Dave Eggers - Your Fathers, Where Are They? And the Prophets, Do They Live Forever?

— 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.

— 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.

— You were a student?

— Yes. I was a student in your class. Sixth grade. Ah, I just saw something in your eyes. Some flash of fear. Now do you know why I’m here and you’re here?

— No. I don’t.

— Okay, now you’re defiant again. I heard that about you. I heard you were good. You passed lie detector tests and everything. And the thing is, you really might be innocent. No one knows for sure. That’s why you’re here.

—

— Now you’re not talking. Does it feel weird to be chained to a post?

—

— You really should answer. I haven’t had to use the taser yet, but I would use it on you. You’re the first one I would not mind using it on.

— Sir, what are your plans for me?

— Again, I love the Sir . I really do. But I have to say, that penitent tone makes you seem more guilty. You should consider that.

— Please, will you tell me what your plans are for me?

— My plans are to ask you questions and for you to answer them.

— Okay. And then what?

— And then I let you go.

— You’ll let me go?

— You and the astronaut and everyone else will be let go. I have a real astronaut three buildings over. He’s an honorable man. And I have a former congressman. He gave me the idea to find you, indirectly at least. He’s an honorable man, too. You, though, I don’t know. Well, I do know. You’re not an honorable man. I know that much. At the very best, you’re just sad and twisted. Maybe just lonely. But I think you’re more than that. I think you’re a monster. Now do you know why you’re here?

— I think you should just explain it. I don’t want to guess.

— You don’t want to guess. Okay. Now you just painted yourself into a corner. That means you did other terrible things. You did so many terrible things that you don’t know which of them this is about. That’s what you just revealed to me. You said that you don’t remember what you did to me. That it could be any number of crimes.

— I didn’t say that.

— You didn’t need to.

— Please. Let’s stay specific here. I don’t remember you, but I trust now that you were a student at Miwok Middle School. Were you one of the students who filed a complaint against me?

— Ah, now suddenly you’re all business. Good. You acknowledge that complaints were lodged against you.

— There were seven complaints. Nothing was proven.

— But you left teaching.

— Yes. It was impossible to stay under those circumstances.

— Circumstances you created.

— There was no trial and there was no hearing.

— God, it’s like you have it rehearsed . I guess you have to. If you talk to a cousin or nephew and they ask you why you left teaching, you have to recite this stuff about “allegedly” and “no hearing” and all that. What did you tell your parents?

— My father is dead. But my mother knows the truth.

—“My mother knows the truth”! Wow. That is a revealing comment. What is the truth, Mr. Hansen?