The Passage

It is night time, the rain pouring steadily, drenching everything. It is so

dark, with only an occasional dim edge outlined in the dark, that it takes a

minute for us to see Colonel Cage's features as he stands in the rain. Peering

through the dark, Colonel Cage must squint for several minutes to see an

occasional outline in the dark. Progress has been slow, along the last leg of

his journey, but he is recognizing landmarks, so very near home at last. He

is still, staring into the broken windows of what used to be his house.

Nothing moves, and there are no lights or sounds. He hears a young boy's voice

behind him.

Dad?

Colonel Cage turns so rapidly he is almost a blur, as he sweeps the boy into

his arms. After a long silent bear hug, during which the two of them seem

unable to let go of each other, the Colonel sets the boy down, his voice

husky.

Where's your mother and John?

The boy says,

They're all right, come on.

Excitement and eagerness are in his voice as he takes his dad by the hand.

They stumble off into the dark, Colonel Cage stumbling after his young son,

both walking too fast for the circumstances, but too eager to get where

they're going to care.

_______________________________

Next day the four-some are walking cautiously along a tree bank. All are

dressed in dull clothing that blends in with the soggy dark green and mustard

yellow of the vegetation, and when out in the open crouch down and scuttle

across the open space, so as not to attract attention from anyone who might be

looking. Colonel Cage is visibly nervous, but is not sharing with his family

the reasons for his fear. They hear voices, and he signals all to drop to the

ground and not make a sound. The Colonel's face is pale and he is trembling,

showing his extreme fear that his family will be tortured and killed, as he

has seen done to others. He has his youngest, John, beside him, and has his

hand over his mouth, is signaling his wife and oldest son with his eyes as to

the seriousness of the situation.

A group of men is passing, talking and arguing among themselves. A voice

rings out almost on top of where the family is crouched, joining in the

conversation without missing a beat. The terrified family hears a zipper

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unzip, then someone pissing, then hear the sound of a fly being re-zipped. The

one who just relieved himself walks right past the youngest boy as though not

seeing him, rejoining the others. The other looks his way also, and seems not

to see the family, plastered against the ground right between them, holding

their breath.

As they walk on they are watched by a tall Zeta standing next to a tree, his

arms folded across his chest. The family remains still until no voices can be

heard. Colonel Cage lifts his head slightly and casts his eyes all around, and

seeing nothing, warns in a whisper.

Follow me, but as quiet as you can.

He moves slowly so as not to snap a twig, picking up speed only when they get

to a grassy area along a creek where the sound of running water covers the

swishing of their legs against the grass.

When Colonel Cage can look in all directions and see the coast is clear, he

breaths a sigh of relieve.

I don't know why they didn't see us. They were right

on top of us, the oddest thing.

He's shaking his head, a slight frown on his head, but a realization dawns on

him as he puts together the fast trip he's had and this incident. He mutters

to himself.

It's them.

His oldest son is looking at him with a puzzled look, but gets no explanation.

_______________________________

A patch of cat tails is in a marshy area abutting a stream. There are woods in

the backdrop. The cat tails are several feet thick, growing where the water is

only a foot or less deep, their brown seed pods not yet mature so the seeds

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have not yet been released. One of the pod stalks starts wigging back and

forth, and then drops straight down.

A frog is sitting on a rock amidst the cattail patch. A sharpened stick comes

zinging out from the cattail patch, toward the side of the frog. The frog

croaks.

_______________________________

The pot has a lid on it and is jiggling as the water inside is boiling

furiously. A frog leg can be seen sticking out of the pot, the foot and part

of the leg visible. A cattail leaf is also sticking out, plastered against the

side of the small pot.

I know it’s tough. Eat as much of it as you can.

The family is squatting around the boiling pot, the youngest son looking

unconvinced. They are very dirty from days on the road without baths or clean

clothes. Colonel Cage’s wife’s hair is tangled with small sticks caught in the

tangle here and there. She is smiling at her husband with unabashed

admiration.

We’re going to be taking the leftovers with us, so

don’t expect anything better for awhile. This will