WRONG WAY - GO BACK 

By Tessa Harvey

When the boat limped into harbour, There seemed there was more water in the boat than out. A broad, tall, dark-complexioned man scanned the voyagers carefully. He saw Eddie. "That one mine," he averred and reached down for the boy.

    No-one challenged him. Eden thought he was a relative and waited for him to claim the girl, but he did not. He looked at her dismissively, noticing the blank stare and assessing her usefulness.

    Eden, helpless, closed her eyes, remembering she had looked down at her dying husband. The tears refused to come. She leaned closer to listen to his whispered voice. "If you get the chance, marry someone else." Seeing her shake her head, Dali added, "You look so pretty." He sighed, sadly. "Feed the last animals," he whispered. "Get our money and take Susi and go love."

    Now the tears came, flowing soundlessly down her tired face. "They will come back. You cannot stay." The words whispered on, fainter. His pulse was weak, she noticed. The pallor beneath his brown skin was clearly evident.

    "Eden, our son is not here. Jesus is coming for me. You must go." He looked past her shoulder. Dali's whole face glowed. "Oh," he gasped, "He is here! He is real!" And he was gone.

    The young woman waited a few minutes, then searched and found their meagre savings, all the money they had toiled so long and hard for. She knew her husband was right. The Christian farmers were not welcome even in this harsh land. 

    Eden stooped and kissed her husband. She had no strength or time to bury her beloved partner. She hid the money in her clothing, picked up Susi and left, moving swiftly, still crying though she was now no longer aware of this.