SIX

WITH THE DUST CLOUDS, it is hard to see how many trucks are coming. But one thing is for sure: they are not moving very fast. People are anticipating that someone from the trucks will tell them something bad.

Finally, the trucks arrive, and the chief hops off from the lead truck and makes a hasty announcement: “Everyone listen, and listen to me good this time.”

“What is this about?”

“Another bomb test at night?”

“Are we in trouble?”

“What is it? Just tell us now!”

Everyone is eager to hear what the chief has to say. The chief calmly takes his moment and then begins to talk. “They did a test. And — ”

“We know that. We heard it.”

“Just tell us now!”

“Okay, okay. And the test went wrong. So we all have to evacuate this island as soon as possible. It might kill everyone here. Okay? Go to your home now and pack your stuff — as little as possible. Then come to the port. Ships will be waiting for all of you.”

As soon as the chief finishes his announcement, everyone becomes furious. It sounds like their suspicions about what just happened might be true. But they are not sure. Some start to run to their homes to do what the chief told them. But some think that is not really what this is about.

“Why?”

“Why do we have to leave now?”

“Will it really kill us all?”

“Well,” answers the chief, “it can happen. This time it is very serious. I don’t want you to get killed by the bomb.”

“Now you listen to me good, you crazy old asshole. I don’t know what the hell is their plan to get us off this island. I don’t care what they gave you to make us leave. And especially I don’t believe you anymore. Surprised? What have you done for us? You promised us that this shit will never happen again. Now look! It happens even at night. What kind of maniacs do this kind of shit! What — are they trying to kill us all at night when we are sleeping? Just great. Look, everyone! He was trying to kill us all when we were sleeping. Well, it did not go smoothly as you and they planned, eh?

“Like I said, I don’t believe you anymore. I don’t give a shit about what the hell you have to tell us anymore. Okay? It is probably nothing, anyway.”

“Yeah, I agree with him. It is another conspiracy from the American soldiers to make us leave this island and do some more tests, or do something else. Isn’t it? Isn’t it?”

“No! You have to trust me this time. I might not give you guys my best all the time. But this time it is so serious, it will actually kill you!”

“Whatever, old man. I will stick to my rules. I am not leaving this island. Especially not for those American assholes. Okay? Now you do and say whatever you want, and I will do whatever I want from now on. Goodbye.”

“I am going back to my house, too. I will keep myself and my family here. No one will take it away from us!”

The majority of the islanders have run back to their homes to pack, and some have even run to the port already. But some just don’t want to listen to the chief anymore. In the nick of time, everything changes. Trust becomes sleight of hand and the truth becomes a slithering deceit. It is a matter of a flipping coin. That easy. It is not up to them to believe what will be. The situation dictates itself. The damage is already done. There is no turning back and no grudge. It will just become collateral damage, some might say.

Right after the harsh argument, the chief is at first surprised and then gets really depressed. But there is no time to be sentimental. He has to lead the islanders to the port and make sure they get on the ships. The chief gathers himself calmly and informs people what should be done. “Don’t panic. Pack your stuff — as little as you can — and go to the port. There will be some ships waiting for you guys. Okay? Don’t try to carry too much. You won’t get it all on the ship with you.”

He looks around to see if people are listening to him at all. There are lots of kids, and he doesn’t want to make any kid an orphan. Bad memories ripple his mind for a bit. Back in the days, he had too many memories of the orphanage himself.

“Hey, kids! Stick to your parents at all times. Okay?”

Although the chief is trying to inform and organize the people in a calm manner, everyone is running to the port with ears detached. It is probably crazier than trying to kill a lion with bare hands; or some boy band concert.

Anij’s dad enters the house. Fear is written on his face. Anij and his mom look at him and ask, “What happened?”

“Did you talk to anyone?” asks Anij.

“Just pack your bags, now.”

“Why? Are we leaving now? Why?”

“Just pack your bags!” Anij’s dad yells at both his wife and Anij. They feel the urgency.

“What is going on, Dad?”

“I just told you. Pack your bags now!”

They are scared. They have never seen him like this before. He is always jolly and easygoing. Never like this. So they know that this is very serious. Anij’s dad speaks while he packs his stuff. “We must leave now or the bomb will kill us all. But not just us — everyone on the island. That was what the chief told us. So everyone is leaving now. We should go to the port to get on a ship. Okay? Now you know. Pack your bags, and let’s leave as soon as we can.”

They all get out of the house and spot the chief standing by a truck. The chief is still trying to help people get to the port. Chief tells the truck driver to take Anij’s family to the port. While the truck is leaving, Anij yells at the chief, “Chief! You should leave now! Don’t worry about those people! Get in the truck now!”

The chief replies, with moist eyes, “I am okay! I belong to this island. This island needs me.”

“But you told everyone it is dangerous to stay here. Come on!”

“Don’t worry about me. I will be standing here until you guys come back. Okay?”

