Midsummer Magic (29 page)

‘Right.’ Harry was at the cave’s entrance, tying a knot in a rope around Bron’s waist.

‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ he said.

‘Bring it on,’ said Bron. ‘Are you sure this knot is secure?’

‘It should be, I was a boy scout,’ said Harry, testing it to be sure. ‘I’ll double it to make sure.’

Happy that it was fine, Harry turned to everyone else. ‘I’ll hold the rope, and everyone form a chain behind me. Bron can then swim into the cave, and he should be able to get Tati.’

‘Shouldn’t we wait for the coastguard?’ asked Diana. This seemed immensely risky to her, and she liked Bron. She didn’t want anything happening to him.

‘No time,’ said Harry.

‘And I owe Tati,’ said Bron. ‘Wish me luck.’

He started to wade towards the cave, the water soon up to his shoulders. ‘Tati, I’m coming to get you,’ he shouted, before he was lost in the swirling waters of the cave.

‘Do you think they’re going to be okay?’ said Diana.

‘I hope so.’ Josie was looking sick. ‘People have drowned in that cave before now.’

Harry was beginning to strain on the rope. ‘Come on, I need a hand here,’ he shouted.

Ant ran forward, and then Freddie, and one by one they formed a human chain. The sea was pounding hard at their heels now, and faintly from the cave Diana could make out a voice calling, ‘Tati, Tati, I’m coming for you.’

She just hoped it wasn’t too late.

Ant took his place in the line behind Harry, feeling tense. God, they might both drown and he and Josie would be partly to blame. Josie had mentioned she was there, but they’d been so caught up in the moment, they’d completely forgotten about Tatiana. And now she was trapped.

‘This is harder than it looks in the movies,’ muttered Harry. ‘I had no idea Bron would be this heavy.’

‘Can you see anything?’

They peered into the darkness, and could just about make out Bron’s head bouncing in the waves.

‘Everything okay?’ Harry called.

‘I can see her …’ said Bron.

‘Keep going,’ shouted Ant, ‘you can do it!’

They felt the rope pull away from them and heard Bron shout, ‘I’ve got her.’

‘Brilliant,’ said Harry. The rope went slack as Bron climbed up to the ledge where Tatiana was sheltering.

‘Phew,’ said Ant, ‘thank God she’s okay, I was beginning to feel guilty there.’

‘Anything else you should be feeling guilty about, mate?’ said Harry, with an emphasis on the
mate
.

‘Sorry?’ Ant didn’t think he’d given anything away.

‘You and Josie, you looked very cosy up there at the theatre.’

‘I’m not sure I know what you mean,’ bluffed Ant.

‘Aren’t you?’ said Harry.

Ant was saved from having to answer by a tug of the rope.

‘I’ve got her,’ shouted Bron. ‘I’m coming out.’

Josie was at the back of the line, not sure what was happening till she heard Ant yell, ‘He’s got her!’

Tatiana’s entourage burst into a round of spontaneous applause.

‘I was so worried,’ said M’stard, to no one in particular.

‘We’ve still got to get them out,’ Josie pointed out. ‘The boys need all the help they can get.’

Harry and Ant had the rope now and were straining to pull it backwards.

‘A bit of help here, please,’ shouted Ant, and everyone resumed their positions. But this time, even at the end of the line, Josie could feel how much harder it was; everyone was stumbling and slipping on the pebbles. There were two people to get out of that cave and the waves were getting higher and stronger.

‘Come on,’ roared Harry, ‘we can do this!’

Everyone pulled as hard as they could.

‘I feel like that nursery story about the old man and the turnip,’ muttered Josie, panting as she too felt the strain.

They tugged and pulled and the waves dragged the rope back and forth.

Then an excited, ‘I can see them!’ came from Harry, and they made one last pull, which caused them all to fall on top of each other higgledy-piggledy.

Harry was the first to stand up. He looked dazed, still holding onto one end of the rope. He pulled the other end, and it flew through the water into his hands.

‘So much for scouts’ knots,’ muttered Ant.

The rope had come undone – and there was no sign of Tatiana and Bron.

‘Someone do something!’ Harry heard Josie shout, and without thinking, he ripped off his shirt, kicked off his shoes and hurled himself into the water. It was freezing and the waves were crashing violently against the cave wall. But Harry was a strong swimmer and he confidently ploughed his way into the middle of the cave. Seconds later, he was aware that Ant was beside him.

