Chapter 22. Bloom

Finn sat on the edge of the low black granite bluffs that

bordered Zennor beach and ate the sandwiches

Nain Joan had packed for him. He looked through his

sketch pad at the drawings he'd done. Tonight at home

he was going to tidy them up and add water colours to

the ones he was happiest with.

He was about to get up when something caught his eye

in the swell below. The winter storms had eft long strands

of reddish brown kelp in the shallows near the shore,

but this was different.

At first Finn thought he was looking at a small bloom of

kelp, then he saw a rolling movement. He kept watching

and saw clothing appear, then a face - a girl's face.

She was deathly pale, but she still alive.

Finn kicked off his shoes and jumped in.

He lost sight of her when he landed in the water but the

girl surfaced near him gasping for air. Finn grabbed her

by the hair and it swirled around him as he held her

head above the water.

"I got you."

*

"I was so sure I would never see my family again.

The only thing I was thinking about when we reached the

beach was getting back to them. I'm sorry I ran off."

''You don't have to be sorry Vie." Finn held her closer.

''I didn't tell any of the family about what happened and we

left to go back to Wales the next day."

"It's getting late," Finn said, "and I've got an early start

in the morning." They walked arm in arm across the lawn

towards the house.

"You don't have to go." Vie said." Stay here tonight."

Finn stopped before they went inside

''Will you do something for me Vie?"

''Anything Finn, just ask."

"Come to lunch tomorrow, I want you to meet my Nain."

*