Читать книгу Together In Paradise - Travis Jr. Slone - Страница 8

As Sarah ran to the garage outside, she saw lightning flash in the distance. A few seconds later, thunder slowly grumbled, and rain began to pour from the early morning sky. The sun had not yet risen, but the endless storm clouds overhead were clearly visible. It was 4:15 AM.

She entered the outlying building, and started up her black BMW M6 with the push of a button. The garage door opened, and Sarah pulled out onto the eight kilometer drive way.

Heavy rain pounded her windshield as she made the winding journey to the front gate. Upon approaching the guarded entry, she noticed a strange hooded person standing outside near the main road. After waiting anxiously for the gate to open, she pulled through slowly, and stopped to inquire of the young guard.

“Who is that person near the road, and how long have they been standing in the rain?” she asked.

“He arrived about an hour ago Ma’am. It’s just some homeless person looking for food and a place to stay. An older man in a pick-up truck dropped him off here before the storm began. He doesn’t speak English very well, so he’s probably not a local.”

Sarah looked closely through the dark rainy night, and watched for a moment as the hunched over homeless man stood near the road just a few meters ahead. She considered letting him in, but decided against it. Time constraints, and a certain distrust of the mysterious stranger, caused her to justify the cautious inaction in her own mind.

“Just make sure he doesn’t get inside,” she said to the guard. “My little girl’s in there, and he’s probably a criminal or a drunk. Is that understood?”

“Yes Ma’am,” replied the guard. “I fully understand. Drive safe out there. The weather is supposed to be nasty all day.”

“Thank you Sir,” Sarah replied. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”

She pulled up to the main road, and stared once more at the stranger standing in the rain. He appeared to be watching for vehicles, probably searching for another ride to take him into the nearest town. He’ll find another way, Sarah thought to herself. Someone else will help him.

As she pulled out onto the main road, and began to speed away, the homeless man stood straight up for the first time since arriving. He stretched his arms to the sky, apparently sore from the hunched way of walking. He watched as the black car disappeared into the hills, and kept his face hidden beneath the hooded sweater.

Within seconds of Sarah’s departure, the old man in the pick-up truck returned, and stopped in front of the large gate. As the guard observed, the mysterious beggar exchanged words with the man in the truck. The conversation was brief, and too quiet for the guard to hear, though he did notice a peculiar glow to the driver’s mythical green eyes.

A moment later, they appeared to shake hands, and the truck drove away, leaving the beggar behind. The soaking wet homeless man looked back at the gate, resumed his hunched back position, and then started to move on down the road. He walked toward the hills, just south of the estate.

Strange, thought the guard. He jotted down a note to report the incident when Sarah returned. Until then, it was nothing worth worrying about. I need some sleep.