Page 199 - Reason To Sing by Kelita Haverland

Chapter Thirty-Four

As the bus cuts through the black night, the chatter subsides.
There is only soft laughter and for once, no dancing! I’m sure
our driver is relieved that we’re all behaving. It is a peaceful
trip along the dark, deserted road. I feel good just to be still.
Putting on your best happy face and schmoozing and boozing
can be exhausting, night after night. Some of the others have
unbelievable stamina for partying. It’s all part of the gig. And
we are all happy our presence lifts the spirits of those who are
serving our country.
I gaze out my window. It sure is dark out here. Nothing
but the jet-black Egyptian sky dotted with the glow of stars,
millions of miles away. We are in the middle of nowhere. The
bus hums along the deserted road as people start to nod off,
and then …
BANG! BANG!
What the hell was that?
Another BANG.
What’s going on?
“Everybody down. Everybody down!” The Major is
shouting, “Get down. NOW! NOW!”
The sound of glass shattering pierces the air. I franticly
hit the floor as, all around me, bodies are dropping to safety.
Adrenaline is gushing. We are being shot at! We must be!
Our driver cuts the lights - inside and out. He hits the gas full
throttle and the bus surges into the black hole.
Nobody knows what’s going on. It’s happening too fast. It’s
pitch black and impossible to see anything. I can barely make
out the bodies crouched beside me. Some in the aisles. Others,
like me, curled up into balls.
The bus drives on, with no one making a sound. The Major
finally calls out, “Everybody listen up! Stay down for just a little
longer. We want to make sure we’re in the clear.”

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