Addie Scott glanced up in disgust as the transit car's door opened with a blast of chill snowy air. Two figures slid in on the tail of the blast and settled giggling in a rear corner seat. The homeless bundle drowsing, bestirred itself to see if he could panhandle from the newcomers and lapsed back into his stupor as the doors bumped shut. Addie sniffed dubiously at the odor of unwashed vagrant as it wafted down the aisle past her, then returned to her white vinyl Bible while the train resumed speed.
Laughter from the end of the car broke into her quiet meditation, and she glared at the two in the back. A boy, blond haired and dressed in a western hat and battered black trench coat was hanging upside down from the hand rails at the top of the car. On the seat the girl clapped her hands and laughed.
"You'll beak your neck with your foolishness," the sharpness of her own voice startled her, echoing in the near empty car. "And it will be your own fault." Addie snapped. He swung down, the train rocking gently. He stood watching her return to her book, the girls voice reached her.
"What an old haggis!" She had an odd accent. Foreigners, the old woman thought, God had better things to do than watch out for crazy foreigners.
The train rumbled in to the tunnel, interior lights now augmented by the fluorescence flicking past. They reached another station, and the car opened and closed its doors futilely before continuing on its way.
"I'm hungry," the girls voice had a childish tone with a lisp.
"I know honey. We'll find something. Soon." He was trying to be soothing.
"Not soon, now!" Addie revised her idea of the couple. More than likely brother watching his younger sister. She felt a wave of righteousness swell inside her. She had saved him from being injured and the girl taken by criminals, but for her watchfulness, the grace of God and her prayers.
A shadow fell over her. The girl looked to be no more than fourteen or so, An oversized leather coat covered her from neck to the ground. Underneath a lace trimmed party dress of black velvet came down to her ankles and laced up granny boots. Out from her wide brimmed felt hat hung long, dark, corkscrews curls. Her face was heart-shaped with wide violet eyes.
"What are you reading?"
"The Bible, The Word of God." She glanced down the aisle. the boy sat watching feet stretched on the bench in front of him, smoking.
"What word is God's? There's a lot of words in that book." Could she possibly be as innocent as she seemed? Addie began a lecture on the word of God and the salvation of souls.
"When did he write all this?" the girl interrupting, sat down on the floor at Addie's feet.
