Fifteen years after the Georgia Flu, François Diallo, librarian of New Petoskey and editor of the new New Petoskey News, records an interview with Kirsten Raymonde using a shorthand he invented so he can transcribe in real time.

Diallo explains that his newspaper aims to share information from travelers because most towns have become isolated since the collapse. Kirsten agrees to talk, even though she doubts she has much “news,” and Diallo frames her experiences in other towns as valuable reporting.

Diallo then expands his purpose: beyond publishing a newspaper, he wants to build an oral history of both the present era and the collapse itself, asking permission to print excerpts and archive the full interview. Kirsten grants permission and calls the project interesting.

Before the formal questioning continues, Kirsten asks Diallo a question of her own about the comics she has shown him, featuring a space station. Diallo says he has never seen those comics or any related series, and Kirsten reveals that Arthur Leander, the actor she mentioned, gave the comics to her as a gift.