Prompt and Circumstance

Journey into the Unknown

'hike' (May 20-22, 2016)

For those who knew the way, it was a simple journey with no strain, mentally or physically. Done regularly enough, it became automatic and they rarely gave it a second thought.

But for the Larsen family, having disembarked from the SS Orsova, at Adelaide's bustling port in South Australia at the misty hour of seven o'clock in the morning, this rail trip was taking on nightmarish qualities - more like a hike into the wilderness than a journey from coast to city.

After a slow shuffle down the long gangplank, they had waited in line for their turn to be given their rail tickets for Adelaide, and be told, "When you get there, go directly to Elder Park." Hmm... Elder Park. They each tried to wrap their tongues around those strange words, but only 16 year old Kanute had the slightest chance. His limited school English saw him able to understand train and ticket, and that this Elder Park was the temporary accommodation they'd heard about back in Denmark.

Ahh Denmark... will we ever see you again? Each face reflected the strange mixture of fear of this wild new country; doubt about their decision; and a fierce sense of excitement, almost exhilaration at their courage to have taken this incredible venture into the unknown.

"We've been sitting here about twenty minutes, and there's no one else in our carriage now. Do you think the train broke down?" Wanda anxiously squeezed her face against the window and craned her neck, trying to see further along the now empty railway platform.

"I don't know. Surely not. Let's go to the door and have a look," Harry answered. His face showed his own concern and confusion as the four of them gathered their 'carry-on' possessions and walked the empty carriage.

Kanute swung out of the doorway with a firm grip on the handrail, just in case the train should suddenly move. No way was he going to be left in this strange country alone. Then the whole family heard his gasp of disbelief as he said, "There's no engine at all. It's gone!"

Had no-one told the Larsen family about the change of trains at this halfway station, where everyone had to climb the wooden stairs and cross over the tracks to catch another train to Adelaide, whilst the first train returned to the port? Or was it all said too quickly for Kanute's limited knowledge of the language?

Whatever, after another long and impatient wait, they finally boarded the correct train and reached their destination, and the top of a large staircase leading up from the Adelaide Railway Station to one of the main streets - only to face the next major obstacle... "Now where do we go?"

Fortunately, the on duty policeman took pity on their obvious distress and pointed the way, "Up to the corner, turn left and just past the City Baths is Elder Park Hostel," he directed, in kindly tones.

It wouldn't take the Larsen family long to learn the City Baths was the public swimming pool, not a hot inviting bath to take away the harshest memories, and Elder Park was not a luxury hotel, but a bare essentials migrant hostel where everything was adequate, without any niceties to tempt newcomers to linger longer than absolutely necessary.

"At least the kangaroos didn't get us," and Harry sighed thankfully.

"Yet... " said Wanda, and hugged her sons tightly to her.