The Field Trip by R. T. Martin

Author:R. T. Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Action, Action & Adventure, Adventure, Alien, Alien Attack, Alien Attacks, Alien Invasion, Aliens, Attack on Earth, Darby Creek, Hi/Lo, High Interest, Hi-Lo, Hi-Lo Fiction, Reluctant Readers, Sci Fi, Science Fiction, Survival, Survival, Apocalypse, Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Alien, Aliens, Alien Contact, UFO, Action, Action & Adventure, Adventure, Airport, Friendship, Friendships, R. T. Martin, Rivalries, Stranded, The Field Trip
Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group
Published: 2018-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“It is there,” Steph said defensively.

“The people we spoke with in the airport seemed pretty certain about it,” Ms. Pollack said.

Orlando nodded. “Everyone who lives around here knows about it.”

“Have you ever been there?” a girl asked. “Even seen it before?”

“Well, no,” Orlando said. “It’s only for emergencies. If you go by the site on a normal day you’re not going to see anything out of the ordinary. But it was specifically created to be a place for people to gather if a disaster happens. I’m sure the military has set up there by now.”

“Then why didn’t anyone else come with us?” Luke asked.

Kayla snapped her head toward him. She hadn’t expected normally quiet Luke to question the plan. Usually he stayed out of debates and conflicts, but since they’d left the airport, he’d been different.

“Has it occurred to you,” Luke continued, “that they may have wanted us to leave so there would be more food and space for them at the airport?”

“We took food anyway,” Kayla said.

“Only a couple days’ worth.” Luke’s hands were trembling. “We just left a safe shelter based on the word of complete strangers who think there might be a shelter somewhere. Who knows how long we’ll be out here . . . or if we’ll be able to find the shelter . . . or if it even exists in the first place!”

Other students started chiming in, asking nervous questions about what they were going to do. Ms. Pollack was trying to calm everyone down, but anxiety, paranoia, and an entire day of walking had gotten to them. They weren’t listening to her.

Several of their classmates looked to Steph for answers, asking her what to do. But Steph didn’t say anything. She seemed to be stunned into silence as questions kept coming at her. The voices in the gas station rose until Kayla could barely think.

“Stop!” She surprised herself at her own outburst. Everyone else looked at her in surprise too. Kayla licked her lips nervously, then straightened up where she was sitting. “Everyone just calm down. Back at the airport, there was no right decision to make, but we couldn’t afford to not make any decision at all. Staying put and just waiting to run out of food wasn’t a good option. We knew this trip was risky, but we agreed it was worth it, and nothing’s changed except our attitude. We need to keep going.”

Everyone stared at her for another moment. Then the tension in the air broke. People began whispering in small groups, but at least no one sounded panicked anymore. Kayla locked eyes with Ms. Pollack, who looked relieved. She smiled proudly and nodded at Kayla. She gave a quick nod in return.

Luke looked at her a little sheepishly. “Good pep talk.”

She gave him a weak smile. “You feeling okay, Luke?”

He shrugged. “I’ll be fine. Sorry. I kind of lost it there for a sec.”

“I doubt you’ll be the last one,” Maddie said. “Everybody’s wound pretty tight right now.”

“But we’ll get through it,” Kayla added.

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