The Passage

The women peel potatoes and help Martha with her mending, making small talk to

keep the youngsters from realizing the seriousness of the situation. Jane

says,

Let me see if I can find a matching button. Want to

help me, Tammy? I’m looking for a small brown one like

this.

Everyone is in shorts, a film of sweat evident, but no one complains about the

heat or worry except Daisy who is almost whining, a continuous expression of

exasperation on her face. Daisy is going through the motions of being an

adult, but makes little noises of frustration when drawers don't open smoothly

or something isn't where she expects to find it in the cabinets. Finally she

looks pointedly at Danny but he just looks grim and shakes his head. Danny

says,

Don’t start again! We’re not going to drive off and

escape this. This is everywhere, Daisy, everywhere,

and we’ve just got to wait until this breaks or we get

news. Not going to be better anyplace else.

This has been a long running argument between them, one discussed whenever

they retired to one of the bedrooms for a nap together. Daisy is trying to

initiate the discussion again, publicly, hoping to win support, and Danny has

about had it with her. One of the children in the group is likewise having

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problems understanding the situation. Tammy leans against her mother, Martha,

who is sitting in her place at the kitchen table.

When can my dolls go to the swimming hole for a

picnic?

Tammy is obviously asking when she can go again. Martha wraps her free arm

around her and gives her a little hug, understanding that the child wants to

cool off, and get out of the tension in the kitchen.

Soon honey, soon.

_______________________________

The pumps have stopped, are stopping repeatedly due to the erratic power

supply coming off the grid lines, the switches tripping as soon as the reset

button is pushed. Big Tom is squatting at the pump by the well, tools on the

ground next to him, tinkering with the pump. The pump is starting and then

cutting out immediately every time he starts it. He scoops up his tools and

rises, muttering softly.

Damn!

Big Tom is walking back from the spring house with a bucket of water in his

hands. Big Tom stops in his tracks, feeling a slight but continuous tremble in

the ground. His wife Martha comes running out of the house and into his arms,

the buckets now dropped to the ground, sloshing and spilling over. The kids

are running up behind her.

Mom! Mom!

Panic is in the air. Danny and Red come around the corner of the house, from

the garden, onions and tomatoes for the gumbo Martha was preparing in their

hands. Red's pale face accentuates the red tinge in his graying hair.

The moon is on the move!

Suddenly everyone standing is thrown several feet. Big Tom is thrown

backwards, skidding on his rear, Martha on top of him. Tammy sits up, holding

her scrapped and bleeding elbow, rocking back and forth in pain and crying

hard. Billy staggers to his feet, standing pale and shaken, his arms out to

either side and slightly crouching. Big Tom, rolling up to a sitting position

and easing his wife to the side, frowns. He says,

What the Hell! . .

The barn, laid on a concrete slab, has been lurched off its foundations and

moved halfway into the sloping barnyard. The house has crinkled in the

middle, the walls folding in on a broken support, but is still glued to its

foundation. Daisy emerges from the house, screaming, accompanied by Jane who

is holding both hands to her bleeding head.

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A massive split in the earth begins ripping across the field behind the barn,

opening and closing again, yawing open several feet and then quickly closing

again. The sky darkens as a hailstorm of what appears to be gravel starts

peppering the landscape. The group reacting to their injuries and shock in the

yard put their hands over their heads and dash back and forth, needing shelter

but leery of going into the broken house. Lighting crackles overhead

repeatedly, though there is no rain, and in the distance there is a whooshing

sound, as a falling blanket of fire drops on some trees along a stream,

setting them afire.

The group, led by Red, dashes into the storm cellar. Red says,

Knew this would come in handy.

Daisy is hysterical and keeps screaming at Danny. Everyone is ignoring her.

Make it stop . . Make it stop.

Martha is wrapping her apron around Jane's head, instructing her in a calm

voice to press her head to stop the scalp wound from bleeding.

There, right there.

Jane’s face is covered with blood. Despite all, Frank is matter-of-fact.

I think my arm is broken.

Frank’s arm is seen dangling at an odd angle, the trauma of the moment so

great that he didn't notice this until they were safe in the storm cellar.

The winds outside are howling louder, and the bolted metal door of the cellar

is rattling with the force now and then. The only light in the cellar is a

battery operated lantern.

Big Tom is setting Frank's dislocated arm, Danny holding Frank from the back,