The Amoora Trilogy by Penny Gerner

Author:Penny Gerner [Gerner, Penny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781922175199
Publisher: Brolga Publishing
Published: 2012-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Before breakfast the following day, David offered to go with Anne to the isolated beach she had discovered earlier in the holiday. Grace had a pile of washing to do and waved them off. ‘Don’t be too late, let’s swim this morning and then we might play some tennis after lunch. Maybe Anne would like to go and see John this afternoon?’ She agreed and hoped Robert would not be there, but back at the beach in his self-assured lifesaving role and trying to impress the girls. She did not feel in the mood to be teased by him. It never occurred to her that there might be a touch of envy at the easy friendship that existed between John and herself.

Anne led the way through the scrub with Butch circling them and barking at rustling sounds alongside the barely visible path. David had trouble keeping up with his agile daughter and called out a couple of times to slow down. Suddenly, they were at the cliff top overlooking the beach. Anne pointed to a rough path that led down to the sand and began to slide down, hastily pursued by Butch. David was more cautious and less adventurous, being careful as he made his way down what passed for steps and a path.

The sand was dry and squeaky under their shoes. Little tufts of grass grew in isolated patches, with occasional tiny white flowers almost hidden from prying eyes. The beach dropped sharply away to the water, with waves breaking close to the beach. Above the clamour of breaking waves and screaming gulls, David shouted to Anne that this was known as a ‘high-energy beach’. It would be dangerous and incredibly foolhardy to attempt to swim there. Not only were the waves quite violent, but lack of knowledge of the currents and rips made it particularly hazardous.

The rocks at either end of the beach were needle-sharp, certainly not an encouragement for any further exploration. ‘It’s no wonder this place is shunned by the locals. It’s probably only good for beach fishing. Do you think your rock fisherman Peter ever comes here?’ Anne thought probably not as the access was so difficult, and getting back to the top hampered by fishing tackle would be a complication, especially if there were many fish to carry.

Away from the water’s edge there were shells and small pieces of driftwood which Anne collected to take back and show her mother. ‘Don’t try and carry too much,’ her father cautioned, ‘you’ll need a free hand to haul yourself up to the top again.’ Anne filled her pockets with shells and reluctantly left the larger pieces of driftwood behind, only taking two small pieces.

At the top, father and daughter sat and drew breath while gazing at the seascape spread out below. Gulls wheeled and cried just above the waves, waiting to swoop on something to eat. Suddenly her father called out and pointed to some dark shapes moving rhythmically in the water, ‘Look Annie, see those silhouettes in the water? Watch them closely.

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