The travel agent 15/21

Eve had met George as arranged and found herself doing an unexpected amount of walking. She’d had the foresight to pack a small haversack and followed the party along footpaths for what seemed to be a very long time.

Fortunately it was quite a bright moonlit night, so she didn't have too much difficulty in seeing where she was putting her feet, but even so she marvelled at the speed and surefootedness of the whole party.

Once or twice she’d put her foot in a large puddle, or a deep muddy spot, which the others instinctively seemed to avoid. However, at last George made the whole group stop.

“We’ve just arrived at the door,” he said in a loud whisper, “Eve you come with me and mind you don’t bump into the frame. The rest of you will be on your own once we’re through. I hope you’ve enjoyed yourselves and perhaps you’ll tell your friends about the service I’m offering!”

He took hold of Eve’s hand and led her carefully through a doorway made out of branches, which had been set across the path. Eve looked at it carefully as she walked through, it could have been her imagination, but the woodwork appeared to be glowing faintly in the dark.

Other than that it didn’t appear to be anything special, indeed it wasn’t even very well made! The rest of the group hurried after them and began moving away along various small paths as they came to them. One or two said “thank’ee Jarge,” as they left, but most hurried off and seemed rather glad that they had arrived safely home, wherever that might be.

“Be daylight soon,” said George, “I suggest we find somewhere dry to sit and rest. We’ve a long walk to get to Lurbridge, then we can continue by horseback if you don’t mind riding pillion.”

Eve was roused up at first light and George gave her a couple of biscuits and a drink of water from a flask.

“We’ll get a proper meal at the inn, but this will help keep you going until then.”

They set off once more and after a mile, walked up a small rise to the top of what was revealed to be a sea wall.

“We follow the wall all the way now, from here on the ground gets too boggy in parts for safe footing. Once the river gets narrow you’ll know we’re nearly there. The first thing you’ll see is the travel fog at the mouth of Timber Creek, then we’ll come to the timber yard itself. You can have a look round that if you like. The foreman’s name is Phil and he’s quite helpful. He’s met Jennifer Jane several times, so he won’t be very surprised to meet someone else from her parts.”