Over the hills

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Piper Cove was a picturesque village, right down to the seventeenth century Pipe and Whistle Inn with its slate roof and black and white fascia. The narrow cobble streets attracted visitors worldwide. Bay-fronted curio shops, mouth-watering tearooms and locally-grown produce added to its old world charm.

Dale strolled down the cliff path that surrounded the Cove. He never tired of the walk through the lush green hills, always pausing at the top, absorbing the detail of the seemingly minute town below. Reaching the beach, he leapt onto the harbour wall and scanned the stranded boats dotted about the wet sand before heading for the pier.

“Hiya Sally,” Dale said, squeezing past the puppeteer. He nearly knocked her over with his guitar case as she pushed home the tent pegs for the stripy canvas theatre. “Whoa!” He grabbed her by the back of her top, and yanked her upright.

 

“Phew! Babe, you’re such a flippin’ klutz,” she said, a wide grin crossing her flustered face.

Laughing, Dale said “yeah I know Sal, but you still love me,” he wriggled the last two pegs into the sand for her before weighting down the apron with cobbles.

“Last day then. Gawd, I hope the crowds are feeling generous.” Sally plucked the grotesque Punch and Judy from the trunk, and kicked the lid shut.

“They will be Sal, I’m gettin’ good vibes,” he said, gliding backwards toward the entertainer’s area.

“Well make sure you don’t hog them all,” she said..

“I won’t, I got somethin’ special for the finale. You’ll stay on won’t ya?” A twinge of sadness gnawed at Dale’s heart. The loss of Sally’s husband in the lifeboat accident had left her with little enthusiasm to carry on with the puppet show.

“Of course I will babe, wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she said. “I’ll even pass round the hat for you.”

The beach entertainment season had not been a good one, and money was in short supply. Dale knew that some of the tourists had come to Piper Cove to forget their troubles at home. Most were only increasing their problems by taking a holiday they couldn’t afford. Some stepped into a make- believe life for a while, wearing large smiles and behaving totally out of character, before heading back to their mundane lives. For Dale, happiness and music was the key to everything. He hoped his own happiness would be fulfilled today.

The young man was popular with the beach entertainers, his infectious enthusiasm and bubbly personality, softened the hardest of hearts. Even Mojo the clown, ever the pessimist, warmed to him and gave a cheery wave as he passed. No one knew where Dale came from, but nobody cared, they were happy to be in his company.

Placing the battered guitar case on the sand below the pier, Dale began whistling the melody of the pier’s carousel ride. He bobbed his head back and forth to the tune, floppy, dark blonde hair bouncing as he moved. Bending over to open the case, his bum cheeks wiggled involuntarily as his ears tuned in to the lyrics of ‘Sugar Pie Honey Bunch.’ He picked the guitar up by its neck and thrust it back and forth as if it was his dance partner, finger drumming the body in time with the beat.

“Ya soppy sod,” Belle said, hobbling toward him with her donkey, who matched her limp for limp.

“Hey Belle, you got to go with the beat,” he grinned, grabbing her hand and swinging her arm.

“You’re like sunshine in a bottle Dale, that’s for sure.” Smile crevices appeared on her dark leathery skin, but her tone of voice sent a different message to Dale.

 

“What’s wrong, Belle?” Tilting his head, he searched her weather worn face.

“Ahh! It’s Paddy, I can’t keep him no more Dale. He’s getting old like me see, and his arthritis is pretty much as bad as mine. The donkey sanctuary won’t take him and I’m just not making enough to keep him…” She swallowed down the lump that threatened to trigger the tears, floating at the corners of her eyes.

 

Throwing his arms around her, he hugged her close and planted a sloppy kiss on her tear stained cheek. He took a step back, keeping both hands on her shoulders, and looked the old lady in the eye. “Don’t cry Belle. I promise on my life, Paddy and you will be alright.”

