The Passage

eyes. Jane says,

My God, the prophecies are coming true.

Danny is punching the buttons on his mobile cell phone now, listening, then

punching another set and listening again. He's getting static, no ringing.

I'm not getting through, nothing's working.

Danny glances up into the sky.

These things work off the satellites . .

Frank is already bringing their camping supplies to their car, breaking camp.

Jane is taking down their tent, throwing the poles in a pile as though she

were racing against time. Danny is rubbing his forehead, trying to

understand.

The campground store didn't have any news either.

Their newspapers haven't been delivered, nor any of

the regular delivery runs.

29

Seeing everyone in the campground starting to break camp, as though what

others are doing is an imperative, Danny also starts to break camp. He walks

to the campfire and starts stacking supplies in a box, silently. Daisy pulls

her makeup case close to her as she sits on a log and begins to do her nails

with great concentration. She begins a monologue about polish types and

broken nails that she or her friends have experienced, though no one is

listening.

I just can't get my nails to grow! . .

30

-The Horror-

Big Tom has his tool box open along the fence he is repairing. His jeep

stands several feet away on solid ground, as cattle tend to walk along fences,

creating deep ruts well hidden by the tall grass. Like many ranchers, Big Tom

tended to take better care of his equipment than himself.

The cattle begin milling about and mooing, groups starting to bolt in this

direction or that, then changing their minds and bolting in the other

direction. Some groups are even running into each other, like a misdirected

stampeded. They are alarmed yet confused, getting some signal that Big Tom

can't sense. The earth emits a low moan, barely perceptible at first. However,

this low moan keeps up, rising and falling, as though the earth were in agony.

Big Tom has turned pale, drops his tools, leaving them where they lay on the

ground, stumbles back toward his jeep and drives off crazily, not even

shutting the door until well on his way up the dirt road. Big Tom careens up

to the ranch house, screeching his brakes and walking quickly to the house. He

barges in the kitchen door and heads for the phone. Martha says,

Won't do no good. I can't get through. Nobody can get

through.

Martha is calm, her daughter Tammy leaning into her where she sits in a

kitchen chair, having a beer. Martha and Big Tom exchange a long look, no

words spoken. Finally, Big Tom breaks the silence, glancing at the beer.

That looks good, think I'll have one.

Red comes into the kitchen and announces he's stocked the storm cellar. He

has Billy in tow, his helper, who goes to wash his hands as he has been

brushing his hands together, but glancing at them sees they are dirty. Billy

casts a glance at his mother Martha and heads toward the sink, not realizing

that something more serious than getting a reminder is pending.

A loud knock on the front door stops Big Tom from easing into a relaxed

posture in the familiar wooden chair he has just dropped into, beer in hand,

and he recoils to go answer it, his curious Billy at his heels. Danny is at

the door, dust streaked in the sweat running off his face, the others in the

foursome (Daisy, Jane, Frank) standing alongside the car in the drive. Danny

says,

Do you have any gas to sell, the stations don't seem

to be open.

Big Tom, surveying the visitors and sensing they pose no threat, allows

himself to be relieved to be getting some news.

31

Not surprised . . Jed probably took his hounds into

the hills already, he's been talking about the end of

the world, and probably figures it's come.

Danny doesn't answer for a few minutes, the sounds of insects singing in the

sun loud in the silence between the two men. Then he says,

Well, has it?

Big Tom motions to the foursome now all on the porch.

Might as well come in for a spell, the day's getting

hot already and it doesn't look like its going to end.

At the mention of time, Danny glances at his watch and gasps.

My God, it's almost midnight!

_______________________________

What seems like days have passed, and the long dawn that doesn't end and the

accumulating heat are wearing at the group. Grim and focused on the drama

being played out on the world's stage, which they all sense will end at some

point soon, the adults are being civil, not wanting to add to their problems.

The men are simply quiet, looking out the window as though expecting something

to happen.