Part II
[The following are combined excerpts of audio and handwritten journal entries made in the days following the quake. Handwritten entries italicised.]
June 23
10:01 pm
We are being as quiet as we can. We know they can hear us. We think they may not know we came this way.
[Car driving; occasional sound of automotive struggle]
Veronica: Is the car going to make it?
Edward: Sure it is, it's a Honda.
Veronica: How does this neighborhood look so normal, and we just drove away from a geological war zone?
Edward: Ever been to West Oakland?
Veronica: My sweetie, always with the jokes.
Edward: I'll bet Max has to pee, but I say we don't stop until we get the fuck out of Dodge.
Veronica: Amen, Reverend Hightower.
[Car slows, brakes]
Veronica: Which way?
Edward: Left, I think ... it's hard to see in this smoke.
[Clicking of flashlight]
Edward: Does that say El Capitan?
Veronica: Yes.
Edward: Left. I think I know where this goes.
Veronica: Yes, my love. That is good. I like it when you know the way.
[Static on radio as Edward turns volume up, tries several stations; one comes in clear]
Krasny: ... Michael Krasny, on the phone with Steven Schwarzbach, center director of the USGS
Western Ecological Research Center, headquartered in Sacramento;
Steven, we've just heard some truly alarming reports coming out of the
East Bay. What can you confirm?
Schwarzbach: Michael,
we don't have confirmation of anything yet; I'm actually driving up --
my daughter is driving so I could talk to you, but -- we're on our way
up to the Robert Sibley Regional Volcanic Preserve, because I think
we'll have a good view of the mountain from there.
Edward: You want a good view of the mountain? Most of it has moved to Sycamore Valley Road, you fuckmook!
Veronica: Be nice, he probably knows your uncle.
Edward: Okay, shhhh ...
Krasny (under the above two lines): And that mountain is ...
Schwarzbach:
Mt. Diablo. It appears there has been some additional seismic activity
and, you know, it's a lucky thing I was here for an exhibit at the
Lawrence Hall of Science, just a second, Michael -- (muffled speech off
phone) Okay, we're pulling into the parking lot and -- nope, we're going
to have to -- Laurel, take that road over there on the right; just --
crash it.
Krasny: If you're just joining us, this is Michael Krasny on the phone with Steven Schwarzbach --
[Big crash through radio, Schwarzbach lets out a "Hooo-eee!"]
Krasny: ... he's the center director of the USGS
Western Ecological Research Center, Steven -- your report thus far is a
lot more conservative than the calls we've been getting.
Schwarzbach:
That's understandable, Michael, it's easy for people who live near an
unexpected lake or river of fire to think they see a, um, thing that
just can't be there.
Krasny: By which you mean a volcano.
Schwarzbach:
You know, I don't mean to sound -- stick to the left, Laurel, fewer
trees this way -- I don't mean to sound condescending, but when people
get excited they can make a mountain out of a molehill pretty quickly. Mt. Diablo is not a volcano. Mountains that are not volcanoes do not simply wake up one morning and become volcanoes. Simple as that.
Krasny: You're taking the conservative scientific view.
Schwarzbach: I am.
Krasny: Well, let me read you some of the reports we're getting, is that all right?
Schwarzbach: Sure, it's entertaining radio, at least.
Krasny:
But not sound science, no. That's why we're lucky to have you on the
phone this evening. Okay, here's a call from Betty in Danville, who
says, "Mt. Diablo has erupted, there is a river of lava flowing down
toward my house and 680, I don't think we'll make it but we wanted you
to know." Betty, if you're listening, we appreciate the call and we hope
you make it out of there.
Schwarzbach: If, in fact,
there's any reason to go. Turn right, here. Michael, we're on a fairly
treeless ridge, here, heading up toward an area overlooking the old
quarry. We'll have an unobstructed view in a few moments.
Edward
(speaking over Krasny): Wow, they're on those hills in Oakland and
we're right here, now, trying to escape. This is adventurous.
Veronica: Shh ...
Krasny:
Here's another call from Louise in Lafayette: "The mountain is burning.
It's erupted. God help us all." Can't get any simpler than that.
Schwarzbach:
Mass hysteria is an actual thing, Michael, and we're coming around a
bend in the road right now, so there should be --
[Car driving, car driving on radio as well.]
Krasny: Steven? Can you tell us what you see?
Schwarzbach: Holy Mother of God.
Veronica: Oh my God, we're at Crow Canyon Road!
Edward: Of course. Turn left. Let's listen.
Krasny: Steven? Is everything okay?
Schwarzbach:
Michael, I was, I was -- it looks like, holy shit, it looks like --
Michael, forgive me, I'm going to have to cut this call short.
Krasny: Wait, now, Steven, can you tell us what you see? Can you tell us what's really going on with Mt. Diablo?
Schwarzbach:
It's erupted, Steven. The entire Western flank is on fire and, from
here, it looks to be ejecting tephra at an alarming rate; there are lava
flows down the Western and Southernwestern flanks and it looks like the majority of the lava is coming from the thrust fault on that Southwest flank. Michael, I have got to
get off the phone and call Sacramento right away, I'm sorry.
Krasny: Before you go, do you have any advice for the people at or near Mt. Diablo right now?
Schwarzbach: Get the hell out. And pray.
[click]
Krasny: There you have it, ladies and gentlemen ...
[Edward turns down volume.]
Edward: Wow, nobody is around.
Veronica: Should it be this dark? I get that it's smoky, but this seems really dark.
Edward: See that Chili's? My dad took me there after we saw Billy Zane in The Phantom. He loved that comic book.
Veronica: You always tell me that when we're here.
Edward: Wait, did Nadine say Crow Canyon or Bollinger?
Veronica: Bollinger. Crap.
Edward: Just turn around and --
[CRASH:
a rock smashes through the passenger side window, hitting Edward. The carpet catches on
fire, Max is barking, the car is filling with smoke]
Veronica: What was that?! What is that?! Are you okay?!
Edward: Hospital Hospital Hospital, Christ, find one DON'T TOUCH MY LEG, FOR FUCK'S SAKE I NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION NOW --
[Amid shouting and barking, sound cuts out]