The thick, uncomfortably tight blindfold is itchy against the skin of my temples.

I wonder how much longer I'll have to wear it.

How much longer I'll have to be in the dark like this?

We started out from Site 19 in some kind of car or van.

That was nearly four hours ago.

I think anyway.

I can only guess.

After maybe 50 minutes, the vehicle stopped, and I was helped out.

I could hear the gentle sloshing of a large body of water.

I went up a ramp and onto a boat.

After a few minutes, the boat started moving, rocking gently as it took

me closer to my destination. Once the boat stopped, I was loaded onto a train. I could tell by the

sound and the way it swayed as we went on our way. Then I got onto an airplane. Then some kind of vehicle that I couldn't quite place.

We went down several flights of stairs to get to that one.

So maybe it was in a tunnel, but it didn't feel like a train.

After one more transfer, they loaded me into this helicopter.

Now, as the itchy blindfold becomes nearly unbearable, I can feel us descending.

We land, and I feel hands on my blindfold.

But before it comes off, a man's voice speaks into my ear over the sound of the slowing rotors.

I'm going to take this off now and put a helmet on you.

Just stay still.

Okay, I say.

...