She searched his hypnotic brown eyes. Dale could see she was looking for some spark of hope in them. ‘Go on ol’ girl, look deeper, you’ll find the peace you crave,’ he thought.

Belle saw the concern in his eyes and felt comforted. She tied Paddy to a mooring post, then, stroking his thick grey mane she sighed, “It’s his last day today, as well as yours Dale. I thought it fitting that he come to your last performance.” Belle shuffled away her shoulders slumped in defeat.

“Belle!” he yelled after her, “Make sure you’re here for the end of the show, promise me.” His voice echoed a plea, as if his life depended on it.

She turned to him, a sad smile crossing her face, “Course I’ll be here sunshine, I wouldn’t miss it.”

The beach shops opened their doors to the bustling crowds as jugglers tossed rainbow hoops on the beach wall. Punch and Judy were knocking seven bells out of each other in front of bored children. Most would rather be at home playing on a computer but, their parents enjoyed shouting out responses to the squabbling puppets. .

 

Deck chairs were filling up with people, some smiling, others not. A fair number were sprawled about, preferring to stay on the softness of the sand. The tide was far out and only the enthusiastic exercise fanatics braved the long walk for a swim. The aroma of fish and chips, mixed with candy floss, filled the air and a feint whiff of onions drifted in the direction of the decked stage alongside the pier.

Dale’s nostrils twitched as he caught the smell. His stomach rumbled in anticipation and he headed toward the hot dog vendor. Climbing over bodies lying on the sand, he misjudged his step, and tripped over the sour-faced lady wearing a red bikini top and shiny leggings that gave an appearance of cottage cheese wrapped in cling film.

“Oi! Clumsy bleeder,” she said, scowling at him, then laughed as Dale fell, landing face to face with a very surprised Boxer.

“Oueff! Sorry love,” Dale said.

 

The dog sniffed, then licked at Dale’s face. “Gerroff,’ gerroff’!” The friendly dog’s tongue tried to invade his nostrils, drool dripped on Dale’s chin. Clambering to his knees he took the dogs face in his hands ruffling his ears ‘You’re a beaut,’ he thought,’

I wish you were mine.’

He brushed the sand from his waistcoat and decided to skirt the rest of the bodies. he sauntered toward the hot dog stand, the aroma of burgers exciting his taste buds. “Hey Gio do us a big ‘un will ya, loads of mustard.”

“Always say you sound as ‘eef you have, eh, how you say? l’indigestione,’” Gio laughed.

“Shuddupa’ your face” Dale teased, understanding exactly what Gio meant.

Soft hands covered Dale’s eyes, butterflies jitter-bugged in his tummy. He knew instantly that it was Jez. He squirmed away from her tiny fingers and lifted her petite frame into his arms spinning her in a circle. Her contrary curls, bounced across her creamy cheeks, covering her dancing green eyes.

“You came, Jez,” he said, his face flush with pure delight.

“Course I came Dale, I wouldn’t miss it. You know that,” giggling, the tiny twenty year-old grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the promenade.

“Hey, the hot dog!” Gio yelled.

“Oops.” Dale ran back to the stand, gave Gio the money whilst biting off a huge mouthful. Mustard oozed then dribbled down his chin.

“Blimey! I thought you were gonna’ swallow it whole,” Jez said, playfully tapping him on the stomach.

“Come on, quick, the clowns are about to start,” Dale nudged her towards the bustling crowd.

‘Entrance of the gladiators,’ exploded from the speakers. Happy faces cheered as the clowns scattered before them, scurrying and somersaulting into position. Dale and Jez weaved between the crowds, stopping in front of the wooden boards embedded in the sand.

 

With a lavish flutter Coco produced a bunch of multi-coloured flowers from his patchwork coat. He sniffed the artificial blooms before tripping over his gigantic boots and tumbling beside a row of seated children. Giggles and tears erupted. One little girl was so terrified she dropped her ice cream and darted through the legs of the man behind, pinching his thigh as she forced her way through. Her mum sidestepped the man and followed in hot pursuit.

