The Wall

114

The bus started moving but stopped almost right away.

“Check point at the exit. They’re opening all the trunks.” Moses didn’t say anything.

“I think there are still three cars in front of us at the gate. Then a garbage truck. Phew… that reeks. And then us. Now the gate is opening. One car is leaving. Oh! There are people in the back of the garbage truck.”

“What do you mean people?”

“People, as in people.”

“In the garbage?”

“In the garbage.”

“And?”

“They’re hiding.”

“In the garbage.”

“In the garbage. We’re down one more car.”

“What kind of people?”

“How should I know? They’re buried under the trash.”

“White people?”

“The hand I just saw was black. One more car gone. Now they’re at the garbage truck. They’re looking in the cab. Someone is climbing up on the step. Back down again. And they’re looking in the back. Now it’s being waved through,” she said. “We’re up next.”

For a second, nothing happened, but then he heard Sandi’s voice. “Thank you, officer!”

Moses heard the gears shift. Second gear. Slowed down again. Turned. Drove. Away from here. What a nightmare.