Ophus 25th

Dear Diary:

It's dark out, finally, and I can go get a breath of fresh air, but I think I will wait a bit. There are still a lot of people milling about.

What an awful, awful week. Willy is dead, and now there has been another murder - someone was scragged last night and strung up like an animal. Of course this is Vienda, that sort of thing is not entirely uncommon, but the man was a golly and it happened Uptown. Alioe only knows where this place is headed.

I saw my own face staring back at me from the paper today. It must have been that reporter. I am slightly worried. Hania says I should dust and head for Harbrooke or some place out of the way, but Jott thinks there's nothing to worry about. They told me to stay upstairs. Like I needed convincing.

I wish I could speak to Willy about all of this. I feel very alone. Even the Family doesn't want to have much to do with me...tsats are not very good at comforting. It's been bred out of us in the city. Makes me almost wish I lived in a caravan. Might not be a bad career move.

My picture looked dreadful.

Yours truly,
M

Dear Diary:

The reporter has stopped by again, and asked me to go to the galdori ball on CE. I will be holding the camera spectra, doing what with it, I am not sure. I am not looking forward to this event, expect to be v. boring and to be stared at. Get enough rude comments from customers already.

Now I have the difficult job of finding something to wear, which is girly, and I am not used to it. Annie told me to dye my hair, I believe, but I will not, because I don't do that sort of thing. Why draw more attn. to myself? Also need to find out if shoes come in blue.

Must run, buns are done.

Yrs. Truly
M

((A small footnote adorned the page - an address for a dress shop, located in the Painted Ladies.))

((scribbed on a bit of loose parchment with charcoal))

Intas 10th - I think?

I have been here for a week now, in this awful hovel, and I am beginning to think they do not mean to let me out. No one has talked to me, nor told me a word about H. or J. Am very concerned for them. Have not seen T. in eight days' time.

This is the resistance, their hideout, I am quite sure. I knew T. was involved but did not realize how deep I was getting myself. Missing Willy terribly and wondering, am I to die as well? I feel quite annoyed. I have never done a thing wrong nor raised my voice against the government, and now I am targeted, apparently, and these men want to hold me here forever.

But at least I am safe and relatively comfortable, so I cannot complain too much, I suppose. Bored, but safe. I wish they had given me more to read than these awful pamphlets.

I hear some talk of a rally, when they bring me food. Perhaps I will be able to leave afterwards. I hope that I see someone I know there, and they can take me home.

Yrs. Truly
M

Int. 14
Dear Diary:

I am not sure of how to write about what has happened.

S. came to me with news that I don't hardly believe. He says my father is a politician, the High Judge, that mum was raped, that I was raised by her sister, and everyone has been lying to me all this time. They say the have proof and they have done a test on my hair to make sure.

Met a galdor named Seres (Serres? Ceres? I do not know how to spell it), apparently one of the "good" galdori, can you believe it? He says it is true. I said, oh, that clears it up! A golly would never lie to me!

I am so mad I cannot speak. Why do they tell these lies about me? What does it accomplish, and why have I not been allowed to leave???

I cannot take this much longer.

Yrs. Truly
M

Int. 15

The Rally was awful.

They repeated the same lies that they told me to that massive group of people. Looked everywhere for T, but did not see him. I am quite upset for this. I miss him, for some reason.

I would normally have been embarrassed but I felt numb. S is a brute, he drinks and yells like a madman, and A is no better, that liar! She is an evil woman. I do not care if they discover this diary and read what I write about them because they do not have hearts to be pained at my opinions.

I hoped they would let me go after the Rally but they said I must stay for a few days more.

No sign of this ending.

Yrs. Truly
M

Int. 18

I have but a few moments.

They tell me I must go to Annie (the reporter) and ask her to tell my story. I will be watched.

Yrs. Truly
M

Int 21

Dear Diary:

When last I wrote, my hair was several feet longer and my lifespan considerably more secure. I find myself in Old Rose Harbor, having traveled by steam boat, with my friend A. She volunteered to come along, and I fear for her as well, for I am not sure what will become of me.

It is smelly here, but none so bad as the galley of the accursed boat we have left behind us. I am glad to be ashore and away from the resistance. I hope the awful man S will leave us alone! For a moment, I feared for my very life in Vienda.

Hoping that H and J are doing all right. I must send them post as soon as I can find a courier station. Does not seem likely.

Yrs. Truly
M