In Captivity by Andrew Hart

The governor was an previous man, who had labored his manner up by means of the jail service and was now counting the times till his retirement. He had grandchildren, whom he cherished very a lot, and was on remedy for despair; I had had no cause to assume he would trigger any bother.

Usually I’d have been capable of speak my manner out of this; I knew that confidence was the important thing, to not count on to be challenged, however maybe on this event they might sense my weariness or my worry that for as soon as I had did not repress.

“You could have my ID,” I identified, attempting to sound as bored and in management as attainable, “simply ring the quantity and you will get by means of to my boss again in London.”

He sniffed dismissively; what did he must do with London?

“I’ve executed; it was only a voice on the telephone. I am ready to listen to from Mrs Sutherland in Glasgow, maybe she will be able to shed some mild on this.”

I bear in mind sitting in his workplace which smelt of espresso – though I had not been provided any – and sweat, attempting to remain calm, however realising that this might be it, the tip of my life as I knew it. There was {a photograph} of a loch above Mr Mackay’s head, and I examined it, attempting to remain in countenance. After which, after what appeared like hours, the phone rang and the governor, after letting it ring a half a dozen occasions, answered it, me as he listened; giving nothing away.

“I believe you might want to go away,” he advised me, after he had put the telephone down, and gave my escort a nod. As I reached the door, he referred to as to me angrily.

“I do not know who the hell you might be, or who you’re employed for, however keep out of my jail.”

I attempted to say one thing however was quelled by a glance and carried on strolling. The guard on the gate appeared frightened.

“What went mistaken?” he whispered.

“I am unsure. I am going to communicate to somebody.”

And I left, again to gather my belongings after which to England and relative security.

There was no rapid comeuppance; only a quick e-mail from the standard deal with asking for my model of what had occurred, however that was it. Nevertheless, I used to be positive the entire incident was down in a pocket book someplace; I knew that nothing was ever forgotten, and that someday, after I least anticipated it, somebody would carry it up once more and questions can be requested, or it might be used in opposition to me.

On Friday I used to be at Luton Jail; I had been there earlier than and had had a simple drive from dwelling that morning. I felt assured in regards to the day forward, though coping with prisoners one might by no means ensure; one mistaken phrase or look… the potential for violence was at all times there, however there was at all times a guard on the opposite facet of the door if one acquired in bother. And a minimum of I used to be close to dwelling; no low cost lodge (cash is tight and our bills are at all times checked) and I felt as if I used to be on dwelling floor, with accents much like mine and a shared tradition and background, extra so than they in all probability realise.

“These are shit questions,” Ryan stated to me, trying annoyed, “what do you might want to learn about my girlfriend for? And my crimes? I’ve been by means of this with my probation officer time after time. And the way have you learnt all these things?”

“This isn’t to your probation officer. Do you not wish to get out earlier?”

“In fact.”

“Nicely reply the questions, we’re practically executed. Now, international languages?”

“What about them?”

“Do you communicate any?”

He laughed.

“I barely communicate English, not to mention Française or Italiano, why would I?”

When, nonetheless smiling, he had been led out by his guard I made notes; he was not promising however there may be a use for him someplace, anyway, my job was simply to go on data, whether or not they had been used or not I had no concept. In reality, none of them at the moment had appeared to have a lot potential; even the drug vendor who had lived in Holland and had allegedly run a fancy smuggling ring, had surprisingly few skills for somebody so depraved and feared.

At lunchtime I sat within the staffroom consuming my sandwiches and ingesting low cost tea; while on the reverse finish of the room sat Amy, who was a part of the organisation however as regular she ignored me. Even after we had been briefly left alone for a second she targeting her journal and her coke.

“Daddy’s dwelling,” I heard Marie name as I walked into our semi simply exterior Guildford.

“How was your day?” she requested me, as I kissed her frivolously on the lips earlier than being engulfed by Tom and Esther, and for a second I felt that we had been an actual household with no secrets and techniques aside from affairs and alcoholism. As I put my bag down and put the kettle on, they babbled about their day; how that they had gone to the park and fed the geese, and what that they had had for lunch. Esther was three and Tom 4; contemplating they weren’t kin and I had solely identified them two years I felt very caring in direction of these two kids, the primary I had ever had cost of; it was nearly as if I cherished them.

