The Passage

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The Passage Page 11

by Nancy Lieder


  Several humans walk out, Jonah in the lead, extending his hand. Ian hesitates

  only a moment, then himself walks forward with an extended hand. The group

  following Ian noticeably pick up their pace, seeing a friendly welcome.

  Just inside the dome city entrance, the newcomers are gawking at the raised

  but diffusely lit ceiling and lush vegetation growing in the center of the

  dome, where there is a fountain and grassy areas with children at play. The

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  dome has housing units in a circle around the edge, several stories high, as

  the dome drops down into the ground as well as rising up above the ground.

  Tammy breaks the silence as she has been discovered by another little girl her

  age. Tammy is clutching her rag doll, which by now is so dirty and tattered

  that it almost looks like a black rag. The little girl welcoming her has a

  clean cloth doll, similar in size and dress, and hands this to Tammy with a

  smile. Tammy blinks, a hint of tears forming in her eyes at the kindness and

  understanding shown her, and smiles slightly. She hands the other girl her

  tattered doll, and they make an exchange, laugh spontaneously afterwards at

  the silliness of Tammy's gift, and run off together, the dome city girl in the

  lead. Not a word has been spoken between the girls during this exchange.

  Billy is right behind Tammy, and has watched this. He raises his face to his

  mother Martha, standing behind him, sharing with her an unspoken understanding

  that this is a good place. Ian is standing at the side, in intense

  conversation with Jonah, but we don't hear their conversation. They have

  stepped to the side as the rest of the group is crowding the entryway as they

  enter the dome and react. Madge, the fat cook, comes in and stands stock

  still, her perpetual frown refusing to be displaced on her face. Frank is

  just behind her, raising his arms up with an ecstatic look on his face,

  mouthing things we can't hear but what we are sure are comparisons to Atlantis

  or other mythological cities.

  _______________________________

  It is very early dawn in the dome city, which has lighting controlled by

  lights affixed along the dome wall on the upper pram level. These produce

  intense carbon arc light, the equivalent of sunlight, and shine it on the dome

  ceiling. This light does not go directly into the faces of anyone, due to a

  long cone over the arc light itself, pointing upward. The cone is several feet

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  long, wider as it fans toward the ceiling. The cones are painted the same

  color as the dome ceiling, sky blue.

  A man is walking along the upper pram, toolbox and stepladder in hand. He goes

  from light to light, doing maintenance. Standing on the stepladder he turns a

  switch alongside one of the lights and it turns off. Using a special tool he

  quickly turns hooks up and down the cone shaped funnel so as to remove the

  funnel. The tool is an odd, unique shape so that children can’t accidentally

  remove the cones. The carbon points are exposed, and he adjusts each to move

  more toward the center, toward each other, then measures the gap. Satisfied,

  he drops his gap measure back into this pocket and reaches for the cone again,

  ready to reassemble.

  Sheep are grazing on the dome city lawn, in one section. A portable wooden

  fence can be seen in the background, keeping the sheep in one section at a

  time. The dome city does not use lawn mowers, as sheep crop a grassland close

  to the ground. They can also ruin a grassland if allowed to graze too long,

  reducing the grass to stubble.

  A worker is seen folding the portable wooden fence like an accordion, and

  walking across some lush grass to the edge of the next section. He quickly

  unfolds the fence, used more as a guide for the sheep than a containment, at

  the edge of the next section. He strides back, turns sharply when he reaches

  the end of the small herd, and starts herding the sheep into the lush area,

  talking softly to them.

  Hik . . Common . . Soosh . .

  Along the edge of the wall circling the garden areas there are occasional

  doors to rooms where hydroponic gardens and other food production efforts are

  contained. The walls are colored the same as the upper residential area walls,

  so look at first glance like foundation walls, integral to the city itself. A

  door swings open. The label on the door reads “Compost Consolidation”. As the

  door swings back shut we see that a man pushing a heavily loaded wheelbarrow

  has emerged. His load is rich, loamy earth swarming with earthworms. He has a

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  pitchfork stuck into the load. He quickly pushes the barrow across the lawn

  toward some grape vines on an arbor toward the center of the dome city

  gardens.

  As he crosses the lawn, a flock of banty hens and roosters come dashing toward

  him, some flying, some running. They know this routine. Some hop into the

  barrow, not waiting for their treat. The worker does not break his stride, as

  all morning tasks such as this are to be complete before the residents awake.

  He strides up to the grape vines and tips his barrow forward onto the roots of

  the grape plants. The eager banty hens cover the pile, cleaning up the worms,

  and scratching furiously for worms within the compost.

