CHAPTER 1
“Olly. It’s me. Olly. It’s terrible. It’s Alex.”
“Slow down Maggie. What’s with Alex now?" Olivia took a deep breath and sat down on the chair next to the telephone. She knew this would be a long call. Luckily she had turned off the shower before answering the ‘phone. Still in her pyjamas, she glanced at the grandmother clock in the alcove adjacent to the hall stairs. She was going to miss the train. She fiddled with her hair, it needed a wash, but for today she would have to pin it up and cover it with a hat.
“Alex has died.” Maggie said. Only her breathing told Olivia that she was still on the line. As Olivia absorbed the words, she could discern a slight catch in Maggie’s breathing. Gathering her thoughts, she took a deep breath, sighed under her breath, ‘Thank God’, and was glad that Maggie could not see the look on her face. A gentle smirk played around her mouth. ‘That’s the second one down.’
“Oh Maggie! How are you darling?” Her face coloured at her insincerity. She could just see her sister’s tear stained face, her curly auburn hair all mussed up, and forming a halo around her pale face with its fair sprinkling of freckles which would no doubt be highlighting the intense blue of her eyes.
“It’s been terrible, Olly.” Maggie sobbed. Maggie was always so dramatic, her hair giving clues to her character. Life was a continual drama of one sort or another, serious lows and even greater highs.
Olivia was glad that she wasn’t there with her at that moment because right now she felt she wanted to shake her. What on earth was Maggie going on about? Alex had made her miserable all their married life. He was one of the most selfish, useless individual characters she had ever come across, of no use to anyone, least of all her sister, just like all their husbands. They were all no good lazy layabouts, with the exception of her Daniel, that is. She could not say Daniel hadn’t been productive. Daniel had just got too old, too soon, and she had had to keep her own counsel, and be quiet about it. She had been warned after all, but had been too pigheaded to admit it. ...
Chapter 12
Basil shifted his weight from one side to the other. A sharp rock was digging into his side. What he would have given for a nice lie down on the sofa with a large cup of Nuala’s expertly brewed coffee, the television on and one of his favourite game shows. He was cold and dispirited in this unforgiving environment. He was missing Nuala’s cooking and if the truth be told, he liked it when she ordered him about. This expedition should have permanently cured him of the need to join in with these rugged types of men. His need to be macho had gone for good.
Johann motioned to him to move once more, handing the rifle back to him. As the moved off quietly in the directions they had been given, he tried to keep up with Johann, but it was a bit of a joke. Johann was quite a bit younger than him and far more agile. Basil struggled on, his buttock still hurting from the effects of the rock earlier. He was sure he was going to have a bruise on his bum later which would make sitting quite uncomfortable. But he would not be able to complain either because those two clowns Claude and Leo would no doubt take the mickey out of him. He sighed audibly. Johann gave him a sharp look and put his finger to his mouth, indicating that he should be quiet. Basil took one hand off the rifle and rubbed the sore spot. The grass was so tall that he could not see where he was going.
Johann laid a hand on his arm, indicating that he should come to a stop. He pointed up ahead. Basil slowly raised his head. They were within close range of the springbok. Johann indicated that he should prepare his rifle, handing some bullets to him. Basil fumbled with the catch, but eventually managed to lodge them in the gun. Johann looked at him in such a way that Basil could tell he was uneasy.
Basil saw Johann’s hand movement telling him that he should raise his gun as he pointed out an animal for which Basil should aim. Basil wasn’t quite sure which animal it was supposed to be. There were so many there, and if the truth be told, Basil really didn’t want to shoot at some defenceless creature. He raised his gun, hesitating. Johann mouthed the words: “Aim ... Fire ...” Basil closed his eyes. ‘Well, here goes,’ he thought. At that moment the herd looked up, quivering, ready for flight.
Basil lost his balance as his foot hooked beneath a rock. He fell over, his finger pulling at the trigger. A shot rang out. The herd scattered and took off into the distance. Johann stood up and looked around, swearing loudly.
Johann could hear Ben calling from a distance. “Boss, there’s problems, come quickly.” Basil lay there quite stunned. The rifle had given him a right kick in the shoulder and it hurt. He wanted to scream but couldn’t. He just lay there, totally embarrassed and frightened.
Johann went bounding over to where Ben stood with his hands on his head. “Master!: There’s big problems.”
“What’s the matter? Where’s Master Colin? I thought he was with you?”
“He’s here,” said Ben. As Johann came level, he saw Colin lying on the ground. His head was surrounded by a pool of blood.
.......................................................................................
