Wolf/Start/Home

The motorhome looked unexceptional. Not a small van conversion, but not a huge American-type RV either, and at least fifteen years old. You look at the rear-view mirror which, since it's in the middle of the screen, shows nothing but the interior of the van. As far as you can see, it's empty - "Good," you think as Scarlett tells you to "Turn right in 300 metres."

You ease off the accelerator and touch the brake to bring the van to a near stop. The road you are on is narrow enough that it would be a squeeze if you met anything wide coming the other way. You take the turn into lane that is little more than a cart track. The electric motors whine a little and the air bags hiss as you let Scarlett take over to guide you along the rutted track. You press a switch to raise the suspension as a precaution.

A mile further on, you stop by a steel gate with a big sign "BEWARE OF THE BULL", (there was no bull but it deterred picnickers) and you pick up the remote control from the charger in the centre console to open it. The gate swings open and then closes and locks behind you as you drive across the meadow. The hedge on your right is tall and thick, but the grassy field on your left is alive with insects, buzzing around the flowers, some of which you could even name.

The meadow slopes up and when you get to the top you come to a stop. "You can come out now," you say over your shoulder. After a few moments the curtain in front of the sleeping area parts and a small face peers out. Moments later it it is joined by a second face and then the rest of their bodies. They are both barefoot and wearing shorts and T-shirts. The older child is a six-year-old boy called Josh and the younger by two years is his sister Sam.

Still hesitant, they make their way forward to the front, looking around all the time. "Where are we," Josh says, reminding you that they need to lose the accent before you can take them out in public.

"We are nearly there. Why don't you hop out and have a run around. I just have a couple of things to do," you say, getting out and holding the door so that they can scramble out after you. Josh insists on jumping down, but Sam allows you to lift her. "She weighs nothing," you think as you put her down carefully. Her arms legs are stick thin and you are scared you might break her. They are hesitant at first, but then Sam is racing off through the grass in pursuit of a gorgeous butterfly.

There is a small manhole cover in the hedge and you use a tool to open it and then use it to empty your sewage tank. You go inside to flush a few gallons down the toilet and then put everything away and go round to find the children. As you watch them running around in the sunshine, relieved to be free after being cooped up in the back of your van, you reflect on how you had come this far.

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