The Light in the Distance

Angela's contribution.

She knew she had seen it - a light in the distance, she was so sure, and yet now, as she came gradually nearer to where she felt it should be, the darkness enveloped her even more.
She must have been walking now for at least two hours, along this straight unending road, devoid of houses, or any signs of human habitation.
The backs of her shoes were cutting into her heels, and her hands with no gloves were becoming numb with the cold that had become more severe as night had fallen.
Even so, small discomforts compared with what would surely have ensued had she not left when she did.

As she tramped along she replayed that last hour again. The now all too familiar arguments between her and Thomas. This time though things had become more serious. She saw another side to the young man she thought she loved. His face had been contorted in rage and frustration. He had gone for her, raising his hand and slapping her sharply across the face.

Her shock was palpable as her cheek reddened and wheels appeared where his fingers had left an imprint across her face.
Her instinct had been to run, to get away from this changed man, this violent stranger whom she felt perhaps she had never really known.

Yet now, two hours later and in unknown countryside she was feeling her resolve fade a little. Yes, she had to get away but to where and would he follow her? She thought not as there had been no sign of any vehicle all the time she had been walking.

Of course it was now probably well past midnight and here in the depths of the country, traffic at that time was very rare.

She peered hard again into the darkness. She had been so sure there was a light. Yet now all she could see was the eerie outline of trees and hedges closer to her and in the distance just velvety  blackness.

As her shock and hurt produced by Thomas's behaviour began to settle a little new emotions of vulnerability and fear started to take over. She had run out of the house with just her coat, not stopping to grab her bag from the bedroom. So now she had no phone, no lifeline.

The more she thought the more she began to panic. She did not know the road, this was Thomas's patch not hers. If anything should happen no one would know, she could be left there injured or worse.

She tried to pull herself together and think rationally.  There was no moon so she couldn't get an idea of direction although she thought she was heading vaguely for the nearest village.
All she could do was to keep walking in spite of the pain in her feet and trust she would come to somewhere. It was such a long almost straight road though, with no little cross roads and sign posts.

Suddenly she saw that light again - in the distance just for a moment and then gone again.
So it wasn't a house light, probably too late now.  If not that what else. Who would be around with a light at this time. Someone up to no good she assumed and with no comfort or hope of rescue. It was perhaps important that she wasn't seen by whoever this was.

Now she kept her ears peeled as well to catch any sound of who this might be as she walked inevitably closer.
This was so out of her usual day to day life as an office worker with everything ordered and predictable. The outdoor life had never appealed to her and she had no skills or experience to cope with this. Now she just felt very alone, vulnerable and more and more scared. She regretted rushing off as she had,even though it seems the obvious thing to do at the time.

It occurred to her that Thomas had made no effort to come after her even knowing that she would be completely lost and terrified when she failed to find any signs of life in the surrounding countryside. How could he be so callous? Obviously another trait of his personality she had not recognised or he'd kept well hidden.

She was gradually aware that she needed the loo.  She'd been putting it off but now she must do something. Even with no one around old habits and conventions instilled from early life made her search for a bush just off the road for some privacy.

As she pulled back the undergrowth a harsh whisper came to her from further in the trees. 'Hey! What are you doing?!'  Shocked and embarrassed she had no time to answer before she heard ' mind where you tread'
Talking into the trees she whispered back 'who are you ?'
A hundred possibilities instantly ran through her head - all terrifying.
'Badger watching - are you from the other lot?'

Relief flooded every fibre of her being.

' No, I'm just completely lost and alone, it's a long story.'

'Yes, well no time for that now, just tread carefully around the sett. I'll light your way for a moment.'

In the momentary light, she saw a young man, not much older than herself,  well wrapped up and camouflaged.
He glanced at her and gestured to sit by him.

'Probably not much more chance of seeing anything now you've disturbed them.'

'I'm so sorry' she said.

'Yes, well, I was getting a bit cold anyway - thinking of turning in soon' Where were you heading for - if it's on my way I'll give you a lift'

'I'm afraid it won't be on your way but I'd really appreciate a lift to anywhere warm.'

'Ok.. wait there and I'll collect my gear'

She watched as he carefully collected all his equipment.
What a strange thing that this young man, enjoying the antics of the badgers should have been that light in the distance.

There is no end to the ways one can meet one's soulmate!




Annemarie's contribution:

