The secure cages run down the back of this large cargo area, and opposite each cage, a guard is stationed; they are fully armed and ready to deal with any problems, including people who show visible signs of having the virus. There are a few empty cages, but most are occupied with all types of different people in various numbers. Some cages have two or three people inside, others are quite full. I’m not sure how they are working it, but my guess is if they arrive together, they are quarantined together. There are many military uniforms on the people inside which makes sense. We get some looks from the inside the cages but on the whole, everybody seems indifferent to us. I suppose everyone has had an unbelievably shocking day and their batteries are drained. Nobody here thought they would be locked in a cage at Heathrow airport when they woke this morning, including us.
I’m getting very anxious to see Emily and, I find, to see Catherine. Seeing Stacey is going to be difficult; I’ve got to tell her news that is going to be very hard for her to hear. I’m so fond of Stacey, I’m going to hate telling her, but she has to know what we saw, and it has to come from me; as far as I am concerned, she is a part of our family, more so now than ever.
We move down the row of cages looking into each one in the hope of seeing them, but the two soldiers in front keep going forward. I haven’t seen any children in here yet and I suddenly have a fear they aren’t here at all.
The soldiers in front come to a stop and turn towards us outside one of the larger cages. I can’t see inside, though, because of the internal wall running down the middle. The inside comes into view as we get closer, and then I see Stan sat with his back against the wall opposite; his head is back and his eyes are closed. Next to Stan is Lindsay, lying on her side on the floor, her knees bent up towards her and her head resting on a makeshift pillow. Her eyes are closed too.
As I reach the door of the cage, I see them, resting against the opposite wall. Stacey is lying farthest away in the same sleeping position as Lindsay. Catherine is sat up with her back against the wall with her arm around Emily, who is in the middle and is snuggled into Catherine’s right side.
Catherine as if somehow sensing us arrive, opens her eyes and turns her head. She looks at me and for a moment, she is silent and just smiles at me, her eyes blinking as if to make sure it is me.
“Emily,” Catherine says soothingly, “Emily, look who is here,” she says looking down at Emily and shaking her gently.
Emily slowly lifts her head and opens her eyes. She looks up at Catherine and then her head moves and she sees me.
“Dad,” she says almost to herself before it sinks in properly.
“Daddy!” Emily shouts, she then pauses and refocuses her gaze to my side, “Josh….Josh!”
I am smiling from ear to ear but tears still roll down my face as my little girl realises both Josh and I are here. She almost jumps up from Catherine and runs over to the cage door; she too is crying while she calls out Josh’s name.
The sergeant tells the guard for this cage to open the door.
Stacey is now awake, sitting up and looking at us. I see the disappointment on her face as she sees that her parents are not with us, and I can’t help but feel for her.
“Move back now Emily and stay inside, while we open the door,” the sergeant says.
Emily steps slightly back and the guard moves in front of us with the key ready and unlocks the cage door. As the guard swings the door open, however, Emily can’t contain herself and she runs out of the open door and jumps into Josh’s arms. Josh picks her up and quickly walks inside the cage before anyone can do anything. The rest of us follow them in and the door is shut and locked behind us.
“Thank you, Sergeant,” I say through the wire.
“My pleasure, Captain, see you again.”
With that, he and his team turn to go, leaving us in the hands of our guard.
“Dad,” Emily shouts from Josh’s arms, holding out her own arm.
I go and put my arms around my two children. Catherine gets up, comes over and I pull her in too.
“Stacey,” I call.
Stacey gets up and joins us. My hand reaches around and I rest it on the top of Stacey’s head, thinking how lucky I am.
Over the next hour or so, we all catch up with each other, Emily eager to hear how we found Josh and also to find out who Alice is. She seems to be taken with Alice’s American accent. We tell our story, which everyone listens to intently, but we leave out the last part about when we went looking for Stacey’s parents.
When things have calmed down a bit, I do take Stacey to one side and speak to her about her parents and what we found at their building. She is of course very upset. She refuses to give up hope, however, and even thanks me for trying to find them. She tries to put a brave face on, but it is easy to see how she is feeling, and we all try to be there for her.
A medical team arrives to take our blood for testing, and they also take our details. I tell them I need to speak to Colonel Reed. They say they can’t help with that, so I ask them to at least try to inform him that I am here. They promise to try but I’m not convinced.
Thankfully, the food eventually arrives
