Extract from Veiled Destiny
CHAPTER ONE
- Sophie glanced in the rearview mirror and frowned. What the blazes was the idiot behind her playing at, flashing his headlights so impatiently? The lane was narrow and twisty, there wasn't room for him to overtake even if she stopped completely.
- The other driver evidently realised this, for he dropped back and the headlights receded. Sophie yawned. It had been an exhausting two days, but apart from the irritation of selfish drivers, she was glad she'd decided to come home tonight instead of leaving it until morning. Then, instead of fighting against the rush hour traffic, she'd be cantering up through the beech woods on Smoke, her new mare.
- Lost in dreams of the pleasures of this, steering round the familiar bends on autopilot, she didn't realise until the glare of headlights almost blinded her that the car had caught up with her again.
- She narrowed her eyes and flicked the mirror up to minimise the glare. The fool was far too close! Was he drunk or one of those crazy maniacs who loved terrorising lone women drivers?
- There was a field entrance a short way ahead. Sophie flashed her indicator lights, slowed, and drew up into the gap. Let him get by, she thought angrily. I'd rather be behind such a dangerous clown.
- But instead of passing her, with the derisive toot on the horn she expected, the car behind stopped too. The brakes squealed as the driver slewed to a halt almost on a level with her, blocking the road and hemming her in.
- Sophie watched, momentarily incapable of action, as the driver opened his door. Well, if he meant to be rude about women drivers he'd get as good back! Road hog! He leapt out and began to run towards her. He carried something and Sophie's eyes widened in disbelief. It looked like a machete! She came back to life, jerked into first gear and bumped her car hurriedly out over the rough verge, thanking her stars it was both low and free of ditches and other obstacles. She had no desire to argue with an axe-wielding madman. As she gained the crown of the road she elbowed down the lock on the door and wound up the window which she'd opened to savour the moist fresh air of the countryside after the fumes and heat of London.
- In the mirror she saw the man race back and set off after her before his car door was properly closed. By now Sophie was afraid as well as angry. But she knew all these lanes, she consoled herself. She knew every bend, every hill, every turning. Surely she could outrun that freak.
- For three miles she managed to stay clear. Her local knowledge enabled her to brake at the last possible moment before a bend, take side turnings at speed, and shoot across junctions without stopping. But the driver behind took full advantage of having her as guide, and cut corners on the bends while matching her braking and accelerating only split seconds later.
- Then there was a stretch of straight narrow road, sunk deep between high banks and overhung with trees. It was barely half a mile, but the only place where overtaking was possible. If he got in front and stopped her she was lost. There would be no chance of turning the car to try and escape the way she'd come.
- The big car pulled out and grimly, teeth gritted, Sophie held to the middle of the road. To her horror she saw her pursuer draw closer. With no space to overtake it seemed as though he meant to ram into her. He was barely a couple of yards behind when Sophie, her nerve failing, swung over to her left.
- With a burst of speed the big car swept past, and only the fact that Sophie had slowed down as she swerved saved her. The big car's rear end almost swiped her Fiat as it crowded past with only inches to spare, then veered straight into her path.
- It was a big Volvo estate, she saw. Her Uno was no possible match for such a car, built to withstand impacts which would smash most other cars to tangled heaps of metal.
- The impetus of the Volvo's speed carried it round the next corner and Sophie, already slowing down, slammed on her brakes. There was a faint chance yet of evading him. Just before the corner was a narrow side road. It led into a maze of lanes and unmade tracks which wound through the woods.
- If she could gain just a quarter of a mile lead while he was turning in order to follow her, she could surely lose him. Luckily it was full moon, light enough for her to find her way with her lights cut, and hide in one of the woodland tracks used for logging machinery. If he found her she would be able to run for it. She'd back herself against any drunken stranger to hide successfully amongst the bracken and tangled undergrowth.
- Sophie went for a quarter of a mile before she came to the track she remembered. She swung off the road into a wide space, rutted from the logging machinery, and headed for the narrow track which twisted away through the trees. Then she swore under her breath. A huge tree trunk had been pulled across the path to prevent cars from using it, and there was no chance of getting past or round it. She'd have to hide here, where there was too little undergrowth.
