— I don’t understand. After he died?
— No, before that. All along I knew what was going to happen. I knew something would happen but I didn’t know what. I mean, that’s when I first got the idea for all this. We used to mess around here at this base. We’d ride through these buildings on our bikes, and when we were older we’d sit around drinking here, and when Don was losing his shit a little, and he did a few rehabs, I used to think, You know, if I could just shackle him inside one of these buildings for a while, you know, keep him safe, dry him out, then maybe he could make it.
— Okay. I understand that. I truly do.
— But he was always just out there. In the world. Doing the wrong things, never doing anything I told him to do. I always knew what he needed to do, and I’d make a step-by-step for him, I’d even write that shit down. I’d write down a plan! A two-year plan, a five-year plan. And he wouldn’t even attempt it. I couldn’t make him do anything. I couldn’t keep him in rehab. I couldn’t lock him up. You know once I left him in jail for a month instead of bailing him out, because I thought it might be good for him? Jail was the safest place.
— Sometimes it truly is.
— I know he’d still be alive if I’d thought of this earlier, if I’d have brought him here and just locked him in one of these buildings until he had his shit straight.
— I understand that, too. This is familiar ground for me.
— I’m just pissed at myself I didn’t think of it sooner.
— Of chaining your buddy to a pole.
— Right.
— But you know that’s not a durable solution.
— Then what is?
— I don’t know. Rehab? Therapy?
— C’mon. Get serious.
—
— Really, why don’t we have some kind of plan for people like this? I guess the main government plan is to lock them all up, and I understand the impulse to keep them apart from decent society. I get that. But then there are guys like me and Don, who haven’t really done anything wrong, and there are soldiers like the ones you fought with, who come back with these terrible ideas and murdering skills, and there’s no place for any of us. We’ve been out in the wilderness and tasted raw meat, and now we can’t sit at the table using utensils. There’s got to be someplace for us. A place like this would actually work. This place is 28,000 acres, bordering the ocean. The ground’s fertile enough. I mean, you set this land aside for people like us, and I bet you’d reduce crime in this country by half.
— Where are we, did you say?
— I can’t tell you that.
— Thomas, what difference does it make?
— Okay. We’re at Fort Ord.
— Fort Ord? Like near Monterey?
— You should have deduced that, anyway, sir. There’s only one base this big on the coast of California.
— Shit. This is where I did my basic training. You know this is a public place? There’ll be hikers through here at first light.
— See, that’s so sad.
— What is?
— That you don’t know this park is closed. The whole place is locked for the foreseeable future. Budget cuts. The gate at the highway’s closed. I just snapped the lock with bolt cutters and put a new one on.
— And the budget cuts are my fault, too.
— No one had a plan for anything. I guess that’s the crushing thing, the thing that drives us all crazy. We all think there must be someone very smart at the controls, spending the money, making plans for our schools, parks, everything. But then it’s guys like you, who are just guys like me. No one has a fucking clue.
— So we’re out here alone?
— I haven’t seen a soul here in days.
— It’s a beautiful spot.
— You probably didn’t see the ice plants out there, but they’re everywhere, a dozen colors. They look like some stupid rainbow puked everywhere. And the light is so white here, so weightless and white. Part of me wants to stay here.
— But the longer you keep us here, son, the more likely you’ll die here.
— You mean they’ll kill me here.
— Son, you must know that’s a distinct possibility.
— I know.
— An ever-growing possibility.
— Yeah, I know.
— The longer you keep us here, the more it becomes a near certainty. They will find you, for sure. That is for damned sure. Then they’ll do a raid. And because no one will be watching out here, in the middle of nowhere, hell, some sniper might just shoot your head off for fun.
— I know, I know.
— Matter of fact, I know that is how it’ll go down. I really don’t think you’ll be taken in alive.
— Yeah, I guess. But things are really clarifying for me out here. I feel like this is really helping me. I’m sorry for the circumstances but I have to say that this has been really helpful so far.
— I don’t know what to say to that.
— At first it was just supposed to be Kev, but now having the two of you out here is really making a difference.
— Who’s Kev again?
— The astronaut. I thought I just needed to talk to him. But then it came to a point where I had questions for you, and your answers have been really illuminating.
— Okay.
— And I don’t mean to be rude, but now I have to go for a while. As we’ve been talking I’ve been thinking of someone else who should be here. I think I should get him while there’s time.
— Son, please don’t bring anyone else to this place.
— Just this one guy. I think you’d understand if you knew who he was.
— No, I wouldn’t. There’s no cause for bringing anyone else here. Please, just let us go, turn yourself in, and I can tell the police you were a decent enough young man. I promise to advocate for the best outcome here. I think you need help.
— I know I do. It’s just a matter of what kind of help. I’ll be back in a bit. Here’s your pills. You need water for the pills?
— Yes.
— Okay, I’ll just put it here. And here’s some granola bars. You’re probably hungry. I’ll be back in a little bit.
— Son.
— I got to go. But again, I just want to say how sorry I am that you’re here under these circumstances. My respect for you could not be greater and I’m really thankful for your kindness so far.
— Son.
— See you soon.
BUILDING 54
— Do you know why you’re here?
— No. Where am I?
— I’m not telling you that.
— How did you get me here?
— It wasn’t hard. I waited for you to bring out the recycling.
— Oh my god.
— You’re locked to that post, and you’ll stay there until we’re done.
— Don’t hurt me.
— I have no plans to do that. This is a deposition.
— A deposition.
— I think you know what it’s about.
— I don’t. Who are you?
— Maybe you could guess.
— You want me to guess?
— I want you to guess why you’re here. There’s no way the astronaut or the congressman knew why they were brought here, but you really might have an idea. I actually think you already know.
— I don’t.
— You do, though.
— Sir, I don’t know what you want.
— Sir? Wow, I like that. I like you calling me Sir. Thank you. That actually helps me see you in a more favorable light. Now do you remember me?
— No, I don’t. My head hurts so much. And I can’t see that far.
— Are these yours? I found them in my bag and I didn’t know whose they were. You didn’t wear glasses when I knew you.