by Devon De'Ath
“As a solid citizen, you mean?” Bill asked.
“Just back here. So much has happened.”
They reached the cliff-top settlement. The front door of the Marisco hung wide. A cheer arose at their approach, startling some nearby day trippers.
Inside, the windows and bar were repaired, bloodstains removed from the floor, and a fresh array of bottled spirits decorated the rear wall.
Bill pointed to a brand new payphone. “We’re all right if we need to make a call today.”
Vicky didn’t respond. She scanned the assembled throng of islanders raising glasses, led by Gavin Rothbury. In one corner, a pair of twinkling, gentle eyes fixed on her from the handsome head of a man two years her senior. Beside him sat the island’s popular vicar. Vicky pushed through the crowd, receiving affectionate touches on the arm and shoulder en route. Conrad rose on shaky legs, fidgeting with uncomfortable hands. Vicky threw her arms around his neck and pulled his head into a tight embrace.
Bill migrated to the bar to greet the publican. “Hey, Gavin. How’s the leg?”
Gavin pulled out a fresh glass. “I feel the damp when a fog bank comes in, but otherwise fine. Pint?”
“Lager, thanks.” Bill’s eyes wandered to a framed photograph of two men, behind the bar. He recognised them as the island volunteers who’d lost their lives near the spot on which he stood.
Gavin pulled a pint and handed it over. Bill rummaged in his pocket for a wallet.
Gavin held up a staying hand. “You never need pay for a drink at the Marisco, Bill. Nor Vicky.”
Bill tucked the leather item away. “In that case, I’d better stay. Free drinks for life? Get in!”
Gavin laughed.
Bill cast a side glance at Conrad, still resting his head against Vicky’s shoulder as the two swayed. “How’s our pilgrim getting on? Vicky and I were worried the islanders would reject him. He’s sort of responsible for what happened. In a roundabout manner.”
Gavin picked up his own drink. “We trust Reverend Streeter’s judgement. If he says evil, spiritual forces inhabited and controlled the man, that’s good enough for us. Conrad’s such a quiet soul. You wouldn’t credit it. Can’t do enough for anyone.” He raised his glass at Bill. “To liberation, in all its forms.”
Bill clinked his glass against Gavin’s. “That’s a toast I’ll drink to.”
They both took several hearty gulps.
Gavin wiped his mouth on one wrist. “So what’s next for you two, Bill?”
Bill shrugged. “I don’t know. Vicky’s looking for a way to either stay here, or remain close to her brother. No surprise there.”
“And you?”
“I can’t decide. Somehow I’ve had enough of being a P.I. There’s only so much a person can take of spying on adulterous couples enjoying illicit relations.”
Gavin tilted his head at the picture of Jason Gillis. “There’s an opening here at the Marisco. It doesn’t pay much, but includes cottage accommodation.” He broke into a half grin. “I might have to reassess my promise of permanent free drinks. That is, if you take me up on the offer and prove a thirsty worker.”
Bill slapped the bar. “You know what? That sounds right up my street. I’ve always dwelt on the periphery of society, anyway.” His voice softened, and he stared across the room towards the siblings. “Besides, I’ve grown fond of Vicky. I’d miss her.”
“Well, you can’t get much more on the periphery of society than Lundy.” Gavin raised his glass in salute.
MS Oldenburg chugged away from the island towards the North Devon coast. From the cliff top above, a brother and sister stood hand in hand, watching evening colours paint the sky as the vessel disappeared from view. They exchanged no words. They required no words.
Vicky and Bill remained on Lundy with Conrad. The island proved a perfect fit, as though ordained by the cosmos for this moment in their lives. That granite rock of stability in a storm-tossed sea - an ultimate metaphor. All found peace at the end of an emotional and spiritual journey. One on which each had become some kind of pilgrim.
A MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you for taking the time to read some of my work. I hope you enjoyed the book. If you did, there are two actions you might consider to help others have a similar experience.
1. Tell someone. It sounds obvious, but the best and most trusted way people hear about a great new product or service is via word of mouth from another human. A social media post/comment, a "Hey, I read this engaging story from an author I've never tried before" over tea/coffee or by the workplace water cooler - these are the kinds of marketing that open doors for novelists to be discovered in a burgeoning sea of new titles and names.
2. Similar to the above, 'tell' people with a simple Amazon review. I don't know about you, but I've taken a chance on (and enjoyed) many books by people I'd never heard of, purely on the strength of an Amazon rating and comment. I've passed over others due to lack of reviews. These needn't be long. My favourite review consisted of two sentences. It's helped other new readers discover one of my titles.
Thank you again for reading. Thank you a hundred times over, if you take any of the actions outlined above.
Occasionally, some of my backlist titles are discounted or offered as freebies. If you'd like to be notified in advance, feel free to join the 'VIP Readers' list on my website, 'An Appointment with De'Ath' ( www.devondeath.com ).
'VIP Readers' receive between one and four e-mails per year, containing a short message from myself plus the requisite dates/prices. From time to time I'll also run competitions to win signed paperbacks.
Devon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Devon De’Ath was born in the county of Kent, ‘The Garden of England.’ Raised a Roman Catholic in a small, ancient country market community famously documented as ‘the most haunted TOWN in England,’ he grew up in an atmosphere replete with spiritual, psychic, and supernatural energy. Hauntings were commonplace and you couldn’t swing a cat without hitting three spectres, to the extent that he never needed question the validity of such manifestations. As to the explanations behind them?
At the age of twenty, his earnest search for spiritual truth led the young man to leave Catholicism and become heavily involved in Charismatic Evangelicalism. After serving as a part-time youth pastor while working in the corporate world, he eventually took voluntary redundancy to study at a Bible College in the USA. Missions in the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa followed, but a growing dissatisfaction with aspects of the theology and ministerial abuse by church leadership eventually caused him to break with organised religion and pursue a Post-Evangelical existence. One open to all manner of spiritual and human experiences his ‘holy’ life would never have allowed.
After church life, De’Ath served fifteen years with the police, lectured at colleges and universities, and acted as a consultant to public safety agencies both foreign and domestic.
A writer since he first learned the alphabet, Devon De’Ath has authored works in many genres under various names, from Children’s literature to self-help books, through screenplays for video production and all manner of articles.