- She dived out of the car and started to run along the track, then plunged towards a solitary oak amongst the beeches. There were branches low down, and Sophie managed to swing herself up and scramble into the higher branches, finding a reasonably straight one on which she could lie, concealed. Now she had to hope that the Volvo, if it had followed her down this road, would go straight past without noticing the Fiat.
- Her hopes sank as the big car drew up behind hers. The driver got out warily, peering round into the gloom and shadows out of range of the headlights which were highlighting the track. Then he moved slowly towards the track, keeping out of the light. Sophie, her eyes acclimatised to the moonlight, was watching him through gaps in the dense foliage but couldn't distinguish his features, which seemed blurred. She could see that he carried something in one hand, and was holding the other hand to his waist, as though to steady something there. If he spent long enough, or went far enough into the wood, she might be able to sneak out and get past him. Then her heart sank. He'd parked so close behind the Fiat she'd never be able to manoeuvre out before the noise of her engine alerted him.
- As Sophie was resigning herself to spending a long time in the tree, until he got tired and left, she heard the sound of wheels swishing against the road, and another car, also a big one though she couldn't see what make, swung in behind the Volvo, coasting down the slope without lights or engine. Sophie gulped. Was this another attacker? Why? Why was she being victimised, terrorised like this?
- Sophie watched , tense, as a man stepped out of the car. He walked swiftly and silently forwards, then spoke.
- 'Good evening,' he said softly.
- Her attacker turned with a startled oath, and Sophie jumped as there was a small flash, followed swiftly by another.
- 'Thank you,' the stranger said conversationally. 'That should give me some excellent shots. It's a very reliable camera. Pity your mug's covered up. But perhaps you can be persuaded to pose without that face covering.'
- The fight which ensued was brief but inconclusive. The newcomer wielded what Sophie thought was a torch effectively, and knocked the machete out of the attacker's hands. As he staggered back, clutching a damaged shoulder, her rescuer tore off the stocking mask. He revealed a swarthy, black-eyed youth who was snarled furiously.
- 'Damn you! Why did you have to interfere?' he yelled, and kicked out viciously. As the other man sidestepped to avoid the wicked metal-tipped boots the youth ran for his car. 'I'll be back,' he shouted as he slid behind the wheel of the Volvo. 'We'll get you in the end!'
- He reversed hastily out of the turning, scraped the other car, and raced back the way he'd come.
- 'He's scratched your car!' Sophie exclaimed indignantly. She'd spoken without thinking and then held her breath. Who was this other man? Could she trust anyone in so isolated a spot, long after midnight?
- Her rescuer turned swiftly, switching on his torch and swinging the beam round, searching for her.
- 'It's only a scratch. He'd have done more than that to yours. But you're safe now, he's gone. You can come out of hiding. Do you know him?' There was a pause. Sophie was considering what to do. He spoke again. 'Don't worry, if we were really working together he'd not have damaged my car. But if you prefer I'll drive off.'
- That decided her. 'No! Please stay! He had a machete, and he might be waiting for me again!' she exclaimed. Hastily she swung herself off the branch and dangled, horribly conscious that she was only barely decent with the brief flowery shorts and a rumpled tee shirt she'd donned in order to drive home in the hot, sultry weather.
- 'Do you have to shine that torch in my eyes?' Sophie asked fretfully as she hung suspended from the branch. The old oak was in full, abundant leaf, and she felt half stifled by it, spitting leaves out of her mouth. She was ruffled, aware that her descent from the tree was undignified.
- 'Sorry. I was startled, didn't realise you'd gone aloft,' he apologised, and moved forward as she released the branch and dropped to the ground.
- Seconds later Sophie was struggling furiously as he clasped her in his arms, and then he lost his balance and they crashed to the ground, arms and legs entangled.
- 'Let me go!' she panted, and to her fury heard him chuckling.
- 'I'm sorry,' he said again. 'I was only trying to help, it seemed a long drop, but I wasn't expecting to be bowled over by such an attractive acorn.'
I hope you enjoyed it and want to find out what happens. If you want to read on, order from a bookstore or ask at your local library.
Now available as Ebooks in popular formats from:
Smashwords, Amazon,
- © 1997 Marina Oliver