(no subject)
Chapter Seventeen
Up the Cliff Path
They set off in the two dinghies, George and Dick sharing the oars in George's boat and Julian and Dick in Alf's.
"No need to look too good at rowing," Julian called out to everyone as they pulled away from the shore. "If they are spying on us then the more we act like silly kids who don't quite know what we're doing the better it'll put them off the scent."
George nodded and waved and Dick caught a deliberate crab and pretended to nearly fall in.
"Idiot!" said Julian, laughing. "Honestly, Dick is a clot sometimes!"
"I can't really see the point," Peter said stiffly and suddenly very Navy. "Going out to the island is only a bit of a diversion technique - and probably not necessary anyway. Messing about is dangerous."
"Believe me, Peter, old chap," said Julian, "when you've run up against as many villains as we have you learn a trick or two. Best to take no chances."
He dug his oar into the water and it slipped out of the rowlock. The Saucy Jane tilted and rocked and Peter automatically did his best to steady it. In doing so the dinghy began to turn in a circle hitting the incoming waves full on. Nicola, sitting rigidly in the stern facing them and clutching Timmy for comfort, turned a shade paler.
"Let's at least get going before you start playing silly beggars," said Peter through gritted teeth. "You'll have one of us in. Would that be authentic enough for you?"
"I say," said Julian, surprised. "You have got a temper on you, haven't you? Don't get huffy! If it bothers you so much we'll be the perfect sailors - we've got Dick larking about - anyone would certainly think he'd never been in a boat before. And look at Lawrie pretending to stand up like that! She is a clown, isn't she?"
Nicola didn't know whether to wish she was in the other boat where they were all taking Julian's words to heart and acting like particularly incapable but cheerful novices or to be glad she was where she was where progress was smoother but her companions in danger of starting a fight.
But Peter said no more. Seething gently he set his mind to guiding the Saucy Jane into the waves efficiently. In his heart he knew Julian was right. The more they could come across as a bunch of gormless kids the better. But you treated the sea with respect; it wasn't in him to handle a boat badly. Partly, he knew this was because, if he felt like being honest, which he didn't much - not at the moment - it had to do with not being that confident about being good enough to pretend to handle a boat badly. Which wasn't the best of thoughts to have.
And he rather hoped Julian wouldn't insist on going through those rocks again. It wasn't that he minded exactly, he'd just rather not.
He glanced across at the shivering Nicola.
"Are you going to be all right?" he asked.
She nodded because what was going to happen was going to happen and talking about it wasn't going to help at all.
"Would you be better sitting in the prow?" Julian asked sympathetically. "Anne gets sea sick sometimes but she's nearly always all right if we sit her in the prow. She says she fixes her eyes on something in the distance and it really helps."
"Not so good for everyone else though," Nicola managed. She always sat in the stern so that she could be as unobtrusive as possible when the worst happened. Which it was about to do. Soon. Now in fact.
When she was more or less settled again they were entering the first outcrop of crops.
"Best thing," said Julian, "if we go right round the island as if we're looking for a place to land. Do you think?"
He addressed his question to Peter. Peter made an effort.
"Yes," he said. "In fact, is there a better place to land on the south side?"
"No, it gets more treacherous. But we can go and look if you like. Might as well potter about for a bit before going back to see what's happening. Here, you take the oars - you're much better at this sort of thing than I am."
He sounded sincere and Peter couldn't help feeling a little better. In between little bouts of nausea Nicola listened to him trying harder to be polite to Julian. It occurred to her that Julian would make a good diplomat.
By the time they had circumnavigated Kirrin Island, seen the others disembark, and arrived back on the shore, the early morning sun, having played hide and seek for twenty minutes decided to shut up shop altogether and a few icy spots of rain were spattering onto the Saucy Jane. They had picked a spot to land on the other side of the bay, which was well out of the sight of anyone who might be looking out of the windows of the Seal's Head.
"Blow," said Julian as they dragged the dinghy well up the beach, Timmy jumping around them. "If the weather doesn't pick up we shan't be able to signal to the others when it's all clear."
"We'll think of something," Nicola said. "But hadn't we go and find Alf and tell him where his boat is? We told George we'd do that first before he realises it's missing."