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  -Helping Hands-

  The evening meal is in process in the dome city. The roof of the top layer of

  residences, the upper concourse, is a general pram area where exercise and

  community activities take place. Tonight, due to the newcomers, a special

  dinner is laid out, buffet style. Children run along the roof and down the

  stairs on ramps that periodically descend to the center, chasing each other

  and playing games. A home-town band is playing some music, a banjo and violin

  and snare drum in an odd combination, along with a few singers who are

  remarkably good given the circumstances. Some couples are dancing along with

  the music, in front of where the band has congregated.

  Jonah and Ian and Colonel Cage, seated at a table, holding and sipping from

  their cups and chatting. Ian and Colonel Cage are trying to adjust to this

  new measure of plenty and security. Ian is anxiously asking about security,

  whether they have had any raids or intrusions. Jonah answers, in a matter-of-

  fact manner.

  We're protected

  This brings a frown to Ian's forehead. Have they walked into the enemy camp,

  by mistake? After hesitating for a minute, he blurts out a question.

  Protected by who?

  Colonel Cage has been watching the conversation, his eyes flicking from one to

  the other, growing calmer as something momentous is about to emerge, his

  military background coming to the fore. Jonah says,

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  We're not alone, haven't been, but now they can come

  forward more.

  Ian has a blank, uncomprehending, look on his face. Jonah says,

  You know, the space people, they're here, and they

  helped us build this. Oh, you won't see much of them

  if at all, but they're always around, and we've got

  some special children to prove it.

  Ian's eyes widen, staring at Jonah's face. What next?

  Come on, I'l
l show you.

  _______________________________

  Jonah has taken Ian and Colonel Cage to the gardens in the center of the dome

  city, where the children play. Jonah is sitting on one of the benches there,

  speaking warmly and quietly to some children standing in front of him, as

  though he frequently does this, is familiar to them, and has a good rapport

  with them. They have large frontal lobes and delicate chins, larger than

  normal eyes, and listen more than they speak. They seem to anticipate each

  other's movements, stepping back in sync with a step forward by another and

  the like. The din of children's voices can be heard in the background. Jonah

  says,

  .. planning to have an art fair, a craft fair, on the

  concourse soon, right?

  The hybrid child in the center responds to something other than what Jonah has

  been saying, responding to his thoughts, not his words.

  They'll adjust quickly because they've been living

  like us already. You'll see, there won't be any

  adjustment at all.

  Colonel Cage leans forward to ask a question.

  How do you know?

  The child looks calmly at him.

  You're right to be worried, they need you. They don't

  know how to find you, don't know where you are.

  There is a silence, but finally Colonel Cage responds, an obvious knot in his

  throat.

  They're in trouble? The Army had facilities! They

  said . . they told us that . . that ..

  _______________________________

  Outside the dome city entrance, Colonel Cage is taking his leave, saying good-

  by to Jonah. They stand in front of the dome entry, at the end of the long

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  igloo style tunnel that acts as a weather shield before the sliding doors at

  the edge of the dome itself.

  I've got to try, even if I die trying. I have no idea

  if these maps are any good anymore, it's 200 miles

  away as the crow flies, and God knows if I'll make it

  or what I'll find.

  Colonel Cage is traveling light, holding a black cloth satchel that he slings

  over his shoulder as he turns and walks into the woods.

  A tall gray Zeta comes forward into view, moving up to be shoulder to shoulder

  with Jonah. Jonah is still watching the Colonel disappear into the woods.

  He's going to need help.

  The Zeta puts his hand momentarily on Jonah's shoulder, then heads off after

  Colonel Cage.

  _______________________________

  Colonel Cage is walking along the outskirts of what used to be a mid-sized

  city. He is traveling at night, for safety, his body standing out briefly in

  profile against a flaming pile of trash that someone has pulled together and

  lit. Broken boards stick up now and then, hazards, and tumbled down cement

  blocks litter the streets as he picks his way though the rubble. There are

  shouts in the distance, and what sound like hysterical laughter now and then.

  _______________________________

  Past the city now, and traveling by day, Colonel Cage is standing at the edge

  of a rip in the earth. Foot hills leading down into a river valley have been

  torn apart, bare earth exposed in stark contrast to the trees or fields on

  either side. He stands gazing over the scene, a slight frown on this face,

  and then reaches into his back pocket for a map, which he flips through,

  looking increasingly puzzled. He finally shakes his head and mutters under

  his breath.

  If that's the river, then I made 150 miles in one day!

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  He returns the map to his back pocket, leans down for his satchel, and strides

  off down along the edge of the rip toward the river.

  _______________________________

  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 dawn
s 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

  keep you going.

 

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