Solutions: The Dilemma of Faith by James Gerard (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📕

Mary scanned the perimeter of the complex as she neared.  All around on the outskirts of the high fences were benches waiting to relieve the fatigue of a tired body and mind.  She chose to sit on a bench well outside the gate and watched the foot traffic enter and exit.  It became apparent after of few moments of observation that security scrutinized everything.  Their eyes watched the approach then as each individual touched the card to a scanner.  Security their vigilant watch even as each walked through the entrance of the building.  At that point the hope of just mixing in with a herd of workers was useless.  Besides that, the eyes of cameras perched high above would certainly catch her sneaking about in such a way before even reaching the gate.  What was needed was a distraction, something so alarming it would cause both guards and cameras’ eyes to venture away from the gate long enough for her to catch it before it swung shut.  But that was the first step.

Once inside, if successful, she realized she did not have a clue as to whether or not an identification card was needed to access any of the floors or offices of the towering complex.  Even if it did not, there had to be a justification, a relevant purpose for a request to see Councilman Torres.  It was too much for Mary.  The purposeful intent had been dwindled down to a cowering surrender of the faith that the caper could be pulled off without incident.  She stood up and began to walk away.  A voice screamed.  Mary froze.

She looked up to see workers flee from a woman shouting at the top of her voice.  The guards at the gate hid in their shack.  Those approaching stopped and reversed direction.  Those exiting the complex made a mad dash back inside the building.  Still screaming, Mary cringed as the woman made eye contact with her.

“No,” whispered Mary as their eyes locked.  She shook in fear while clearly observing the woman’s fierce eyes and the raging terror unleashed through the tongue.

Mary sat back down and immediately diverted the eyes from the woman, but out of the corner of an eye she could see the woman’s rage fast approaching.

Just feet away the woman came to a halt and screamed, “Where?”

The woman stood right in front of her as if demanding an answer, but Mary did not dare ask for clarification.  She looked up sheepishly at the woman.   As if suddenly hit with a large dose of a mind numbing tranquilizer, the woman dropped the phone and smiled.

Mary was wracked with fear.  Words were choked off.

“I know you,” the woman calmly said, “but I can’t seem to place you.”

Mary immediate thought that the woman was in a prominent position within the state’s security service and had found her face to be familiar from a photo accompanying an all points bulletin for immediate arrest, but the warm smile hinted at something different.  Mary could not utter a word, yet something about the woman’s face sparked a sense of warmth and security.  The woman too was familiar, but she could not think of where they had met.

“Yeah,” Mary said with a smile, “I think we have met before.”

“But where?”

Before Mary could throw out possible places and situations where the two had encountered each other, the woman’s cell phone broke the silence.   “I want an answer in one minute,” the woman screamed.  “Sorry about that.  You know; useless people.”

The phone rang again.  The women looked at the digital message and sighed. 

Mary listened intently to the woman’s side of the conversation.  She let out a tirade of cursing and threats to whoever was on the other end.  Her face turned red as she interrogated the person about some satellites going haywire and that they would be blind for an undetermined amount of time.

“Again, sorry about that,” she told Mary.  “Look, I’d love to talk with you but I have to see to this problem immediately.  You don’t work here do you?”

“No.  I actually came to see Councilman Torres if that’s possible.”

The woman smiled.  “I can arrange that.”

Just as the woman motioned Mary to follow a man came running up.  “We found out where,” he said.

The woman abruptly turned from Mary and abandoned her at the bench.  She and the young man marched to the gate and without hesitation the gate was opened to pass through unencumbered by the security process.

Left alone on the bench, workers reappeared and came walking from all directions and headed to the gate.  As Mary watched the activity return to normal she contemplated what had been overheard concerning the satellites.  From what she knew the forbidden zone was carefully monitored by eyes from above.  If they were down, she wondered if a walk to San Diego was possible.  But not knowing the distance that separated the two fiefdoms, she thought otherwise.  Still, an overwhelming sense of opportunity came to the forefront of the thoughts; an opportunity to evade the eyes was at hand.

Without concern she spent the considerable part of the day walking to the distribution center that was situated on the southern border.  There, she observed the high wire fences surrounding the complex, but no cameras could be seen.  No presence of guards patrolling the perimeter on either foot or vehicle was witnessed.  Even the gate appeared to be unmanned.

