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I observed the pair for about a half-hour. When I became genuinely convince that they were, in fact, lost, I decided to take action. Looping a small swivel pulley around an upper branch, I silently slipped a rope through it, stepped onto a rung, used my own weight as a counterbalance, and swung down.
The thud of my landing went surprisingly unnoticed; The crunch of my first few footsteps, however, did not. The man turned, and saw me, as a cloaked figure in white, lined with satin at the hood and extremeties.
"Help us." The smaller one said. Her voice was pleading.
I simply nodded and walked toward them.
"We've been walking all night." He said. "We were on a walk last night, but got lost. When daylight broke we found ourselves next to an enourmous snow-drift. It turned out to be a massive overgrowth of berry-bushes." I nodded, looping an arm around the woman, helping him. "She found an archway, but couldn't find any house!!" He was almost crying. I led them toward a grove of trees.
Deeper, and deeper into the grove we walked. Were it not for the circumstances, the walk would have been magnificent. The outer layer of trees broke the the wind so that inside the chill was lessened. Snow did not fall deeply at the heart of the grove, not at all in the heart of the forest. They passed underneath a sign. It read, `Abandon fear, all ye who enter, for thou art in haven.'
"Haven?" He asked. It took the form of a small white dome. A pair of dogs came `round. I whistled simply. They stood alert, but not threatening. Gently, I lifted a flap of the dome up, and we were blasted by warm air. The dome's interior was spacious, lit from within by some kind of flouresence. A woodstove witha recliner soon held the young lady's form, now stirring at the warmth.
Quickly, we swaddled her in blankets, her we clothing stripped off of her, and laid to dry. My cloak still on, I worked quickly, and with no small care. Checking her extremeties, it was plain to see that no extreme exposure was involved while the young man involved himself in getting warm.
After a certain point of, I went to the kitchen area and procured some broth for both of them, and fed her until she felt well enough to feed herself.
Once the guests were taken care of, then only did their hostess reveal herself. She doffed her white cloak, and beneath that, a long body-coat. Chestnut hair drifted midway to her back. She turned and proffered a cellular telephone toward the man.
"I suspect there may be people looking for you." Were the first words she spoke to them. "Ease their minds. I can have you to Goldendale in an hour, if need be." He made a couple of telephone calls while she went back into the kitchen area.
When she returneed, laden on a tray were hot toadsted-cheese sandwitches and tomato soup. She set it down between the two of them and poured piping hot tea.
"Thank you." The woman said, ""You've saved our lives." Their hostess smiled back.
"You're welcome." I said, and offered my hand. "My name is Caroline."
"Julie." She smiled at me.
"I'm Justin." He spoke up, offereing his hand. "Where are we?"
"You're on a twenty-acre parcel of land known as Haven. We're off a DOT road. You were probaly on SR 97 and wandered north."
"I remember 97." He said. "After that point, it's a blur. According to my mother, the state police found the car and called her, and the put out a rescue party."
"And here you are." Caroline finished his dialogue.
"Your most usual home." Julie finshed her dialogue. Caroline smiled.
"You were fortunate to find the berry bushes."
"They seemed to go on for miles." Justin added.
"Several acres, actually. They've finally gotten toa respectable size." Caroline intoned, beginning to clean up.
"Respectable," Justin said, "they're massive."
"I enjoy my privacy." Caroline smiled again. "In the summertime, it's nice to be able to wander about without thinking about prying eyes or vandals." she flushed very slightly. Julie nodded as their eyes met, and held for a moment.
Justin spoke up. "Well prephaps we should be going. I can have someone come ot the house," he looked at the dome, "to get us."
"I'm afraid not. The dogs would shred them and I would shoot them." Caroline stated flatly. "I'll see that you get to where ever. Goldendale, I preseume?"
Julie smiled.
"Goldendale would be fine." She said.
"I was going to ask," Julie continued, "who did your piercings?"
"Attitudes of Portland." She leaned forward so that Julie might get a beter look. Julie moved slightly in the chair, her blanket moving just enough to reveal a part of her hips and tummy. She finished inspecting the eyebrow ring, and as Caroline turned away, she gasped.
"On your neck, is that a tatto of an angel?"
"Yes." Caroline said, "My full name is Caroline Angle Tigerestt"
"CAT?" That's cute. I'm a tat artist - when I can get the work." She reached toward her jeans. Her hip greater exposed, a pussycat's vertical eyes with whiskers and a smile. Caroline quickly blushed a touch, and covered her guest nonchalantly.
"Nice cat." She whispered. Julie either did not hear, or choose not to respond to this.
"My card." She fished a business card out. "I work in the bookstore by the expresso stand on forth. I sell a bit of art work, but Goldnedale isin't big enough to have a full-time tat studio."
"Cool. I haven't been to this bookstore before. Have to check it out." Caroline flashed a small as she handed Julie the rest of her clothing. "This should be dry now. I'll be in the kitchen for a minute."
Caroline went away, toward the ktichen. She heard Julie said, "now, now, you turn your ehatd. At least our hostess has decency." In about three or so minutes Juloie came into the kitchen. "So where's the bathroom?"
"Over there" Caroline pointed toward a walled off section. Julie came back, looking rather puzzeled.
"A bidet." Caroline said.
"Really" Julies' eyes widened.
"Yup. One must have some aspect of civialization, even out here."
"Expensive?" Julie intoned.
"Worth every penny." Caroline smiled evilly, she said holding her tongue between her teeth, eyes flashing, madly.
Julie murmured something that wasn't quite audible.
"Pardon?" Caroline inquired.
"Oh, nothing. We should be going." Julie said, softly.
"Of course." Caroline stated.
The drive back was quite uneventful. Justin was slightly chatty, asking this and that question. Caroline's comments were precise, firm and polite. It was apparent that she didn't like chatter. From time to time Caroline looked into the the rear-view mirror at Julie. Never once, when she looked, did she fail to meet Julie's eyes, for Julie was almost always watching her.
Julie's directions were fairly good, only getting turned-around once. The pair was depositited at her place of business - Justin had called and a relative was waiting to drive them to their respective homes. As Caroline pulled into the driveway she spoke very quietly and with great intensity.
"Listen to me very carefully. I am xenophobic to the point of paranoia regaurding my privacy, so I would greatly appreciate it if you would not only avoid mentioning my name, but avoid decescribing my living situation." She looked at Justin, who seemed visably afraid. Her look toward Julie was less harsh, but no less serious. Julie nodded. She seemed to have some kind of idea of the value of privacy that Caroline had created for herself.
' This is part one...part two when I get it finished.
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Games - Anneda and notes about games I play.