Phoebe Wren and the Vortex of Light Read Free

was very fitting. They had married in 1993, and were delighted to be able to return to their work at Medical Missions Hospital as husband and wife. The work had been demanding, and at times both Jack and Eva had been discouraged and disillusioned, but their belief in creating a better way of life had seen them through. The Wrens had fallen in love with the African people, and spoke often of how Africa would ‘always have a very special place in their hearts’ .
    As the family sat now, buckled into the aeroplane seats, each smiled at their inward thoughts of a life lived, and a new one about to begin. Jack was returning to a senior post in Castletown Hospital, while Eva had made the decision to put her career on the back-burner for the time being and spend more time with her beloved Phoebe. That was something which made their time in Jo’burg extra special for Phoebe – it had shown her high-flying parents what was really important, and as a result they had spent lots of quality time together, and had become a closer, stronger family than ever before. Phoebe couldn’t wait to settle back on Ireland’s green shore and begin the rest of their lives on the island they all adored. Africa had beguiled them, but Ireland, with its clean air, rolling green fields and friendly faces, held their hearts. It was home.
    “Cabin crew prepare for takeoff.”
    The pilot’s voice sounded muffled over the intercom, and Phoebe absent-mindedly checked her seat belt as the plane taxied down the runway. She felt Araco Airlines flight 434 throttle forward, and smiled as she was momentarily pinned back in her seat by the gravitational pull as the plane left the runway and climbed into the sky.
    The huge aeroplane ascended steeply until it reached its cruising altitude, then the overhead panel bing-bonged and lit up, announcing that seatbelts could safely be undone, and the Wren family settled back into the long flight. Jack and Eva unclipped their seatbelts, and Jack pulled out his iPad, while Eva got lost in her novel – she loved books, loved the chance to bury her head in her novel of the moment, and Phoebe knew that once they got back to Ireland, her mother’s dreams of penning a book about their time in Africa could finally become a reality. The thought made her smile – her Mum, the published author. Phoebe was so proud of her mother, and loved that Eva gave her an incredible role model to aspire to, without ever making her feel that she had to measure up in any way.
    Two hours passed, and Phoebe’s early start caught up with her. She placed her complimentary headphones over her ears, and closed her heavy eyes, enjoying the non-descript but easy-listening jingles, and in no time she had drifted off into a contented sleep with thoughts of Ella and Ireland dancing in her head.
    THUD!! What was that? Phoebe jolted upright, suddenly wide awake, with her hand moving involuntarily to check that the seat belt buckled around her waist was still secure. “Mum?” she said, nervousness causing her voice to squeak. “It’s okay, Phoebe. It’s just a little turbulence, that’s all, nothing to…” THUD! BANG!! Eva Wren grabbed her daughter’s right hand, and her husband’s left as the big aeroplane shuddered and heaved.
    “Jack?”
    Eva’s voice betrayed her, and Phoebe saw that she too looked afraid. Suddenly, the pilot’s voice boomed over the tannoy, clearer this time: “Passengers, please return to your seats immediately! Fasten your seatbelts securely, and adopt the brace position” .
    The unanticipated announcement immediately put everyone on edge, and there were audible gasps and the sound of a woman crying as seat belts were clicked shut, and passengers began to lean forward, heads lowered, arms crossed protectively in front of their worried faces. Phoebe glanced sideways past her mother; she could see her father’s face, eyes closed, lips moving in an unspoken conversation with the Atoner. Jack and Eva Wren had a deep