Cut & Run

by Nic Lomax

  Chapter 7

  Salt in the wound

  Kai woke to the familiar and comforting sounds of the fishing boats departing ritual, and he rolled over and continued to snooze safe in the knowledge that he was not at sea, and that he was now a relatively rich man. The previous night the pair had emerged from the Atlantic unscathed and had celebrated with their faithful landlord Abdulla in the traditional Moroccan way through feasting and smoking the finest hashish. Kai had decided that a small investment within his host’s fledgling business would not only secure him a small profit, but more importantly secure him a place where he could always stay in the village that he had fallen in love with.

  Kai and Stu headed over to their favourite breakfast establishment to discuss their next move. They sat overlooking the street and ordered some pancakes.

  ‘So brother, what’s your next move?’ Kai offered.

  ‘Our next move should be to head to somewhere with potential, somewhere tropical where I can just wear board shorts! I’m sick of my balls getting chafed in my wetsuit!’

  Kai laughed out loud as ironically just as Stu had mentioned this a stray dog had tentatively started to lick himself next to the table. It felt strange to Kai as he pondered his future journey, as deep down in his gut all he wanted to do was go home to his girl. He ate a mouthful of pancake and savoured the crisp pure sweet taste of the African honey drizzled on the top before he finally answered Stu.

  ‘Well first things first, I’m heading into Agadir to get a new phone or get online as I need to make contact with the motherland. I can pick up a fresh bottle of rum, and we can get some waves...’

  Kai stopped short as he had one ear on the conversation on the next table between two Australian guys. ‘It’s fucking perfection mate, the waves just peel down the reef for over five hundred metres, hollow as fuck’ said the blonde Australian.

  ‘Excuse me fellas’ Kai said strolling over and pulling up a rickety stool ‘where exactly are you guys frothing over?’

  The two guys looked at Kai and smirked ‘This place will chew up a pommey like you and spit you out in pieces, that’s if the locals don’t do it first!’ Kai was used to taking abuse from their colonial cousins, but it pissed him off that these primates had no respect. He felt the red mist building like a flooding tide, but managed to relax and be tactful with his next move.

  ‘Well if you two goons had been here longer than a couple of days you would realise that me and my good friend Mr Schumacher over there owned the peak on some of the biggest days in recent weeks, so wind your necks in boys and share the love, who knows we may even give you a few local spots that are classed as secret too’.

  To witness this scenario from outside the world of a surfer it would look like some shady back street drug deal. A bunch of guys offering slithers of limited information leading to a shared passion of waves hurling themselves at the shore. The Australian tourists reluctantly gave in, and told them the name of this faithful left-hand point break. Its name was Tamarin and it was located on the island of Mauritius. It was shrouded with mystery as it was fabled to be protected by a group known as the “White Shorts” who would fight with increasing vigour to keep this place secret, and it appeared to be working. Kai smiled to himself and felt the embers of discovery re-ignite within him. This was now the goal and his next destination.

  Once Kai and Stu had settled their bill, Kai decided to make the pilgrimage to Agadir to pick up some supplies and a new phone. He drove through the twisting coast road with increased vigour happy in the knowledge that he soon would become connected to the outside world, and that meant being able to speak to Amber. Once he found a parking space he made his way to Unix Pris and picked up a case of lager, some cigarette papers and a Samsung s7 phone which was the newest model in the shop. Instead of heading straight back, he hit the strip and found a nice air-conditioned bar out of the creeping African sun, and ordered a beer, a plate of couscous and took advantage of the plug socket to charge his phone. Once it was sufficiently charged he was instantly online and on Facebook, on which he noticed numerous missed messages and notifications that he begun to plough through. He enjoyed being unplugged from the outside world and western society but it was nice to dabble and occasionally hook up with friends. After about ten minutes of faffing he came across a message from Salty, which surprised him as the Salt rarely used social media, but none the less he was stoked to see anything from his bro.