Dinner was already prepared, and we sat right down to fish and chips with beans. Marie was not an amazing or adventurous prepare dinner however then she hadn’t been chosen for such abilities and meals has by no means been necessary to me. Marie and I acquired on very properly although and had had a simple relationship from the start, in contrast to Martha, as an example, who I had lived with beforehand, on a council property in Sheffield. Impolite, talkative, and so very noisy, I had complained about her often; asking to be moved wherever, as long as it was away from her. However my missives had been ignored for 2 complete years, till someday I arrived again dwelling to search out her packing with tears in her eyes, which didn’t cease my emotions of pleasure on the considered by no means seeing her once more.

As soon as the youngsters had been in mattress Marie and I sat at reverse ends of the eating room desk and labored on our laptops. We had been supposed to do that in separate rooms, however we had quickly stopped doing that and while we didn’t speak about our duties, it was nice to observe her laborious at work; her face preoccupied and just a little unhappy, while as if impartial of her, her lengthy fingers tapped shortly on the keyboard, after which often our eyes met and she or he would give me a fast smile earlier than returning to her work.

I wrote up my conferences with the prisoners after which checked my emails; the one factor of word was a gathering subsequent Monday in Dagenham. After I closed and locked my laptop computer, I seen that she had completed her work too.

“Lets?” she requested.

And I nodded. One of many guidelines for these dwelling collectively was that we had been purported to have intercourse a minimum of twice per week. Presumably it was in case the neighbours acquired suspicious, or maybe to maintain us relaxed and intimate. Even Martha and I had fucked ceaselessly, maybe extra typically than I had executed with anybody else, together with Marie.

We undressed in entrance of one another and kissed after which had been in every others’ arms and later she cried out one thing, however I used to be unsure what. Was she considering of me? Or was there any individual else, from her previous, whom she missed? For me there was no person else, simply Marie, and as she drifted off to sleep, I kissed her brow, which was cool and easy.

“I really like you,” I murmured into her hair, “please save me.”

Half Two

“Have you ever ever travelled?”

“Nah mate, by no means left South London hardly, other than as a child, we went to Colchester to go to my dad, he was within the military, however he refused to see us, so we went again dwelling.”

“Would you wish to?”

“Nah. Why, are you providing?”

I pay attention to those recordings and surprise what the aim of them is. All these voices; London, Liverpool, Newcastle, Afghan, Polish; all desirous to be higher, to overcome what’s inside them; the violence, the vulnerability. And what will we do with them? I actually do not know, however I do know that it’s neither good nor sort.

Every workers assembly is held at a special lodge; a minimum of this one was close to to my home, so I didn’t must journey far, in any other case it was the standard; nameless and purposeful. Within the previous days we might keep the night time and there can be “all you could possibly eat” breakfasts, tasty lunches and a three-course meal within the night; we labored laborious however we had been sorted, and the lodge can be of a very good class with massive rooms and comfortable beds. Now it’s Travelodge with sandwiches and biscuits introduced in at lunchtime, and at night time now we have to fend for ourselves or simply go straight dwelling, and no person stays in a single day. We’re like several enterprise, now we have to save cash, however I can not assist feeling that it’s a bit imply, contemplating all that we do and the dangers that we run.

Each month some previous faces have disappeared with out clarification and new ones seem of their place, trying much more nervous than the remainder of us. In the present day there are just a few of the previous devoted, and I suppose that I have to depend myself amongst that quantity; Copperfield, our chief, Weller, Joe, Wardle and some others. In fact, the names we use at work are usually not real, mine is Jasper, my actual title I not often take into consideration, though maybe someday I’ll inform Marie what it’s.

The conferences are for essentially the most half uninteresting; limitless studies learn out by Copperfield in somnolent tones, however then somebody is requested to exit to talk to somebody behind the scenes, and infrequently do they arrive again, after which we sit there, pretending to be listening to Copperfield, however in actual fact questioning what is going on, and after some time, within the distance we hear a automobile drive off and all of us keep away from one another, however we all know it means an empty home and brokers being moved or disposed of. Up to now, I’ve by no means been referred to as out, however I do know that someday I may be, anybody might be, even Copperfield.

We sat in a circle ingesting prompt espresso while Copperfield shuffled his notes, we had been as a result of begin in two minutes and the room had been full for a while. Punctuality is significant and if you’re late you aren’t allowed to return in. I had been over an hour early and even so was one of many final to reach. We made small speak; soccer, climate and Physician Who; now we have by no means been advised what we are able to and can’t speak about, however we are usually cautious, and stick with the blandest of topics.

