[network] @SceptredIsle; how do we bear this burden; day 56; text [open]

[keepscalm]

Good morning, everyone.

I'm sure you all saw the obituary a couple days ago. I elected not to post about it yesterday, as there were more widespread concerns regarding our safety and I didn't wish to detract attention from them. [Yes. That is totally the reason it has taken him a few days to post about this.]

But I'd like to request that you contact me if you have any information on the whereabouts of Sealand. His network handle is @TOTALLYANATION. He looks about twelve and he's got short blonde hair and blue eyes. I know he's not in the hospital's morgue; I checked. I've left him a message so that he can hopefully respond once he returns.

[If he returns.]

There's no need to go out of your way to search, but if anyone is going by the other morgues, I would appreciate if you could take a quick look while you're there.

And if he happens to contact any of you, please tell him that England and America are looking for him. [He's using his real name and everything! Mostly because hiding it now is pointless and he has better things to worry about.]

Thank you for your time.

Comments

[keepscalm]

[England will just leave the hope thing...he's a cynic and he's not looking to start a fight with helpful strangers today.]

It's less your way I'm concerned about and more your safety. Conditions today have somehow been less favourable than usual. I'm not looking to see anyone else on the obituary.

I assure you, I'm not bothered. I have to stay here as long as anyone else does. If it will help ensure our survival, I don't plan to turn my nose up at a civil discussion about it. [He only does that when it's someone he doesn't like. Mostly.]

As you said, it's not as if we've got anywhere urgent to be.

[gtfoourgalaxy]

Let me worry about that, too. [She still sounds, not dismissive, but not worried, chuckling a little.] Snow's pretty bad, but I'd rather be buried in that than in a bunch of angry krogan mercs. I've done worse than this place. Much worse. [That's her philosophy and she's sticking with it.]

But if you're sure. I just thought, since you'd just lost someone... [People cope in different ways. She lets it go.] You say the school's a regular source for supplies. What's the distance between that and the funeral home? Under the worst conditions, is it more than a day's travel?

[keepscalm]

Fair enough. [So has England, or so he's trying to tell himself. While this isn't much harder than the wars he's been involved in, the fact that he can no longer monitor his nation is a bit of a spanner in the works.

There's a bit of a pause before he continues.] I appreciate the consideration. But it won't do anyone any good to sit around and wallow about it. It's better if I contribute, so that I can help prevent an untimely fate coming to anyone else.

I'm afraid I don't know that for certain. I've never been to the funeral home, only the school. I do know that it takes at least two days to retrieve supplies from the school on a normal day. You have to make use of the shed just outside, since there's not enough time to travel safely between the next closest house and the school in one day. Based on my travel experiences here thus far, I'd add at least another day to get to the funeral home and back, but you would be better off asking someone who's been there.

[gtfoourgalaxy]

That's good of you. [Her voice is warm. She's not going to argue - she knows the value of channelling your grief into work, into helping.]

Sounds like three to four days then. That's manageable. If we can secure a shorter route, that'll let us test things out and see how we can extend it. First thing we'll need is better carrying capacity, though. Maybe if we could get some doors off their hinges, we could throw together some sleds.

[keepscalm]

[How embarrassing. No one is supposed to think he does anything good!]

Thank you.

I would be reluctant to remove the doors from houses that offer shelter from the cold, even if it were possible. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to scavenge from the ruins or from furniture within the houses. I've never gone looking for anything that could serve that function, but I don't doubt that you could find something if you wished.

[gtfoourgalaxy]

Good point. I'll go for inside doors only - I've got a feeling they'll be easier, too. Whatever locks the houses down at night, it sounds like it's beyond our current ability to mess with. I'll have to figure out a way to make a harness, too.

Do you know anyone who's got any tools available, maybe?

[keepscalm]

The harness shouldn't be as difficult. I've seen a fair few pet leashes and a lot of fabric that could be re-purposed.

I've got a screwdriver, myself, but I'm afraid I can't afford to leave this area at the moment. I'm sure if I've found one, others have, as well.

[gtfoourgalaxy]

Can't say I'm thrilled about going for a walk in a pet leash. But they say beggars can't be choosers.

Sit tight. This is going to take some more planning, anyway. It's a lot more low tech than I'm used to, but it this is what we need, this is what I'll figure out.