Castles Made of Sand by Gwyneth Jones

Author:Gwyneth Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi

SIX

One Of The Three

Ax was in Romania, and having a wild time of it from what they could make out (communcation wasn’t easy). George and Bill and Peter had come back to the van, in Travellers’ Meadow: they were hoping to get the boss to talk about a new album. On a cold Sunday morning Bill and George sat browsing sections of the Staybehind Clarion; drinking tea with condensed milk and whisky chasers. There was no fresh milk. The Rivermead Organic Dairy was having trouble with the wrong kind of grass. Peter lay on one of the astronaut couches, thinking about his latest kaleidoscope. Making kaleidoscopes was his secret vice.

Fiorinda walked in, barefoot and tousled, wearing an ancient blue cashmere sweater, the ravelled hem a couple of inches above her knees. Morning Fio, mm um. As she boiled a kettle and stretched for mugs the fine wool moved, beautifully revealing, over the slender, rounded body beneath—making you realise how very chaste she usually dresses. (Fiorinda in her party frock turns cartwheels on stage, all you get to see is more frills.) She left, giving them a sleepy smile. George drew a breath and quietly, slowly, exhaled.

‘He’d kill yer,’ said Bill, without looking up.

‘Not even in jest, Bill Trevor,’ said George sternly. ‘I’d rather top me’self than do anything to harm that little girl. Nah… I just feel like her dad, jealous of the boyfriend. Not,’ he added, hurriedly, ‘her particular dad, mind you.’

‘It’ll wear off,’ Peter consoled them. ‘She’s going to be with him all the time now. You’ll get used to it.’

George and Bill looked at each other. Yes. It’s true. Peter Stannen is an alien lifeform. ‘I hope I die first,’ said Bill.

Fiorinda had to get back to London. Sage walked her to Reading station, went to the gym and spent some time at the Boat People’s Welfare Office, embroiled in Town vs Counterculture vs Refugees issues. When he escaped he headed for the North Bank, once a parade of classy riverside residences, now a wilderness frequented only by the kids of the campsite. He needed to think.

When the three of them were first lovers they used to play a game: what does it take for the most perfect, brilliant sex in the universe?

One big cat, one little cat, one animal-tamer

One stud, one babe, one chameleon

Two musicians and an artist (not sure I liked that one)

One white boy, one coloured boy, one yellow girl

One Muslim, one Methodist (lapsed), one Pagan (VERY lapsed).

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