The Passage

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I know there’s trout in these streams, and I’ve been

trying to think of how to catch them. No time for a

hook and line, that’s for sure.

Big Tom is shucking off his jacket and hands it to Colonel Cage while he

shucks off his long sleeved shirt. He ties a knot in each sleeve and buttons

the neck as high as it will go. Not missing a stride as he does this, he veers

toward the stream that they have been following as it runs along the tree bank

and steps into a pool.

You go upstream a bit and chase them toward me. Lets

see if this works.

Big Tom straddles the stream at a narrow point at the end of the pool, holding

his shirt bottom like a net between his two hands. His fingers are splayed

open, holding the shirt open, and his feet are braced on either side, blocking

the way. Colonel Cage can be seen in the background, stepping gingerly into

the stream and turning to move toward Big Tom.

_______________________________

The group has taken shelter for the night against a rock outcropping, in part

for shelter against a threatening rain storm and in part to hide a small

cooking fire they plan to light. Hungry and weary, they ease themselves into

the soft dirt, looking discouraged and dusty. Big Tom has hung his wet shirt

on a branch, and jacket open is laid back with eyes closed, a sleepy child in

each armpit curled up against him.

One of the soldiers has arranged a fire pit – a circle of rocks with all

litter cleared away for several feet. He is using a branch as a brush,

sweeping the ground clear. Next he moves quickly through the woods nearby,

grabbing at kindling. He kneels and starts twirling a sturdy branch against a

flat piece of bark, and within a minute a spark forms, which is quickly fanned

and fed with dried moss.

Martha is to the side, out of the shelter of the overhang, arranging the

camping pots and plates the group has carried with them. She is digging

62

through backpacks, and Clara and Red step forward into blowing mist to help.

Martha will prepare what the group has gathered in the rain, if need be,

because there isn’t enough room under the overhang for all the activity. The

fire and dry sleeping quarters are more important, in her mind. The three lay

out what has been gathered and washed – water cress, grubs, mushrooms, thistle

flowers, and fish and snake fillets.

Red and Clara are arranging the cress, thistle flowers, and mushrooms on a

plate and passing it to the group huddled under the overhang. Red says,

Here’s your vitamins, eat hearty.

The platter is being passed down the line, each taking a pinch and stuffing it

into their mouths. Danny brightens.

This is not bad! Wish I had some ranch dressing. .. Ah

well.

Martha is at the fire, fish and snake meat in a pan with a little water. She

puts a lit over the pan and nestles it into the fire. Martha has a bowl

filled with the white grubs which are twisting from side to side. Martha takes

a large spoon and starts mashing the grubs, then frothing them with a fork.

She pulls the covered pan out of the fire and using her skirt as a hot pad

lifts the lid, showing cooked fish and snake inside with only a little water

left in the pan. Martha forks the meat onto the platter, which has now been

returned free of salad, and serves up the next course with a smile. She passes

the platter to Red, who can be seen turning to take it to the group huddled

under the overhang.

And here’s your protein – fish and, ahm . . chicken.

Martha pours the frothed grubs into the pan, and holds it over the fire,

stirring feverishly. When the mess looks like cooked egg whites, she quickly

turns and scoops it onto another platter, pulling a sprig of some herb she has

collected during the day from her pocket as a garnish.

And for desert we have pudding.

Billy’s face as he pulls a grub’s brown leg out from between his teeth, his

eyes widening at the sight.

_______________________________

Big Tom and Colonel Cage are out ahead of the others. They round a bend and

stop short. We can't see what they're seeing, but gauge it to be horrific

from the look on their faces. Big Tom glances quickly at Colonel Cage,

understanding passing between them without words, and turns on his heel

quickly to stop the others from rounding the bend. He jogs up to Danny and

Frank who are next in line.

Keep the others back, but send Netty forward.

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Danny nods in understanding while Frank stands stock still, pale and worried,

the continuous trauma and events beyond his ability to cope. He has given up,

essentially.

_______________________________

The scene before Colonel Cage is horrific, even for one with military

training. Some clothing is strewn about, a child's shoe. A man’s shoe and

pant leg, covered in blood. A woman thrown into the bushes, her head bloodied

as though bludgeoned. Danny, Big Tom, Colonel Cage, and Netty stand next to