Chapter 4. All that glitters

Florry woke up on the beach, he recognised where he was,

but he had no idea how he'd gotten there.

What he did know was that his satchel was full of valuable

bits and pieces.

As he made his way to the track that led off the beach

he passed the still warm remains of a fire and saw a skull in

the embers. "What the fuck." he muttered.

He brushed away some of the ashes with a stick. There was only

one body in the fire but it was easy to see by the footprints that

at least one other person had been there - whatever this is

he thought himself, I want no part of it.

Florry climbed the track up to the cliff tops. He was at the

highest point looking back down into the inlets,

when a familiar voice called out. Startled, he turned around.

"You sly old bastard I thought I might find you out here."

It was John Borlace.

"You scared the living shit out of me Johnny boy."

Borlace chuckled.

"It's that guilty conscience of yours Florry. Some of the lads

already got pinched trying to make off with what washed up

near the wreck site. So I thought I might try my luck out this way."

"Anyone else come with you?" Florry asked.

"Just me. Didn’t even see anyone else on the trail."

Florry adjusted his satchel and stepped closer to the edge

of the cliff." It looks like there’s wreckage already down on

the beach."

Borlace clapped his hands together.

"Out of the way Florry let me have a look see."

He stepped around Florry and looked over.

"Your right old son and there’s still some in the current as well."

He turned around grinning, and Florry shoved him hard in

the chest. Borlace grunted and a look of surprised fright

crossed his face. He tripped backwards over his own feet and

grabbed at thin air as he went over the edge.

Florry looked at Borlaces’ body on the rock shelf below.

"Don’t take it personal Johnny boy."

He watched as each swell surge tugged and pulled at the body,

until it disappeared into deeper water.

"A bit of luck finally falls out of the sky into my lap."

Florry hugged the satchel to his chest.

''There's no fucking way I'm sharing it."

He was about to leave when he heard his sister call out.

His vision blurred and he was a child again.

"Have you seen you seen Elky?" Gert asked.

"Is Elky here?" Florry said.

"We’re playing a game of hide and seek. Can you help

me find her?"

"I am the best at playing hide and seek." Florry said.

"She’s hiding in our bedroom." whispered Gert.

Florry beamed with excitement.

"Are you ready? We have to be quiet, now hold my hand."

They rushed through the open door whooping and laughing.

Florry tumbled through space and landed broken on the rock

shelf below the cliff, a few paces from where John Borlace

had lain.

His satchel burst open, and nothing more valuable than

pebbles and shells tumbled into the sea.

*