An Alternative View
by Marcher
Rated PG13
gama39@austarmetro.com.au
Part three: Evelyn
Evelyn fired three shots from the rifle, sending the foul smelling, rotted corpse through the rear window of the bus. For numerous reasons, Rick had insisted upon teaching her how to handle firearms, along with his own method of self defense. Both had proven invaluable today. Her family was safe and Ardeth Bay eyed her gratefully from his awkward position on the floor. She looked at him, silently. What was he doing here?
She could feel his stare as she leaned into her husband's embrace. Happy to be reunited with him but uncomfortable with Ardeth's presence. Wasn't he married now? A message had filtered through some years back about him having taken a wife. Why then, was his gaze so intent?
Alex was gone! Within a single breath all questions regarding the warrior were forgotten. Her son was being driven away into the night. She followed Rick onto the bridge but her pace faltered and she watched in stunned disbelief as he chased after the car. Ardeth stood behind her. She ignored his hand resting on her shoulder in consolation. He didn't know her son! How could he possibly know what she was losing? Instead she clung to Jonathan.
She watched dismayed as Rick returned to her along Tower Bridge without her son. Complete incomprehension clouded her mind. Only hours before it was Alex who watched as she was struck down and carried from their home, now it was she who struggled with the same fear and loss. She imagined Alex, alone and frightened, at the mercy of hoodlums. She put her hand to her still tender jaw and leaned into her husband's chest. She closed her eyes to the horror her world was becoming.
Ardeth's voice was tinged with solace and she raised her head to look at him. She strove to grasp all he was saying about Alex and the bracelet, and wondered from where this man had materialized. The uncanny manner in which he always appeared in the most unexpected arenas, made her wonder if he travelled in smoke. She could not recall a solitary time when his emergence had not surprised or startled her.
****
Time was wasting. The cab journey tormented her. Every mile was in the wrong direction! Alex was being taken to Egypt, she was being taken home! Rick's reasoning was nothing but common sense and she understood they needed to organize themselves, to cull resources and arrange travel. Still, her heart screamed for expedience.
Sitting across from Ardeth and Jonathan she took deep breaths, attempting to counteract her fidgety hands. Time and again she pressed her back into the seat only to lean forward and fiddle with the hem of her skirt. It wasn't until Rick drew her to rest against him that she began to settle. Nevertheless, her rigid fingers dug painfully into his waist.
Trying to read Ardeth's eyes was futile, he only stared out the rain splattered window. Almost a decade had passed since she last saw him. That day in Cairo seemed a lifetime away. She was ill prepared for this sudden mix of emotion for she had believed her confusion and guilt to be long buried. She couldn't help but wonder if his assistance was driven by personal motivation. What did he suspect, or hope for?
Here he was, steadfast in his allegiance for her son's rescue. She was already indebted to him. Without his earlier intervention she knew her fate would have been sealed, but why was it he who had made the arduous journey to England instead of another? Leaving his men under secondary command at such a crucial time made little sense to her.
The silence in the cab was deafening! The enormity of their task hung heavily over the four of them.
He caught her gaze. With a knowing glance he relayed answers to all her questions. Alarmed, she lowered her eyes, once again to study the stitching on her skirt. Rick murmured something to her which she barely acknowledged. Glancing back at Ardeth she gave an almost indiscernible shake of her head and mouthed the word "No!"
****
She knew she wasn't dealing well with the anxiety and the lurking Med-jai was only compounding the issue. Rick had left her with a peculiar look as he directed Ardeth to a bathroom to equip him with first aid. She had never mentioned her encounter with the warrior, she never saw reason to. In truth, she hadn't thought of it since her son's birth. Her frustration was beginning to take it's toll. With her arms wrapped tightly about herself she continually paced the room, shaking her head as she rambled while attempting to make sense out of lunacy. Uselessly she searched for someone with whom she could lay the blame. Recognizing the obvious was too painful. She paused, bracing herself against the window sill, the ache in her heart too deep and culpable. She hung her head and wept.