Another child caught Dale’s attention. The little boy watched Beppo juggling his hoops, whilst stealing furtive glances at the other kids who all seemed to have some sort of edible delight. It struck Dale as odd that he was the only child without a sticky mess around his mouth. The boy’s mother licked greedily at a cone, her long reptilian tongue flicked out rapidly like a lizard capturing its prey. Dale saw the little boy tug on his mum’s skirt pointing at her ice cream, and then winced when her hand answered the child with a cuff round the head. ‘Some people don’t deserve kids,’ he thought.

Mojo went into his comedy routine on the unicycle, his skilful manoeuvres made it appear as if the cycle was a clever extension to his body. The melodic tones of, ‘The Entertainer,’ gave the other clowns the cues they needed to juggle the skittles over his head as he feigned falling off. Everyone clapped at the antics. The crowd were in a receptive mood and cheered the jollities along. The finale was Mojo jumping the spaced planks, after several failed attempts.

Dale pulled Jez through the applauding crowd to the staged area. He had to get ready and he wanted to talk to her before he went on.

“Jez, you know how I feel about you don’t you?” he said, plucking unruly tendrils from her face.

She gazed into his eyes and saw the intensity of his question. Hot red patches appeared on her neck and cheeks, “I feel the same Dale,” her eyelids drooped as her colour intensified.

“I won’t be back here again Jez.” Dale tipped her chin with his forefinger, searching for her reaction.

“B…but what about us?” Tears spilled from her almond shaped eyes, big rolling tears that splashed her bikini clad breasts like raindrops.

“Don’t cry Jez, please don’t cry.” He drew her into his arms stroking her back and kissing her head, the fragrance of freesias wafted from her hair. Dale realised she wouldn’t be able to understand, but somehow he had to get through to her, he had to make her see.

“You could come with me,” Dale lifted her onto the edge of the stage and clasped her soft hands in his.

“What?” She looked at him sniffing, trying to stop a slow trail of snot from reaching her top lip. Without thinking Dale tugged his sleeve into the palm of his hand and wiped the glistening moisture from her eyes and nose.

“Come with me Jez. I love you hon’, please take a chance on me, on us,” he said, draping one arm around her shoulder.

“W…what,” she stared deep into his eyes that, somehow, had taken on the appearance of a tawny sea, waves crashing against a black rock. “B…but where are you going?”

“Does it really matter as long as we’re together?”

“M…my job, my friends, we’ve only known each other six weeks.”

“Six hours, six weeks, I know how I feel. Do you?” His heart beat ricocheted against his chest, bullets of hope desperate in their intent.

“I can’t just go today, I have things to get ready, I…”

“Jez it’s today or never, trust me, come with me.”

“Wow! I don’t believe I am going to say this but, Yes. Yes, I’ll come. I love you Dale.”

Whisking her off the stage he spun her round holding her tight against his body before a long lingering kiss exploded the fireworks in his mind. Cuddling her close his thoughts raced forward, he knew there was very little time.

“You must listen carefully Jez, when I go into the last song no matter what happens, follow me. Do you understand? When I start ‘Over the hills,’ I cannot come back for you, just follow. Promise me. Don’t go away.”

“But…”

“No questions, promise me.”

The urgency of his voice had her spell bound. She searched his eyes once more, nibbling her bottom lip before half whispering, “I promise.” She slipped off her jacket and tossed it down beside Dale’s guitar case.

 

***
Wiping away the sand that had settled on his guitar, Dale thought about Belle. He knew he had lied to her, it was the only way, the truth was much, much worse.

 

Angry black clouds started to form in the sky, the creeping calm of the incoming tide gave the appearance of an army, forming an attack. Foamy overlapping greens, blues and browns approaching from three different directions.

