Read Online An Ocean Apart by Robin Pilcher - Free Book Online Page A

then?”
    She thought for a moment. “No, I don’t think it’s worth it. My tutorial will have started by now.” She looked across at him. “Anyway, what the hell! I haven’t had a break from my books in weeks. Maybe I’d be better doing something relaxing, like watching cricket.”
    David was taken aback by her suggestion. “Are you sure?”
    â€œWhy not? As long as I don’t have to make physical contact with your friend Toby again!”
    David let out a short laugh and, pushing the car into gear, he pulled away from the kerb and manoeuvred a tight U-turn on the junction of Broad and Holywell Streets, then headed back up Parks Road towards the university grounds.
    He counted five cricket matches in progress as he drove the car as unobtrusively as possible around the periphery of the grounds, straining his eyes to see if he could make out any familiar figure on the pitches. He passed by the first game, and on to the second, and there caught sight of Toby standing in the crease at the bowler’s end, one hand leaning on his bat, the other placed firmly on his hip, an air of confidence about his person.
    â€œThere he is!” he said, pointing Toby out to Rachel. “We’ll park here, next to the sight-screen, and hope we don’t get moved along.”
    â€œWhat’s the sight-screen for?” Rachel asked, looking at the large white board that stood beside them.
    â€œWell, it’s positioned in direct line with the bowler and the batsman, so that the batsman can get a clear sight of the ball when it comes at him.” David looked over at the score-board. “God, the jammy devil! He’s only three runs off his half-century! No wonder he’s looking so cocky!”
    Rachel sighed. “If he’s only got three more runs to make his half-century or whatever, why is he standing around doing nothing?”
    â€œHe’s not facing the bowling at the minute.”
    â€œI’ve never understood the stupid game. When you’re in, you’re out there, and when you’re out, you come back in here again.”
    Leaning forward, she picked up the half-bottle of champagne and pulled off the foil top. She rolled down the window and, twisting off the wire, exploded the cork towards the sight-screen, quickly putting the top of the bottle to her lips to catch the first frothing mouthful. She handed it over to David.
    â€œIt’s over,” he said, taking a swig and pointing towards the game.
    â€œWhat, already?”
    â€œNo, not the game. ‘Over’ just means it’s time for someone to bowl from this end. It’s Toby’s turn to face now.”
    Rachel shook her head. “It’s a very stupid game.” She reached over for the bottle and took another sip.
    David watched the new bowler walk back towards where they were sitting in the car, turn twenty-five yards from the wicket and set off like an express train towards the crease. The first ball was a vicious out-swinger at which Toby attempted to play a forward defensive shot, but missed it by a foot. He straightened and strutted up the wicket, tamping with his bat at various spots on the ground, obviously feeling that they were the major cause for his missing the last ball by such a wide margin. He returned to his crease, played a practice shot identical to the one that had just failed him, flexed his knees, and readied himself for the next ball.
    â€œWow, I’m not used to champagne!” Rachel said, leaning back in her seat. “I can feel it going straight to my head!” She rolled her head back and forth against the head-rest, then something on the dashboard of the car caught her eye. She leaned forward and pointed to the cassette player. “So, this is the famous stereo system that Toby was on about?”
    David nodded. “Yeah, that’s it.”
    â€œCan we put it on?”
    â€œDon’t see why not—as long as we play it