"I'll go," said Peter. "No need for all of us to trek all the way to the fisherman's cottages."
"No," said Julian firmly. "We must stick together. Let's go back to Kirrin Cottage first and see if anything's happened. Then we'll go on to see Alf."
Peter glowered as he straightened the oars in the dinghy. He fell a little behind the others as they began their walk back along the beach, his hunched shoulders and closed off expression making it obvious what sort of a mood he was in.
"Oh dear," said Julian ruefully to Nicola. "Your brother does go off in a huff easily doesn't he?"
"Well, you are a bit bossy," said Nicola.
"Bossy? Moi?"
"Yes. You like telling people what to do."
"There is a difference between being bossy and knowing the best course of action to take. Someone has to take charge and I am the oldest."
"And a boy, of course," Nicola couldn't help saying.
"Well, yes, of course," said Julian dismissing her remark. "But Peter must know about following orders in the Navy?"
"That doesn't mean he wants to all the time. And you aren't that much older than him."
"So you think Peter should be in charge?"
"Why should anyone have to be?" Nicola, who hadn't, up to now, felt anything other than vaguely defensive of Peter, now began to feel exasperated.
"All right, all right, don't you go off the deep end too! I can see I shall have to do a spot of apologising or we're never going to get anywhere this morning." Julian turned round and called to Peter, "I say, old chap. Nicola, here, thinks I'm throwing my weight around too much. Sorry if I've upset you."
"You haven't," said Peter briefly and for a moment Nicola wondered whether he was going to accept Julian's words as enough of an apology - and for what exactly? - but he caught up with them quickly and gave them both a rather shamefaced grin. "I can be an idiot too."
"I didn't mean I was an idiot exactly - " began Julian.
"Oh, shut up, Julian," Nicola said, her good nature restored. "You're both idiots. Boys! I don't know why you have to go in for all this competitive stuff all the time. Don't you find it wearing - I can practically hear your antlers clashing together!"
"It's practice for when we have to fight off the next man to bring back the best mammoth," said Julian, his good nature matching Nicola's. "Isn't that so, Peter?"
"For goodness sake agree with him Peter and let's get on," said Nicola. "Julian, what's the quickest way to get to Kirrin Cottage from here? We don't want to waste any time."
"Well," said Julian. "There is a path that's closed off because it's a bit crumbly in places. But it's perfectly safe if we're careful. A bit steep here and there but it's a definite short cut. Ok?"
Involuntarily Peter glanced at the cliff face behind him, his hands beginning to perspire a little. But it was no use Nicola looking at him like that. He'd have to do it. And there was a path. It wasn't as if anyone was going to expect him to scale bare rock. He'd tuck that word crumbly out of the way and just get on with it.
"Ok," he said.
"What about Timmy?" asked Nicola. "Is it safe for him? George would never forgive us if he fell over the edge."
"Oh, Tim's all right. He's like a mountain goat," said Julian, ruffling Timmy's ears. "You'll see - he'll be at the top and waiting for us in no time."
To begin with the cliff path was fine. It was well trodden and broad enough to help Peter's confidence. Even when it narrowed, as long as he kept his eyes firmly on Julian and Nicola ahead of him and reminded himself that of course anyone could climb a simple little path it would all be fine. And the horrific scenario of having to be rescued by Julian didn't bear thinking about at all. Or the idea of Timmy, who had raced up the path as predicted and was well out of sight, deciding to come tearing back down again to see where they all were …
"Gosh, it's a bit more crumbly than I thought," Julian said cheerfully from several paces ahead. "Are you all right, Nicola? I wonder if we ought to turn back - "
Nicola glanced behind at Peter who must have heard this.
"I'll say it's me, if you like," she said in a low voice.
The tiniest shake of his head not disturbing his mask of doggedness at all was all the response she received.
"It's all right," she said to Julian. "Let's keep going. I can see it's not that much further."
Peter hoped she was saying that because it was true and not simply to try and boost him. There was a nasty bit coming up where the path all but disappeared. His hands clammied up and his heart began to race. Two bad signs and he knew what they meant because he'd experienced them before.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up," he muttered to his head because if he started feeling dizzy as well … A sturdy hawthorn bush gave him the help he desperately needed and he was past the bad place. It was not only a much needed handhold, and he welcomed the thorns as they shocked his physical and nervous systems into thinking about something else, it was also a sign that they were nearing the top. Nicola was right. A few more yards and it would all be over.
