The Nature of the Beast

Chapter 26

Nadi showed up the next day and as was her usual easygoing nature, took Rudi's appearance in stride. She followed him around for the afternoon, asking him question after question.

"What was it like, living on the streets?"

"How did you find food? Where did you sleep?"

"How old are you anyway? You look pretty old. I like your moustache, it curves over your mouth like a great winged moth."

Rudi answered her questions, explaining in detail all the things Enid wanted to know but was afraid to ask.

Nadi was curious and lacked a filter. Enid found her refreshing, however, as the afternoon wore on, Rudi began to have a hunted look about him.

Chuckling, Enid steered Nadi away from Rudi and sat down to read a book together. It was one of Enid's favorite moments with Nadi. They would choose a book and sit daily to read to each other. This week they were reading 'Jane Eyre'. It was one of Enid's most beloved stories. She read the book as a young girl and the story stayed with her into adulthood.

"When is the sword fight? I love a book with a good sword fight."

"There's no sword fight," she saw Nadis look of disappointment and smiled.

"There is a mad woman in the attic," she said, hoping to peak her interest.

"Oooh, like the old lady in the fortress," Nadi teased.

"No, not like that. M isn't mad. Well, maybe just a little, but in the best way," she winked at Nadi. "You'll meet her soon. Her Slava is coming up, would you like to join us for dinner?" She hoped Nadi would say yes. "You could stay over that night and in the morning I'll take you down and introduce you to the animals."

She was nodding when Rudi came over with a crate of books that were just delivered.

"Another donation," he said, setting the crate down behind the desk.

"That's wonderful, thank you Rudi. I was just reminding Nadi that my friends Slava is coming up and my friend M and I were hoping you could both join us? It's usually just the two of us, but now that we're friends, we would love to celebrate with you."

Rudi nodded, polite as always. "It would be my pleasure."

#

Weeks passed with Nadi and Rudi's company a constant joy in Enid's life. A couple of misfits, that's what they were, an unlikely pair. Enid looked forward to her mornings, being greeted with a coffee and a smile by Rudi, and closing up with Nadi's constant chatter filling her mind. She was no longer alone as she once thought, her need for company now fulfilled. She formalised a date with Stevan, so her physical needs would be met as well. All that was missing was, perhaps, love? She didn't think she was capable of romantic love, not anymore.

As the bells struck three o'clock, Enid was roused from her thoughts. Nadi hadn't come into the library in days. Every day, as the last bell rung Nadi would walk through the doors. Nadi had never missed a day.

Enid sat at her desk, looking at 'Jane Eyre', wondering what was keeping Nadi away. If she didn't come today, Enid would venture to her house and check on her. Perhaps she was sick, would her mother care for her if she was? She paced around the room, brow furrowed in worry. The patrons, sensing her mood went to Rudi instead to ask their questions. Enid smiled at that, he was settling in and the majority of her customers accepted him without question. Many of them being with little resources as well.

The bells finished their three o'clock chime and the doors pushed open. Relief flooding through her at the sight of Nadi, and she rushed over and hugged her.

Nadi looked tired and wore an old scarf wrapped to her head. It was unusual, but she was here and Enid was happy.

"Are you well? I've missed you," she hugged her again.

Nadi burst into tears and Enid took her hand and led her away into the back rooms. She sat her down in the kitchen, and put the kettle on the stove to make her some tea. Then she sat across from her and took her hands in her own.

"Nadi, what's happened?"

Nadi sniffed and took a few deep breaths, trying to stop the tears. She reached up and slid the scarf off her head.

Enid gasped as she looked at Nadis' shorn head. There were patches so short she could see her scalp. Red blotches and a few scabs had formed. Whoever did this, had done so roughly.

"Oh honey," Enid said.

"It's that bad then?" she started crying again.

Enid took Nadi in her arms as she cried. She rubbed her back and made soothing murmurs, hoping to comfort her. Eventually she cried herself out and just leaned into Enid, sniffing.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Enid whispered.

"It was my Ma. She came home angry, one of her clients didn't pay her and I think he hit her. She was having a few drinks when I came into the room; she said my hair was a disgusting mess. Said no man was ever going to lay with me if I looked like a gutter rat. The sooner I earned my keep the better. Then she sat on me and took a knife to my hair. I screamed and cried and begged her to stop. She was so angry, I guess I'm lucky she didn't slice my head clean off," Nadi sat up, looking at Enid. "Is it awful? It hurts a little, but not so much as the first day."

Enid wanted to cry for her sweet little bird, bald like a baby now. She took her hand and caressed Nadi's face.

"It's not too bad. It's healing well. I'm so sorry sweetie," she stroked her head and said, "The amazing thing about hair, unlike say, a limb, is it will grow back. In the meantime, I'll make sure you have a set of fancy scarves to wear, if you like."

Nadi smiled.

"I would like that. Thank you."

"Nadi, is it safe for you to return home? It sounds as if your mother has other plans for you."

Nadi shrugged. "No more or less than I was before. But now that she's ruined my hair, she knows any man she was hoping to make money from will be repulsed by my looks. At least for now I'm safe from that."

"Well then," Enid said standing to make her some tea, "Perhaps she did you a favour then? But Nadi, once your hair grows back, what then? Will you do what your mother asks of you?"

Nadi eyes widened. "I don't - I don't want to," her eyes filled with tears, "but what choice have I got?"

"You have a choice, you have me. I'll always be here for you, and you'll always have a home with me. You'll be safe with me."

Nadi looked at her, hopeful. Yes, there is hope for you Nadi, just as there was for Enid.

"I want to. Just not yet. I can't leave my mother yet."

Enid saw the hesitation; the loyalty to her mother was still there, despite what she had done.

It frustrated and angered Enid, but she said nothing. She made herself and Nadi some tea and they sat sipping. If only she could make Nadi see that every day she stayed she was putting herself in more danger. Her mother, now having had a taste of violence, would only become worse. Nadi's life was in danger, but how to make her see that without sharing her own horrific past?

"Saturday is M's slava. Can you still come? Please come and we can have a girl's sleepover party, like I always wanted when I was a girl."

Nadi laughed at her, "You're too old for a sleepover party."

"I am? Well that won't stop me," she laughed back.