The Light in the Distance

I watched the four of them put on their coats, gloves and boots. I was pretty sure they would leave me at home and sure enough I was told to stay behind. After they had set off in the cold January winds I let myself out and followed at a distance. The blue skies were bathed in a late afternoon copper glow, the ground icy cold and crunchy underfoot as I dodged behind bushes and trees, getting sprinkled with the frosty icing from their leaf-bare branches.
I was never allowed into the forest on my own or with them - too far they said - but I was determined to see where they went this time and the forest was close to home so I shouldn't have any problem finding my way. After all boys are meant to have adventures!
It was quite easy following them because like all adults they were talking all the time and now and then casually cracking dry branches under their boots or crying out when one of them caught themselves on a stray prickly bramble.
The further into the forest, the darker it became. The low bushes, honeysuckle, hornbeam and varied undergrowth below the oak and beech trees gave way to a soft dry mattress of pine needles and a dense, dark covering of gloomy green pine trees the only hint of colour in the black and white of winteriness. I couldn't hear them so well now; I was sometimes running, sometimes hiding and then the forest road split two ways. Panicking I chose the wider track. It was patch worked with deep muddy puddles and soon i was covered in cold, sticky mud. Evening was creeping in - I stopped and listened - which way had they gone? I had no idea – I had lost them! Suddenly the ominous silence was broken by a trundling roar as a dirty, mud spattered 4x4 rumbled round the corner. In terror I turned round and raced down the road chased by the 4x4.                               I could feel my heart pumping, I knew I was panting loudly, gasping for breath but I managed to veer to one side, in amongst the army of towering trunks of fir tree. Perhaps it wasn't a hunter but some evil guy who preyed on children. I stayed cowering for many minutes; once or twice I thought I heard someone calling out faintly in the distance. But who? It might be him trying to entice me. It was impossible to tell as the sounds were so muffled in the steadily darkening forest. I realised I had no idea anymore which way was home and my heart was still pounding. Perhaps I should just rest up for while against the dry hollow of a tree. I must have dozed off because Iwas awoken by a steady drizzle of rain. My legs ached and I was drenched through and then I heard ominous grunts close by. Frozen against the tree I saw -and smelt -a family of wild boar picking their way through the scrub, snuffling and snorting as they riffled through the leaves and snouted up the earth looking for acorns. I had never seen a real boar before and the male looked terrifying, huge tusks glinting in the dying evening light. When it felt safe I painstakingly picked my way through the pine needles, brambles and muddy paths.
I was completely lost, I tried different paths; threatening shapes appeared in the gloom and I still had no idea which way was home. Then, cutting through the dark silence and the fearsome cold I imagined I heard a tinkling sound .I had been very brave setting out but now I jumped at every sound, an owl hooting from its lofty perch, some deers lightly tiptoeing across a clearing and any amount of scuffling and scrunching amongst the dry crispy leaves on the ground.

It must have been at least four hours since the near miss with the 4x4 , it was pitch dark, misty and no moonless and all I could do was try and find the source of the faint tinkling sound which had a vague familiarity about it.. My legs were tired, wet and claggy with mud, my heart still pattering away as gradually I left the forest behind and came to open fields. Then again I heard that clanking noise and glimpsed a light in the distance. I waited hidden behind a large wooden farm gate watching as the wavering light grew nearer. Every now and again it was motionless and I heard the clanking again and - was that my name being called? The light closed in, it was a bicycle ridden by a man who stopped to tap against a tin and yes he had called 'Barney'!
He picked me up, my fur wet, soggy and muddy, my little heart still beating fast, he hunkered me inside his jacket and we wobbled our weary way home in the dark.
Now when they go for a walk I stop at the gate and watch and wait until they come home - no more forest adventures for this cat!

 Contribution by Jackie:

The Light in the Distance

The bloodstain spread its hungry red fingers in and out of the loosely woven linen fibers of Captain Richards freshly ironed cream shirt.  It lay under him now like a crumpled teacloth that had seen the back of crystal glass.  The Captain's hat lay soaked by the heavy swell that crashed regularly on deck sending spray and seaweed onto his once highly polished shoes now scuffed and dirtied.

Joe the 1st officer bent over the figure and showed no guilty remorse nor distress but a feeling of relief.     Soon the boat would be his to govern as he liked, the five young matelots would be under his charge and he would be in control at long last.  Wasn’t it a well know fact that 1st officer always inherited a position from a Captain.
He would be able to choose his cargo from now on, order his own supplies choose the sea route that they would take and stop at as many ports on their way - spend three days on land instead of just 24 hours, drink to his hearts content - bring on board his female conquests to romp and play, sleep late in the mornings without the strict rules that Captain Richards imposed on his crew.  

After three long months at sea conflicts had arisen between the two men, one man devoted to his family, his beloved young wife who he had married late in life due to his influential job as Captain of the Cargo ship “Lulling of the Seas”  sailing  from one end of the earth to the other forcing him to see his family only once every 3 months;  On the other hand the 1st officer was a young man alone in the world with no family,  few scruples and a tendency to drown himself in the bosoms of the girls hanging round sea ports, drinking tequila and brandy to escape his hapless past.

1st officer Joe had known that the Captain was particularly keen on arriving home early in March for his son Gregory’s second birthday.   Born while they had been at sea the Captain was particularly anxious to get back for this special date having missed his son’s 1st birthday.   Photos sent by Theresa his wife showed a very alert young boy with bright blue eyes and a tuft of ginger hair that the Captain longed to ruffle, hug and hear the words Dada for the first time. He had promised Gregory to be home for the party this year and had therefore shortened the home route cutting out port stops, reducing time spent on land therefore not allowing 1st Officer Joe and crew to stop for more than 12 hours at a time and thus limiting access to his favourite pastimes which he, Joe, begrudged the Captain.  Conflicts had been raised, jealously developed and exploded into a deep loathing, fighting rage and eventually to the crime that had just been committed.    

  These last weeks as tropical storms, a hurricane in the Gulf Pacific had prevented them from travelling their normal speed - then slowed by a broken mast and then a large unknown obstacle that had severely hit the bows - time had been running out.    

 Captain Richards 46 year old body was splayed in an unhappy position,  belly down and legs awry rolling from one side of the deck to the other in rhythm to the dark grey swell of the angry sea.    Slowly then and bit by bit an arm moved to wipe away the salt that had formed on his lips Captain Richards gradually came too, lifted his head, focused his eyes and peered through the foggy cloud caused by the pain and gash in his side - they were approaching the shore and he could see two lone figures standing on the seacoast - a female figure, long red hair blowing in the breeze with a small boy by her side holding a lantern - Captain Richards heart lifted and soared at the sight;   the gash in his side tightened and sent a searing pain through his body - he could still feel the cold steel of the knife that 1st officer Joe had plunged into his body -the surprise and shock had weakened him and he felt betrayed and disappointment all at the same time;   fighting against the throbbing and almost fainting with distress he managed to lift himself up off the deck - raise a hand to that light in the distance, to his family who awaited him and love spilled over the deck and rolled towards the shore in a last surge of emotion.