  No sooner had he clicked on the message than he wished the world would swallow him up. He spat his beer out and gasped. His eyes and mind found it difficult to process the image in front of him and he felt an immense pang of sadness and hatred building within. All the time the words written with the photo of his so called friend in bed with his woman, became ingrained in his mind ‘Your loss is my gain’. He played the scenario over in his head of the two of them fucking in his bed and it made him physically sick. He was driving like a madman fuelled with sheer fury, narrowly missing roadside trader who dived for cover as his jeep skidded sideways round a bend he had navigated far too quickly. ‘Fuck’ he screamed out loud and hammered his fist against the wheel. His mind was adrift with lewd images of the pair. He was desperately trying to grasp control of his demons within, as he knew the red mist would inevitably only end with him or someone else getting hurt. Once he parked the jeep, or rather slung it in to a space via use of the handbrake spraying gravel on to a protesting goat, he made his way back to the house where Stu was waiting for him. Kai unleashed a ferocious verbal assault that Stu had to endure like a punch bag.

  ‘How could he sleep with her of all people? And why did she want to fuck him anyway?’ Kai was seething with anger. His body was shaking with rage, and all the while Stu listened intently and kept the beers flowing. When the torrent of abuse began to ebb Stu offered his response, knowing full well that Kai would swallow it up like a shark with blood lust.

  ‘Let’s just say this is where that chapter has closed and our new one begins. Think about it man, we have crazy amounts of money, and a perfect destination where we can really hone our skills. And trust me, the place will be dripping with fine young hotties!’

  Kai was numb but nodded along with Stu’s plans, it really was a great proposition and it seemed like nothing was holding him back anymore. Kai rolled a spliff and took solace in a stroll along the beach. Its expanse at low tide really put things into perspective of how small we really are, in a world so full of wonder. He found himself alone on the point staring out to sea, the light offshore wind caressed the approaching swells and suddenly it became apparent that the only constant thing in his life was the surf, and she would never let him down. His day dream was shattered by the unfamiliar buzz of his new phone, and he was shocked to see Amber had sent him a Facebook message. He reluctantly opened it and cursed himself for doing so.

  ‘Hey stranger! Long-time no speaks! I tried to call you a few times and noticed you had been on Facebook, give me a call when you can! I’ve missed you….xx’ Kai read, and re-read the message over and over. Was she actually for real, was she messing with him?

  He paused only for a moment before he dialled the number she had offered him. He could feel the blood pulsing in his head as the phone rang on the other side of the world, it didn’t take long for Amber to answer.

  ‘Kai! It’s so great that you called…’

  He cut her off immediately, ‘why is it great Amber? So you can gloat about fucking my best friend?’

  There was a short pause before she responded ‘uh…err…’ she stumbled, ‘what the hell Kai? What are you talking about?’

  ‘Cut the bullshit Amber, I’ve seen the slutty photos of you two in bed together so don’t try and wriggle out of this. Before I hang up the phone and never speak to you again, I just want you to know that you were the one for me, and you chose to do him.’

  There was no time for Amber to protest as no sooner had the words left his lips than his brand new phone was sailing through the air where it met its fat
e beneath the waves. He didn’t feel any better having spoken to her, and he felt like jumping in after the phone and not coming back up for a breath. He didn’t have a chance to make a reckless decision as a familiar hand was placed on his shoulder.

  ‘Come on Kai, it’s not the end of the world brother! There is so much more out there for you, you just need to go out there and get it’.

  Kai knew that the only way to move on was to escape and this was the perfect plan. He and Stu spent the evening meticulously structuring the next phase of their trip, this included flights back to Madrid where they could bank some of their cash and then a flight on to Mauritius. Once they arrived they pre-booked an apartment, not far away from the fabled surf spot that they had heard rumours of only days before. By ten o’clock that night it was all booked. They had one more week in Morocco before they embarked on the next step of their journey.

  ‘I love the fucking internet!’ Kai slurred as he poured himself another rum, trying to etch away the image of the woman he loved that was engrained in his soul.

