Author: KA Byrnes

Long, Long Time

On my first watch of The Last of Us I missed the plot plants for this episode. The radio link in Joel’s apartment that plays 80’s tunes as a sign of trouble, and Tess’ plea for Joel to leave Ellie with Bill and Frank, didn’t stick with me as important. 

However, that means I went into episode 3 with no expectations. I didn’t remember that Bill had a Frank. I’m glad, actually, that everything was a surprise for me. It let me experience each beat at its full impact. I’ve really been looking forward to this rewatch.

Let’s see how the breakdown holds up!

LEFTOVER NINE

Joel’s damaged hand reaches into a stream and takes out a stone. He’s building a cairn on the riverbank. Ten Miles West of Boston. Ellie waits for him in the woods. As Joel packs up to move on, Ellie takes him to task: Don’t blame me for Tess’ death. After a beat, Joel nods. They have a five hour hike ahead of them.

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Infected

Episode 2 of The Last of Us

LEFTOVER NINE

Jakarta, Indonesia, September 24, 2003. Pre-infection, with a bustling city scene. At a restaurant a woman eats alone. Military enter and approach her.

She rides in the military vehicle, wondering why she’s here. The driver confirms her identity: Ibu Ratna, Professor of Mycology. They take her to a secured room in a medical facility. She examines the prepared specimen under the microscope. “Cordyceps cannot survive in humans,” she says. She’s wrong.

In a hazmat suit in a locked room she examines the dead human subject. Cutting open the human bite mark on the leg, Ratna exposes the fungus growing underneath. She then goes into the mouth with forceps and pulls out strands that move toward her on their own. Ratna runs from the room as the strands quest outward from the subject’s mouth.

Over tea, Ratna speaks with the officer. This episode happened 30 hours ago at a flour and grain factory. They don’t know where the first bite came from, and fourteen workers are currently missing. Ratna’s hands shake as she sets down the tea. Officials would like a vaccine or a medicine from her. There is no such thing, she says. Bomb the city and everyone in it.

Roll credits.

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Eighth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

Continuing with what I began last year, every Friday during Lent I will create an encaustic of the next Station of the Cross. I will not plan ahead, but only contemplate the particular week’s mystery after the previous is posted. If the piece is unfinished (and none of them are ready) it goes up anyway.

This week I cheated, lol. This is a repurposed existing piece. For some reason the Eighth Station and the weeping women led me to the traditional Pelican image, tearing apart her breast to feed her chicks. I was already dissatisfied with how the Cormorant had aged, so this seemed a good time to update it.

Ash Wednesday

As I did last year, I give you a WiP for the beginning of Lent. I’ve had this project in mind for a while. I can’t show much less than this: A vintage photo of Mom bowling glued to its wallboard substrate.

We’ll see where I end up at Easter. Happy Lent.

When You’re Lost in the Darkness

Needless to say, spoilers for the first episode of The Last of Us follow.

ONE

1968. A talk show with a live studio audience has two guests discussing pandemics. One is worried about viruses, the other — the one delivering the information we need — is concerned about fungi and its ability to infect and control minds. 

Roll credits.

2003. A teen girl’s bedroom. Morning. She makes her father eggs for breakfast. No pancake mix. Their relationship is light, easy. Uncle Tommy arrives. Again, a mention of no pancakes. The brothers are business partners in construction. On the radio, something about disturbances in Jakarta.

As they prepare to head out for the day, Sarah sneaks into her dad’s room for money and a watch from his bureau drawer. She takes a moment to admire a beautifully carved pocket knife. Neighbors in the front yard tending to an elderly woman in a wheelchair call hello. They’re eating biscuits, including feeding one to the old lady. Austin, TX, September 26th. Joel’s birthday. The world is green and shiny.

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