Читать книгу Breaking the Chains - William T Blake - Страница 15

- Now, suddenly she understood that men could be the victims of their own desires. They did not necessarily have the power over her but her over them. -

After leaving home Maggie elected to travel by public transport until she reached the outer areas of the city limits. She then sought out a safe place to hide, knowing she would need to lay low for several days. Her conclusion being that if her mother cared sufficiently enough to call the authorities then they would in all probability search for her, keeping an eye on major transport routes. Better she stay in one place and keep hidden until it was safe for her to make a move. The time spent in hiding was wretched, it had rained soaking her through, she’d been cold and hungry and at times frightened. The abandoned warehouse she chose, barely had a roof let alone walls to keep out the miserable weather. Other down and outs, the city's vagrants also called this place home. She had to be on her guard at all times, never getting more than a few moments sleep. Despite her fears, everyone seemed to keep to themselves. It was as if there was an unwritten law and she survived without ever having been approached by anyone. Facing all this, her resolve never wavered. She was not going back.

“How old are you and where are you off too?” asked the truck driver. He stopped to pick Maggie up several kilometers back as she had hitchhiked along the highway.

“I’m eighteen” she lied. ”It was my eighteenth birthday a few months ago and I’m traveling to the West if you’re going that far?”

“No problem, nice to have the company,” he replied as the big rig continued its slow travel through the countryside.

Early evening was approaching as the driver pulled into a petrol station to re-fuel and buy some hot food and coffee. “You want something to eat?” he asked. Maggie was hungry. Since running away from home she had been living in the dilapidated warehouse, too frightened to venture out in case she was caught by the authorities and forced to return home. As a result she had only eaten the two packets of biscuits and half bag of pretzels which she had brought with her. Despite all her reservations, she accepted the offer, believing there was always a cost. He purchased food and drinks which they shared and then they continued on their journey.

The conversation between them was scant and labored. Maggie unsure what to or how much to say had for much of the afternoon and evening feigned sleep. When asked, she responded saying that she had been travelling for a long period with little rest.

In the late of the night the driver pulled the big rig into a truck bay telling Maggie he had to take a break to get some sleep. As he climbed from the driver’s seat into the sleeping compartment of the truck, fear crept into Maggie’s heart, she had expected this would happen at some point and had been trying to prepare herself. No matter how hard she tried she could never get used to it.

“You can try and get some more sleep on the seat if you like,” he said, throwing her a blanket and pillow, "and by the way, my name’s Bob.”

“Thank you” she answered with relief “I’m Maggie.” It was then that she started to cry, at first just softly but then the tears flowed with uncontrolled sobs. The fear and exhaustion had finally caught up with her.

Bob waited until she had cried herself out and then asked her quietly if she wanted to talk. Maggie replied that she would just like to get some sleep and maybe talk in the morning. The remainder of the night proved uneventful.

Having slept soundly, Maggie awoke in the early morning to the sound of the truck engine starting up.

“Sleep well?” asked Bob. Maggie just nodded her head in reply. Noticing she was holding a small ballerina doll, the kind used to decorate cakes. Bob smiled slightly but made no comment. His heart went out to her. She was obviously escaping from something or somebody. He often ran into people like Maggie as he travelled to and fro across the country. "So many people running away from something." He thought to himself.

“There’s something to eat in the locker behind you, it's not gourmet but it will take your hunger away, you can help yourself to whatever you like.” Maggie gratefully ate the food while questioning Bob as to how long it would take before they arrived at their final destination. “About another thirty hours or so, depends on traffic and police. It's a long haul and this is a slow heavy rig, get stuck behind someone slower and there's just no chance of passing. We’ll stop for a half hour break at the next service station and you can get yourself cleaned up and stretch your legs. After that we’ll only make necessary short breaks before stopping for a few hours of sleep to-night.

True to his word the big rig traveled at a slow but steady speed throughout the day. It was a comfortable journey with opportunity for conversation interspersed with long stretches of silence. Maggie enjoyed taking in the changing views of the countryside and towns they passed. It ended with Bob finally pulling over for the night.

“Same sleeping arrangements as last night,” he said as he climbed into the sleeping compartment; however this time, without saying anything Maggie climbed in with him. It was the first time ever that Maggie had been a volunteer to the act and she particularly noted the absence of any horrible smells and gone was the compelling need to wash and scrub herself clean. More than that came a significant realization, Maggie could not understand why she hadn't seen it before this. She had always felt intimidated and overpowered by the predators that had inflicted such unspeakable horrors on her. Now, suddenly she understood that men could be the victims of their own desires. They did not necessarily have the power over her but her over them. Still she felt confused by the revelation. Maggie’s life had conditioned her to expect the worst and afterwards it seemed that Bob’s attitude toward her changed, “just like the others” she thought with disappointment.

The following morning as the big rig neared its final stop Bob informed Maggie he would have to drop her somewhere in the outer suburbs explaining he was not allowed to carry unauthorized passengers in the truck. He pulled the big rig to the side of the road, parallel to a railway station where Maggie could catch a passenger train into the city. He handed her a sum of money saying he hoped it all worked out well for her. Maggie understood what the money was for, she knew what her mother did and she felt angry. Bob had seemed so nice, caring and friendly but now she knew for sure that he was just like the others, but at least this time there was something in it for her. In her anger she decided that this time she would strike back. ”By the way Bob,” she said, “I’m only fifteen, how old are you?” Maggie watched and enjoyed the look of horror on Bob’s face; she was at last learning to retaliate.

Climbing out of the truck she walked to the train station without turning to watch as the big rig pulled away and continued its journey.