Читать книгу Breaking the Chains - William T Blake - Страница 16

- She observed Peter’s eyes settling on her a number of times causing her to shudder knowingly, she had seen that look before. -

Maggie had been frustrated by the unfamiliarity of the ticketing system and the strange surroundings. With some kind help from a stranger she managed to book a seat on the next train leaving for the city. The hour she waited gave her the necessary time to compose herself and gather her thoughts together. She took the opportunity to regain her resolve knowing she must focus on building a new life and putting the old behind her, including the episode with Bob. The fact that she had liked him; he made her feel comfortable and at ease, made it all the more disappointing.

The train journey to the city proved uneventful; however Maggie thoroughly enjoyed the view, captivated by studying the change from rural to metropolitan. The swaying rhythm produced by the constant motion had lulled her into an almost sleep state. All too soon, the train pulled into the central city station on schedule and towards the latter part of the day. Duffel bag in hand, Maggie wandered aimlessly whilst surveying her surrounds. She was surprised at how small the central city area was compared with her home town. Nevertheless, there was the usual hustle and bustle of traffic and its accompanying sounds together with the chaos of motion. People leaving work and heading home.

She decided to find a place to eat and take the time to contemplate where she would sleep for the coming night and formulate her next strategy. She was sure she couldn’t go to any of the shelters as questions would arise that were too difficult to answer. She simply couldn't risk making any mistakes now. She had come this far and was determined to make things work. She could not take the chance of being caught and sent back home where she would have to live with the fear and self-loathing once again. Faced with that degradation she believed she would lose all resolve to break away a second time.

Wandering aimlessly she eventually stumbled across a cafe with a few grubby seats out front. The food was unappetizing and looked re-heated from the day before. Nevertheless, she purchased take away and found a strategic spot where she could sit and eat her hamburger and fries without being disturbed by the other customers. She tried thinking but nothing rational would come to her. She just could not decide on what to do. Even though she had spent a few nights sleeping rough before hitching up with Bob she hadn't felt this alone before. Now she felt desperate with the enormity of her situation. Briefly, she even considered returning home to accept what life sent her way.

By the time she finished eating, her positive outlook returned and even though she had not yet come up with any plan she set out walking the nearly deserted streets. Although, emptying of business people and workers, she knew it wouldn't be long before the gloomy atmosphere would pass and be replaced by the night crowd. Those people coming into the city to enjoy a movie or perhaps friends gathering at a pub for a drink or maybe enjoying an evening of entertainment at the theatre. She wondered if life would ever be that ordinary for her. Was it really only a few days ago when she had fleetingly felt normal while celebrating her fifteenth birthday?

Amidst all these conflicting emotions, Maggie heard the resonance of lively music playing in the near distance. She followed the sounds until she came across a large assembly of people, singing and dancing in the street and seemingly having fun. A crowd was gathering around them and Maggie was soon drawn in. She stood watching for a while and gradually became comfortable enough to join in with clapping to the rhythm and humming to the words. One of the young men from the group walked over to her introducing himself as Murray and asked her name. Giving just her first name while raising her voice above the music she enquired, "Are you part of this group and what do you do?"

“We’re part of a group who live together in a commune of peace and harmony. We come into town several times a month to encourage others to join us and experience the love and joy that is available to all mankind.” Sensing an opportunity, Murray took Maggie by the hand escorting her to a quieter side of the street. There they could hear each other talk without having to compete with the loud music. Continuing he said “You look so lost and all alone, do you have somewhere to go, a place to sleep?”

Maggie immediately realized that this may just be the answer to her current predicament. The streets were a hard place to live, she’d already experienced those few days in a derelict building with little food and no comfort to speak of. She had been lucky so far, could it last this time? Maybe she wasn't street smart enough to continue until she found a job that would enable her to rent a decent room somewhere. Surviving would be very difficult with little money and no job and no idea as to how she was to go about getting either. Keeping up the lies would be yet another challenge.

“No, I've nowhere to go.” she replied seizing the opportunity and hastily asked, “Can I join you?”

This was to be the beginnings of a journey that would last for several years. Maggie would learn more in the area of failed promises and human shame to add to her already dismal record. Determined to get tougher and smarter with the intention that little, if anything would ever get to her again. She would become her own person with her own rules. Maggie at fifteen years of age was already paving a path that would lead to her eventual destruction.

The singing and dancing continued on and as time grew late the crowds dispersed and the group packed up and headed to a brightly lit car park where they boarded an old run-down bus.

Once on board they headed out of the city into suburbia and beyond the metropolitan area. Maggie had a window seat and could see the landscape changing to open fields and bush with little established housing. "The commune must be some way out in an isolated location" she thought to herself.

The joviality and good humor of the group continued until the bus approached a vast property stuck in the middle of nowhere. The remoteness pleased Maggie as she figured it would be beyond the normal parameters of any police search for missing people. A secure place to develop a new identity without the necessity of always looking behind her, and living with the uncertainty of being recognized as a missing person.

The bus traveled up a narrow, winding driveway finally stopping in front of a large barn-style structure. Exiting the bus they entered straight into the building where refreshments awaited them. Taking a cup of hot tea and several biscuits Maggie sat alone. People milled around her but no one showed any interested in her, she felt she was being ignored. It was odd and contrary to the previous mood of the group. Hadn't they asked her to join them? Perhaps she had made a mistake coming here?

Looking around the hall she counted fifty people and noted the majority were most likely in their teen years. She wondered if any were as young as her. There seemed to be an even split of male and females and while the men were dressed in normal clothing such as jeans and t-shirts, the girls all wore the same type of simple loose fitting dress. Murray, who came and sat beside her, explained that after each outing they all gathered to share the evening’s events and to discuss how they could better “reach out” to others. Their conversation was interrupted as a woman followed by a number of men of varying ages entered the room taking up seats at the front of the auditorium. An immediate stillness descended on the assembly and they stood as if to attention. Once the new arrivals were seated the group then relaxed and began to chatter amongst themselves. “They are our spiritual leaders,” explained Murray. “The man in the middle is our Bishop, he is the rock of our commune and we call him Brother Peter. The others are deacons and we have one deaconess. In due course I’ll be introducing you to Brother Peter and if he accepts you as part of our earthly mission you will then be initiated as one of us.”

People stood, taking turns with the microphone as it was passed around, sharing the significant high-lights of the evening. When Murray spoke she noticed he made little mention of her. As the evening progressed, Maggie watched Peter, taking particular note as his eyes wandered around the room, looking at each person, staring, appearing to be in deep thought. She observed Peter’s eyes settling on her a number of times causing her to shudder knowingly, she had seen that look many times before. Maggie knew she was trapped since it was imperative she stay in the commune, no matter what. She steeled herself to accept what lay ahead until it suited her to make changes.

Murray stayed close beside her throughout the evening. At the conclusion of the night's program, he carefully explained that he was her sponsor and until she was accepted by Brother Peter, he would be the only person she could interact with. This was to keep pure the harmony of the group. Maggie resolved to go along with it and play out the role. However, she was already formulating a plan in her mind.