The Dark Frontier by A. B. Decker

Author:A. B. Decker [Decker, A. B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
Published: 2021-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Ellen’s journey north to her sister Beth proved tediously uneventful, until she had to change trains in Cologne. It was the first time she had ever been to Cologne, and since she faced a long wait before her connection, she decided to spend the time down on the riverside enjoying the fresh air and the views. But the air proved a little too fresh to enjoy, while the views were dominated by the cathedral. And the forbidding darkness of the building that rose into the grey afternoon sky gave her no comfort. Ellen found it so oppressively imposing that she would almost certainly have missed the object of far greater interest across the street had it not been for a yapping dog that drew her attention in that direction. It was an irate and lost-looking dachshund, which stood outside a café barking at nothing in particular, as far as she could see.

Then out of the café emerged a figure she knew at once. The mop of thick brown hair. The walk. It could only be him. It was Frank. Her heart missed a beat. Was this a dream? Ellen asked herself. There could surely be no other explanation. She felt she could not trust her own eyes. She wanted to shout to him across the street. She wanted to wave.

But she was transfixed. Could do nothing but gape in disbelief. Was it really Frank? It seemed impossible. What could he be doing here? And by the time she had collected herself, it was already too late. He was stepping onto a tram and moving off out of Ellen’s life again as abruptly as he had re-entered it. She was confused. Was it a dream? Was she going mad? Was this really happening?

Ellen was barely aware of the strange impression she must have created, rooted to the spot, gaping into the empty space across the street where Frank had been. A few people approached her and made noises of concern. But she was unable to understand. Each one moved on with a shake of the head when Ellen made no response. When eventually she regained her composure, she returned to the station and found a place to sit. A place where she could gather her thoughts.

She was uncertain what to do. She could not go to the police. Even supposing she would be able to overcome the language barrier, they would simply think they had a raving lunatic on their hands.

Ellen remained totally distraught and bewildered, yet overjoyed at the same time, by the knowledge that Frank was here in Cologne. So close and yet still out of reach. She decided to check into a hotel near the station.

After phoning her sister to let her know she had been delayed, Ellen returned the next morning to the place where she had spotted him. And each day for the next three days, she sat in the café he had emerged from and drank cup after cup of what passed for tea

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