A Toast to the Old Stones by Denzil Meyrick

Author:Denzil Meyrick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Polygon

Hamish followed his skipper down the narrow path towards the Girl Maggie, the roll neck of his thick sea jumper pulled over his chin. The air was frosty, the smell of the fire burning in the bothy overlaying the tang of the sea and the earthy notes of the land.

The younger man cast his eye first to the bay, then out into the sound. But there was no sign of a Viking longship, just the stout figure of their broad-beamed vessel nestling under the lee of the sandbank. The tide had receded now, and the sand next to which the fishing boat wallowed shone silver in the starlight, like a celestial path.

‘At least you’ll manage to stay dry this time,’ said Hoynes, the pale smoke of his pipe billowing into the air.

‘You’re right sore on me, Sandy. That ladder was slick – any man could have come a cropper.’

‘If you say so. But, mind, men more than twice your age navigated it with ease, Hamish.’

The first mate mumbled something under his breath then decided to change the subject. In truth, though he knew of the hay bales and the lemonade bottles filled with whisky, he’d supposed that they’d have been taken to their destination the following day. He hadn’t reckoned on the convivial atmosphere of the bothy being interrupted by this covert jaunt. And though he’d always suspected that there was something ‘below decks’ about the whole enterprise, he was now sure that the Girl Maggie’s cargo was less than lawful. ‘What will I be getting for my trouble this night, skipper?’

Hoynes stopped his progress down the bank and turned to face his first mate. ‘What on earth do you mean?’

‘I reckon you’ll be getting a good wee cut of whatever it is we’re to be up to. I should surely get my share.’

‘You’ll remember that you have a half share o’ the working finances o’ this vessel. We’re merely doing a favour for the much put-upon folk o’ Firdale. Every man deserves a recreational dram at a reasonable price. I thought you would realise that.’

‘Even if it comes in lemonade bottles?’

‘Now, I explained that to you. Not that I needed to, mind. Remember. If I can help my fellow man along the way then my life was not in vain. That’s from the Scriptures, though just what book and verse escapes me at the moment.’

They made their way onto the sandbank. It took Hoynes a couple of goes to lift himself onto the rope ladder, but with remarkable speed he was soon over the side and back aboard the Girl Maggie, Hamish in his wake.

‘Do you reckon she’ll come off all right, Sandy?’

‘Och, I daresay a day sailor would have his work cut out. But I could get us back out into the sound wae my eyes closed. You get down and fire up the engine, Hamish. The sooner we get about this mission o’ mercy, the quicker we’ll be back amidst the warmth and celebrations.’

‘There wasna much in the way o’ celebrations going on, as far as I could see.

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