He walked over to Paddy who was happily munching on an apple. Stroking the donkey’s coarse hair at the top of his nose he whispered into his crinkly, upright ears. Anybody watching would have sworn Paddy was actually listening.

“Well slap me with a wet fish, I thought I was the only loony that talked to animals,” Belle laughed, her hobble seemed more prominent as she limped toward him.

“Nah! I’m a soppy sod too,” he laughed. “Belle I’ve got some fantastic news for you. A guy I know is prepared to take Paddy. He will have a great home for sure. The only problem is you got to meet up with him now, ‘cos he won’t be back this way again.”

“What? Where? He won’t be put down?” Excited questions spilled from her mouth.

“You and Paddy have got to climb the footpath Belle. He’s waiting at the picnic area.” Dale said, pointing toward the cliff top.

“Ah Sunshine, I’ll never make it love. Me ol’ bones just won’t…”

For the second time that day Dale placed both hands on her frail shoulders and looked deep into her weary eyes. His own shoulders clenched with tension. The serious look on his young face gave an appearance of someone much older than his years.

“You can do this. Trust me. Paddy will help you.”

Belle’s eyes locked on his hypnotic stare, unblinking, intense. She glanced at the donkey then back at Dale, the smile forming on her lips spread to a beaming grin.

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

“Oo hoo!” he squealed, as his body relaxed, “Now off you go and I’ll meet ya’ at the top.”

“You really are a big kid,” Bella chuckled. Freeing the tether from the mooring post, she led Paddy off toward the footpath.

 

Dale leapt onto the stage, “I am the one and only…” echoing from his lips. Surprised heads turned, watching the young man belt out the song with no introduction. Twisting his knees and swivelling his hips, his sweet tenor floated above the guitar strumming and crowd noise. Dale had caught their attention. He now had to reel them in. He blew a kiss to Jez and winked at Sally who were standing on the steps of the stone memorial. At the end of the song he went straight into an instrumental and talked to the growing audience.

“Hello darling, you two sisters?” speaking to an obvious mother and daughter who swayed together in time to the music. “Give us a smile and I’ll let you pick my first song,” his fingers never faltered on the guitar strings. The pair giggled, the older one flattered by the attention of the lad with the amazing eyes.

“That’s it girls, see, a smile costs nothing.”

“Do you know ‘Hungry Eyes?‘” The younger woman shouted, clasping her hands behind her back to emphasise her ample breasts.

“Sure do, bet ya’ wish I was Patrick Swayze.” He thrust his pelvis in an undulating motion and rolled back and forth on his feet.

He breezed through songs of Snow Patrol, Robbie Williams and various others, his guitar case filling with crumpled notes, and lots of coins from the very receptive crowd. Sally gathered up the notes and stuffed them into her shoulder bag.

 

Dale glanced at the enormous black cloud over the sea, resembling a winged dragon, closing in on the beach. He knew he had to raise the tempo a few notches, and quickly. People were calling out song names, hoping he would play them.

“Well guys I’m gonna’ do some oldies but goodies…for the ol’ codger selling hot dogs.” Dale flicked his sweat-filled hair off his face grinning at Gio, who was trying to stop the Boxer from stealing off the warming area.

“Sing along if you know the words, I might be a bit too young to remember them,” his infectious laugh had the crowd in his hands.

Breaking into ‘I only want to be with you,’ the crowd erupted, cheering and clapping. Even the chubby man in a baseball cap danced, his belly wobbling under his t-shirt. Some jumped up on the stage with Dale, shimmying to the music. A couple, who seemed dressed for a wedding, jived in the corner, arms flaying in all directions. The woman came a cropper when her partner decided to do a fancy manoeuvre and promptly dropped her on her bum, her skirt rising to her waist.

Even the customers from the inn and the tea rooms came to enjoy the excitement as Dale belted out a medley of Rock N’ Roll songs. The beach was a sea of writhing bodies, children skipping about not wanting to be left out, even Mojo twisted on his unicycle. On stage, Dale led the dancing with a young girl in a bikini bumping rear ends to the tempo, until a jealous boyfriend yanked her away. The frenzy reached its peak as Dale sang ‘Do you love me.’

