Chapter 4. All that glitters

  Florry woke up on alone the beach. He recognised where

  he was but he had no idea how he'd gotten there.

  What he did know, was that his satchel was full of valuable

  bits and pieces.

  As he made his way to the track that led up and off the beach

  he passed the still warm remains of a fire and saw a skull in

  the embers. "What the fuck."

  He brushed away some ashes with a stick. There was only

  one body, but it was easy to see by the footprints that at least

  one other person had been there.

  "Whatever this is," he said to himself, "it has nothing to do with me."

  Florry climbed the track to the headland. At the highest point as he looked

  back down into the inlet, a familiar voice called out.

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  Startled, Florry turned around.

  "You sly old bastard I thought I might find you out here."

  It was John Borlace.

  "You scared the living shit out of me."

  Borlace chuckled. "It's that guilty conscience of yours Florry.

  Some of the lads already got pinched trying to make off with what

  washed up near the wreck site. So I thought I might try my luck out

  this way."

  "Anyone else come with you?" Florry asked.

  "Just me. Didn’t even see anyone else on the trail."

  Florry adjusted his satchel and stepped closer to the edge of the cliff.

  "It looks like there’s wreckage already down on the beach." he said.

  Borlace smiled and rubbed his hands together.

  "Out of the way Florry let me have a look."

  He stepped around Florry and looked over. "Your right old son and

  there’s still some in the current as well."

  He turned around grinning, and Florry shoved him hard in the chest.

  Borlace grunted and a look of surprised fright crossed his face.

  He tripped backwards over his own feet and grabbed at thin air as

  he went over the edge.

  Florry looked at Borlace's body on the rock shelf below.

  He watched as each swell surge tugged and pulled at the body until

  it disappeared into deep water.

  "Don't take it personal like Johnny boy." Florry hugged his satchel.

  "A bit of luck finally comes my way, there's no fucking way in the world

  I'm gonna share it."

  TurnIng to leave he heard his sister Gert call out.

  Florry's vision blurred and he was a child again.

  "Have you seen you seen Elky?" Gert asked him.

  "Is Elky here?" he said.

  "We’re playing a game of hide and seek. Can you help me find her?"

  "I'm the best at playing hide and seek." Florry said.

  "I think she’s hiding in our bedroom." whispered Gert.

  Florry beamed with excitement.

  "Are you ready? We have to be quiet, hold my hand now."

  They rushed through the open door whooping and laughing.

  Florry tumbled through space and landed broken on the rock

  shelf below the cliff - a few paces from where John Borlace

  had lain.

  His satchel burst open, and nothing more valuable than

  pebbles and shells tumbled into the sea.

  *