Jared watched the episode with his wife and daughters like he always did, but none of it was making sense. He knew that something bad was happening between his family and the producers of the show, he just didn’t understand what. And worse, he didn’t seem to care. All Jared wanted to do was sleep. Even the pain in his head seemed like it should be someone else’s problem.
He found himself wondering about the strangest things. Like what was a nun doing in his house? Was this even his house? The frequent visits from Deirdre, Jackie, and Megan suggested it was, but maybe the television network had built a replica of his house for the show. Maybe they were all in Los Angeles. That was a horrible thought. He didn’t want to die in L A.
Jared was increasingly aware that he was dying, and he knew that it would be sooner rather than later. He knew he should be putting things in order, or at least that’s the phrase that kept rolling around his brain. (Intrepid snorting thug.) Though what things and what order were a mystery.
He’d had three more instances of blurred or lost vision, and the same had happened with his hearing, inexplicably failing and then returning to normal.
Jared Stone was checking out, and he knew it. He had only one foot in this world; the other was already probing for the next, whatever and wherever that might be.
As he maneuvered through the remnants of his faculties, he made a decision. It was the last lucid thing on his mind, and he needed to tell someone before it was gone. He summoned Deirdre.
“D,” he told her when she arrived by his side, “come closer.”
“I’m here, Jare,” she answered, putting her ear next to his mouth.
“I want to end this,” he whispered. She didn’t respond, and Jared closed his eyes. She was about to go when he added, “Please, help me.”
With that, Jared rolled over and went to sleep. Deirdre kissed his head and said, “Of course, my love. Of course.”
***
When Max watched the latest episode of Life and Death, he knew immediately what had happened. His video-editing skills were growing at an exponential rate, and it wasn’t hard for him to spot the handiwork of the ATN team.
“Pizdet!” he barked. He was watching Ethan Overbee’s evisceration of Jackie on the ATN website after school the following day. A cold wet rain that smelled of winter was pelting his window.
More than anything, Max wanted to talk to Jackie, to tell her that he knew what the editors had done to her, that together they could make people know it was all lies. But afternoon in Western Russia is the middle of the night in Oregon, and Jackie was not online. Max needed to talk to someone, to do something now.
After the meetings in Azeroth, Max and Hazel had become Facebook friends. Knowing that it was already six thirty in the morning in Alabama, he sent her a message.
Max
Hazel, do you see the television show yesterday? Do not believe this is true! They use editing tricks to make Jackie look bad. We must do something. Meet me by palace.
Five minutes later, he was standing outside the guild headquarters in Azeroth.
Hazel
Hi, Max.
Max
Oh good! You are here. Did you see this new episode?
Hazel
I did, and I didn’t believe it. Jackie told me how heavily they edit the show to create story lines that don’t really exist. It’s sick, but I don’t know what to do.
Max
I am worried about our friend.
Hazel
Me too, Max. But maybe they’re just too big and powerful for us.
Max
Nyet! This is not true of American colonists, this is not true of Russian Bolsheviks, and I do not believe is true of Jackie Stone. She is not girl to give up. She beat them step by step. We have Russian saying: “Ispodvol’ i ol’khu sognyosh.” Anyone can bend alder tree, if they do it little at a time.
Both he and Hazel were silent for a minute.
Hazel
Okay. Let’s think about the problem. We know they’re manipulating their own footage to box Jackie in.
Max
What means box in?
Hazel
Sorry. They are making it very hard for Jackie to react or take any action against them. They are cutting off her options.
Max
Yes.
Hazel
We know they took her phone, twice. They’ll probably take her computer, too.
Max
Yes, I think this also.
Hazel
So Jackie probably can’t get us footage, at least not until we figure out how to get a camera into her house.
Max
Yes.
Hazel
So what we need is another way to make an episode.
At that instant, a lightbulb went on over Max’s head. Literally. His mother had entered the room and turned on the overhead light to combat the grayness of the day beyond the window.
“Maxi, I wish you wouldn’t spend so much time in front of that computer,” she said before moving on down the hall.
He barely heard her. The literal lightbulb had, in fact, been accompanied by a figurative one.
Max
I have idea. And I will be needing your help.
***
When Jackie got to school the next morning, her heart fell into her stomach.