Rick returned to her and she cleaved to him, accepting whatever reassurance he offered. At this juncture in her life she was not ashamed to reveal the frailty in her otherwise mettlesome character. Without hesitation, she responded in kind to his own need for security and allowed his will to take her in a primal desire to stave off fear and grief, if only for an instant. She needed this as well. Pressing her chin over his shoulder, she glimpsed black robes vanishing past the narrow gap in the doorway. Had he stood and watched? Had he just glanced in passing? Had he seen at all?
****
Rick was seeing to last minute details. Ardeth stood waiting beside her. There was no time to waste on this, but it needed to be acknowledged. She could no longer take his inquisitorial stare. She turned abruptly, but he spoke first. His brief words regarding his wife left her shocked, his concern for her was embarrassing, but his inference to Alex and his birth confirmed her suspicions. For a moment she stood aghast. Alex was lost and Ardeth's presence presented an underlying threat to her. She wanted to scream at him the unfairness of his timing, but Rick would soon be back and this needed to be said quickly.
Drawing one deep breath she hurriedly explained in a deliberate whisper that Alex was not his son. "Good God, you only have to look at him to realize that!" She continued, waving her hands stiffly, explaining his premature birth as a result of slipping on worn steps. "He was so tiny! We were fortunate he managed to survive at all!" She was angry enough to slap him for bringing this up at such a time, but Rick's footsteps became audible and she stopped herself, inhaling deeply to regain her composure.
Agreeing she was more than ready to leave, she followed Rick through the front door, glancing back at Ardeth with a severe look. The regret etched on his face filled her heart with pity. It all suddenly dawned on her. His lonliness, the despair of his marriage and the ache for children never born. How he had leapt at the opportunity to travel to England in the vainest of hopes regarding her son. It was understood they meant little to each other emotionally, but it was obvious to Evelyn, considering the miserable circumstance of his life, that he had harbored hopes of Alex. She touched his arm as she passed him, almost apologetic, "Will you still travel with us? Help us to find him?" Ardeth nodded, placed a hand to her shoulder and walked with her to the waiting cab.
END
by Marcher
Rated PG13
gama39@austarmetro.com.au
Part three: Evelyn
Evelyn fired three shots from the rifle, sending the foul smelling, rotted corpse through the rear window of the bus. For numerous reasons, Rick had insisted upon teaching her how to handle firearms, along with his own method of self defense. Both had proven invaluable today. Her family was safe and Ardeth Bay eyed her gratefully from his awkward position on the floor. She looked at him, silently. What was he doing here?
She could feel his stare as she leaned into her husband's embrace. Happy to be reunited with him but uncomfortable with Ardeth's presence. Wasn't he married now? A message had filtered through some years back about him having taken a wife. Why then, was his gaze so intent?
Alex was gone! Within a single breath all questions regarding the warrior were forgotten. Her son was being driven away into the night. She followed Rick onto the bridge but her pace faltered and she watched in stunned disbelief as he chased after the car. Ardeth stood behind her. She ignored his hand resting on her shoulder in consolation. He didn't know her son! How could he possibly know what she was losing? Instead she clung to Jonathan.
She watched dismayed as Rick returned to her along Tower Bridge without her son. Complete incomprehension clouded her mind. Only hours before it was Alex who watched as she was struck down and carried from their home, now it was she who struggled with the same fear and loss. She imagined Alex, alone and frightened, at the mercy of hoodlums. She put her hand to her still tender jaw and leaned into her husband's chest. She closed her eyes to the horror her world was becoming.
Ardeth's voice was tinged with solace and she raised her head to look at him. She strove to grasp all he was saying about Alex and the bracelet, and wondered from where this man had materialized. The uncanny manner in which he always appeared in the most unexpected arenas, made her wonder if he travelled in smoke. She could not recall a solitary time when his emergence had not surprised or startled her.
****
Time was wasting. The cab journey tormented her. Every mile was in the wrong direction! Alex was being taken to Egypt, she was being taken home! Rick's reasoning was nothing but common sense and she understood they needed to organize themselves, to cull resources and arrange travel. Still, her heart screamed for expedience.
