Castle Writers
Out of the Cocoon
Athlone 2020
MYSTERY OF THE WEST I found these early morning walks most exhilarating; the fresh air, the silence, the salty tang and the wind in my hair, while straining with Duke on the lead, my little Western terrier, across the firm sands. I often wondered just who was taking who for a walk. After some struggles with him this morning, I let him off the lead and I followed on at a more leisurely pace. He bounded across the beach chasing birds, barking at the seagulls, nosing into crevices and thoroughly enjoying himself. It was just coming up to 7.00 a.m., a lovely way to start the day. My thoughts took in the beauty all around me. The peace, the water’s edge, the tide gently lapping just a few feet away. The tide had turned just about midnight and was now on its way out. Few people walked this stretch early morning and that was one of its attractions. Suddenly I was shaken out of my reverie by a loud barking. What was happening? I looked up to see Duke frantically barking and scrabbling into the sand about 200 metres along. I started to run towards him, shouting as I went “Stop that, come back here.” All was to no avail. He continued. Eventually I got him, pulled him back and put him back on the lead. The sight, which met me, was not what my early morning walk had prepared me for. No wonder Duke had been so excited. Was he shocked too? There on the pale sand lay the body of a beautiful young woman face down in the ground. Thick jet-black hair lay over her shoulders. She seemed to be maybe early twenties and was wearing a cotton blue and black floral dress. She wore one black shoe, so where was the other? My first reaction was that she could be my daughter and then reality hit and I began to shiver. I didn’t know what to do. She was just so beautiful. All this time Duke was straining and barking, barking, barking. I longed to tell him to be quiet but I just couldn’t. Suddenly by my side a voice said “Is there something wrong? I heard the dog.” I pointed to the girl. “Oh we must call the police.”
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