Chapter 9
What happened the night before was a mystery for everyone. It looked light a huge meteor because of its blinding glow and a strong impact should have happened but there was none. The districts around Subangdaku had also witnessed the spectacle and so media men also arrived in there. But based on projections, the falling star should most likely hit Subangdaku.
Local scientists had also arrived. They came from various fields, but mostly were astronomers and astrophysicists. With the magnitude of the supposed collision, fragments of the meteor should be found all over Subangdaku. They brought different probing equipment, sweeping private lots and the gra.s.slands. So far, no mysterious stones of unfamiliar contents or origin had been found yet.
All that was happening were reported in TV and radios. There were various exclusive news and updates. Jamie finally got sick of these news. Hurriedly, he finished his breakfast and prepared for school.
"Are you sure you're going to school?" his mother asked. "I mean, the streets may not that be safe."
"It's alright, Honey" his father answered for him. "The Mayor said we are safe so he did not declare today as a local holiday."
Jamie flashed a large smile. "Don't worry about me, Mom. I'll go home right away if the princ.i.p.al tells us so."
His mother answered with a sad and worried smile. "Ok, just be careful. Stay with Tonton always."
Jamie left and called Tonton next door. They boarded their bikes and fetched Kiko and Bogart along the way. As portrayed in the news, the streets were really teeming with people. Media trucks were found everywhere and camping tents were put up on empty lots.
It was already late so the boys hurriedly pedalled their bikes. The school was not any different from their village. Parents, mostly mothers, delivered their kids in lower grade levels. Teachers were also out in the hallways, discussing the event with their co-teachers and parents. Speculations were overflowing and so the talks were endless.
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The boys stayed outside in their building lobby as their teachers were not yet ready to go inside their cla.s.srooms. They were sorting information they
One huge white van entered through the gate and parked in front of the school princ.i.p.al's office. Three people, a woman and two men, stepped out and went to the office. Minutes past and all the teachers were called to the office. Everyone started to fell panic, especially the parents who remained in the school.
"Who are those people?" Bogart finally asked.
"They could be from the government," Kiko replied.
"They must be government scientists in particular," Tonton said. "They don't look like regular politicians, more like geniuses."
"Yeah, last night's event was really a big news." Jamie seconded. "And what's with the sudden meeting?"
n.o.body answered. By and by, all the teachers went out of the princ.i.p.al's office and called all their students to come inside their cla.s.sroom, including their parents. The boys parted, and Jamie and Tonton occupied their a.s.signed seats near the back of the cla.s.sroom.
"Good morning, everyone," Ms. Sanchez said after releasing a short cough. "The princ.i.p.al had declared suspension of cla.s.ses today. Just for today only. Some officials will be conducting a thorough search in the school ground."
"Why, Ms. Sanchez? " a mother asked worriedly. "Is the school not safe?"
"Oh no, it's not that it is not safe. The government just want to be sure."
"Sure of what? Ms. Sanchez, please tell us what is happening?"
"Alright, the government so far has no clear explanation of what happened last night. Scientists believe that it is a meteor that had entered the Earth's atmosphere. Based on observations, it was a large meteor. Supposedly, that meteor would struck Subangdaku. From the estimates of the scientists, it should specifically hit our school."
A woman gasped upon hearing the information. Another one wailed when it finally sank in. Some of the kids also began crying.
"Do not panic. Obviously, the meteor did not strike us because we are all still alive, and we should be thankful for that." The cla.s.s began to relax.
"However," Ms. Sanchez was not done yet, "that mysterious thing may be here in the school. It may have not exploded but it could be here. So the government requested to have a close check around the campus. The gate will be closed soon and the entire school will be quarantined as the officials will investigate. If the school is clear, cla.s.ses will resume by tomorrow. "
"Why does it have to be quarantined, Ms. Sanchez? " Tonton asked." Can't they just look around while we are here. "
" I'm afraid not, "Ms. Sanchez answered with slight tremor in her voice."You see, the meteor might be containing compounds, like gases, substances, or even life forms, that may not be good for Earth."
"Or may endanger us," a father said threateningly.
"That, I cannnot answer."
The woman who first cried again wailed, this time louder and more fearfully. Instantly, she stood up and embraced her child. The others followed and cried in panic. In a minute, the cla.s.sroom was sent into a chaos.
"Calm down, everyone," Ms. Sanchez yelled, buy n.o.body was listening. "We need to go home right now....."
Her voice disappeared in the chaos. Jamie and Tonton immediately left their seats as everyone rushed to get out of the cla.s.sroom. Once outside, they looked for their friends. Like them, worry was also written all over their faces. Hurriedly, they got their bikes and left.
"Wait," Kiko said. They were already outside, just few meters away from the school. Everyone had already vacated and only few people were left in sight.
"What?" Bogart asked.
"Just wait."
Minutes rolled by and the school's surrounding was enveloped in silence. From the corner of the school, gravel were heard crumbling as wheels whirred. Another three white vans appeared and entered the school. With a loud bang, the gate closed.