Previews A Poisonous Echo by Mai Griffin | Page 12

A Poisonous Echo
2 – Farlow Hollow
Farlow Hollow station was almost deserted when the train
pulled in, making the half-dozen people who descended
from it seem like a crowd, as they surged through the
barrier to the road outside. One or two strolled to parked
cars, jingling keys; a young couple with backpacks started
walking briskly towards the village. A shabby, stooped
figure in a raincoat – waterproof hat pulled down, almost
hiding her steel rimmed glasses – went unhesitatingly
through a field gate opposite. It swung back easily with
only a slight creak and the woman hurried away keeping
close to the hedge.
Although taking advantage of its shelter she didn’t
really care if anyone noticed her. She had gone to the
trouble of ‘borrowing’ her outer coverings from the
apartment Janitor’s broom closet; his wife was away and
wouldn’t miss them for a few days. The overshoes were
uncomfortably large but she didn’t have far to walk. It was
worth suffering a bit, but she wished she had left off the
black woollen stockings. They made her skin itch even
through her nylon tights and the elastic bands holding
them above her knees were painfully tight.
At the opposite corner of the second field, she paused
to get her bearing. She had followed him by car one night
to find out where he lived and had seen him turn into his
home lane. She had then explored the quiet village roads,
planning what she was now actually doing, so knew
exactly where to go. She felt exhilarated. The road to
Farlow was on her left and Old Farm Lane, signposted,
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