  Chapter 8

  New Horizons

  Kai’s last week in Morocco went quickly and it was soon time for the pair to bid their farewell to Abdulla and his family. Kai had mixed feelings as he shook his host and friends hand for the final time. Abdulla looked directly into Kai’s eyes as the pearls of wisdom flowed from his lips, they would remain with him forever.

  ‘Good luck my friend and remember, a man who chases fairy tales will sometimes miss his own happy ending. Choose your path wisely and enjoy the journey.’ As the door closed, Kai knew it would be a long time before he trusted anyone again, but he was determined to live each day with purpose, and enjoy each new discovery that lay in his path. Stu was eerily quiet on the journey to the airport and Kai picked up on this.

  ‘Bro what’s up man? I’m the one that’s supposed to be contemplating life!’

  ‘Well my friend it’s just I’ve been thinking. I’ve been a bit of a dick recently man. I kind of helped fuck things up between you and Amber and I feel responsible. Plus you pretty much saved my life out there on the yacht, and I never really said thanks.’

  Kai responded in jest, ‘fuck me Stu. Anymore of this lame ass gratitude and I swear I’m going to smack you in the face!’ Deep down Kai knew that this offer of thanks was in fact, a shift in power within the duo as he recognised that Stu held him in such high regard. It felt good to be respected again as a person, and not just for being a warrior of waves.

  As Kai approached the airport he suddenly realised that the only hurdle that stood in their way was the movement of cash between continents. They had concealed their stash with care, depositing wedges in various spots in their cases and hand luggage. Before they left the sanctuary of the hire car, Kai told Stu to stay calm and follow the plan. Stu nodded and they both walked out of a country that had given them much more than amazing waves and fine people. Morocco had given Kai purpose, strength and a whole new outlook on life that he could utilise chasing his dreams.

  Passing through security was a tense affair and Kai was grateful for the air conditioning that subdued his nervous perspiration. They did however access the departures hall without consequence, and headed straight to the bar to toast their success.

  ‘Dude we are only one step away from paradise!’ Kai said swigging his bottle of lager.

  ‘I know brother, all we have to do is bank the remainder of the cash, and we’re done with the shadier side of the law!’ They both beamed at each other.

  ‘Can you imagine the waves we are going to be riding in two days?’ Kai said, conjuring up the image in his head of a mutant left hand reef being pummelled by an endless supply of Indian Ocean swells. He was almost salivating at the thought when their call to the gate came over the tannoy.

  The short flight back to Europe went without a hitch as did their entry through Spanish customs, and soon the intrepid travellers were pacing the streets of Madrid in search of their lodgings. They soon came across their budget accommodation and Kai was happy they had booked separate rooms. He dumped his board and bags and made for the town centre. He had two things on his mind as he strolled through the bustling streets, find a suitable bank, and eat some tapas. The latter would be a lot easier than subtly depositing twenty five thousand euros in cash! Banco Santander was the sensible choice and Kai entered with his head held high, dressed in his finest non-surf attire.

  ‘Hola!’ he stuttered. ‘Hablo ingles?’

  ‘Yes Sir, I speak English. How can I help you today?’ The gentleman behind the counter was called Maurice, and Kai could see that he was instantly being visually interrogated and he couldn’t blame him. Kai was now a very dark brown in colour and his hair was sun bleached white and even with his best efforts he still resembled someone from a retro surf film.

  He took a deep breath and got down to business, ‘I would like to open an account please and make a cash deposit.’

  ‘Certainly’ came the reply, ‘I will need the correct identification and home address.’

  They both went through the necessary paper work and approximately eighteen minutes after he had strolled into the bank, he was walking out with a spring in his step and twenty five thousand euros lighter. Even Maurice the clerk didn’t batten an eyelid at the amount, must be small fry Kai thought considering they were in the Spanish capital.