‘Can you see them?’ shouted Ant above the waves.

He was going to reply in the negative, but then he caught sight of Bron, frantically bobbing about, trying to keep Tatiana’s head out of the water.

‘There!’ he said, and swam towards them. It was confusing and dark in the cave and waves were coming in from the other side, which was making him disorientated. For every stroke forward, it felt as if he was being pushed two strokes back. But the adrenaline was pumping and kept him going.

Eventually he reached Bron and shouted, ‘Here, let me help. I’ll take Tatiana, and Ant will help you,’ before realising that they were both stuck on a ridge, clinging to it for dear life.

‘Tati’s frightened,’ said Bron, who looked worn out. ‘I can’t persuade her to come.’

‘I can’t swim,’ wailed Tatiana.

‘It’s okay,’ said Harry, ‘I’m a trained lifeguard. Come, on I can help. We don’t have much time.’

The waves were buffeting the rocks faster than ever, and water was pouring in from the other end of the cave at an alarming rate, making a broiling mass of wave, rock and seaweed.

‘I can’t!’ screamed Tatiana.

‘You can, or we’re all going to bloody well drown,’ said Harry with a decisiveness which took him by surprise. Taking her gently from Bron, and unpicking her fingers from where they were pinned against his shoulders, Harry got hold of her head, and began the slow swim on his back towards the mouth of the cave. It was hard going. The waves slapped in his face, and he was very aware of the ever-present threat of the rocks. But the first gleams of the sunrise were beginning to peek their way through and the cave entrance gradually grew nearer. Behind him, he could hear Ant muttering words of encouragement to Bron. They could and would do this, and Josie would be so proud.

‘Oh my God, what has he done?’ Josie pushed her way through the shocked throng, as she saw Harry dive into the thrashing water. It was bad enough Bron going in, but now Harry – and Ant, who followed in rapid succession. It was so stupid. They were all risking their lives. They were going to drown, and it was her fault. At this rate, by the time the coastguard arrived they’d be pulling four bodies out of the cave.

‘They’ll be okay,’ said Diana, coming up to her and clutching her arm, ‘they have to be.’

‘I don’t even know how well Harry can swim,’ said Josie helplessly, ‘he never shows much interest in the sea when we come down here.’

The sun was beginning to rise in earnest now, pink fingers spreading across the sky, making the sea appear both benign and friendly, and not the watery grave it threatened to be.

‘The sea here can be so treacherous,’ said Josie. ‘Oh, why did I suggest Tatiana hide in the cave? I could kick myself.’

‘Look, help’s at hand.’ Diana pointed as a boat rounded the cove and came speeding in their direction.

Thank God. Josie peered into the gloomy darkness of the cave; it was hard to see, but she thought she could make out figures battling their way through the water.

‘Here! Over here!’ She jumped up and down, waving to the coastguard. The boat was just puttering up to the cave entrance when Harry ploughed backwards through it, holding Tatiana. He looked magnificent, strong and brave, and Josie’s heart leapt. He was okay. He was okay.

The men in the boat threw him a line, and picked Tatiana out of the water while Harry swam to shore. He was shivering, and Gypsy, who turned out to be surprisingly efficient, immediately threw the towels and blankets she’d brought back from the yurt over him. ‘Here, darling, you need to get as warm as possible,’ she said.

‘Have this,’ said Freddie, giving him a nip of brandy. ‘I brought it with me tonight to keep me going, didn’t realise it was going to come in so handy.’

Tatiana was being given the once over by the men on the boat, who had wrapped her up in blankets, and seemed to be checking for hypothermia. By the sound of her loud complaining, she was recovering well, but there was still no sign of Ant or Bron.

‘There!’ Josie suddenly spotted them at the entrance of the cave. But then a wave went over their heads and they were lost from view.

‘This was a bloody stupid idea,’ had been Ant’s first thought as he followed Harry into the water, but then there was no time for thought as he battled with spray, wind, waves and the cold. Time and time again the current dragged him towards the side of the cave, and he forced himself back on track. By the time he reached Bron, Harry was halfway back with Tatiana.

‘Fancy a lift?’ Ant said. ‘Only you look a bit knackered.’

Bron was looking very cold, shivering violently.

‘Come on, let’s get you out of here,’ said Ant.

