Read Beyond Life for Free Online Page B

move.’
    Val opened her eyes and stretched like a lazy cat. Looking up she was surprised to see that the sun had moved a distance from its zenith.
    ‘How long have I been out of it?’
    Gary laughed before replying. ‘At least a couple of hours. You must have been really tired.’
    ‘But I thought we were going to try and get nearer to the Reserve?’
    ‘I’m sorry, but I didn’t want to disturb you.’
    He looked disappointed and Val felt ungrateful. He was being thoughtful and she had implied criticism at his decision.
    ‘Thanks, Gary. Maybe another day then?’
    They both knew this wasn’t a one-off and gathered their belongings to put back into the Land Rover. Ready to leave, Gary was about to put the key in the ignition when Val spoke.
    ‘Thanks so much for today. I’ve really enjoyed myself and didn’t realise how much I needed to get away from the orphanage for a while,’ she leaned toward him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Val was almost as surprised as Gary and blushed at her own impulsiveness. She wound down her window and looked out, studying the countryside intently so she didn’t have to look at the big man beside her.
    He turned the key in the ignition and the engine coughed but nothing happened. Gary tried again and again and Val eventually turned back to look at him, her earlier blushes put aside for the time being as she realised what was happening.
    ‘Problem?’
    ‘Yup,’ he got out and fiddled with a few things under the bonnet. ‘Try the ignition again, Val.’
    She leaned over and turned the key with the same result. He closed the bonnet and walked to the passenger side of the vehicle. ‘We have a problem.’
    *****
    The afternoon was flying by and it was time to collect some more water. Daniel had asked Marion if she’d go again as he wanted to catch up on some paperwork, so she gathered the children together but noticed they were one short.
    ‘Where’s Mary?’ Mary was a beautiful girl not yet a teenager, but with a teenage attitude. Marion could forgive her the bad attitude and most other things for that matter. None of the orphans had had an easy time of it and Mary was no exception. Her parents, brother and sister had been murdered in a tribal killing. Mary had been wounded and was forced to lie under their bodies until a long time after the attackers had left. She had scars on her side and back from the gun wounds but had fought for survival. She was understandably wary about getting close to anyone and for the most part, kept her emotions veiled. Marion had seen her smile a few times recently but knew that she would carry the emotional scars with her for the rest of her life. She sent one of the children to get Mary; a few minutes later the girl came back with a message.
    ‘Daniel says she’s not well so he’s sent her to bed and Nursie will see her later.’
    Marion frowned. It was unusual for Daniel to be so sympathetic. The children generally had to be seen by the nurse before he showed any concern. Mary had plenty of psychological problems but was physically robust unlike many of the other children. The pulling at Marion’s t-shirt forced her to look at the smiling little face.
    ‘Are we going, Missy?’
    ‘We certainly are, Suria,’ the child took Marion’s hand and started swinging it back and forth as they made their way to the water.
     
    Mary was lying on her bed studying a science textbook. There weren’t many books and the children had to share them but luckily for Mary not many were interested in science so she’d been able to keep hold of the book for a few days. She held it as if it were a precious gem and was in awe of the illustrations and explanations within it. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do as a grown up but was very bright so thought she might like to be a doctor. She knew she had to work hard and that her family were watching over her. She wanted to make them very proud, especially her father who had taught them all to be