The Passage

Suddenly smiling and brightening, even laughing a bit in relief as she

realizes how foolish was her thought that contact was somehow tied to the

ranch, where she has lived all her life.

Oh.

Rolling back onto her knees and continuing to sort, now with more fervor and

energy, getting back to the urgent task at hand. Martha is smiling to herself.

_______________________________

The group is leaving the farm, carrying only pillowcases stuffed with personal

items. Martha stops briefly, turning slightly to glance back at the ranch

with a long lingering sad look at the home and lifestyle she knows she will

never see again. Tammy is at her side. Tammy says,

Do you think they'll have a doll house?

Martha, wanting to encourage her daughter's recent return to normalcy,

chatters back brightly.

Wouldn't be surprised. I'll bet they'll even be some

other little girls your age.

In the background, Netty is letting her big bay run free, removing its harness

and giving it a slap as it canters out into the open field. On the run, the

horse could not be concealed.

Colonel Cage is walking with Frank, who has just been told of his wife's

death. He is talking this stoically, and they are walking at the side of the

others who have spread out and are not in a line any longer. Frank is pale

and barely moving.

At least she didn't suffer.

The Colonel is still enraged at what had occurred.

No, but I made sure they did!

57

_______________________________

Big Tom and Danny are taking the lead. Big Tom is explaining the situation to

Danny.

.. Don't know where we're going, but we had to leave,

and soon. They were sent to kill us.

His face is grim, and he glances repeatedly at Danny's face as he says this,

checking out the terrain ahead of them in between these glances. The pace is

not slow, and the field is rough so one has to watch their step. Danny looks

confused and troubled, keeps looking like he wants to say something but stops

when the words don't come together. Finally he manages.

So they're all dead, Len and Herman?

Big Tom pauses, faced with a question he himself does not want to face.

I don't know, but we have to assume that, I guess.

Just don't say anything to the women.

Mark and Brian have lagged behind, Brian repeatedly sitting down and crying,

curling up into a ball and wailing softly. Mark looks consternated, as the

others are ahead of him already. He glances at the retreating line of people

ahead of him, debating whether to call for help, and decides not. Mark sits

down beside Brian, putting his arms around him, rubbing his back, cradling his

head against his shoulder. Brian is almost imperceptibly.

I just want to go home.

Mark has a calm, thoughtful look on his face, and then pushes Brian back so he

can look into his face.

Well, maybe we can do just that!

Mark is almost surprised to find the plane wreck looking as they had left it,

the plane nosed into trees at the edge of a creek, the propellers twisted and

one wing bent at a right angle. Mark and Brian are walking toward the plane,

hurriedly, while Mark is talking excitedly.

Remember that air balloon jet I was taking to the

club? I'll bet we can rig something up! We've got

the parachutes, and heck, if we can just get out of

this earthquake zone ..

_______________________________

Night is falling, and the group leaving the farm is making camp. Straw beds

have been made from straw gathered from a wheat field. No campfire has been

lit, for safety, so they are eating cold food scraps they have brought -

boiled potatoes and water from a nearby creek. Daisy is making a face after

taking a swig, and Colonel Cage explains.

It's chlorine, so you don't get the runs.

58

Clara makes a nervous aside to Martha, in a quiet voice.

Why won't they let us start a fire? I don't like the

feel of this, something's wrong!

Big Tom, overhearing this, senses that he needs to calm the group. He

addresses the group, speaking in a loud voice so all can hear.

We're being careful not to alert anyone that we're

traveling though. We don't want any trouble. Just

taking precautions.

Billy is helping Red spread some straw they've brought in from the nearby

field, and complains to his grandpa.

It's all itchy. Why did we have to move?

Red, who has apparently been briefed by his son earlier, replies.

We couldn't stay at the ranch forever, son, running

out of food and all like we were.

The group eases down onto the straw as the last of the daylight fades, too

exhausted to object any more.