry for your loss."

Tessa:  "Loss?  Loss?!  You bastards don't get it.  I lost him days ago.  He just didn't let that stop him."

Steven:  "Tessa, if we hadn't...  If you two and our group hadn't met, his infections could possibly have been treated if you found the right medicine for him.  I don't know what that would be, Jane would, but, we're trying to"

Tessa:  "He was bitten!  Twelve days ago."

Jane:  "Tessa, that's impossible.  The incubation period is only sixty hours at most.  He was infected and dying, but not with the zombification virus."

Tessa:  "He told me.  He showed me.  He took that stuff that made him get angry at everything in the world but me.  I told him to just say hi when we saw you guys.  To get you guys to help him get better."

Richard:  "Is that even possible?"

Jane:  "I...  I don't know.  There was so much damage to his arm it would have been hard to tell.  Maybe the drugs he was taking retarded the cells that carried the virus best, slowed it down?"

Tessa:  "He was just supposed to see if you could help.  I don't know why he tried to grab that woman."

Richard:  "Maybe the drugs stopped working?"

Steven:  "He sacrificed himself."

Tessa:  "But...  He was doing okay, I mean, he grunted more than he talked, but..."

Steven:  "I think...  Maybe he wanted to ensure you'd get help.  That he either couldn't fight it much longer or knew he'd die from his other infections."

Jane:  "Damn, I need to check on Miriam just in case he did break the skin."

Entry 30: Graham and Kathy Ross

*Sound of metal on dirt*

Graham:  "That poor man."

Kathy:  "Mm."

Graham:  "At least we're far enough out to give him a proper burial without the zombies coming to us for the noise that he made."

Kathy:  "I suppose that's good, but I'd still rather he not have ended up coming to attack us and dragging that woman along with him."

Graham:  "I know.  It's just a good thing you're good with knots so the others trusted her being tied up while we dug the grave."

Kathy:  "The sooner he's buried the better.  Don't want the stench and flies buzzing around."

Graham:  "Honey...  Are you okay?"

Kathy:  "Graham, no.  Don't."

Graham:  "Kath, you know we had to in order to save Miriam.  He wasn't letting her go.  There's no telling what he would have done if we hadn't been there, he already ripped one of the shoulders of her coat by the time we got to him."

Kathy:  "I know that.  I know.  It's just...  Its the first time we've killed someone."

Graham:  "Kath, we didn't kill him."

Kathy:  "It was delayed, but we did it."

Graham:  "Honey, he would have died soon without proper care anyways.  The drugs he was on...  The infections...  You heard Jane."

Kathy:  "I heard.  But I also heard her sobbing when she was in the RV's bathroom, and don't you dare tell anyone that.  If we hadn't hit him with the crowbar and knocked him into that car wreckage, he wouldn't be dead already.  Jane might have been able to...  To find the proper things in town and treat him."

Graham:  "No.  He was too far gone."

Kathy:  "Still.  Our actions led him to a sooner and more painful death.  He's the first living person we've killed since the damned Z-A Day happened Graham.  If we just consider that its not our fault or that he was too wicked to still be a person, then where do we draw the line?  No, we killed him.  Trying to do the right thing, but we have to respect this.  Especially if the woman with him can ever forgive us."

Graham:  "I...  You're right."

Kathy:  "I know.  I think we're deep enough now.  At least we can show him decency in a burial, show her we're not savages."

Entry 29: Jane Knight

The first rule of medicine they teach you is do no harm.  Yesterday I had to leave Miriam in a lot of pain because we the don't have any painkillers.  Yes, I stopped the tetanus in her and it seems she'll be fine, but she's in and out of sleep now due to the haze of the diazepam and the pain she's still facing.  The man, however...  I had amputate one of his arms.  He had more than just tetanus wrong with him.  He was already  infected, but not with zomobification.  Gangrene, and possibly P. aeruginosa or another.  I don't have the proper equipment to find out or the proper treatment for it.  And he's on some powerful drugs which he'll go into withdrawl from soon.  If he lives that is.  If he does, he'll be in pain the rest of his life, and missing an arm.  Even before Z-A day that'd be rough on anyone.  Now, its more than just a nightmare.  But...  I...  I don't think he's going to make it.  I just hope the person with him can forgive me.

