Well, now. It’s been a little rainy here at camp. And I think we’ve got some cabin fever happening. Someone got a little nuts with the paint it seems. And who brought a machete? (HINT: It was me.)

Writing has been very stop/start lately. I’ll have a good run and make up all my missing word count. Then I won’t write for another three or four days. Thankfully because I do have the more modest goal of 10K, when I find that hour or so to write, I manage to make up my deficit. So I do think think I’ll make my goal.

For the record, I’m at 3560 words. Only 6440 more words to go! (But also almost 2000 words behind!!!)

And now an excerpt from this week’s writing.

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EXT. A ROW OF RAMSHACKLE HOUSES RADIATING FROM THE CENTER OF CAMP- DAY

NAOMI TRUTH
When are you going to start listening to me?
If something happened to me, the people
will turn to you. So go with them
to the damn shelter next time!

TRIUMPH TRUTH
What kind of a leader runs away from a fight?

NAOMI TRUTH
(smiling slightly)
The kind that stays alive to lead.

TRIUMPH TRUTH
Opens the door to a hovel cautiously, checking for either attack or victims. She finds neither and lets the door slam closed.

 

TRIUMPH TRUTH
Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I shouldn’t
just automatically take over when you go someday?
That maybe that “honor” should fall to JACOB or BELTER?

NAOMI TRUTH
(gestures to a trail of smeared blood in the dust)
I wish it were that easy.
I didn’t mean to create a little kingdom out here.
I wanted a safe place to raise you and protect JACOB.
All of this… it sort of just happened as other travelers
sought the same thing.

TRIUMPH TRUTH
(stands on one side of the blood trail,
pressing her back into the wall of a hovel and
glancing around the corner.)
Yes, yes. I’ve heard that story many times.
Why not just hold a damn election then?
BELTER told me stories of how people used to
govern themselves.

 

TRIUMPH TRUTH
Gives an “all clear” signal to NAOMI TRUTH and proceeds around the corner of the hut to follow the fresh blood trail.

 

NAOMI TRUTH
(rolls eyes behind TRIUMPH TRUTH’S back)
In a camp this size, it would just be a popularity contest.
On top of that, the citizens will just vote you in anyway.

TRIUMPH TRUTH
I wouldn’t be in the running.

NAOMI TRUTH
(smirks)
You’d be the write-in candidate that didn’t campaign.

 

ASHA
Moans from her position at the end of the trail of blood.

 

TRIUMPH TRUTH
Rushes to her friend’s side but doesn’t move her.

 

TRIUMPH TRUTH
ASHA! Can you hear me?

ASHA
(speaking softly)
Yes. Shut up.

TRIUMPH TRUTH
Oh thank god.