Weller engaged me in dialog, he has been coming to those conferences for longer than I’ve, though he’s at all times dishevelled trying and infrequently speaks; I get the impression he’s untouchable; by no means criticised and by no means far-off from Copperfield. We talked about Spurs.

“Kane and Track; what a partnership,” he stated.

“I watched them in opposition to Villa; magnificent; that third aim…”

“So how are you getting on?” he requested me in barely hushed tones.

I checked out him in shock; this was manner past what we usually talked about. The opposite twenty or so males had been speaking quietly amongst themselves, however who knew who was listening.

“Oh, okay,” I ventured.

“Good. Good. Do not you ever fancy a change?”

“Wherever the organisation will take me.”

Then Copperfield cleared his throat and the assembly began; while he began to stipulate what was going to occur that day, I puzzled what Weller had meant. Was I going to be moved? I didn’t wish to go away Marie, not now, and the youngsters. The place would they go? Again to wherever they got here from, or to a different couple? All through the assembly I felt Copperfield me even when he was studying out one more report, about time beyond regulation funds. What did they’ve deliberate for me?

He was ready for me at Bangor jail the subsequent morning, pleasant and well-spoken; I didn’t belief him for a second.

“Twist,” he stated.

“Jasper.”

“I do know. I am simply right here to observe you at work, see how you might be doing. Nothing to be fearful of.”

“Is there something mistaken?”

He checked out me as if I mustn’t ask such questions, which in all probability I should not. And and not using a phrase he headed to the primary gate, trying assured; a person with authority, who knew what he was doing.

All through the day, as promised, he sat watching me, not interfering as I interviewed the lads; separately. We spent the entire day there and had our lunch within the staffroom. While I sat quietly consuming my sandwiches, Twist talked to the opposite guards, or relatively requested them questions and listened intently to their solutions, one thing that I used to be purported to do however by no means did.

“Watch out,” I believed, “he’s making notes, he isn’t lacking a phrase, not a pause, not even a half-formed thought.”

However they chatted away to him; completely happy to have somebody who seemed to be sympathetic to their tales of an incompetent governor, poor pay and prisoners who needs to be executed.

“See you tomorrow,” he stated on the finish of the day, as he shook my hand, and drove off, presumably to put in writing a report about me. And, after just a few moments, I too headed dwelling.

“Are you okay?” requested Marie, “you look drained.”

“Sure, only a busy day.”

And he or she hugged me tight and kissed me on the cheek. Then I performed with the youngsters; questioning who they actually had been and the place had they arrive from. And questioning if this completely happy time was as a result of come to an finish.

That night time we made love passionately, and afterwards as we lay in one another’s arms she talked to me, her lips brushing frivolously in opposition to my ear.

“Do you ever consider leaving?”

I typically puzzled in the event that they bugged our homes, however we had been so shut and speaking so quietly that certainly even essentially the most subtle of apparatus couldn’t choose up what we had been saying.

“Do you?”

“On a regular basis. On a regular basis.”

We lay there, our our bodies barely touching as I attempted to course of what she had stated. Did she actually really feel the identical as me? I hoped so however it’s a must to be so cautious.

“We might do it,” she murmured, “others have, a minimum of two {couples} I do know of for positive escaped and commenced a brand new life. I’ve cash, hidden faraway. We might go away, run away. Take the youngsters.”

“Are you critical?”

She kissed me once more, and as she did so, I heard the phrase “sure”; as if she had been crying out to me from her very soul.

Half Three

At first, I had loved working for the organisation; the secrecy, the sense of significance, and it had been my life for therefore lengthy. However then there was the loneliness, the deaths and the disappearances, and worst of all of the uncertainty. I had carried my unhappiness and worry round with me for years now, at all times hidden from view, solely let loose when whomever I used to be dwelling with was asleep in mattress beside me, or after I was driving slowly dwelling, dazzled by the automobile lights; wishing that I might go some other place, someplace protected and regular.

It’s not prisons on daily basis; on Friday I used to be ordered to a home in St. Albans; to name on a vicar. Two youthful males I had by no means met earlier than, had been ready for me at a service station exterior Welwyn, and we had pushed then pushed to St. Albans in a small van. We waited exterior, watching the vicarage.