Two minutes later he was scrambling through the Keep Out fence at the top of the cliff to find Timmy peering at him. Then he could quite legitimately sit down on the damp grass.
"My hands are a bit of a mess," he said nonchalantly, his voice near enough to normal to use again. "Hawthorn bush."
He pulled out his hanky and blotted off some of the bloody scratches.
"Want mine as well?" Julian asked. "It's quite clean. Sure? Then let's get on, shall we?"
"I'll catch you up in a sec," Peter said, still not completely certain about whether his legs were up to carrying him although he was feeling better by the moment. "I just need a pee."
The other two and Timmy began to walk in the direction of Kirrin Cottage and as soon as they were out of earshot Julian said:
"Is Peter all right? He looked a bit funny, I thought."
Nicola hesitated. In a way, she thought, it would be quite a relief to share the anxiety of Peter's fear of heights. Then if anything else like that cliff path - and it had given her one or two unpleasant moments, let alone Peter - cropped up Julian would know not to suggest using it.
"Peter's not keen on heights but don't, whatever you do, tell him I told you."
Julian stopped dead and frowned at her.
"Not keen on heights? Why on earth didn't he say?"
"It didn't look that bad."
"If I'd known I'd never have taken you up there! Poor old Peter! No wonder he looked a bit rough at the end."
"He doesn't like to talk about it," said Nicola.
"I feel awful taking either of you," Julian admitted. "I didn't realise how much worse it had got since we last climbed it. The reason it was closed off and they stopped maintaining it was because he cliff's gradually eroding. Someone fell and nearly killed themselves which was why the signs went up. You could see how dangerous it was in places. I wish I hadn't suggested it at all."
"Well, it wasn't that bad," said Nicola. "And you won't say anything to Peter, will you?"
"Of course not," said Julian. " Plucky chap, though. That was a brave thing to do."
Or foolhardy, thought Nicola. It all depended on your point of view.
Up the Cliff Path
They set off in the two dinghies, George and Dick sharing the oars in George's boat and Julian and Dick in Alf's.
"No need to look too good at rowing," Julian called out to everyone as they pulled away from the shore. "If they are spying on us then the more we act like silly kids who don't quite know what we're doing the better it'll put them off the scent."
George nodded and waved and Dick caught a deliberate crab and pretended to nearly fall in.
"Idiot!" said Julian, laughing. "Honestly, Dick is a clot sometimes!"
"I can't really see the point," Peter said stiffly and suddenly very Navy. "Going out to the island is only a bit of a diversion technique - and probably not necessary anyway. Messing about is dangerous."
"Believe me, Peter, old chap," said Julian, "when you've run up against as many villains as we have you learn a trick or two. Best to take no chances."
He dug his oar into the water and it slipped out of the rowlock. The Saucy Jane tilted and rocked and Peter automatically did his best to steady it. In doing so the dinghy began to turn in a circle hitting the incoming waves full on. Nicola, sitting rigidly in the stern facing them and clutching Timmy for comfort, turned a shade paler.
"Let's at least get going before you start playing silly beggars," said Peter through gritted teeth. "You'll have one of us in. Would that be authentic enough for you?"
"I say," said Julian, surprised. "You have got a temper on you, haven't you? Don't get huffy! If it bothers you so much we'll be the perfect sailors - we've got Dick larking about - anyone would certainly think he'd never been in a boat before. And look at Lawrie pretending to stand up like that! She is a clown, isn't she?"
Nicola didn't know whether to wish she was in the other boat where they were all taking Julian's words to heart and acting like particularly incapable but cheerful novices or to be glad she was where she was where progress was smoother but her companions in danger of starting a fight.
But Peter said no more. Seething gently he set his mind to guiding the Saucy Jane into the waves efficiently. In his heart he knew Julian was right. The more they could come across as a bunch of gormless kids the better. But you treated the sea with respect; it wasn't in him to handle a boat badly. Partly, he knew this was because, if he felt like being honest, which he didn't much - not at the moment - it had to do with not being that confident about being good enough to pretend to handle a boat badly. Which wasn't the best of thoughts to have.
