We haven’t been properly introduced – palm-to-palm and cheek-to-cheek – but I aim to correct that. It reflects poorly on me, see, when I haven’t done enough to reach out. I don’t doubt that if we found some time to get to know each other, you’d find me nothing but warm. Every time I get the chance to shake a hand and look in somebody’s eyes, I make a friend. Ask your closest confidant. Ask your dearest love. Ask the thousands of folks from ordinary stock whose lives I’m grateful I got to make extraordinary. Peace of mind, ease of body, and life everlasting — these could all be yours, young lady, but you ran from me like an unruly dog. Whether you’re just playing or in need of some more serious disciplining I do not yet know. But give me the chance to find out, won’t you?
Fleeing like you did, you might not realize how deep my connections go. I can scrape my fingers and get you in touch with all kinds of folks in all kinds of places. You want to settle down somewhere as comfortable as Virginia or as exotic as South Africa? Or are you more of a mind to stay on the move forever — visiting all the places you always imagined you’d go if you could ever venture out from your husband’s shadow?
I can help you with any and all of that. You’ve seen the lengths I’ll go to so I get what I want. I dropped breadcrumbs in dreams to help your kin find their way to knocking on my door. I got eyes searching through half the Great Plains after we missed each other once. And think of all the resources I’m throwing at spelling out this message across your whole old county now. At a minimum of one body per letter, this is costing me more than most folks ever have to spend. Are you willing to spend more than you have to give the could shoulder to someone who just wants to show you a little warmth?
Whether you prefer Almira, Sissy, or Mrs. Spooner, please call me — anytime …
The Duke of Gravel
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Year 8, Day 221
November 7, 2021
The Duke of Gravel is a recurring antagonist in Year 8 – the year of letters. Here are a few more stories related to this one.
Dear Sissy
I wish I had better news about Penelope.
As soon as I got here to K. C., I canvassed hospitals and clinics, and there certainly are more of them here than back home, but I was able to make inquiries at all of them already. The same with all the hotels and boarding houses. I checked where the poor and itinerant are seen to, including charities, churches, and the most populated alleys and shanties I could ferret out. And, yes, of course I checked the train station and the rail yard behind it. (A funny thing happened there, though I cannot hardly believe it will help me find Penelope. I had something like one of her visions. I felt like the train tracks I was looking at stretched out, pulling me forward till I was flying over them toward a tunnel cut through a mountainside someplace. The tunnel was dark, but I could tell what was inside, because I could feel its eyes on me. Whatever was watching me from inside that dark, it felt so unnatural, like the mind behind those eyes was as ancient as the mountain itself, but also like it had just been born. It was trying to pull me in with the train tracks, but I pulled away, because I knew whatever was in that tunnel, I did not want to be in there with it. Then I was back where I had been, standing between two coal cars. Like I said, funny. Never had anything like that happen to me before, but it or all the hoofing I have been doing around this cow town have left me with a whopper of a headache since.)
I guess the news must have reached back home by now, because it has been a couple of days since and seems like just about all anyone here can talk about. Fats Waller did die here last week, but of pneumonia. Nothing to do with Penelope. Nobody remembers seeing my sister or any woman with a gun near the station when he pulled into town.
I am determined to stay, though, at least till our money runs out sometime next week.
Till then,
Harvey
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Year 8, Day 217
November 3, 2021
Dear Hodgeman County Residents
You are hereby ordered to evacuate your homes immediately. All Kansas counties east of and including Hodgeman County have been declared a disaster area by Governor Denious as a precautionary measure against the spread of a disease commonly identified as “walking bonfire,” “ash fever” or “line fever.” An official classification for the infection is currently unavailable, though it is generally believed to be a rapid-onset form of leprosy.
Proceed east to a minimum safe distance of Edwards or Pawnee Counties. Take only what you need to keep yourself and your family fed for the journey. You will be provided food, medicine and home goods as appropriate at no charge and with no expectation of return once you exit the disaster area. At the county line, temporary shelters and processing stations have been erected to provide aid and arrange accommodations and transportation as necessary for all. If you are able to progress farther east, do so, but please keep in mind as you make arrangements that Kansas residents will be restricted to travel within the borders of the state until further notice.
Government troops and volunteers have been dispatched to keep roadways clear of congestion and obstacles, but for the safety of all and efficiency of traffic flow, you are discouraged from traveling by automobile. Preferred methods of evacuation include foot traffic, horseback, animal-drawn vehicles, air travel where possible and railroad. If you plan to travel by rail, the last eastbound passenger train will be leaving Jetmore on November 5 at eight fifteen PM. No fees will be charged for passengers traveling with a single personal bag or case each.
If you have been in the presence of anyone you believe to be infected, please remain where you are. If at any point in your evacuation you begin experiencing symptoms commonly associated with an infection (high fever, high heart rate, muscle spasms, extreme dryness and brittleness of tongue and skin), please inform the nearest authorities (if any) and remain where you are. Emergency medical teams are progressing through affected Kansas counties and will provide you appropriate care no later than November 18.
God bless you.
Office of J.C. Denious, Governor
Ad Astra Per Aspera
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Year 8, Day 219
November 5, 2021
365 TIMES 365 