And Then Everyone Dies (2009)
John S. Cooney's most recent novel, And Then Everyone Dies, is about hard work, ecological guilt, and the end of the world. When the co-owner of a successful web studio becomes depressed about his privileged and wasteful middle-class life, his partner kidnaps him for a journey of spiritual discovery. But then they hit traffic.
“You are aware that this film has sound, correct?”
Leonard blinks at the screen. A man on a horse is talking to a man with a shotgun. His harshly-lit jaw, black shadows on white skin, is jerking up and down.
“Your behavior becomes increasingly disturbed on a daily basis—Leonard, where are you headed?” Katrina leans in the doorway, curvy hip against the white-painted wood. She has long brown hair and pale skin. The hack actor is moodily digging in the dust with the butt of his weapon. “And, no doubt, you’ve seen this one previously.”
“No—but I know how it’s going to end—”
“Which you always say—”
“—movies are predictable.”
“You’re always wrong.”
“I’m always right—they all end with a blank screen.” Leonard is sunk into the couch, his long legs dangled over the coffee table, feet in black socks, black flat-front slacks, white button-down shirt still tucked in, black tie still knotted around his neck. His chin sits on his chest as he stares at the television down the length of his body.
Katrina refastens the belt of her robe. “So why waste the effort?”
“—got to make sure—someone’s got to keep an eye on these things.”
Katrina pushes hair out of her face, the puffy skin under her eyes making her more beautiful. “Presumably there is no point in asking you to turn it off and come to bed?”
“Hold on a minute, this guy’s gonna get himself killed—”
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