Entry 28: Richard Dolan

Richard: "Oh shit, oh shit."

Jane: "Hold them down I said!"

Steven: "Here, let me, Richard's in shock I think.  Graham and Kathy are keeping the an eye on the other one.  Damn...  Miriam's not looking good."

Billy: "This one's on coke or something, dayum!  I'm twice his size and its hard to keep him on the table."

Miriam whimpers: "It burns...  Jane...  Please..."

Jane:  "I don't have any strong pain relievers, I'm sorry Miriam...  It's just a good thing we even have this much diazepam and tetanus immunoglobulin  IM leftover from my vet practice.  You're going to be out of it for a few days.  Hopefully you won't get anterograde amnesia from the tetanus...  Bloody assholes..."

Steven:  "This just shows yet again that we need to raid more pharmacies and hospitals."

Miriam groans and babbles incomprehensibly.

Billy:  "But last time I brought that up you said-"

Steven:  "I know what I said!  I...  I know.  It'll be dangerous.  They're key places for raiding and all of those people too sick to be able to escape or fight back against the zombies without help being converted...  But we need to get stocked up better.  This is just fucking tetanus.  Before Z-A Day it'd be an easy thing to treat if dealt with soon enough.  But now..."

Jane:  "Now there's chaos.  Fuck.  I need you to tie off this guy's arm here."

Richard:  "Hey..."

Billy:  "Look who's come to the party."

Richard:  "Fuck you Billy.  Jane, won't that cut off circulation?"

Jane:  "The tetanus needs to stop it now.  Miriam was lucky that knife ended up in her foot unlike this guy.  I'm going to have to amputate his arm from the elbow down."

Richard:  "Shit.  I think I'm going to be sick."

Steven:  "If you're going to puke, do it outside."

Entry 27: Miriam Prager

I guess I shouldn't really be talking into the recorder right now, but I'm on watch and feeling a bit bored.  At least when we were back in the Library I could see enough of the zombies moving around to be able to try figuring out who they used to be and constantly watching to see if they were heading our way or if there were any other survivors.  Out here...  Steven said he saw movement out by the treeline, but I'm not seeing any, and there aren't any zombies in this direction either.  It's just...  quiet.  I hope the guys don't have any trouble in town.  Jamie and Vergil I know can take care of themselves, but Ellis is, well, he's pretty old.  More worried he'll slip on the ice and attract zombies than much else, since he seems pretty smart about a lot of things.  I-wait...  I just heard something.

Entry 26: Steven Bryce

The three vehicles are parked a little outside of town still, Vergil, Ellis and Jamie are going to scout out for a plowhead and other supplies that we might be able to do to get the bus in and properly fitted.  It makes a bit of noise, but if we take it slow we should be okay, so long as we know exactly where we're going and make a direct enough route.  Been seeing movement in some of the treelines around us.  A good enough distance that we can see if anyone or anything starts coming our way, but we're definitely being watched.  Hopefully its just animals.  Zombies would most likely have attacked by now.  If its other people, and they're staying their distance, that might be an issue.  I don't see anyone staying away unless they're afraid of us, or just waiting for us to let our guard down.  For now, we've got two people on watch, one to see the town ahead, and the other to watch the trees and fields.  I hope I'm just being paranoid.

Entry 25: Vergil

Damn fucking town is overrun with zombies, but we need that plowhead.  Shit.  Thankfully the visible zombies here seem to be in piss-poor shape, shambling slowly.  Definitely not fresh ones on the streets anyway.  Going to have to start scouting the city silently and see what we can do to get the bus in and fitted.  The damn thing is going to way at least a couple hundred pounds and there's no way I'm going to try carrying one of them however far we have to go to get it back out to install.  I don't like this one bit, but we need the bus plowing as well, otherwise we might end up having to wait out the winter.  And I think there will be even more risk getting food later than if we grab the plowhead and whatever else we can and then keep moving.

