The Passage

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At NASA in Houston the darkened skyline can be seen on a video, as though

stalled at the pre-dawn hour when the sky is light but no sun can be seen.

Rows of gray metal tables are placed to look forward at this wall, which has

several video screens, all currently meshed together to show the same scene,

an enlarged skyline. This is one of those high tech video screens that can

show individual shots, or can mesh together to show a large single shot.

Monitors and keyboards and various other electronic equipment are on the

tables, computer chairs that can scoot about with wheels, and some papers and

folders here and there. This is a work room, a war room, and it is filled with

men and women in business attire, ties pulled open, shirt collars unbuttoned,

some hair frazzled as hands have gone to heads now and then, the situation,

not appearance, the only concern.

A NASA employee, his hair up in the air on one side, his hair grease holding

it there, stands numbly staring at the screen, saying not a word to anyone as

though frozen in stance and speech. A second employee walks through the room

hurriedly, brushing past others as he passes, intent on talking to another

whom he stops to engage in animated conversation. Others in the room are on

the phone, shuffling papers, talking with each other, or sitting with their

heads in their hands. Yet a third employee has a mobile cell phone in his ear,

is gesturing with strong forward thrusts of his hand, an angry look on his

face. He says,

.. time to go to the bunker!

Leaning over a table and bringing his fist down now on the table, in anger,

easing himself into his chair as he is trembling with rage.

You told me when this started to happen we’d leave.

Now I want to know where the God damn bunker is! Now!

25

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At the McGregor ranch Martha is normally up before dawn preparing breakfast for her hard working husband. Big Tom wolfs down his breakfast, slurping

coffee and shoveling in eggs and fried potatoes like there is no tomorrow,

talking between swallows about the chores he has lined up for the day.

. . found a broken fence yesterday, better get that

fixed before the cattle discover the break.

Big Tom glances up to gesture in the direction of the broken fence, and stops

mid-sentence as it is stone dark out and the dawn should have painted the

horizon with orange streaks by now. He is silent for a moment, his arm out-

stretched in mid-gesture. Then he falls back to eating, but keeps glancing

out the window, nervously, a puzzled look on his face. He checks his watch,

glances to the clock on the wall, and asks his wife what her stove clock says.

. . Martha, what time do you have?

He holds up his watch and she stares at her clock and then they both stare at

each other. When he discovers they are all in sync, he shakes his head and

goes back to wolfing his breakfast down.

Martha has gone into her garden behind the house, but is too upset to be

tending to the garden. She has her basket with her, to collect the produce,

her hair tied back with a bandana to keep it out of the way as she would

normally be bending over a lot, but is just standing there between the lettuce

and onions and tomato plants, a worried look on her face. Suddenly she jerks

her face up, though not a sound has been made to alert her to the presence of

a Zeta beside her. She comes close to tears seeing a friend, her face showing

relief at being able to seek counsel.

My God, what’s happening!

A tall Zeta comes up to her and puts his right hand on her left shoulder,

lowering his head to touch his forehead to hers. Martha rises her right hand

and puts it on the Zeta’s left shoulder at this, and they stand there briefly

for a moment.

They pull back from each other, now gazing into each other’s faces. Martha’s

face now reflects calm. She is no longer frantic and afraid.

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26

Danny's eyes pop open in the darkened tent, though no sound or motion has

awakened him. He shines a flashlight on his watch and a puzzled look comes

over his face, as it shows 10:12 in the morning. Yet it is still dark.

Feeling him stirring, Daisy wakens. She says,

Can't you sleep either?

Danny says,

Normally I sleep like a log on camping trips. Odd that

we’re both having trouble sleeping. I know what’ll fix

that.

Danny reaches for Daisy, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close,

nuzzling her neck. The couple assumes they are having insomnia, the watch

broken, and Danny is just settling into snuggling with Daisy when they hear

voices from the New Age couple next door. Danny says,

They’re awake too? Something’s not right here.

Danny pulls on his pants and goes out to investigate.

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The campers all meet by the smoldering camp fire, now out, and look around and

at their watches. Daisy says,

Our watches seem to be fast.

A bit stunned and confused, the campers stand around the remnants of their