the military men. Big Tom sets the tone and takes charge of the big lie.
They're waiting for us and we have to pack up and join
them.
Happy to hear this news, Danny starts nodding his head and muttering.
Cool, we're out'a here.
Daisy comes up to him, immediately starting her whining mode again as she
thinks things are back to normal again.
I'll need to see the hair stylist right away, my
hair's a mess!
She is tugging at her pants and blouse, trying to straighten up and adjust
back into appearance expectations she had put aside.
Big Tom crawls into the tent where a sleepy Frank is just waking up from a
nap.
Come on, guy, time to move out.
Frank blinks and says,
You're back? Where's Jane?
56
Big Tom keeps up the big lie, speaking calmly.
We're going to meet them. Hurry up, grab your things.
_______________________________
Martha is sorting items to take, putting most aside after a moment’s
hesitation on some items, as though she has regrets about leaving them,
selecting only a few. She signs, sits back from being on her knees in the tent
to sitting on her butt with her legs tucked under her. She looks up from the
items she has been sorting. A Zeta has come to sit across from her, long thin
legs folded Yoga style and elbows on each knee, hands held out in the center
as though a dialog were going on. Martha says,
I’m going to miss you. ..
Suddenly smiling and brightening, even laughing a bit in relief as she
realizes how foolish was her thought that contact was somehow tied to the
ranch, where she has lived all her life.
Oh.
Rolling back onto her knees and continuing to sort, now with more fervor and
energy, getting back to the urgent task at hand. Martha is smiling to herself.
_______________________________
The group is leaving the farm, carrying only pillowcases stuffed with personal
items. Martha stops briefly, turning slightly to glance back at the ranch
with a long lingering sad look at the home and lifestyle she knows she will
never see again. Tammy is at her side. Tammy says,
Do you think they'll have a doll house?
Martha, wanting to encourage her daughter's recent return to normalcy,
chatters back brightly.
Wouldn't be surprised. I'll bet they'll even be some
other little girls your age.
In the background, Netty is letting her big bay run free, removing its harness
and giving it a slap as it canters out into the open field. On the run, the
horse could not be concealed.
Colonel Cage is walking with Frank, who has just been told of his wife's
death. He is talking this stoically, and they are walking at the side of the
others who have spread out and are not in a line any longer. Frank is pale
and barely moving.
At least she didn't suffer.
The Colonel is still enraged at what had occurred.
No, but I made sure they did!
57
_______________________________
Big Tom and Danny are taking the lead. Big Tom is explaining the situation to
Danny.
.. Don't know where we're going, but we had to leave,
and soon. They were sent to kill us.
His face is grim, and he glances repeatedly at Danny's face as he says this,
checking out the terrain ahead of them in between these glances. The pace is
not slow, and the field is rough so one has to watch their step. Danny looks
confused and troubled, keeps looking like he wants to say something but stops
when the words don't come together. Finally he manages.
So they're all dead, Len and Herman?
Big Tom pauses, faced with a question he himself does not want to face.
I don't know, but we have to assume that, I guess.
Just don't say anything to the women.
Mark and Brian have lagged behind, Brian repeatedly sitting down and crying,
curling up into a ball and wailing softly. Mark looks consternated, as the
others are ahead of him already. He glances at the retreating line of people
ahead of him, debating whether to call for help, and decides not. Mark sits
down beside Brian, putting his arms around him, rubbing his back, cradling his
head against his shoulder. Brian is almost imperceptibly.
I just want to go home.
Mark has a calm, thoughtful look on his face, and then pushes Brian back so he
can look into his face.
Well, maybe we can do just that!
Mark is almost surprised to find the plane wreck looking as they had left it,
the plane nosed into trees at the edge of a creek, the propellers twisted and
one wing bent at a right angle. Mark and Brian are walking toward the plane,
hurriedly, while Mark is talking excitedly.
Remember that air balloon jet I was taking to the
club? I'll bet we can rig something up! We've got
the parachutes, and heck, if we can just get out of
this earthquake zone ..
_______________________________
Night is falling, and the group leaving the farm is making camp. Straw beds
have been made from straw gathered from a wheat field. No campfire has been
lit, for safety, so they are eating cold food scraps they have brought -
boiled potatoes and water from a nearby creek. Daisy is making a face after
taking a swig, and Colonel Cage explains.
It's chlorine, so you don't get the runs.
58
Clara makes a nervous aside to Martha, in a quiet voice.
Why won't they let us start a fire? I don't like the
feel of this, something's wrong!
Big Tom, overhearing this, senses that he needs to calm the group. He
addresses the group, speaking in a loud voice so all can hear.
We're being careful not to alert anyone that we're
traveling though. We don't want any trouble. Just
taking precautions.
Billy is helping Red spread some straw they've brought in from the nearby
field, and complains to his grandpa.
It's all itchy. Why did we have to move?
Red, who has apparently been briefed by his son earlier, replies.
We couldn't stay at the ranch forever, son, running
out of food and all like we were.
The group eases down onto the straw as the last of the daylight fades, too
exhausted to object any more.
_______________________________
The next morning the group is stirring at dawn. The Sun not yet up but the