Jelly and Gerald(ine) sat in front of the camping coach. Jelly had prepared breakfast and was waiting for the tea to brew

Gerald(ine) had hung their clothes on the slack washing line. Their costumes were almost dry and the women were planning a further trip to the beach

The lime green limpet trees hung heavily above the coach betraying their winter slimness

The fullness of their shadow cut a welcome freshness in the warm morning air

Nearby a Carmelite nun named Hanorah waits for her train on the platform of the quiet station. Picking up her heavy case she walks to the bookstall which hides in a space partially hindered by the buffet

“Do you have a rich Greek section? “she enquires

“We have no Greek books only the latest novel from Mr Huxley”

Hanorah retreats from the bookstall and sits in the sun. Her thoughts are of The Church of the Reeds

She looks at the two girls near the camping coach who are by now sitting down to breakfast

Near the steps to the Camping Coach a copy of Brave New World by Mr Huxley lies forgotten in the damp dew grass

Jelly had purchased it at their departing station but neither woman cared for it as they considered it too bleak

Fifteen minutes later the train arrives. A man steps from the train, greets the nun and makes his way towards the exit

Hanorah enters the vacated carriage and notices that the polite stranger has left his book on the seat.She turns to attract the stranger’s attention, but the man is gone

A shrill whistle breaks the lazy air and the nun sits on the seat nearest to the window. She can see the sea from her vantage but knows her journey will take her inland

The book is called The Honorary Consul and is set in Argentina. Hanorah read the opening pages and settles down to read the novel for she has a considerable journey

Just before she reaches the next station the nun falls asleep and the book falls to the floor. A passing schoolboy notices this and steals the book. In scratchy pencil he notes

This is my book D W Cartwright

As they let their breakfast digest both Jelly and Gerald(ine) look up into the skies. Above them in the brilliant blue air battles are taking place

Gerald(ine) is holding a rabbit borrowed from the nearby farm

“Just to think on Sunday, Douglas was between us and now he is up there fighting for his life” she notes, without turning towards her companion

“Time is cruel” the rabbit replies

When the nun awakes she finds that the train is still by the sea. She supposes that she has only been asleep for moments

She remembers the book but cannot find it. In its place she finds a scrap of paper with a poem written on it. It has been written by a child

 

The Music Master 

He died in the house of his birth

I know this

As I was privileged

To hear his last whisper

 

The two women were walking towards the beach loosely carrying their straw bags. They were in a gay conversation that was not penetrating the subject matter that was being discussed. As they reached the Mid-Levels they suddenly changed their direction and headed for the sand dunes to their left

“I think that we will get quite brown if we pass our day there” Jelly said as she slipped casually down a very shallow slope

Behind them unobserved by either woman a burning plane slammed into the sea. The pilot had not perished in the inferno and was slowly descending towards the women under a vast parachute

As he floated towards the dunes he was singing as the white silk of the parachute against the vivid blue sky had made him happy

This was the happiest day of his life

 

Hanorah imagines herself awake; the train has stopped at a minor station which had a view of the sea

Three children tap at the window and in a language not known to the nun request that she accompanies them

Soon Hanorah finds herself in a vast vineyard. An older man orders the children to harvest the vines

A number of hours pass and just before the day draws to a close the second girl offers Hanorah a glass of wine

“Jacinta”

“ Hanorah”

The child hands the nun a scrap of paper which has been stained by the crushed grapes. On it is written

Deixai-nos rejubilar pois estes realmente sao os frutos do Senor

Hanorah hands the second girl the poem that she found in the train carriage. The child smiles and runs away joining the first girl and the boy

Although in a different language Hanorah reads the note without trespass and looks at the low moon

 

Jelly had run into the sea and was in conversation with Boy Phillips

Gerald(ine) looked up into the sky, clouds were beginning to form. She knew that they will not linger and took a camera from her straw bag

As she was taking the photograph she heard a male voice singing but with the exception of Boy there are no men on the beach

Come to me my melancholy baby
Just cuddle up and don’t be blue
All your fears are foolish fancy, maybe
You know honey, I’m in love with you

A wisp of wind suddenly disturbs the grasses on the sand dunes. They are alarmed only for a second and when the air relaxes again Gerald(ine) hears the song no more

“I shall paint you in the manner of the Blue Sultana of Scheherazade” she shouts to her friend as Jelly and Boy return from the sea

“And who shall I be? “Asks Boy

“You will not figure Boy as I do not paint the dead”

In the blazing wreckage of the plane the young pilot tries to release himself but he is trapped and as he dies he looks at the sky

Clouds have formed

This, he knows is the happiest day of his life

 

Otterwood

We often travel

 In opposite directions

Using the same path

Studying each other’s residue

 

Jelly finds the poem written in the dust on the side of the railway carriage, it disturbs her as nothing else has been moved

Perhaps a farm child

Perhaps a passing poet

That night an express train wakes Jelly. She looks at the moon through the thin linen curtains and senses its violation

In the room farthest from her friend, Gerald (ine) sleeps in a rich chair. She is unaware of the progress of the small television

Above them twenty three planes full of bombs fly towards the cities of culture

These planes are manned by ghosts

 

Hanorah is praying in her carriage with her head bowed, she does not notice the reflection of a smiling woman in the mirror above her

The smiling woman kneels beside the nun adopting the same pose

Jelly now sleeps

Gerald(ine) continues to sleep

The smiling woman stands over both in turn

“I shall call you Lucia” she whispers into Gerald(ine)’s ear

“I shall call you Jacinta” she whispers to Jelly and fades quietly

 

The train slows down and Hanorah retires from her prayers

A small boy stands in the doorway

The child is blond

He hands the nun a block of sculpted wood

“Look I have sculpted an otter for you”

The block of wood resembles an otter but is riddled by woodworm

“My name is Francisco”

Hanorah gives the small boy her most precious relic

The child leaves the stationary train admiring the many bombers flying overhead

He runs through the moon dry fields

“My name is Francisco!” he shouts to the dead airmen

“My name is Francisco and I have many mothers”