And he rather hoped Julian wouldn't insist on going through those rocks again. It wasn't that he minded exactly, he'd just rather not.
He glanced across at the shivering Nicola.
"Are you going to be all right?" he asked.
She nodded because what was going to happen was going to happen and talking about it wasn't going to help at all.
"Would you be better sitting in the prow?" Julian asked sympathetically. "Anne gets sea sick sometimes but she's nearly always all right if we sit her in the prow. She says she fixes her eyes on something in the distance and it really helps."
"Not so good for everyone else though," Nicola managed. She always sat in the stern so that she could be as unobtrusive as possible when the worst happened. Which it was about to do. Soon. Now in fact.
When she was more or less settled again they were entering the first outcrop of crops.
"Best thing," said Julian, "if we go right round the island as if we're looking for a place to land. Do you think?"
He addressed his question to Peter. Peter made an effort.
"Yes," he said. "In fact, is there a better place to land on the south side?"
"No, it gets more treacherous. But we can go and look if you like. Might as well potter about for a bit before going back to see what's happening. Here, you take the oars - you're much better at this sort of thing than I am."
He sounded sincere and Peter couldn't help feeling a little better. In between little bouts of nausea Nicola listened to him trying harder to be polite to Julian. It occurred to her that Julian would make a good diplomat.
By the time they had circumnavigated Kirrin Island, seen the others disembark, and arrived back on the shore, the early morning sun, having played hide and seek for twenty minutes decided to shut up shop altogether and a few icy spots of rain were spattering onto the Saucy Jane. They had picked a spot to land on the other side of the bay, which was well out of the sight of anyone who might be looking out of the windows of the Seal's Head.
"Blow," said Julian as they dragged the dinghy well up the beach, Timmy jumping around them. "If the weather doesn't pick up we shan't be able to signal to the others when it's all clear."
"We'll think of something," Nicola said. "But hadn't we go and find Alf and tell him where his boat is? We told George we'd do that first before he realises it's missing."
"I'll go," said Peter. "No need for all of us to trek all the way to the fisherman's cottages."
"No," said Julian firmly. "We must stick together. Let's go back to Kirrin Cottage first and see if anything's happened. Then we'll go on to see Alf."
Peter glowered as he straightened the oars in the dinghy. He fell a little behind the others as they began their walk back along the beach, his hunched shoulders and closed off expression making it obvious what sort of a mood he was in.
"Oh dear," said Julian ruefully to Nicola. "Your brother does go off in a huff easily doesn't he?"
"Well, you are a bit bossy," said Nicola.
"Bossy? Moi?"
"Yes. You like telling people what to do."
"There is a difference between being bossy and knowing the best course of action to take. Someone has to take charge and I am the oldest."
"And a boy, of course," Nicola couldn't help saying.
"Well, yes, of course," said Julian dismissing her remark. "But Peter must know about following orders in the Navy?"
"That doesn't mean he wants to all the time. And you aren't that much older than him."
"So you think Peter should be in charge?"
"Why should anyone have to be?" Nicola, who hadn't, up to now, felt anything other than vaguely defensive of Peter, now began to feel exasperated.
"All right, all right, don't you go off the deep end too! I can see I shall have to do a spot of apologising or we're never going to get anywhere this morning." Julian turned round and called to Peter, "I say, old chap. Nicola, here, thinks I'm throwing my weight around too much. Sorry if I've upset you."
"You haven't," said Peter briefly and for a moment Nicola wondered whether he was going to accept Julian's words as enough of an apology - and for what exactly? - but he caught up with them quickly and gave them both a rather shamefaced grin. "I can be an idiot too."
"I didn't mean I was an idiot exactly - " began Julian.
"Oh, shut up, Julian," Nicola said, her good nature restored. "You're both idiots. Boys! I don't know why you have to go in for all this competitive stuff all the time. Don't you find it wearing - I can practically hear your antlers clashing together!"
"It's practice for when we have to fight off the next man to bring back the best mammoth," said Julian, his good nature matching Nicola's. "Isn't that so, Peter?"
