A 'Maze'

I've just been given my key. I turned the lock to the left the gate swung open. The first steps down the narrow pathway seemed welcoming the aromas from the lavender and magnolia crisp and sweet. 1

Three steps inside saw the gate slam shut. These were the first steps onto the path of the maze. The office said it would be the start to a new way of life. Puzzling and daunting, was this statement, I had to see and sense it for myself. 2

It was a total surprise but the path was straight, not like a normal maze and could be seen to dimish into almost a dot in the distance. The surrounding folliage thick and lush. I started on my way. 3

After perhaps a mile of steady walking, I noticed a small sign stepping up close, reading the words laid out in English, French, German and many other languages, it said "last flowing water until the end". Thinking this to be a clue, I drank as much as I could hold and stepped back, the small metalic bubbler / fountain stopped and appeared to rust almost immediately. 4

Somewhat bewildered, I strode on. The path soon started a steep incline raising at a medium steep angle not all that difficult but taxing to the feet as the path had a slightly crumbly surface and was not always a firm footing and may slip backward slightly. This went on for maybe six hundred yards and progressively got steeper and steeper. 5

It was now becoming extremely difficult to maintain a footing. Just off to the right another small sign 'path narrows'. There was no definitive indications towards this being correct, except that the bushes on either side now possessed some nasty thorns which were extremely sharp and jutted out of solid branches, maybe two inches long. These were a 'no-go zone', not what would allow any sitting or resting, other than in the centre of the path.   6

There about another twenty yards was a quaint clearing with a bench. A small sign saying "rest area". There was another little antique fountain off to the left, on which a small plug attached by a short length of narrow chain. Naturally my inquisitive mind made me place the plug into the sink. Just as well, I thought, for as soon as there was about a pint in the bowl of the fountain, the water stopped flowing. 7

I scooped up and drank as much as I could and tossed the remainder over my head and neck to cool me down, slightly. Although it was cool here, the walk had generated quite some heat in my body, I had started to perspire heavily, needing to breathe deeply, over the last few hundred yards. 8

A question came over me. How could this be a 'maze' when the path, thus far had been straight as a gun barrel. Maybe the 'maze' part will start soon. I started onwards, once again, in search of the way out. 9

The path took a rather sharp turn to the right and had a smaller path off to the left, this looked to be a obvious dead end. I followed the path around to the right, as would almost everyone. 10

It seemed to grow much wider with light shining through the trees, low, lush, shrubs which were growing less dense, the hill downwards was gradual and smooth and seemed to be a gentle stroll at any easy pace. After having come maybe a mile in an ever sweeping right direction, I came upon a bench, which showed signs of much use. The paint was peeling off and the ground around infront was worn and devoid of any growth. It appeared  'oddly, out of place'. I continued with my downward walk. 11

After about what seemed an hour of walking, the track abruptly finished. 12

A small sign in the shape of a brass plaque bolted to the end of the concrete path had a simple sign as having been stolen from a freeway. 13

"Go back, you are going the wrong way". I looked around; high thorned bushes all around the path, no way of exit here. There had been only one other way to travel in this ruddy place. 14

This was no 'maze', I was building with anger as it appeared to be a sham. As I turned around to return from whence I had come, affixed to a tree branch, just above eye height, was another small sign. "Please rest on the seat available, half way up, as the path is steady but long".  "The path you could have taken at the top of this hill is of twenty yards and definitely not wrong". 15

Well what a fool I had been. I had taken the fools way out and followed, like many, my own intuition. What a fool I thought to myself as I gladly heeded the advice and took that rest, which had been suggested. 16

I arrived at the fork and followed the short track. Just off to the left was a small set of steps with railings but just offset from the path out of direct view from the fork in the road. I descended the steps, of which there seemed about three flights, to be met at the bottom by a small sign "exit twenty yards to your right". It was there. 17

I had been 'taken' by myself. I had spent nearly three hours walking a one hour path. As I arrived at the little shop which had been the entry point, I returned the key. 18

The lady behind the counter asked if I enjoyed the seat after the fork. All I could say with my head at a slightly stooped direction staring to the ground, I said: 19

"yes, thank you very much". 20