Chapter 4. All that glitters

Florry woke up on alone 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 warm remains of a fire and saw a skull in

the embers. "What the fuck."

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

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

another person had been there.

"Whatever this is, it has nothing to do with me."

He climbed the track up to the headland. At the highest

point, as he looked back down over the inlet, a familiar voice

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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."

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 smiled and rubbed his hands together.

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

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 Borlace's body on the rock shelf below.

He watched as each swell surge tugged and pulled at the

body until it disappeared into deep water.

"Don't take it personal like John boy." Florry hugged his satchel.

"A bit of luck finally falls comes my way, there's no fucking way

I'm gonna share it."

TurnIng to leave he heard his sister call out. Florry's vision blurred

and he was a child again.

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

"Is Elky here?" he said.

"We’re playing a game of hide and seek. Can you help me find her?"

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

"I think she’s hiding in our bedroom." whispered Gert.

Florry beamed with excitement.

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

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.

*