“But you promised us — ”

While Anij is trying to finish his sentence, the truck quickly starts moving away. The chief is waving his hand. Anij is looking at him full of tears. “Promise me that you will be here! I will come back! Okay?”

The chief could not hear that. He just keeps waving to Anij to show Anij that he is okay. Other people in the truck also feel sorry about the chief. There are quite a lot of people in the truck, but no one is talking. All you can hear is their heavy breathing and the noisy engine. A million different things are going in and out of their heads. It is a little strange, but there are few islanders who look happy or hopeful to leave this island. It is not the most pleasant trip. But certainly they are leaving for sure.

When the truck arrives at the port, they see swarms of people trying to get onto ships. Maybe the chaos theory started here. Without a moment to breathe, everyone runs to the ships.

There are a few massive ships, with their gates already open. No one is trying to be very civilized about this messy moment. Their usual sanity has been shoved out of its boundary far too long ago. Everyone is just running as fast as they can, so they can at least get a seat on the ship. Almost everyone left their brains at home and just took their bodies. Totally irrational things are happening here. Some just don’t mind stepping on other people. Nothing should interfere with them. Even neighbours and friends don’t count at this moment. Everyone has become less of a person, something lower.

Some kids have already lost their parents and scream out loud to find at least one of them. Everyone’s brains are paralyzed with an anaesthetic called “selfishness”; or, rather, “rudimentary survival skills 101.” Kids become live piñatas — soldiers are grabbing crying kids and throwing them into any ship without thinking about where their parents might be. No lining up; any kind of orderliness has become ancient history. Jam-packed gangways at the ships. There are lots of soldiers trying to keep them in order. But they just can’t do that with a couple of thousand people pushing their way in.

Then, suddenly . . . “BANG! BANG! BANG!”

A lieutenant shoots his pistol up in the air. Everyone stops and looks at him. He is angry and shouts out, “Everyone! Keep the lines straight! Okay? Keep the lines straight! I will have to shoot again if you don’t do that! Okay?”

All of a sudden, rational thoughts bloom in their heads. They all try to form some kind of lines. But there are always rebels in any group.

“Screw this. I am getting in first!”

Then those uncivilized misfits push through the lines that were just formed and shove themselves inside the ship. While this new bud of disorder is unfolding, people are going back to the state of chaos. It is very hard to throw away a bad habit.

The chief is standing on the beach and watching everyone; he is very worried. He cannot believe this is happening. Why? For what? As he told Anij, he is staying here; he really is staying here.

Anij and his parents are running to one of the ships and trying desperately to get on, their uptight, chilled sweat broadcasting their fears that they will not be able to get on and get some seats. People are pushing their way in regardless of what other people think. There is no time to pay attention to morality or common sense.

Then Anij loses hold of his dad’s hand. This turmoil is too much for a little boy. Anij’s eyes start to be filled with fear. His dad tries to swim back to Anij through these chaotic crowds. Anij screams and cries loudly. His mom is also freaking out that Anij and they are getting farther and farther apart.

“Dad! Where are you? I can’t see you!”

“Anij! I am coming, baby! Don’t be afraid! Okay?”

“Where are you? Dad? Where — ”

“Anij! Just don’t move. I am coming. Okay?”

“Ahhh . . . !”

Anij’s cries are overruled. He is allowed to scream and cry. But no one has to hear.

Finally, they get parted, and now the distance is not likely to close up. The entrance to the gangway of the ship is right in front of them. They can almost touch it. While his dad is struggling to get his child back, Anij gets hit by a man and falls down. His dad draws on his last drop of energy to get back to him. But a soldier comes up to him and yells, “There is no time to hold any grudges. Just get onto the ship!”

The soldier shoves Anij’s parents onto the gangway. His parents scream out, “Anij! Anij!”

Of course, Anij is still crying for help and unaware of this situation. “Dad! Where are you? Mom!”

“I will be right there! Just wait!”

Anij is stranded at the port with tears pouring down on his cheeks. His parents are already on the ship. His dad can’t come to him, since soldiers and thousands of people are still trying to get on. His dad tries with all his might for the last time. But he can’t win over all those people.

“Anij! Just wait! I will be there!”

“Just do something! My baby is crying alone!” Anij’s mom is about to pass out.

To move things along faster, soldiers are pushing islanders even harder to just to get rid of all this turbulence. They are randomly putting islanders on different ships. It is not of any concern to the soldiers whether islanders are with their families. A soldier sees Anij and puts him on a different ship. Yes. Soldiers are true members of the airport cargo association, who just don’t give a shit about any luggage.

Oddly enough, there is that well-dressed man again, standing on the far side of the port while this chaos is playing itself out. Now he looks rather happy, with a cigar in his mouth.

Eventually, all of the islanders are on ships, and the ships leave the port. This departure seems so quiet.

It is still a dark night. Now we see a very quiet, deserted port with a few bags lying about. It is the same place where chaos was in charge just a few hours ago. It can’t be the same place.