“He can be on his personal now,” stated Gamp after we watched Reverend Adams’ spouse and two kids go away the home, calling goodbye as they did so. It was a quiet cul-de-sac in a rich space, ignored by the church.

“Postman Pat can be right here in a minute, after which we are able to go in.”

His companion Bagnet smiled and pulled his fingers separately, till they clicked, and I shuddered barely.

“You recognize what it’s a must to do?” requested Gamp.

“Sure in fact; simply interact him in dialog and then you definately two will do the remainder.”

He gave me a glance, as if he didn’t solely belief me, and we continued to observe the home, however I had executed this kind of factor earlier than; in actual fact, after I first began it was the “shenanigans” that I did more often than not; questioning, beatings and even the occasional homicide. I by no means knew the explanations, was simply advised to take somebody or discover out a specific piece of data. I had been a glorified thug actually; a minimum of I had moved on from that, properly just a little bit.

A minute or two later than regular the postman, in shorts and a heavy bag, sauntered down the highway with a pile of letters for the vicarage. He was quickly out of sight, and I acquired out of the van. I used to be dressed well and utilizing my greatest public-school voice and manners, which might be why I had been chosen for this mission.

“Good morning, Rev. Adams?”

He was a younger man, certainly too younger for the care of so many souls.

“Sure,” he checked out me suspiciously.

“I’ve come from the cathedral; in regards to the Bishop’s go to subsequent month.”

He checked out me blankly after which Gamp and Bagnet had been pushing the vicar again into the home and I swiftly shut the door behind us. No one appeared to have seen.

“If anybody rings or knocks on the door, eliminate them.” Gamp advised me as they pushed the exceedingly frightened trying vicar right into a again room.

I sat within the Reverend Adams’ research, in his very snug chair, studying a e-book in regards to the E-book of Daniel, while often I’d hear a muffled scream or a thump from the depths of the home; however happily the partitions had been thick, and I used to be capable of focus, simply often glancing on the road by means of the window, to verify no person was taking an curiosity in the home. I might think about it might be a very good place to carry up Tom and Esther, with no visitors and timber in all places, only a pity the neighbours weren’t extra observant.

I considered Marie, what I had not advised her was that I too had cash; a financial institution theft I used to be concerned with a few years in the past, when Wade and I made a decision to maintain half of our haul; presumably he nonetheless had his someplace, if he was nonetheless round. And there had been different alternatives over time so as to add to it. I had by no means spoken about it to anybody, nevertheless it was there simply in case, and now was maybe the time.

There was a splatter of pink on Gamp’s left cheek, while Bagnet appeared flush and over exerted.

“You prepared?”

I nodded and put the e-book down.

“You could as properly preserve that; Reverend Adams will not be needing it. I doubt he can be studying a lot sooner or later.”

I put it in my pocket, and we drove off.

“You are dwelling early,” Marie stated.

“Only a half-day at the moment,” I advised her.

The kids had been operating in regards to the backyard while Marie was speaking earnestly to an older lady.

“That is Barnacle.”

I nodded and went as much as my research to put in writing my report. After I returned Barnacle had gone and so I performed with the youngsters all afternoon within the solar. The backyard smelling of pollen and warmth.

“I’ve cash,” I whispered into her ear as she pushed down on me, “I have been saving it for years.”

“Are you able to pay money for it?” she requested after a second.

“I am going to must journey, it is in Hereford in a storage centre.”

She gasped above me after which kissed me extra passionately than I had ever identified her to.

Later, underneath the quilt, in order that our dialog wouldn’t be heard, we talked.

“We might go up early on Thursday morning. I’ve no jail visits that day; I am purported to do admin.”

“Okay,” she murmured. “We’ll meet you someplace in Hereford and drive off. By the point they’ve seen…”

“However the place lets go?”

“Italy,” she advised me, “I’ve a good friend in Naples, he was a good friend of my father. We used to go to after I was a toddler. It is the place my cash is.”

For a second I might image fountains and scooters and puzzled if that might be our life. I desperately hoped so.

She fell asleep in my arms, and I stroked her again and her backside, that was so comfortable and heat. Might this be it, I puzzled? An escape ultimately? All of it appeared so unlikely. The organisation was massive and getting bigger; positive, it was struggling as a result of funds and it made errors – the mistaken sufferer, the mistaken questions – nevertheless it was all encompassing, and omnipotent; might we actually escape? Like Marie I had heard the faintest of rumours of those that had left, however deep down I did not consider any of them.

