WRONG WAY - GO BACK 


By Tessa Harvey


Eden was clutching the phone. It had taken all her courage and much prayer to call. Finally she was put through to someone in authority.
    He heard her hesitant story, prompting her at intervals, asking questions softly as though sensing her nervousness. The inspector was very good at assessing character and was seldom wrong.
    Finally he decided to share with the woman. "Eden," he began, "I believe you are telling the truth. We are aware that few refugee boats actually make it to that harbour, and a few children disappear for want of a better word. "However,"  as he heard her quick intake of breath, "even one is one too many."
    "I believe you yourself are a refugee - no, I have no intention of reporting you, but you must get proper authorisation to stay here."
"There is a little boy," Eden ventured. "The old man says he is 'Uncle' but he is not."
Tears choked her, but she continued bravely, "I cannot look after him. He is Eddie. His sister is in care, I think."
    The policeman assured her they would help the child. Eden placed the phone back, and cried. She knew how much God cared for her and felt some comfort. But life was still made hard by evil working through others.
    The police had warned her against visiting the docks in the near future. It hadn't been stated, but Eden felt there was more going on around Uncle than she knew about.
    She lay down on the small bed in her dingy room. How she missed her lost family. Sensing God's Presence in the tiny room, she felt some comfort.



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