The Passage

leaders out with a white flag to indicate that you

understand these orders.

The helicopter goes into a slow circle, well outside the perimeter of the

dome. There is no response from inside the dome city at first, but then Jonah

emerges, along with Colonel Cage, Big Tom, and the two soldiers who went AWOL

with the Colonel. They are subtly antagonizing the General by showing

themselves, as he brooks no insubordination.

Inside the helicopter, General Flood is red faced with rage. He growls to

himself and the pilot.

He's going to die and die slowly.

Then speaking through the intercom, he barks to his men on the ground.

Move the missile into place, let them see it.

A slender wheeled missile emerges from the woods, pushed by half a dozen

soldiers. Several other soldiers emerge from the trees too, lining up along

the edge of the woods. They are not dressed in uniform. Some have bandannas

tied around their heads, some have long hair tied behind their heads in a pony

tail, some have painted their faces, some carry long machete knives, but all

wear fatigue pants and army boots. This is clearly no longer a formal

military troop.

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Something invisible is moving through the grass, as though a sliding wall were

being moved into place. The grass flattens and separates, weeds push aside

and then are kept aside as though an invisible wall had been put into place.

This line moves swiftly, with the sound of chopper blades throbbing overhead.

Cage, I'll have your liver for supper for this, and

pickle your eyes!

Inside the Helicopter, General Flood barks orders through the intercom.

Bring out the hostage now, and shoot him.

Len is pushed forward, hands bound in front of him and one eye swollen shut,

poked out during a fit of General Flood’s rage during an interrogation

session. He is stumbling with exhaustion and staggering, but is pushed

forward until midway between the dome city representatives and the military

troop.

Inside the dome city entry, Clara is standing just inside the shelter of the

entry way, viewing the scene. Her eyes fill with tears and her hand flutters

to her mouth, but she says nothing, holding her breath and knowing she can't

influence the outcome. Netty puts her arm around Clara's shoulder, gripping

it. Red is standing behind the pair. Accustomed to taking action during any

emergency, but unable to do so in this case, he has a consternated look on his

face.

We hear a shot ring out, and see Clara drop in a faint, as several other arms

move forward to grip her, trying to break her fall. Clara falls back on top of

Red and they both sink to the floor in a heap.

Oh my, oh my.

Inside the helicopter, General Flood bellows arrogantly into the bullhorn.

The rest of you have five seconds to raise your hands

and let my inspection team come forward, or we'll blow

your little nest and all the little birdies inside sky

high! Five seconds! Five, four, three, two, one.

General Flood pauses, his face muscles working in rage, his face florid with

rage at having been defied.

.. All right men, let 'em have it!

The group standing in front of the dome city remains unmoved, unflinching.

They had expected that both the men held by General Flood had been killed, so

this is no surprise, and they are aware of the shield and whether they trust

it to hold or not, they have no alternative in their minds. Death, for them

and their families, is better than being overtaken by this group. This is why

the entry door has been left open, so that if the shield fails, all will die

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suddenly, as a group. Big Tom, speaking softly to his comrades, shows their

resolve.

Better this way than living under tyranny, eh, boys?

The missile makes a humming sound, and then with a flash at the jet end, moves

forward so suddenly that the eye cannot follow it. Just as suddenly it hits

an invisible shield and the explosion sprays backward over the men and the

trees, a fireball fanning out, frying all within range. There is a shriek or

two, but death is quick. As the flames quickly die down over the metal shards

from the shattered missile, the chopper blades can still be heard overhead.

The muscles on General Flood's face are working. The General snaps at the

pilot.

Take it down and land on top of them!

The pilot glances nervously at the General's face, and seeing that no argument

will do, moves the joy stick to aim the chopper down. The chopper descends,

hits the invisible barrier, and explodes into a flaming wreck.

The group standing in front of the dome city allows themselves to breath

again. The citizens of the dome city are coming forward, tentatively at first.

They look to the right and left, agape at the wreckage. Martha is rushing

forward to embrace her husband, followed by the oldest son of Colonel Cage,

who throws his arms around his dad from the back, essentially hugging his

butt. Ian has a look of relief on his face. He quickly turns to the side and

vomits, allowing himself to feel his fear now that the danger is past.

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