Read Online The Cornish Affair by Laura Lockington - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Laura Lockington
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improvised dance in the sands to the strains of some drums and everyone clapping, which soon had all of Port Charles gyrating madly as if we were taking place in a Cornish version of Monsoon Wedding. Will was clasped firmly to the bosom of Breadpudding, who was clapping wildly with her hair blowing across Will’s face, whilst her husband nervously smiled on them keeping time by clicking his fingers. Richard and Jace were showing off with a series of very cool moves, learnt from the local club in St Ives, even Mrs T was jigging in her chair. The noise level was deafening, we were all whooping and shouting and clapping our hands till they were sore.
We all danced and danced till we were out of breath, and then it seemed as one, we all collapsed, laughing and panting onto the sand.
The wine and beer was passed round, and in my tipsy, dizzy state the whole beach had an air of a Roman feast day about it.
The debris of the barbeque was being picked at by dogs and gulls alike, the children were sated with fresh air and excitement and had collapsed, looking like small mermaids or dryads onto blankets and towels for a snooze. Some of the adults were crowded round the huge pile of driftwood, lighting the bonfire, and the sky had a turned a pale pink. The moon was visible in the still clear sky, and I felt a huge rush of energy.
“More wine!” I called out to no-one in particular, and soon was in possession of a plastic pint mug of it.
The talk around me was still of the dolphins.
“It be, what, ten years since they’m be seen here?”
“More like eleven, I reckon.”
“Right proper sighting, weren’t it?”
“Global warmin’ done ‘em in.”
“Nah, ‘twas the fisher nets… poor souls.”
“When I was a boy, my father swam with ‘em. Powerful, he said.”
“They save drownin’ men, you know.”
A wonderful carefree feeling engulfed me, and I recklessly drunk most of my wine. The bonfire had caught fire, and soon sparks were flying into the dusk.
Soon we were all gathered in groups round the fire. Jace came to sit next to me, and I felt an undeniable ripple of desire course through me. I leant back and looked up at the darkening sky. So what, I thought to myself, so what if he was an old mate and too young? We all deserve one night of madness, don’t we?
“Feelin’ cold, Fin?” Jace said, leaning towards me.
A log cracked in the flames, shooting out molten gold sparks, and I jumped.
“A bit,” I admitted, feeling like a teenager.
Jace moved closer and draped and arm around me. Thank God it was getting dark, and the glow of the bonfire made everyone look as though they were blushing.
I heard Sam and Isaac start shouting for the race to begin, and soon people were milling around, calling to one another.
“’Ere, Rich, come on then, get yer kit off!”
“Come on Sam, you know you want to!”
Jace pulled me to my feet, and I made my slightly unsteady way down to the water’s edge. I felt a wonderful calm euphoria enfold me. Normally, I was scared witless of the race, but tonight it felt that nothing could go wrong.
I counted up the contestants, nine, in all, and shouted the count.
“Ready? On your marks, get set, go!”
Nine hulking Cornish men, stripped down to their underpants crashed, shouting and joking into the dark, cold swirling foam. We all stood on the shore, shouting out encouragement to them. The giants thumb loomed out of the dusk, and I could just make out the outline of the rock against the sky. I seemed to have lost my shoes somewhere along the way, and I gingerly stepped forwards to test the water.
“My God, they’re far braver than me!” I called out.
Nancy and Pritti were clutching towels to their bosoms, ready to throw over the returning swimmers. I peered out to sea and saw the light bobbing on a tiny rowing boat that belonged to Fat Harry. He was out on the water, by the thumb to make sure nobody cheated (and to pick up any one who couldn’t make it back).
Jace
We all danced and danced till we were out of breath, and then it seemed as one, we all collapsed, laughing and panting onto the sand.
The wine and beer was passed round, and in my tipsy, dizzy state the whole beach had an air of a Roman feast day about it.
The debris of the barbeque was being picked at by dogs and gulls alike, the children were sated with fresh air and excitement and had collapsed, looking like small mermaids or dryads onto blankets and towels for a snooze. Some of the adults were crowded round the huge pile of driftwood, lighting the bonfire, and the sky had a turned a pale pink. The moon was visible in the still clear sky, and I felt a huge rush of energy.
“More wine!” I called out to no-one in particular, and soon was in possession of a plastic pint mug of it.
The talk around me was still of the dolphins.
“It be, what, ten years since they’m be seen here?”
“More like eleven, I reckon.”
“Right proper sighting, weren’t it?”
“Global warmin’ done ‘em in.”
“Nah, ‘twas the fisher nets… poor souls.”
“When I was a boy, my father swam with ‘em. Powerful, he said.”
“They save drownin’ men, you know.”
A wonderful carefree feeling engulfed me, and I recklessly drunk most of my wine. The bonfire had caught fire, and soon sparks were flying into the dusk.
Soon we were all gathered in groups round the fire. Jace came to sit next to me, and I felt an undeniable ripple of desire course through me. I leant back and looked up at the darkening sky. So what, I thought to myself, so what if he was an old mate and too young? We all deserve one night of madness, don’t we?
“Feelin’ cold, Fin?” Jace said, leaning towards me.
A log cracked in the flames, shooting out molten gold sparks, and I jumped.
“A bit,” I admitted, feeling like a teenager.
Jace moved closer and draped and arm around me. Thank God it was getting dark, and the glow of the bonfire made everyone look as though they were blushing.
I heard Sam and Isaac start shouting for the race to begin, and soon people were milling around, calling to one another.
“’Ere, Rich, come on then, get yer kit off!”
“Come on Sam, you know you want to!”
Jace pulled me to my feet, and I made my slightly unsteady way down to the water’s edge. I felt a wonderful calm euphoria enfold me. Normally, I was scared witless of the race, but tonight it felt that nothing could go wrong.
I counted up the contestants, nine, in all, and shouted the count.
“Ready? On your marks, get set, go!”
Nine hulking Cornish men, stripped down to their underpants crashed, shouting and joking into the dark, cold swirling foam. We all stood on the shore, shouting out encouragement to them. The giants thumb loomed out of the dusk, and I could just make out the outline of the rock against the sky. I seemed to have lost my shoes somewhere along the way, and I gingerly stepped forwards to test the water.
“My God, they’re far braver than me!” I called out.
Nancy and Pritti were clutching towels to their bosoms, ready to throw over the returning swimmers. I peered out to sea and saw the light bobbing on a tiny rowing boat that belonged to Fat Harry. He was out on the water, by the thumb to make sure nobody cheated (and to pick up any one who couldn’t make it back).
Jace
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