Chapters (50)
Nefyn then watched as Efa tidied Emrys’s collar. She handed him his bag. He kissed her as he had done a thousand times before when he went to sea, but this time, Efa’s hands were shaking. Emrys nodded to Joseph, who walked him into the sea, out to the boat, helped him in. The water noisy in its agitation. Joseph watched as he found his feet on board, his eyes already looking for things to do, instinct taking over. Joseph waded back towards them. He nodded at Hamza.
Nefyn looked up at him, and smiled softly. She walked with him into the water, until it was up to her shoulders, and she watched as he pulled himself into the boat. He knelt back down, leant over the side to kiss her. Then, he slipped the chain and compass over his head and slid it on to her neck. He kissed her face, her closed eyes. The tears on her cheeks.
‘Trust,’ she said.
Hamza nodded silently, his voice choked.
‘Nothing is impossible,’ he whispered, holding her face.
Emrys had started the engine, the swell beginning to rock the boat. They pressed their foreheads together once more, held hands, until the force of the water parted them. Nefyn stood there as the boat pulled away, Emrys sailing and Hamza looking backwards. Just then, she felt an arm around her. It was Joseph, pulling her towards him. Looking outwards. On the shore behind them was Efa, her shoulders high, pale-faced in the dawn light.
Joseph knew what he had to do. They had talked about it, over and over. They would wait, wait until Emrys and Hamza had gained a head start before Joseph would take the borrowed boat and sail right into The Range. This should draw enough attention to warrant them coming to investigate, giving the others a chance to clear The Range on the path unseen.
Joseph and Nefyn waded back to shore, listening as the sound of the boat’s engine was swallowed up by the expanse of the sea. The other boat was moored near by. Joseph looked at his watch. He would give them forty minutes, and then he would have to move.
On the boat, Emrys worked silently. He knew the points of the bay, looked back in reference at the coast. The sea was quiet, still.
‘Emrys? Please, give me some work.’ Emrys nodded. Hamza got up, knowing that what they were doing was ridiculous. The meeting of two vessels in alignment on the vast water, and now that he looked out he could see its expanse. It opened up as they sailed on, the sound of the waves settling around them in the open ocean. They were part of it now. Its fabric. At its mercy and humour. They sailed on, on the invisible path that Joseph had given them, bound for the endless sea.