“I have one final surprise for you guys,” Dale shouted to the crowd after he gestured to them to lower the noise. “A new attraction to Piper Cove, a model village where dreams are fulfilled and, it’s free. It’s up there, the most beautiful village you could ever see.” Dale pointed to the cliff top and smiled when he saw that Belle was three quarters of the way up.

“Cobblers, I was up there the other day. No bleedin’ village there,” a man shouted from the crowd.

“Your funeral mate,” he shot back, “nobody’s forcing you or any one else,” Dale laughed. “Ya comin’ with me?”

His fingers strummed the chords as he started singing.

 

‘You, with your masquerading…’

One woman grabbed his waist and the human chain started to form. They followed his every move.

 

‘…Hey come on babe, follow me, I’m the Pied Piper…’

 

It was a giant conga line. Dale led the crowd jogging, skipping up the steep path.

 

‘…Trust in me, I’m the Pied Piper…’

 

The clowns strutted criss-crossing, pretending to play the pipes through the gate, following in Dale’s footsteps, they ushered the crowd before them.

 

Dale glanced out to sea and, without missing a beat, went into ‘Over the hills’. Nobody questioned where the pipes and mandolin music came from; they were just enjoying the Conga up the cliff path. If they could see Dale’s fear filled eyes, their enjoyment would have been short lived.

 

Overtaking Belle near the top of the path, he stared intently, willing her to finish the final hurdle. He could see her struggle but he had to keep playing. Everyone had to make it through by their own efforts.

 

The music intensified, his fingers dancing demoniacally across the fret board. He ran to the entrance of the cave and gestured for the crowd to enter. Sound echoed from within the stone tunnel, beautiful, wondrous, a hypnotic melody accompanying Dale like an invisible orchestra. The excited people began entering the cave, still gyrating to the music.

 

Dale looked out to sea, open terror crossing his face. Black clouds shaped a malevolent dark monster. Intermittent patches of green-brown splashed its deadly face. The sea formed angry peaks like violent snow-capped mountains. Three conflicting currents attacked each other for domination. The wind howled, battling with the music in an attempt to overpower its sound. Dale’s fingers never faltered in their frenzied dance, the pipe music increased in volume trying to dominate the furious wind.

Reveller’s smiles turned to fear as the wind finally broke the music’s spell. The realisation of what was about to happen, widened their now subdued eyes. Their skips turned into a run as they jostled to get to the safety of the cave. Dale’s face drained when he saw Belle fall to the ground and Paddy trying to nudge her with his nose. He was rooted to the spot, like the tree beside him; his finger tips split open as he played, and dripped blood onto the body of his guitar.

”Belle get up, it’s only ten metres, get up!” He yelled at her to rise. Mojo and Coco came running up the track and scooped Belle under her arms, hauling her to her feet.

“Come on Belle!” Mojo said, as he and Coco hooked the tired woman’s arms around their necks.

“Paddy, what about Paddy?” Belle screamed, the ferocious wind threatening to blow her feet from under her.

“We’ll come back for him.” Mojo and Coco half-dragged, half-lifted the old woman towards the cave mouth. Mojo stared at Dale’s hands still dancing the fret board, his bleeding fingertips unable to stop playing the music of life. Mojo lifted his gaze and saw the terror etched on Dale’s face. “Take her,” he instructed Coco. The clown dragged the hysterical woman through the entrance, .

“Where’s Jez?” Dale shouted, as the wind threatened to whip away his question, he was inwardly praying for the answer he craved.

 

“I don’t know…” Mojo held his hands up in a hopeless gesture, before fighting the driving wind and rain to get to Paddy.

Dale peered down the path, searching the faces of the final stragglers. He caught sight of Sally hanging on to the little boy’s hand, but no sign of Jez.