Do hope you have enjoyed this snippet from the new novel and if you need any more information please contact me
“Olly. It’s me. Olly. It’s terrible. It’s Alex.”
“Slow down Maggie. What’s with Alex now?" Olivia took a deep breath and sat down on the chair next to the telephone. She knew this would be a long call. Luckily she had turned off the shower before answering the ‘phone. Still in her pyjamas, she glanced at the grandmother clock in the alcove adjacent to the hall stairs. She was going to miss the train. She fiddled with her hair, it needed a wash, but for today she would have to pin it up and cover it with a hat.
“Alex has died.” Maggie said. Only her breathing told Olivia that she was still on the line. As Olivia absorbed the words, she could discern a slight catch in Maggie’s breathing. Gathering her thoughts, she took a deep breath, sighed under her breath, ‘Thank God’, and was glad that Maggie could not see the look on her face. A gentle smirk played around her mouth. ‘That’s the second one down.’
“Oh Maggie! How are you darling?” Her face coloured at her insincerity. She could just see her sister’s tear stained face, her curly auburn hair all mussed up, and forming a halo around her pale face with its fair sprinkling of freckles which would no doubt be highlighting the intense blue of her eyes.
“It’s been terrible, Olly.” Maggie sobbed. Maggie was always so dramatic, her hair giving clues to her character. Life was a continual drama of one sort or another, serious lows and even greater highs.
Olivia was glad that she wasn’t there with her at that moment because right now she felt she wanted to shake her. What on earth was Maggie going on about? Alex had made her miserable all their married life. He was one of the most selfish, useless individual characters she had ever come across, of no use to anyone, least of all her sister, just like all their husbands. They were all no good lazy layabouts, with the exception of her Daniel, that is. She could not say Daniel hadn’t been productive. Daniel had just got too old, too soon, and she had had to keep her own counsel, and be quiet about it. She had been warned after all, but had been too pigheaded to admit it. ...
Chapter 12
Basil shifted his weight from one side to the other. A sharp rock was digging into his side. What he would have given for a nice lie down on the sofa with a large cup of Nuala’s expertly brewed coffee, the television on and one of his favourite game shows. He was cold and dispirited in this unforgiving environment. He was missing Nuala’s cooking and if the truth be told, he liked it when she ordered him about. This expedition should have permanently cured him of the need to join in with these rugged types of men. His need to be macho had gone for good.
Johann motioned to him to move once more, handing the rifle back to him. As the moved off quietly in the directions they had been given, he tried to keep up with Johann, but it was a bit of a joke. Johann was quite a bit younger than him and far more agile. Basil struggled on, his buttock still hurting from the effects of the rock earlier. He was sure he was going to have a bruise on his bum later which would make sitting quite uncomfortable. But he would not be able to complain either because those two clowns Claude and Leo would no doubt take the mickey out of him. He sighed audibly. Johann gave him a sharp look and put his finger to his mouth, indicating that he should be quiet. Basil took one hand off the rifle and rubbed the sore spot. The grass was so tall that he could not see where he was going.
Johann laid a hand on his arm, indicating that he should come to a stop. He pointed up ahead. Basil slowly raised his head. They were within close range of the springbok. Johann indicated that he should prepare his rifle, handing some bullets to him. Basil fumbled with the catch, but eventually managed to lodge them in the gun. Johann looked at him in such a way that Basil could tell he was uneasy.
Basil saw Johann’s hand movement telling him that he should raise his gun as he pointed out an animal for which Basil should aim. Basil wasn’t quite sure which animal it was supposed to be. There were so many there, and if the truth be told, Basil really didn’t want to shoot at some defenceless creature. He raised his gun, hesitating. Johann mouthed the words: “Aim ... Fire ...” Basil closed his eyes. ‘Well, here goes,’ he thought. At that moment the herd looked up, quivering, ready for flight.
Basil lost his balance as his foot hooked beneath a rock. He fell over, his finger pulling at the trigger. A shot rang out. The herd scattered and took off into the distance. Johann stood up and looked around, swearing loudly.
Johann could hear Ben calling from a distance. “Boss, there’s problems, come quickly.” Basil lay there quite stunned. The rifle had given him a right kick in the shoulder and it hurt. He wanted to scream but couldn’t. He just lay there, totally embarrassed and frightened.
Johann went bounding over to where Ben stood with his hands on his head. “Master!: There’s big problems.”
“What’s the matter? Where’s Master Colin? I thought he was with you?”
“He’s here,” said Ben. As Johann came level, he saw Colin lying on the ground. His head was surrounded by a pool of blood.
.......................................................................................
Do hope you have enjoyed this snippet from the new novel and if you need any more information please contact me