![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/a103efda-2d23-4e55-8d26-2e0aab59203e_rw_3840.jpg?h=9e363d9823d86c3c9d916941b248f64e)
The Permanent Way
…was photographed on the old railway line in the Cotswolds. It features Alice Williamson as Agatha, Emma Lister as Phyllis and Sakari Männistö as Clyde; three characters pursuing an unknown destination along a railway track.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/d7c8f076-310c-4adc-8381-bea9e1a30da0_rw_1920.jpg?h=4779c21b55902bf1436242ffacaf1292)
It felt as though they’d been following the same tracks forever.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/5b0166e6-e3e5-4a3b-88b9-5aa2c3d9e2f2_rw_3840.jpg?h=168ed618f388bb0bcc1583e96b2d5db1)
‘Keep following them,’ Clyde told himself, they’ll always lead you somewhere.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/1f879a41-fa48-4bcf-8f5e-eeeac20390dd_rw_3840.jpg?h=e845cc89b6cfb72068c0e11e262eaf6f)
One thing was certain: they were running out of sandwiches. Phyllis sipped her tea.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/03d587cf-a3a5-4cd9-9ba1-650e758b585b_rw_3840.jpg?h=f1b85b1b441c2012d8e68004d529e582)
Agatha glanced back at the dark sky that chased them, but said nothing to the other two.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/9399fa25-6188-4669-b0da-66ed8148f3f8_rw_1920.jpg?h=149e14bfc39f63f1b6d07269ed24bd36)
Clyde felt they were almost there, even though each rotting sleeper looked like the one before.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/2d222822-3c0b-40c8-999d-11ba15c5dc85_rw_1920.jpg?h=6743d2cfc3b51df3cc1ede71dd9afc20)
Spurred on by the promise of a now distant idea, they walked. Or was it a memory? Like the sound of long ago waves heard in a seashell?
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/bdd35870-c808-4d6e-8155-a70fa7ad15c0_rw_3840.jpg?h=92f3aadf36cf46203678a1a952c8d51a)
The rain was everlasting. They waited so long in the dark that time seemed to recede back into the tunnel with them.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/80529b56-8c2b-4b0f-b557-7115a7e2897b_rw_1920.jpg?h=becb5873bbccee2bbc21e790860dacd4)
Weeds and flowers grew from the gravel and metal, even in the dark. ‘Nature left a trail for us to follow’ thought Agatha.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/ed0def89-bbcd-444c-8f52-fde587a886dc_rw_1920.jpg?h=daab42895c1518cea900dc191c27ebe5)
Finally a break in the clouds. Emerging from the tunnel at last they were met by the sun.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/aa2dcfa2-14ee-4f21-bfcb-837f67a252fe_rw_1920.jpg?h=aece4e5bd2a7798d7da191ebe292ecf9)
The new sky seemed like a destination of sorts…’Have we arrived?’ asked Phyllis.
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2d7efd6f-f020-4a67-897c-010ab0d3af93/c6ba7a44-7b9c-4047-a32b-61dbe1f58763_rw_1920.jpg?h=4905ab96050cb2e0de1dee3874142d35)
It felt as though they’d been following the same tracks forever.