"For goodness sake agree with him Peter and let's get on," said Nicola. "Julian, what's the quickest way to get to Kirrin Cottage from here? We don't want to waste any time."
"Well," said Julian. "There is a path that's closed off because it's a bit crumbly in places. But it's perfectly safe if we're careful. A bit steep here and there but it's a definite short cut. Ok?"
Involuntarily Peter glanced at the cliff face behind him, his hands beginning to perspire a little. But it was no use Nicola looking at him like that. He'd have to do it. And there was a path. It wasn't as if anyone was going to expect him to scale bare rock. He'd tuck that word crumbly out of the way and just get on with it.
"Ok," he said.
"What about Timmy?" asked Nicola. "Is it safe for him? George would never forgive us if he fell over the edge."
"Oh, Tim's all right. He's like a mountain goat," said Julian, ruffling Timmy's ears. "You'll see - he'll be at the top and waiting for us in no time."
To begin with the cliff path was fine. It was well trodden and broad enough to help Peter's confidence. Even when it narrowed, as long as he kept his eyes firmly on Julian and Nicola ahead of him and reminded himself that of course anyone could climb a simple little path it would all be fine. And the horrific scenario of having to be rescued by Julian didn't bear thinking about at all. Or the idea of Timmy, who had raced up the path as predicted and was well out of sight, deciding to come tearing back down again to see where they all were …
"Gosh, it's a bit more crumbly than I thought," Julian said cheerfully from several paces ahead. "Are you all right, Nicola? I wonder if we ought to turn back - "
Nicola glanced behind at Peter who must have heard this.
"I'll say it's me, if you like," she said in a low voice.
The tiniest shake of his head not disturbing his mask of doggedness at all was all the response she received.
"It's all right," she said to Julian. "Let's keep going. I can see it's not that much further."
Peter hoped she was saying that because it was true and not simply to try and boost him. There was a nasty bit coming up where the path all but disappeared. His hands clammied up and his heart began to race. Two bad signs and he knew what they meant because he'd experienced them before.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up," he muttered to his head because if he started feeling dizzy as well … A sturdy hawthorn bush gave him the help he desperately needed and he was past the bad place. It was not only a much needed handhold, and he welcomed the thorns as they shocked his physical and nervous systems into thinking about something else, it was also a sign that they were nearing the top. Nicola was right. A few more yards and it would all be over.
Two minutes later he was scrambling through the Keep Out fence at the top of the cliff to find Timmy peering at him. Then he could quite legitimately sit down on the damp grass.
"My hands are a bit of a mess," he said nonchalantly, his voice near enough to normal to use again. "Hawthorn bush."
He pulled out his hanky and blotted off some of the bloody scratches.
"Want mine as well?" Julian asked. "It's quite clean. Sure? Then let's get on, shall we?"
"I'll catch you up in a sec," Peter said, still not completely certain about whether his legs were up to carrying him although he was feeling better by the moment. "I just need a pee."
The other two and Timmy began to walk in the direction of Kirrin Cottage and as soon as they were out of earshot Julian said:
"Is Peter all right? He looked a bit funny, I thought."
Nicola hesitated. In a way, she thought, it would be quite a relief to share the anxiety of Peter's fear of heights. Then if anything else like that cliff path - and it had given her one or two unpleasant moments, let alone Peter - cropped up Julian would know not to suggest using it.
"Peter's not keen on heights but don't, whatever you do, tell him I told you."
Julian stopped dead and frowned at her.
"Not keen on heights? Why on earth didn't he say?"
"It didn't look that bad."
"If I'd known I'd never have taken you up there! Poor old Peter! No wonder he looked a bit rough at the end."
"He doesn't like to talk about it," said Nicola.
"I feel awful taking either of you," Julian admitted. "I didn't realise how much worse it had got since we last climbed it. The reason it was closed off and they stopped maintaining it was because he cliff's gradually eroding. Someone fell and nearly killed themselves which was why the signs went up. You could see how dangerous it was in places. I wish I hadn't suggested it at all."
"Well, it wasn't that bad," said Nicola. "And you won't say anything to Peter, will you?"
"Of course not," said Julian. " Plucky chap, though. That was a brave thing to do."
Or foolhardy, thought Nicola. It all depended on your point of view.