by KJ Sheerin
I rather think it was a team effort, Josh cut in.
Still, the fight last night was awesome. It’s bound to go down as a classic modern-day dragon fight, Liu Fung informed him.
Do you think so? Josh said, surprised. Well I guess the kudos belongs to Myvanwy for isolating the enemy for us, and to Clare, for providing the weapons for the fight.
Yes, my young daughter wants to be just like her when she grows up. And now she’s crazy for Moloch, Liu Fung lamented.
Josh laughed out loud and Clare elbowed him. Tell her I’m honoured, she said, adding, we’ll have to catch up in the astral, hopefully in the next week or so.
Yes, I would like that.
Thanks again for all your help, Josh said, and the connection was gone.
‘Now, where were we…?’ asked Clare.
The next morning they slept until late and then stumbled from bed to go for a swim. A warm autumn sun shone down as they lazed on the beach, aided by a fresh onshore breeze. After a late breakfast they went for a walk and stopped to survey their island paradise from the hilltop once more. From there they could see that the shoreline on the other side of the island was now littered with wreckage from the junk. They went as far as the lighthouse and back along the beach in silence. Then on reaching the cave system they wandered through it. The bodies were long gone—except for the flotsam, it was as if nothing had ever happened.
During the day they packed up again and in the afternoon fished for the smaller sweet varieties to BBQ. Josh sharpened some sticks with his hunting knife and lit the fire at dusk, the two dragons joining them as the fish cooked and water boiled for their herbal tea.
‘How did the singing go last night?’ Clare asked Myvanwy.
‘Superb, you should have been there.’
‘Maybe the next time. We were hoping for the long weekend in June?’
‘That sounds fine. Tell me, how is that money-making plan of yours going?’
Josh laughed, ‘Slowly,’ he informed her.
‘Actually it’s been on hold, but now that I have my license it should take off in the next month or so.’
‘Can you bring the laptop over next time?’ Sweet Pea asked.
‘Sure,’ said Clare.
Myvanwy nibbled on her fish treat and stared into the coals of the fire. ‘It would appear that I may have been wrong all this time,’ she said, philosophically.
Josh looked up, surprised.
‘About what?’
‘Hot air balloons! I hate to admit it, but as well as bringing us together when it did, we haven’t stopped using it. They are just so useful,’ she said, looking at the remains of the basket and envelope in the corner.
‘Yes, I must say we haven’t looked back since that night either,’ Josh said, as he slipped an arm around Clare’s waist.
‘But although they’re good to fly in, they can never compare to a ride on a dragon,’ Clare confirmed.
‘It’s as though the gods have conspired to draw us together… the four of us,’ Myvanwy said.
‘Let’s drink to them,’ Josh said, as he poured some peppermint tea into their waiting cups.
They drank and ate their way through the barbecued fish until finally Myvanwy said, ‘It’s time.’
The teenagers saddled her for the ride back and donned beanies and gloves. Sweet Pea was given the task of carrying their backpacks and the sports bag.
The trip was made in silence, and once back Myvanwy said, ‘I wish you could have stayed longer, you two have become like family to us.’
‘You know, that’s exactly the way we feel,’ said Clare.
‘And thank you for what you did, it will not be forgotten,’ Myvanwy added.
The two teenagers watched as the dragons lifted back into the air, Myvanwy flying ahead, while Sweet Pea detoured briefly before joining her with the night’s meal firmly in tow.
The house was silent as they entered and made straight for the bedroom. Once there, they divested themselves of the rucksacks and sports bag before going straight to bed to sleep, ready for the new day ahead.
* * *
