Offshore Islands
Page 65
They swam in the clear waters of the coral sea, he could feel her body swimming against him, nudging him, they were like a pair of dolphins, moving with a natural unconscious closeness. Just below them were a multitude of coral formations of all shapes and colours, small shoals of fish weaving through the clear waters, damsel fish darted in and out of pink anemones as yellow butterfly fish and squirrel fish patrolled their territories in swift passes to ward off intruders. The sea pulled gently on them as they swam around the outcropping of rocks at the point of the small bay. She pointed down to the left and right drawing his attention to the slug like sea cucumbers and the starfish.
The rattle of the water in his snorkel and his forced breathing were the only noises he heard as he swam in the suspended underwater world. They slowly turned back towards the beach swimming with lazy movements until their bodies touched the sand. Rising out of the water they glistened like strange amphibians still wearing their masks and snorkels, their bodies reflected the fierce sunlight.
They walked slowly up the beach towards the house, the minute sand crabs darted away disappearing in their holes in the blink of an eyelid as they approached.
On the boarded veranda they took the towels draped over the wooden rail to dry off the salt water that prickled on their skins. Her blond hair darkened by the water clung to her head as she smiled at him in unspoken pleasure. Arrowsmith had not known such a profound feeling of happiness for a very long time and marvelled at the suddenness and unexpectedness of their meeting.
The sun was sinking quickly behind the horizon and the cacophony of the crickets and frogs had started. Olga slipped her arm around his waist and kissed him lightly on the cheek. He glanced at his watch hoping that time would stop and feeling a queasiness inside knowing that the moment would remain in his thoughts long after. The irreversible countdown to separation advanced inexorably, just two more short days.
Arrowsmith had overstayed his visit in St Martin and there was pressing business awaiting him in Dublin. He was confused by what had happened, it was like being hit by a bus, the shock of unexplainable force with unforeseeable consequences.
They took the helicopter service that ran from Grande Case to Juliana Airport where he left a tearful Olga at the passport control.
She was as confused as he, she had always imagined she would be capable of controlling the development of her relations with the man she had sought, but this was different she was devastated by his departure.
Chapter 66
Le Pays Basque