The Paul & Jenny Stories Pt. 15l

Straight in. If they had drawn them to the Barricade then they would not be able to shot down at the water. Somebody had been thinking.

But they could shot at me before I reached the safety of the lee of the Quayside. And they were.

I swung the wheel first one way then the other turning the boat into shore then out to sea. The next turn of the wheel took me beneath the edge of the Quay. I cut the throttle and the boat slowed and crunched against the Quayside. I was coming to a spot beneath where they were gathered. I tied the boat front and aft to some rings set into the concrete wall as reached up to catch the rope that was thrown down to me. The children and Celso came aboard first then my father and Roddrego. Roddrego took up position at the controls. My father still looked pale. My mother and Conchita followed them, both kissing my cheek as I helped them into the boat. Alistair dropped two rifles to me then threw down my bundle of clothes. He turned fired towards the Barricade with his revolver then, holding onto the rope, dropped over the side of the Quay. I caught his legs and he released the rope.

I went to the bow of the boat and untied the rope. Somebody must have undone the stern rope as we were moving before I returned to the well of the boat. I hurried into the stern of the boat where Alistair was struggling to re-load his revolver one handed and knelt by the wooden box that covered the engine. I picked up my rifle and pointed it to the top of the Quay. We were moving away, turning out to sea. I could see somebody's head then shoulders. I took aim and fired. He disappeared from view.

We were twenty yards from the Quay and moving away. It looked like we were going to make it. Thirty yards, forty yards. There were four men by the packing cases. They lifted their weapons towards us. I fired, and again. I saw the puffs of smoke in reply. Heard a scream behind me. I fired again. Click. I was empty.

I fumbled in my bundle of clothing for my Bandoleer and took my last two rounds from a pouch. Alistair was firing his revolver.

I ducked instinctively as somebody fired a rifle behind me. I looked along my barrel to the Quay but there was nobody in sight. I kept looking as we moved further out to sea. I could see somebody moving by the packing cases and seagulls circling overhead.

I suddenly felt very cold. I was trembling. Alistair handed me my shirt and I turned towards the cabin as I put it on.

My mother was kneeling beside Conchita the front of whose blouse was bright red. She was pressing a pad of cloth against her chest. Conchita held out her hand to me and I took it. Squeezing myself in between her and the side of the boat I placed my arm around her and held her.

My mother looked up at me and shook her head slowly.

Conchita leaned her head against my shoulder. I could hear her breathing becoming quieter, slower. I kissed her forehead and her lips. She smiled up at me. Tried to lift her hand to my face then went still.

Something inside me hurt. A real, physical pain. I could feel it building. I thought I would explode.

I was crying. My mother was trying to hold me but I pushed her away and sat with Conchita my tears falling onto her hair.

* * * * *

Somerset 1972.

Jenny.

We were fifteen minutes late arriving at the Church.

The hairdresser and the dressmaker fussed about me as I stood in the porch. Then everybody was happy.

The organ was playing 'Here comes the bride'.

I walked into the church on my father's arm with Shirley and my four sisters following.

I was going to be married.

Paul and Jenny will return in 'Honeymoon in Spain'.