Eyes stared at the massive building blocking the view of the staging area.  Afar off on a road, trucks could be seen coming and going at a furious pace.  Mary thought about waiting for the dark of night for the trek through the forbidden zone, but seeing the hectic activity revived the initial plan.  The idea of getting lost in the melee, going unnoticed by workers under strict time constraints and just sneaking onto a truck seemed more than possible.  Just as she marched forward with the intent on carrying out the plan, a car came to a screeching halt right beside her.

Afraid to look, Mary just stood there waiting for the demand to surrender.

“What are you doing?” a man’s voice called out.

She turned towards the voice that sounded more of curiosity than it did of an accusing tone.  Eyes locked onto the man’s face.  The eyes seemed to be kind and the smile friendly.  She did not know who he was, but figured she had to say something that would explain her presence and hope the man would buy it.  But before she could utter a word, the man came out of the vehicle and stood face to face.

“You want to go to San Diego don’t you?”

Mary lowered her eyes and stared at the ground.  “Yes.”

“I see,” the man said.  “In that case, would you mind being boxed up in the back of a truck?”

Mary looked into his eyes for the sincerity of the offer and was stunned to see it indeed was genuine.

“Well?”

“Why would you do that for me?"

The man laughed.  “Because you have to go to San Diego.”

Mary smiled.  She still had no idea of the motivation behind the offer, but was taken in by an unwavering feeling.  “Then you will take me?”

“If you don’t mind being boxed in the back of the truck, then sure.”

Mary smiled and walked around to the passenger door and hopped inside.

The gate automatically opened as the car approached.   The man maneuvered the car through a sharp turn to the right and onto a road that circled around the back of the complex and near a waiting truck.  The man gestured to the back of the trailer as they exited and Mary jumped up through the open door.   With a little struggle, she managed to squeeze through the tightly packed cargo of boxes and to the back where a small, open space was illuminated by a soft light above.

There, to her delight, were bottles of water and waiting to quench the thirst brought on by the trek through the day, and the replace the body’s fuel that had been drained by the physical exertion.  There was ready-to-eat food as well.

As she began to partake in the unexpected feast, the door came slamming down.  The engine fired up.  The truck lurched forward.  She was on her way to San Diego.

 The screeching sound of the door rolling open and the thunderous force of its ascent halted by the thick and firm metal above roused Mary out of a deep slumber.

“We’re here,” a voice rang out.

She took a few seconds to regain the scattered senses and then wiggled her way to the open door.  Just as Mary emerged into the fresh air, the sound of breaking waves rumbled from a beach just off the side of the road.  The aroma of salt scented air swirled about the tranquil seaside.  The lowering sun still shone bright in the crystal blue sky that was uncluttered by clouds but dotted with seagulls.

Although she was aware of the conflict between the two councilmen, Mary thought it odd that such a desolate place, a place void of activity, could dare to stand up against the strong fortress that was Los Angeles.  Any semblance of city life was simply absent.  No buildings of any sort dotted the landscape.  No cruisers raced up and down the road.  No workers scurrying about.  With the exception of the truck, the road and the immediate area were deserted.

“This is San Diego?”

“Oh no, we’re still miles away.  I had to let you out here,” the driver said while the door came crashing down.  “It’s too risky to let you out at the distribution center.”

“This is far as you’re taking me?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Then how do I get to the city?"

“Just walk down the beach until you see houses, then get back up to the road and follow the pedestrian path.”

“What about security?”

“If they see you walking in this area they’ll assume you’re someone important; they won’t dare to bother you.”

“But what about….”

“I’m sorry,” the man blurted out, “but this is the best I can do.”

At that moment Mary understood.  She realized the driver had volunteered his services risking his well-being, and asking to go beyond that amounted to selfishness.  At that point all Mary could do was smile and wave goodbye.

With the sight of the truck lurching forward and the noise of the truck’s gears grinding as it picked up speed, Mary felt the vulnerability of the situation.  She realized she was alone.   And worse, like the coming of the dark night, so too was the prospect of any further help.  But the sun was yet shining and with it hope.

The attention turned to the mighty ocean.  For the first time in her life the powerful force was just feet away.  She concluded that at one time knowledge of the body of water existed in the consciousness, lessons learned in some classroom as a youth, but now forgotten in memories lost.

The dress shoes were kicked off as they proved clumsy in traversing the bed of sand.  The feet sank into the soft and warm covering and the toes wiggled in delight of a sensation never felt.  Mary lifted her head to the sun and felt the warmth of the rays. The nose deeply inhaled the salt scented air while fine