Ant was strong, but he wasn’t the greatest of swimmers. It took all his brute strength to get to the middle of the cave. The dark and the pounding of the waves disorientated him, and he had several panicky moments when he thought they might not make it. Then he became dimly aware that the entrance of the cave might not be too far away, and forced himself to power on. Bron seemed too worn out now to help, barely even kicking. It was like having a lead weight in his arms, and Ant was struggling to get him to the entrance, which was tantalisingly close. He tried not to think about the effect that age, and the water, would be having on Auberon’s body. If he was finding it tough, Bron must be really struggling. Don’t think about that, Ant admonished himself, otherwise we’re both lost. One stroke at a time, he told himself, one stroke at a time. Then just as he was nearly there, a huge wave smashed over his head, and Bron moved suddenly out of his grasp. And then Bron was gone, and Ant was alone with the waves and the wind, in the darkness.

Seeing that Josie was still perched anxiously at the side of the cave, Diana went up to Harry.

‘You okay?’ she said.

‘Fine,’ said Harry. ‘Bit chilly.’

‘Have another blanket then,’ she said. ‘You need to keep huddled up, to avoid hypothermia.’

‘She’s right,’ said M’stard, throwing another blanket over him. ‘And here, have another nip of whisky.’

‘I’m going to be paralytic if you’re not careful,’ said Harry. He stared nervously at the cave. ‘Has anyone seen Ant yet? He’s taking a long time.’

‘Too long,’ said Diana. She looked really worried. She followed Josie to the edge of the cave, where they both watched in silent horror as the coastguard’s boat shone torches in the water, to see if they could spot anyone.

Diana felt a chill go down her spine. Ant. Not Ant. Whether he wanted her or not, now she’d met up with him again, she couldn’t imagine a world without his big brash presence in it. Didn’t want to.

She strained to see in the gloom of the cave. It was easy to detect movements that weren’t there, but …

‘Jose – can you see?’ She clutched at Josie’s arm as she saw a body moving in the water, no, two bodies, swimming side by side. The men in the boat saw them at the same time, and shouted rapid orders. Ropes flew into the water, and first Bron, and then Ant, were hauled to safety.

‘Thank God,’ said Josie, tears in her eyes, ‘I thought I’d lost him.’

‘Sorry?’ said Diana.

‘Ant,’ said Josie, her eyes shining. ‘I’ve been so blind. I’m in love with Ant.’

He’d felt he was going to be a hero, seeing Tati like that, frightened and trapped in the cave. But he’d messed up and managed to lose the rope. He’d needed rescuing himself, and then had to be ignominiously hauled into the boat. Not only that, he’d spent the coldest, wettest, most terrifying hour of his life, only to end up looking like a prize idiot. Tati would laugh at him more than ever.

She was sitting, hair bedraggled, wrapped in blankets, holding court with the coastguards, most of whom appeared to be completely under her spell. Even soaking wet and blue with cold, she was beautiful to him. Not just beautiful, Tati looked magnificent, like a mermaid straight from the ocean. Whereas he …

Bron allowed himself to be examined by the experts, who checked his vital signs and insisted on making him drink some weak hot tea. He’d rather have had whisky, but it did make him feel better rapidly. True he’d got quite cold in the water, but surrounded by blankets he’d warmed up quickly. But he must look a right state. Unlike Ant, who was a vision of glowing young manhood. Bron felt quite jealous of the admiring looks Tatiana was casting him. She was barely sending any looks in his direction. Bron sighed heavily. He’d wanted to prove something to Tati today, and had only succeeded in looking like a fool. A stupid romantic old fool.

‘You love Ant?’ her friend’s shock was palpable. ‘What about Harry? What about
me
?’

Oh God. In her moment of clarity, Josie had forgotten all about Diana’s declaration of love to Ant.

‘I’m sorry, Di,’ said Josie, ‘but it’s just the way I feel. I can’t help it.’

She walked away feeling she should care more, but somehow she didn’t. She’d spent the whole night in turmoil. But now the sun was rising, and a new day was dawning and everything had become crystal clear. Harry was her past. Ant was her future and she’d nearly lost him. The sight of Ant fearlessly ploughing through the water was one she wouldn’t forget in a while. Harry was heroic too, a little voice in her head said, but she ignored it. She was done with confusion and misery. Now she knew what she had to do.

‘Do you think they’re going to be all right?’ Josie said, anxiously scanning the boat where Ant and the others were being checked over. She felt so responsible for what had happened. She should have remembered the danger of getting cut off in the cave. It was something that had happened to her several times in her teenage years, but never so dramatically as this.