“We don't know. I assume we'll be finding out soon,” Jake responded.

“And we don't know what the emergency is that's causing us to have to go to the shelter? Ray inquired.

“That's right.”

“Daddy, I'm scared,” Lauren admitted.

“Me too, honey.”

“Excuse me, folks,” the soldier in the passenger seat spoke up. “We have another family to pick up on our way. When we get there, we need you to all remain in the van.”

In less than fifteen minutes the van was back on the highway, with the Tanners and a new couple, Steve and Wendy Barnett also on board. The Barnetts seemed to be in a state of shock and had brought minimal belongings. Neither spoke during the trip.

Their journey ended at an old hanger on an Air National Guard base.

They were herded into the hanger, where there were pizzas and beverages available. Each of them was given a yellow lanyard with a keycard attached, and instructed to keep it on at all times.

Cots were spread out in the rear of the hanger, and some people were already sleeping on them. Most of the others were walking around and talking. Everyone other than the military personnel wore a lanyard, and Lauren noticed there were at least four different colors visible.

As they looked for a place to set their stuff, a sudden blasting noise erupted from the PA system. “Blue group, your aircraft is still on schedule for arrival at 1930 hours. Red group, your aircraft has been delayed until 2045 hours and for those of you in the yellow group who are just arriving, be prepared to leave with all your belongings at 2100 hours. Remember, your aircraft will be met by buses, which will take you to final destinations. Please remember that the personnel on duty here have no additional information to provide. Thank you.”

The message was repeated with minor adjustments about once every twenty minutes.

During their stay, vans continued to arrive and drop off frightened and confused passengers. Megan saw the same two soldiers who had dropped off her family, return at least once more with other people. While they waited there were several times when a large military transport plane arrived, and several hundred people from their hanger boarded.

Megan wandered around listening to what others were saying, hoping to learn something about their current situation. Unfortunately, it soon became clear that no one knew any more than she did. However, every one of them had a different guess regarding the source of the emergency.

Many people were crying. Everyone was frightened and confused. Repeatedly, she heard people comment about how they'd never actually thought this would happen.

Three hours later, their aircraft arrived, and when they left the hanger, they left behind several hundred people, all members of brown or green groups, who had started showing up after she and her family first arrived.

Chapter Thirty

DAY 4