| 5 Comforting Stranger |
| �Why don�t we go back and sit down. If you feel like talking, I�m here to listen,� Mike suggested, moving across the studio to where she was standing. She gazed up at him. �Why are you being so decent after everything I said?� �Forgiveness is the key to mankind�s discontent. If people forgave more, there wouldn�t be as much unrest as there is in the world today.� �You believe it�s that simple?� She looked at him sceptically. �It is that simple.� She shook her head and moved outside into the warm night air. Mike followed. She locked the studio door, then pushed the key into the pocket of her jeans. As Peggy climbed the front steps, Mike close behind her, Toby heard their footsteps and slipped out through his pet door. They walked past him to the end of the porch and sat down. Toby snorted and slipped back through the pet door, wandered over to his basket in the corner, climbed in and went to sleep. Peggy had been so consumed with her thoughts she hadn�t noticed that he had come outside to meet her. Mike quietly observed her for some time. On two occasions she opened her mouth, about to say something, but then closed it again and stared out across the dark, dusty landscape. She wondered why this stranger was so intent on helping her. Why would he waste his time with her problems? To her confused and tired mind it didn�t make any sense. People today don�t care about each other. At least not those who don�t have some kind of connection. She turned and looked at him, a questioning frown on her face. �What is it?� Mike asked. �You�re still here. Why?� �It wouldn�t be right for me to leave you like this.� �You really care about doing the right thing, don�t you?� she asked. �Yes, I do.� �Why?� �Let�s just say that my boss only hires staff who are empathetic to people�s needs. If I didn�t live up to his expectations, I�d be unemployed.� �I don�t understand.� �Let me expl...� The back passenger door of the Chevrolet suddenly swung open and a tall, dark haired man stepped out. He was of similar stature to Mike, tall and physically fit, but the goatee moulded to his chin gave him a sinister appearance. He was wearing a similar, long brown jacket, but wore a black T-shirt and black jeans underneath. He moved around the car. �Why didn�t you wake me up, Mike?� he asked as he climbed the front steps. �I thought you could use the rest,� Mike replied, glancing across at Peggy. Peggy jumped to her feet. �You didn�t say you had someone with you!� �I apologise. I thought that we�d be gone before he woke up.� �I think you should leave now!� Mike stood up and moved toward her. �Will you at least let me explain?� �Don�t!� she warned, backing along the porch and bumping into the darkly attired stranger. She swung around sharply. �You have to watch him, he tends to omit little things like this sometimes,� the unnamed passenger said, wagging a disciplinary finger at Mike as he moved closer. Peggy turned toward Mike. �Who is he?� she asked, a strained frown on her face. �Let me introduce myself. I�m Nick.� He took her hand and kissed it. Peggy slid her hand out of his grasp as she stood sandwiched between the two towering men. Her thoughts turned to a more depraved scenario to the one she had contrived earlier. What if they...she couldn�t bear to consider such a horrible possibility. She stepped out from between them and backed toward the screen door. �I think you�d better go...now.� |