right to where we're at.
A thought crosses his mind and he suddenly drops the T-shirt to the floor and
grinds the shirt collar under his heel until he hears a crunch.
But you don't know how long it’s been there, or even
if it works.
Colonel Cage’s face goes blank, as he realizes that he can't give Ian and the
others all the insight that he has, an impossible education in too short a
time. He finally explains, after struggling with himself over the issue.
Expect the worst.
_______________________________
The fog horn blowing softly again, a signal that some visitors have arrived at
the river bank across the river. Colonel Cage, uneasy from the night before,
jerks and twitches in his sleep, his eyes suddenly opening with a start. The
men's hut is a bunk for over a dozen men, all with similar primitive bedding
arrangements, all out in the open. Colonel Cage slips into his pants and
takes off toward the door, even before his pants are buttoned.
72
Ian is standing under a tree where he is barely visible in the shadows.
Colonel Cage walks up to him, his white T-shirt visible as a waving flag as he
moves between the trees. Ian says,
You've been seen.
A sleepy Colonel Cage quickly flattens himself behind a tree.
Too late, they've sighted you.
A group of men is on the shoreline across the river, dressed in dirty casual
clothes. Colonel Cage, his jaw tight and slightly twitching with the tension,
speaks in a soft voice, almost to himself.
I'll bet that's them. They've been killing and eating
families.
Ian glances at Colonel Cage, not shocked as he's suspected as much.
I'll post a watch to make sure they don't cross.
_______________________________
Frank is vigorously chopping at a pile of green chunks, the original
vegetables no longer recognizable, both hands on the chopper and heaving his
shoulders into it. He is chatting away non-stop with Madge, the stocky cook,
who is reaching into her herb jars.
The Death Card came up, and we all knew this was
coming ..
Madge has a grim look on her face, her perpetual expression, and says nothing,
but Frank is not put off. She hands him another handful of roots to chop. The
soft sound of a chopper's blades are barely heard at first, but increase in
volume. Frank stops, mid-chop, to listen intently. A silent black whisper
chopper is coming along the river, in the center of the river, but veers
toward the bluff.
_______________________________
Ian touches each camp member as they hurry past him, their personal belongings
clutched in their arms. All are rushing, single file, into the woods and into
a ravine, out of sight of anyone on the river or in the air. No one is
hysterical or challenging Ian's decision.
In the woman's hut, Danny is pleading with Daisy to come along. She seems
unaware of any danger, is brushing it all off, and is treating him like a
hysteric.
.. You don't understand, people have been killed,
women raped, we just haven't told you!
Daisy says,
73
Danny, don't you see how good things are here? I've
gotten my nails to grow out again, and we can bathe
anytime we want to!
Danny looks dismayed, is speechless, a consternated look on his face. He
realizes for the first time how deep her self obsession runs. A tall couple
walks in, picking through the belongings left behind, and Danny stares at them
with comprehension. She won't be alone!
Well, I'm not staying here to die with you, suit
yourself.
Danny turns away, heading out the door to catch up with the rest.
_______________________________
In a clearing in the woods, Ian is taking a head count as the group silently
passes by him in single file. Ian admonishes.
Stay together now, stay close together!
The stragglers at the end are coming with larger breaks between them. Ian
turns to his assistant, a tall thin woman with her gray hair in a severe bun.
I didn't see the little boy and his granddad, or the
last of that bunch.
The assistant has a clipboard in her hands and has been checking things off as
the group passed.
That young woman and the newspaper man, they're
missing too.
Netty comes trudging into the clearing, trying to keep the end of the group
ahead of her in sight. She sees Ian and his assistant standing there and
smiles broadly, reassured that she hasn't lost them. She looks over her
shoulder as she walks on to the right, keeping track of those behind her.
Billy is some distance behind her on the trail, pausing to pick something up
off the ground, bending over, his boyish curiosity at play. As he does this
there is rustling in the bushes at the side of the path. Billy jerks upright,
his mouth open and eyes wide. The alpha dog in a wild pack, a large boxer so
lean he looks almost skeletal, his ribs showing, snarls.
Netty doesn't hesitate. She turns and returns along the path, breaking into a
strong running stride, covering ground silently with strong legs and broad
hips that have been strengthened through riding English style for many years.
Netty covers the clearing silently, racing toward the frozen Billy standing
like a statue.
The dogs are a mix of former pets - shepherds, boxers, and hounds - all kinds.
The smaller ones hang back and yip from the woods, excited at the possibility
74
of a meal ahead but not yet willing to attack humans, still recalling their
former owners. Netty reaches Billy and lifts him off the ground into her arms.
Red and Danny come running up, Red whacking at the retreating alpha dog with
his jacket. Red says,
They’re starving!
Netty says,
Come on, we’d better keep up with the others. Common
Billy, no more dawdling.
Netty takes Billy by the hand and strides off, practically dragging Billy
along. Red and Danny do their best fast walk too, Red’s elbows sticking out
and jerking up and down, Danny breaking into a trot now and then.
The laggards catch up with the rest of Ian’s group, who are standing around on
a river bluff, staring out at the river. Netty and Billy, still being towed
along behind Netty, arrive first, but instead of a welcome from the group,
they are ignored. No one turns to pay attention to them other than a quick
glance, then return to stare at the river. Danny and Red bring up the rear,