 

‘Where was she?’ his heart beat drumming at his chest…‘Why didn’t she listen to me?’ His eyes went back to Mojo fighting with Paddy’s rein. The donkey was frightened and wouldn’t budge from the path’s edge. Mojo shouted at Paddy before circling the animal then leaning his body against his rear end. In any other circumstance Dale would have laughed at the angry clown, but he knew this was life or death.

Forks of bright, white light shattered the black cloud. The increasing thunderous roar turned their eyes to the open sea. Dale’s throat restricted as he saw the mountainous wall of grey-green water. Three currents of snow-capped foam were now united in a destructive pursuit, gaining momentum and hurtling towards the beach. Terrified, Mojo grabbed the umbrella prop from his pocket and whacked Paddy hard on the bum. This was enough to move the stubborn donkey toward the cave.

 

Dale scanned the beach and saw all the people who had not made the trek, running for their lives. Fishing vessels and small boats started to crash against the cliff as the wave surge pushed everything in its path.

 

Sally ran to Dale, her fingers wrapped round the little boy’s wrist, her fingernails digging into his skin.

“Sally, where’s Jez?” Dale yelled, his voice cracking with desperation.

“She went for her jacket. I tried to stop her, but she…” Sally tried to catch her breath. Tears filled her eyes when she saw the desolation on his face. She stared at his shredded fingers, her mouth dropped. The Man came from the cave and gently laid his hands on her shoulders steering her and the shivering boy toward the entrance. She looked back at Dale before entering the cave.

Dale caught sight of Jez running up the footpath. “RUN JEZ RUN!” He shot a glance at the huge wave as it thundered towards the beach. “RUN PLEASE…” The word please came out as a sob, dragged from the depths of his soul.

He saw her look up at the wave. As if resigning herself to her fate she put one hand over her heart, touched her lips with the other and held it up to him. A second later, the roaring wall crashed over her.

The blood curdling scream that left his lips echoed within the wind.

He felt hands grab his shoulder and haul him inside the portal, the rock-face seamlessly closing behind them just before the wave struck.

“Come my son, there was nothing you could do. Be thankful for those you managed to save. People just won’t listen. Your job is done,” The Man said. He put a powerful arm round Dale’s defeated shoulders and guided him deeper inside.

 

***

“Wot’ really ‘appened’ere Tone?” Don said, stepping back from the advertising board they had just erected.

“Well I don’t know the full story, a lot is gossip and old wives tales,” Tony said, stripping off his t-shirt and wiping sweat from the back of his neck with it.

“Yea, but I’d like to know. I mean it’s such a lovely place…”

They sat down on the rocks; Don picked up a handful of loose pebbles from the ground and launched them over the cliff.

“It was a tidal wave I think; I’m not really sure…I’m no flippin’ weather man. The bods at the Earth Scientists Centre said it was something to do with after shocks, shifting currents or some sorta cobblers. You know what they’re like blinding people with high falutin’ terms.” Tony looked down at the ruined town, the only life now were the seagulls searching for food in the deserted buildings. “According to the memorial same sorta’ thing happened a hundred years ago.”

“But a lot of people died didn’t they?” A curious look crossed Don’s face.

“Yes, poor buggers, strange thing though, they only found seventy five bodies. I suppose the sea will be spitting them up for years to come. I think only fifteen people survived. Some ol’ Italian loony kept on spouting crap about a musician leading people to safety. Up here as it happens.”

“Wot’ ‘appened to ‘im Tone? Could ‘e ‘ave been telling the truth? ”

“I don’t know. What planet are you from Don? Look round you, where would they go?”

Don scanned the area and, grinning at Tony, said, “Point taken mate.”

“OI! Odge and Bodgit, you’re not on bleedin’ holiday.” The foreman shouted from the truck.

The two men started toward the truck. Tony stopped in mid-stride, imagining he could hear music, then shaking his head.

 

 

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