  Kai found a little tapas place in a central square and settled in for the evening. He ordered himself a selection tapas and rioja, and drank in the scenes that lay before him. He enjoyed the hustle and bustle of city life and an increase in pace that Madrid offered. The couple next to him couldn’t keep their hands of each other and Kai could almost smell Ambers perfume as her image drifted into his mind. He would hold this thought until it became tarnished with Salty’s photograph of them, draped over each other, naked in his very bed. He scowled to himself and ordered another carafe of red. He had assigned himself to a night of drunken solace when his American compadre appeared and pulled up a seat next to Kai.

  ‘How are the meatballs brother?’ he said lighting up a cigarette.

  ‘You know what man, it is so nice to have a tomato based sauce and some wine with dinner! I’ve missed Europe’

  ‘Well enjoy it while you can my friend! I hear that Mauritius has an eclectic mix of creole cuisine infused with Indian and Chinese influences!’

  Kai laughed out loud spitting out a little of his wine over the adjacent horny couple who glared at him. ‘Dude you actually sound like a walking talking guide book! I can’t wait to get there and get stuck in to some proper surf.’

  They spent the rest of the night drinking their way through the city. Kai woke in a room that seemed to spin. It took him a while to gain his bearings and when he sat up, the red wine hangover literally smacked him in the face as his head pulsed with pain. He shuffled his way over to Stu’s room and knocked on the door. His partner in crime answered and was instantly diagnosed with the same ailment, an acute hangover.

  ‘Stu you do realise in less than eight hours we have a ten hour flight to deal with?’

  ‘Yeah man fuck, this is why I hate being inland, I really need to jump in the ocean and clear this hang over!’

  ‘Amen to that’ Kai said. ‘I’m heading to the bakery for some croissants and coffee, you want anything?’

  Stu shook his head and muttered ‘just a new head! If you could fix that I would be eternally grateful!’

  Chapter 9

  Soul Surfing

  Even at twenty thousand feet, the water was so clear, that Kai could see the various breaks and gaps in the barrier reef that fringed the island below. He could just make out the swell lines that were drawn toward the reef, like a bee to nectar. His mind ran with images of a perfect set of Indian Ocean swells surging into the shallow water, and its metamorphosis into a glass faced wave that would break unforgivingly on to the corals.

  ‘Excuse me? Sir, the captain has illuminated the fasten seat belt sign,’ said the pretty brunette ai
rhostess, bringing Kai back to reality.

  ‘Of course’, he said, winking at her. He noticed over her shoulder that Stu was also checking her out and staring at her ass, ‘why not take a photo Stu! It will last longer!’

  Stu actually looked a little embarrassed and protested ‘Thanks Kai! Hey man, you seen the surf down their?’

  ‘Yeah man it’s gonna pack a lot more punch than the Atlantic swell, and that coral is going to be savage if we end up on it!’

  Kai realised that Stu was in no fit state to be taking on the unforgiving surf that lay waiting for them. The massive trauma that he had received to his body only fifteen days before required a slow recovery and training process, and Stu would be only able to face the Indian wave challenge with dedication and perseverance. The plane was almost touching down when Stu piped up, almost reading what Kai was thinking.

  ‘Dude you know I can watch out for you from the beach, but on the reef you’ll be alone’. Kai knew that he was going to receive a lot of grief from the local surf population. It was well documented that the “White shorts” protected their left hand point break with ferocity and violence, and Kai would have to approach with sensible but strong demeanour. He wouldn’t be bullied off a wave, but he also didn’t want to get stabbed in shark infested water.

  After collecting their boards and successfully passing immigration, they emerged out of the arrivals hall and into hot and humid island territory. Within seconds they were drenched with sweat, and rejoiced as they climbed into the sanctuary of the air conditioned taxi, that would deliver them to the west coast of the Black River District where they had rented their apartment. Kai didn’t talk much on the ride through interior of the island, as he became drunk on the images that flashed by as they drove through the jungles rich in flora and fauna.