Entry 24: Jamie Bryce

There's comfort in familiar things sometimes I guess.  Like having enough people around to be able to sleep in every once and a while.  The storm subsided during my sleep, so we're on the road again, but its damn thick snow, even for the plow.  So far we're doing okay, but we're planning on putting a plowhead on the bus as well, once we can find a place with one.  There's an town up ahead in fifty miles or so, hoping we can find one there.

Entry 23: Jane Knight

Jane again.  We found a stray dog, well, I guess almost all dogs are going to be strays now...  Anyway, we found it alongside a stretch of the highway, barking and running around some severely frost-bitten zombies.  Practically teasing them like it wanted to play.  I had hoped we'd be able to try to tame it and take it with us, but one of the zombies managed to bite it as we were killing some of them.  No clue how the infection affects animals thus far, or if its started to mutate, so we had to put it down.  I just hope that we don't end up having to do the same to my Uncle's horses and dogs once we get there.

Entry 22: Billy Grayson

The snowplow has been exactly what we needed to get out of the cities.  I think if we tried getting out without it we'd be buried in or frostbitten.  As it is, a snowstorm has been picking up and we're stopping at a truckstop that has a long enough overhang for all of the vehicles.  No one is around, but the generator still has fuel, so we're having heat and bunkering down until we can continue on further along the highway.  I think I heard some wolves a bit ago, but nothing to worry about, since it was so distant.  Read a lot of stories about wolves when I was younger, kinda wonder what wolf tastes like now.  Not really a lot to say, but, guess I'd rather say something than nothing.

Entry 21: Ellis Vaughn

Ellis.  Uh, that's my name.  Yup.  *silence for a minute*  I feel so stupid talking into this thing, but I guess its better than if it were some damn-blasted diary or some such.  Some zombies were eating a cow by the side of the road earlier today.  At least what was left of what I think was a cow.  Big bones anyway.  Not really a lot to say I guess.  Came to the cities a few months ago to live closer to my brother, and he barely lasted a few hours after we saw our first zombie.  Fat lot of good his start-up business did him.  To his credit, he went down with a fight and didn't make a lot of noise in the end.  'Course, his voice being so horse from all the shouting at people earlier in the day mighta had more to do with that than courage.  Going to miss giving him shit, but its been years since we'd been close.  Guess that makes it easier on me than most of these other folk.  Sounded good to me that the younguns are planing to go out to a farm, and my Graham and Kathy are going to need the help, especially later on.  Heard that Miss Knight is a doctor.  Awfully modest too, keeps reminding people she's just a vet.  Helping birth calves ain't that much different from helping bring a baby into the world, figure the little one will be okay between the two of us.  Certainly hope the place we're going to still has its owner alive.  Be nice to talk to someone more my age again.  Always in such a hurry the younguns are.  Least they have good heads on their shoulders.  Graham was a bit nervous when he saw Vergil, but I talked to him, just seems he swears he's seen him before somewhere.  None of my business.  Vergil may talk like a chickenshit, but he seems decent enough.  When we filled up some of the gas he wandered off to take a piss.  Saw him glancing at a car nearby and continue off into the wood.  Everyone else was busy getting food ready they didn't see him go up to that car and get inside it.  Saw him gripping the wheel for a bit, looking around, then saw Kathy.  Got out and came back to the group.  Regardless of what he might have done before, he didn't slink off and leave a pregnant woman, even if she did have the rest of us to help out.  That's good enough for me.

Entry 20: Graham and Kathy Ross

Kathy:  "Hello.  It's working, right honey?"

Graham:  "I think so, the light it on at least."

Kathy: "Oh good!  I'm Kathy Ross, and with me is my husband Graham.  We're new to this whole recording our thoughts bit, aren't we dear."

Graham:  "Yes."

