THE SHOUT OF A KING

By Tessa Harvey


"Now dear, if you have good decent parents, you need to let them know where you are. I will lend you my mobile and give you some privacy while I make my bed. Tell them they are welcome to visit you here." 

Seeing Moira's amazed look, Alice added, "You cannot travel today and I suspect you have nowhere to go. Are you vomiting often?"

"No, not really," was the answer, "perhaps it was because I had left in a hurry and moved too fast and too far. When you found me, I was cold, hungry and tired - and also desperate." The woman looked down at the cream-patterned rug. "My husband is so upset about my baby. He...he cannot cope. I didn't mean to get pregnant..." Her voice tailed off.

"Not all women plan to be pregnant!" was Alice's wry retort, but she smiled to take away any hint of criticism.

"Perhaps we can talk soon?"

So Moira's parents heard their child was safe. Moira read out to them the address left near her by Alice.

Both older adults thought the elderly lady must be one in a thousand to risk taking into her home a stranger who could have been a danger to her.

Derek and Wendy reassured their daughter that Simon would be given no clue as to her whereabouts, but it was only right to let him know she was safe. The police were informed of the young woman's whereabouts. They needed to talk to Moira to see if she wanted to press charges against her husband. The officials had been less than impressed by his erratic, sometimes threatening behaviour. They were considering taking him to a psychiatric hospital. The man seemed to be having a breakdown before their eyes and they were concerned he could hurt himself and others.

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