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The Education of Rachel
-----------------------

By Danton

Part 1.

After a long drive through pastoral farm lands, John turned the car slowly
onto a narrow gravel road.  The day was warm, this being the first day of
June, and many shafts of glimmering sunlight cut through the newly foliated
trees of the forest the road wound through.  The shades of green, brown, and
glistening yellow gave the little path a mystical quality, and Rachel 
stared almost transfixed at the changing colors ahead of the car.

They had not spoken a word to each other on the long journey -- that had
been decided previously.  John left Rachel to ponder her future and the
changes she had decided to implement in their relationship.  For her part,
Rachel's mind seemed utterly blank.  She wanted desperately to face the day's
challenges with a clear, open mind, and not be enslaved by her fears.  Still,
occasional shafts of doubt pierced her serenity, like the light through the
leaves; she could not yet be free of her apprehensions.

The miles down the tiny road seemed to require an hour to traverse, the path
twisted and raised and lowered so dramatically.  When they arrived at the
large gate, neither of them had any sense of which direction they were now
facing.  On either side of the road, an ominous fence was born and sliced
through the thick forest for as far as their eyes could see.  The fences
looked formidable, 12 feet high and topped with an additional 2 feet of
barbed wire.  The gate that bridged the gap between the two fences, 
blocking the road,  was no less impressive.  It appeared to be nothing
more than a twelve by twelve foot slab of steel.  On a metal pole next to
the road, John noticed a small intercom box.  Rachel's face betrayed no
emotions; her eyes traced the length of the pole and saw that it was
crowned with several video cameras.

A light on the intercom box caught John's attention as it lit brightly.
Presently, the speaker crackled to life and a man's voice issued forth.

"Good day to you both, and welcome.  Mr. Heath, if you would be so kind as
to help the young lady out of your car?"  The voice was calm and cultured;
even through the metallic transmogrifications of the intercom, Rachel thought
she detected a distant hint of an accent.  John opened his car door and
stepped out onto the road, which was purely dirt at the gate, walked around 
the front of the car and opened his passenger's door.  Rachel barely noticed
him, and continued staring ahead of the car even though her view was now
totally obscured by the metal gate.  

"Rachel?" John wispered.  It would be for the last time.  Slowly she turned
her head to gaze up at him.  Their eyes locked for a brief moment, then she
took his outstretched hand and got up out of the car.

"Very good."  The calm, metallic voice responded.  "Thank you for coming,
Mr. Heath.  We need not take up any more of your time."  At this Rachel 
started, and stared suddenly at John.  Was he leaving her here?  Now?
Her silent questions were answered as John sat down in the driver's seat
and closed both doors.  With barely a glance in her direction he turned
the car around and headed back down the road.

For the first time in her life she felt totally alone.  A chilling breeze
breathed life into the forest trees; they rustled noisily for some moments
before coming once again to rest.  The silence following was complete.
Rachel hugged her arms to her breast to fight the chill.  Wasn't it warm
just a few minutes earlier?  After some few long minutes she heard a sound
from below her feet -- the gate was moving, lowering itself into an open
crack in the ground.  Staring, frozen in uncertain emotion, Rachel watched
the huge door slide completely out of sight, revealing only a narrow
foot path onward through the trees.

"Miss Stansbury," the cultured voice intoned, "We are a mere few hundred paces 
ahead of you.  Do come and join us, but please be careful to remain on the
path at all times."

For a long moment she pondered.  The gate that efficiently kept out 
trespassers would just as easily keep a guest from leaving.  She knew that
the dark line of the crack across the road was a line that, once crossed,
would demarcate the boundaries of her life forever.  Still, it was a long
walk back to the road; and from there?  She had given herself no alternatives;
proudly she stepped over the line and proceeded down the path, further into
the forest.
--