20.05.2017 Views

condensed master

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Will Bonner<br />

"We'll leave you alone. Let me know what you decide to do and if you need<br />

help, phone me." A troubled calm came over him. He knew that Margaret<br />

would get everything sorted out with the authorities.<br />

His wrist was beginning to ache like a bad tooth. The doctor had been<br />

puzzled about the bruise on his back where Dan had hit him with the pistol. It<br />

would have to remain a mystery.<br />

Dorothy was home when he arrived. She had been given the news of his<br />

accident by phone and the office was only minutes away. There was nothing<br />

much he could tell her except about the actual accident and his encounter with<br />

the tree. The children seemed to appear out of nowhere and their activity filled<br />

the house.<br />

He sat watching them as they went about their daily routines getting ready<br />

to utilize the remainder of the daylight hours. It was too difficult to comprehend<br />

the violence that Dan could have subjected them to, had he reached that stage.<br />

The relief to see them unharmed was so overpowering he could have walked<br />

across and taken both of them in his arms, but he held back, frightened of the<br />

response he may evoke. Whatever he decided to do, their lives would be<br />

turned upside down. How could he do it without telling them everything?<br />

Will stayed home for the next few weeks to allow the fracture to heal. As<br />

time passed by, his mind became more tormented at not being able to solve the<br />

problem that obsessed him. He had to find a way to get his family away from<br />

the environment of the organization. Dorothy finally provided the answer.<br />

Both Dorothy's and Will's respective mothers had been quite ill and in<br />

hospital. They had not been home to England since emigrating over nineteen<br />

years ago, and the children had not met their grandparents. She suggested that<br />

they should go for as long as was necessary and after taking all things into<br />

consideration it was decided that they sell the house and buy another when<br />

they got back. It was now only a matter of putting it to the children.<br />

They sat in the lounge-room as Dorothy started to explain, a look of blank<br />

expectation on their faces. Will concentrated his attention on Louise, she was<br />

the quiet serious one, and his heart sank as he observed that look of<br />

despondency appear on her face, when the full realization of what was<br />

happening struck home. It was the same look he had experienced leaving her<br />

with Ivan's family when Mark was born. She was only eighteen months old<br />

then but she was registering the same sort of objection. They were both<br />

apprehensive about leaving, especially Louise.<br />

Will felt bad about what was happening and it was dragging him down into<br />

358

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!