Kathy:  "Just a couple days ago we heard a big ruckus out on the street outside our cellar."

Graham:  "Right, and not zombies this time."

Kathy:  "Startled me wide awake and the baby too.  Kicked real hard."

Graham:  "Our good friend Ellis decided to risk a look and soon called us up as well."

Kathy:  "A good thing too!  Several other survivors were out and about, and after a very, very short talk we decided we'd be better off joining up with them."

Graham:  "Yes, more to our benefit than theirs so far I'd say, since we were about to run out of food.  But hopefully our experience will be of some use later.  Ellis isn't speaking right now since he needs to concentrate on driving."

Kathy:  "True enough.  I'm not sure how much good I'll be, since I was a third-grade math teacher before, what are they calling it again?"

Graham:  "Z-A Day."

Kathy:  "Right, that was it.  Before Z-A Day.  Seems so simple a name, but far softer a blow than other things I guess.  But I do at least have some experience being a Girl Scout Troop Leader as well."

Graham:  "Mhm.  And I don't know how telemarketing will help, but I'm sure I'll have something to offer...  Just have to figure out what.  I was taking some cooking classes, but, I guess that's less of a need than a comfort thing."

Kathy:  "I'm going to give Ellis a rest, okay hon?"

Graham:  "Alright dear.  Guess we'll sign-off for now.  Hm...  Ah, there's the button-"

Entry 19: Richard Dolan

Richard Dolan here.  We're far enough outside the metro that we can drive on the highway directly instead of off road.  Still keeping the plow for as long as we can in order to get through the snow.  Due to the increase of the group size, we decided to get another couple vehicles and use our radios to coordinate.  Vergil was disappointed that there didn't seem to be any motorcycles, but we did get an RV and a grayhound bus.  The bus will definitely be good for hauling a lot of materials that we gather up.  We needed to move a few vehicles that were crashed at the front end of the empty vehicles to get them out, but the plow had more than enough horsepower to do the job.  There were some zombies that came near, but not a lot, probably due to the fact that no one had been near that area for a while.  Part of the reason we went with those vehicles in particular was their functionality, but also that there weren't any decomposing corpses on them.  A few suicides in some of the others.  We've siphoned off enough gas now to fill up all the vehicles and we've strapped a dozen gas cans to the plow, so we should be able to make it a good distance on those alone.  Though, from the distance to Jane's relative's house we're going to need more than that to get us all the way.  So, we're going to aim toward passing close enough to a few towns to take the van in and get more as we go along, but its going to tough.  We don't know what lays ahead for us, but everyone hopes its better than what we left.  I try to stay objective, but I hope so to.

Entry 18: Steven Bryce

We're finally out and on our way.  One of the firetrucks got swarmed almost immediately on pulling it out since Jamie accidentally turned the siren on early.  Thankfully he had one of the radios on him, so once he got the siren back off we were able to get the zoms dealt with so he could get it into place.  Three people heard the siren as well and came out, expecting rescue I guess.  They're coming with us.  A man and his pregnant wife, and a neighbor of theirs.  We lost one of the plows getting out of the city, simply had a slow oil leak, but we were able to use it a good few miles before we left it and kept going.  A new year, and hopefully a new place, safer and easier to secure.  I saw Vergil messing with a few motorcycles yesterday when it was late at night.  I'd like to hope he was just trying to get us a maneuverable vehicle for scouting, but I think he may have been planning to take off on his own.  Can't say I blame him with our...  Encounter before Z-A Day, but I'm hoping we can put that behind us.  He knows vehicles better than any of us, and we're all stronger as a group if we just work together.  Maybe its just that everyone looks to me so much.  I don't know if he even remembers me from before, it was pretty dark at the time, and it never did go to court...  It doesn't matter I guess.  If I see more signs, I'll talk to him.  If I just outright ask, I'll either get denial or maybe even put the idea in his head if he hasn't thought about it before.  Here's to Auld Lang Syne, gone, but never forgotten. Maybe one day we can reclaim those times once again.  Steven Bryce, surviving.