Sitting across from Ardeth and Jonathan she took deep breaths, attempting to counteract her fidgety hands. Time and again she pressed her back into the seat only to lean forward and fiddle with the hem of her skirt. It wasn't until Rick drew her to rest against him that she began to settle. Nevertheless, her rigid fingers dug painfully into his waist.
Trying to read Ardeth's eyes was futile, he only stared out the rain splattered window. Almost a decade had passed since she last saw him. That day in Cairo seemed a lifetime away. She was ill prepared for this sudden mix of emotion for she had believed her confusion and guilt to be long buried. She couldn't help but wonder if his assistance was driven by personal motivation. What did he suspect, or hope for?
Here he was, steadfast in his allegiance for her son's rescue. She was already indebted to him. Without his earlier intervention she knew her fate would have been sealed, but why was it he who had made the arduous journey to England instead of another? Leaving his men under secondary command at such a crucial time made little sense to her.
The silence in the cab was deafening! The enormity of their task hung heavily over the four of them.
He caught her gaze. With a knowing glance he relayed answers to all her questions. Alarmed, she lowered her eyes, once again to study the stitching on her skirt. Rick murmured something to her which she barely acknowledged. Glancing back at Ardeth she gave an almost indiscernible shake of her head and mouthed the word "No!"
****
She knew she wasn't dealing well with the anxiety and the lurking Med-jai was only compounding the issue. Rick had left her with a peculiar look as he directed Ardeth to a bathroom to equip him with first aid. She had never mentioned her encounter with the warrior, she never saw reason to. In truth, she hadn't thought of it since her son's birth. Her frustration was beginning to take it's toll. With her arms wrapped tightly about herself she continually paced the room, shaking her head as she rambled while attempting to make sense out of lunacy. Uselessly she searched for someone with whom she could lay the blame. Recognizing the obvious was too painful. She paused, bracing herself against the window sill, the ache in her heart too deep and culpable. She hung her head and wept.
Rick returned to her and she cleaved to him, accepting whatever reassurance he offered. At this juncture in her life she was not ashamed to reveal the frailty in her otherwise mettlesome character. Without hesitation, she responded in kind to his own need for security and allowed his will to take her in a primal desire to stave off fear and grief, if only for an instant. She needed this as well. Pressing her chin over his shoulder, she glimpsed black robes vanishing past the narrow gap in the doorway. Had he stood and watched? Had he just glanced in passing? Had he seen at all?
****
Rick was seeing to last minute details. Ardeth stood waiting beside her. There was no time to waste on this, but it needed to be acknowledged. She could no longer take his inquisitorial stare. She turned abruptly, but he spoke first. His brief words regarding his wife left her shocked, his concern for her was embarrassing, but his inference to Alex and his birth confirmed her suspicions. For a moment she stood aghast. Alex was lost and Ardeth's presence presented an underlying threat to her. She wanted to scream at him the unfairness of his timing, but Rick would soon be back and this needed to be said quickly.
Drawing one deep breath she hurriedly explained in a deliberate whisper that Alex was not his son. "Good God, you only have to look at him to realize that!" She continued, waving her hands stiffly, explaining his premature birth as a result of slipping on worn steps. "He was so tiny! We were fortunate he managed to survive at all!" She was angry enough to slap him for bringing this up at such a time, but Rick's footsteps became audible and she stopped herself, inhaling deeply to regain her composure.
Agreeing she was more than ready to leave, she followed Rick through the front door, glancing back at Ardeth with a severe look. The regret etched on his face filled her heart with pity. It all suddenly dawned on her. His lonliness, the despair of his marriage and the ache for children never born. How he had leapt at the opportunity to travel to England in the vainest of hopes regarding her son. It was understood they meant little to each other emotionally, but it was obvious to Evelyn, considering the miserable circumstance of his life, that he had harbored hopes of Alex. She touched his arm as she passed him, almost apologetic, "Will you still travel with us? Help us to find him?" Ardeth nodded, placed a hand to her shoulder and walked with her to the waiting cab.
END