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has unbelievable faith in all
of us. And he has something else. Something that Satan doesn’t. He has the capacity
to forgive.’
    Ben considered all the people languishing in hell-holes
around the world. People being tortured. People starving to death. People
without clean drinking water. Was Pastor Tom’s God putting them to the test? If
so, Pastor Tom’s God had a propensity towards cruelty.
    ‘I know what you’re thinking, son. Why me? Why did my life
have to get turned upside down? But remember this: sometimes even the bleakest
situation can be turned into a triumph.’
    ‘I don’t see how a geek like me can turn this mess into a
triumph.’
    ‘Only the starving truly appreciate food. Only the homeless
truly appreciate shelter. Only the blind truly appreciate sight. I could go on
and on. You are what the Lord has chosen you to be, son. And he has chosen you
to be the way you are for the purpose of growth and enlightenment.’
    Ben wanted to believe him. ‘What about the weak? The
vulnerable? Do they all pass the Lord’s test?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘I don’t see many people with learning difficulties running
into burning buildings.’
    ‘They don’t need to run into burning buildings. The Lord has
set them different kinds of tests. Getting a bus into town on their own. Making
lunch. Putting on a wash cycle.’
    ‘I’d never thought of it that way.’
    ‘We are all particles of the same whole, son. We just need
to figure out how we all fit together.’
    Maddie returned to the kitchen and plonked a large leather
suitcase on the floor. She grinned at the two men. ‘I think I’ve got it all.’
    Pastor Tom laughed. ‘You’re staying a while, then?’
    ‘A girl needs clothes.’
    ‘Are you sure you don’t want to pop the kitchen sink in
there while you’re at it?’
    Maddie collapsed on top of her suitcase. ‘Pick me up. I’m
hysterical.’
    ‘Go on. Get outta here.’
    As they were about to leave, Pastor Tom looked at Ben. He
didn’t say anything. It was almost as if he was trying to convey a message
through telepathy. A message of love and understanding. Ben wanted to tell
Pastor Tom how much he loved him. Admired him. Respected him. But somehow he
knew that he didn’t need words to say those things. Acknowledgement was written
in the man’s eyes in clear blue ink.

Chapter
six
    Ben and Maddie stepped off the bus
in Oxford High Street at nine-fifteen on Tuesday morning. After two fruitless
trips to the city on his own, Maddie had agreed to accompany Ben whilst his
mother helped Pastor Tom at the church. She’d perked up a bit when Tom had
asked her if she was any good at flower arranging. It was only a month ago that
Anne had completed a course to study the subject. No tip-off from Maddie!
    Ben walked off toward the main shopping area. ‘The only
busker I’ve seen up to now is an old guy who looks like a university
professor.’
    ‘And what does a university professor look like, exactly?’
    Ben grinned. He loved it when he made Maddie laugh. ‘Grey
hair poking out behind his ears. Long coat and a scarf.’
    ‘A scarf, huh? That’s a dead giveaway.’
    ‘College scarf.’
    ‘Did you ask him about Marcus?’
    Ben nodded. ‘Yeah. But he didn’t even answer me. He was
either deaf or ignorant.’
    ‘He probably couldn’t hear you above his guitar. Come on,
let’s get looking.’
    After three hours of searching the streets of Oxford, the
nearest they’d come to finding a busker was a preacher on a soap box banging a
tambourine to emphasise his beliefs. Ben sat down on a bench, which was a
narrow tilted strip of wood designed to offer no comfort.
    ‘They make them like this to stop people sleeping on them,’
Maddie said.
    ‘They’re all heart.’
    Maddie sat down beside him. ‘They’ll make it a criminal
offence to be homeless next. They’ll shoot vagrants on sight for daring to
litter their precious city.’
    ‘They’ll chop off the hands of beggars to stop