Chapter Two
UNANSWERED PRAYERS
Sun. July 10th
Bonjour Meme,
I spend a lot of time pondering why. Why didn't I stay and listen to Ma mere, when she said, "Stay close, Elaine, I'm serving lunch early. Don't make us wait for you." Yet, I told myself I wasn't hungry and I would be back long before dinner time.
I brought the pup to the altar, even though the Altar to God is incomplete, and placed her on a flat rock in the center, up front. I didn't know what God was going to do. I didn't even know what I was going to do. But I thought just maybe, just maybe this last crucial pleading, praying, would be answered. And even if we're never rescued, at least Fwa would be saved. I would have Fwa.
But nothing could be further from the truth. I'm without faith. I can't move mountains. I can't walk on water. I couldn't save the sea lion pup. I can't even save myself. I can plead, and I can beg, and shout to the heavens, but nothing I do seems to matter, to anyone.
Now I sit here at the table, once again pondering and not getting any answers; but not expecting any either.
I stumbled over to the rock quarry from the altar, after burying Fwa, blinded by tears; I didn't know what I was looking for, if anything. I was following Me' Loss; but something caught my eye, something I thought was there, on top of a low fissure in the rock, a fissure that doesn't extend to the ground. Was it a button, a coin? But it was nothing.
However, on the other side of the rock fissure I discovered a path, it was difficult to see with the passage of time, but clearly a trail. It isn't visible from the quarry because the rock fissure is small and doesn't extend to the ground; but its wide enough to easily squeeze through to the other side.
I followed the trail, only a wild animal path, and after struggling though the underbrush for close to five minutes, I ended up at the back wall of a building, built between two rock cliffs formed by volcanic rock.
There is no way around the sides of the building or the rock cliffs, the only way in is through a heavy door in the side of the wall, closed and deadbolted.
Should I try the key I found, the key that doesn't fit Marvella, marked: Boathouse? But what's on the other side of the wall? Should I try the key I found? What if the door is better left closed and locked?
Meme, I'll wait; and think about it. Sleep well.