Twist was ready for me exterior Birkenhead jail.

“They do not want us till eleven,” he advised me, “now we have an hour.”

Twist drove us to the River Mersey and we walked alongside the promenade, having fun with the views of the Liverpool waterfront.

“All constructed on slaves in fact.”

I nodded.

“We had been there even then; simply ensuring issues did not get out of hand, at all times in management.”

“Even then?”

It was August, however there was a chilly wind and I shivered.

“We’ve at all times been right here, behind the scenes. Like a theatre director or the playwright.”

“Okay,” I answered, not understanding what else to say.

“How are you getting on with Marie?” he requested after a second.

“Nicely. We’ve a very good, skilled relationship.”

“No considerations?”

“Er, no, ought to there be?”

“Folks get shut; love blossoms, it is inevitable. You reside with somebody; share a mattress, you are both going to hate them or love them.”

“There’s nothing of that.”

“Nicely, I did not imply with you. Though we did surprise about you and Martha.”

“However she was terrible; I requested to be moved a number of occasions.”

“Uhm,” he murmured as if he didn’t consider me.

We continued to stroll alongside the promenade, a ferry set off from the terminal and we watched it head over the water in direction of Liverpool, we might simply hear a voice over the waves giving some type of commentary to the vacationers.

“Oh properly, we had higher return, they will expect us,” Twist stated, and walked again to his automobile, while I contemplated what he had stated, questioning what it was with all these unusual, prying conversations.

4

As I interviewed prisoners I puzzled about Twist and what he was there for. After which, as regular, I got interested within the lives of the individuals who I used to be interviewing and forgot about the rest, other than the younger males with their robust Scouse accents and their tales of disappointment and neglect.

“We’ll meet you at Hereford at eleven,” she advised me later as we lay collectively, bare and sizzling.

“Are you positive?”

“Utterly.” And he or she kissed me. Every time I take into consideration what occurred, I do not forget that kiss; as bare as any kiss might be, as if she was giving herself to me as utterly as anybody might.

“I’ve tried to pack just a few issues.”

“Watch out, you do not wish to elevate suspicions. We’ll have cash, we are able to begin anew.”

“I do know,” she stated, and kissed me once more and held me tight, like a younger youngster clinging to the one protected factor she knew.

I staggered off the bed at 5; I had hardly slept, and Marie too had lain beside me often chatting, her hand gripping mine. However after I left our mattress, she gave the impression to be asleep. I checked out her; she appeared anxious however stunning, I bent over her to kiss her however modified my thoughts as I didn’t wish to wake her, and for some cause I believed that it may be unfortunate.

I had a Satnav however dared not use it in case that they had entry to it. Maybe that they had tracked my automobile too however what else might I do? I knew the route, having checked it on my AA Highway Map yesterday night, and I drove swiftly by means of the early morning sunshine, which dazzled me in order that I needed to put on sun shades.

After which for a second I used to be misplaced; I remembered clearly the place the storage facility was, in the course of an out-of-town industrial property, nevertheless it had expanded since I final left my cash there. I circled spherical, trying on the new companies that had settled, desperately hoping that it had not disappeared or moved. That they had no real contact particulars for me – too dangerous – so they might not have let me know if that they had closed down, or my cash been destroyed or stolen.

However then there it was, hidden behind a storage and power store, and with a sigh of aid I drove in. I handed over my identification, the passport that I stored with me always, and was given a key. Inside was my Slazenger sports activities bag which I remembered from so way back. To my aid the cash was nonetheless there, prepared for use ultimately; hundreds of kilos all in notes. I shortly heaved the bag into my automobile and drove off. I regularly appeared behind me to see if I used to be being adopted, however there was no person behind me, properly that I might see.

It was thirty minutes sooner than Marie and I had deliberate to satisfy after I parked in a facet road close to the cathedral and there was no signal of her automobile. I walked across the exterior of the cathedral, simply observing, however there was nothing clearly suspicious, just some individuals hurrying previous, barely trying on the Medieval constructing on the coronary heart of their metropolis.

Inside there was any individual enjoying one thing on the organ, the music sounded Baroque though I didn’t recognise it. The constructing smelt of polish and damp and I shivered barely as I sat down close to the entrance admiring the stained glass and attempting to calm my fears and my pleasure. I puzzled ought to I pray however after I considered God, all I noticed was an organisation that no person might escape from; all seeing and merciless.

I appeared up on the organ loft and there gave the impression to be one thing acquainted in regards to the organist; at first, I believed it humorous and I amused myself with attempting to surprise who it was that they appeared like, however then the music stopped and the organist turned and appeared straight at me, and I realised who it was.

“Zelenka. Have you ever heard of him?” Twist requested me, together with his regular smile

I nodded.

“Oh in fact, you had been a musician way back.”

“I want to have been.”

“Oh properly,” he stated sitting down subsequent to me, “none of us reside the lives we count on to.”

“Some do.”

“I doubt it.”

We sat there in silence for a second, after which the primary door of the cathedral opened briefly, and I heard shouting from exterior, and a voice that sounded very like Marie’s. I began to rise up, however Twist grabbed maintain of my arm.

“Keep right here. It is too late and there’s nothing that you are able to do. Do not forget there’s nonetheless the Scotland affair which we by no means cleared up.”

I pushed him laborious, and he was clearly not anticipating it as a result of he fell backwards with out a lot resistance, and I used to be capable of push previous him and run down the nave and out of the cathedral with out being stopped.

Marie was being held by two males by a van, one was Gamp and the opposite Drood, who I had labored with a few years in the past. One other man was pointing a gun at them from behind Marie’s automobile.

“Let her go,” he shouted, however they stood there, and I realised that Gamp was pointing a gun at Marie’s head. Abruptly Marie turned to take a look at me, and I’ve by no means seen a lot anguish on any individual’s face, after which the others too realised that I used to be there.

“The place are the youngsters?” I cried.

She stated nothing, simply continued to stare at me, and I puzzled later if she thought that I had betrayed her, a thought I nonetheless discover insufferable.

After which Twist was beside me, shouting one thing, and Drood fired twice, and the person with the gun fell silently, hitting the automobile, earlier than sliding onto the concrete, while Marie screamed briefly earlier than she was dragged into the van.

Twist was by my facet.

“I am sorry,” he advised me, “really I’m. They might have shot you and brought your cash.”

“Drood and Gamp?”

“No Marie and Dennis.”

“No, she was going with me.”

He shook his head, “That was not their plan; they needed your cash and to flee to Italy, you weren’t of their state of affairs, solely your cash, they should have discovered about it in some way; we knew in fact, and Marie was fairly excessive up within the organisation.” He shrugged. “They lived collectively, ooh about six years in the past, we realised that they had been nonetheless in contact, however we weren’t fairly positive what they had been planning, till a few days in the past.”

“What in regards to the kids?”

“They’re okay.” And he walked away.

The van had disappeared, and the physique was gone. I stood alone within the automobile park, there have been just a few individuals who had heard the noise, however as soon as they realised that the commotion was over they turned away and ultimately so did I. I headed again to my automobile, all of a sudden remembering my cash, and realising that I might nonetheless escape. However after I acquired to my automobile, my Sports activities Bag was empty, and I used to be not shocked.

I used to be again at my home by time for supper, questioning what I’d discover; I imagined an empty constructing and directions on the place to go subsequent. However as I opened the door there was the scent of pancakes and I might hear Mark and Esther shouting fortunately. I walked into the kitchen and a lady got here to satisfy me, and I realised that it was Martha.

“Hello Jasper,” she stated, “very long time no see. You are simply in time for supper.”

The 2 kids ran at me and hugged me tight, and after that they had let me go, all of us sat right down to dinner, as households do.

That was over a 12 months in the past now, and we’re settled like some other household. Martha is kinder and fewer irritating than I bear in mind her, and while I would not belief her, I take pleasure in her firm greater than final time and she or he is a greater prepare dinner than Marie ever was.

The kids at first requested about Marie, and I fobbed them off with a narrative about her having to go away, however being completely happy and lacking them, and that someday she can be again. However quickly they stopped asking about her; as if that they had forgotten her or realised that I used to be mendacity to them and that she was not coming again, in any case I’m positive one thing comparable has occurred to them earlier than.

And but at night time I dream of Naples; of Marie and I strolling hand in hand by means of the busy streets, with Tom and Esther operating by our facet. The solar is shining and we’re completely happy, and I do know that wherever Marie is that I really like her and that someday I’ll rescue her and we can be collectively, and we can be free.