Unforeseen Events II ~ Part V

Summer winds swirled up from Africa. Ethan laid on the bed gazing out his window at a moonless night. He was lost in the stars when came a knock at the door. The porch light lit up Sally’s face. 

“Hi,” she said.

“What time is it?”

“After midnight.”

“Can’t sleep?”

“I thought about going down to the beach and wondered if you’d like to join me?”

“How are you getting there?”

“I have Carmen’s Vespa.”

“The scooter?”

“It carries two people.”

“Let me get my shoes on.”

The two found a spot thirty feet from the surf at ‘smugglers cove’. They sat down on the white sand as a waxing moon rose over the Mediterranean. 

“When did you get back?” said Sally.

“Yesterday.”

“How was Morocco?”

“Hot.”

“‘How did you go?”

“Took the ferry from Algeciras to Tangier.”

“Why Morocco?”

“Carmen loaned me ‘The Sheltering Sky’. It mostly takes place there.” 

“Who’s the author?”

“Paul Bowles.”

“Don’t know him.”

“He’s quite a writer. When I finished the book I wanted to go and see the world he wrote about. Actually, Mr. Bowles lives in Tangier.”

“Did you meet him?”

“Thought about looking him up, but…”

“But what?”

“I didn’t know what I’d say to the guy. Y’know, ‘Hi I’m Ethan, I used to be a drummer and I read your book’. I mean, how lame is that?”

“How about, ‘Hi my name is Ethan. I read your book and I wanted to meet you’.”

“Yah, that might’ve worked. What about you?”

“Nothing new. The heat slows everything down. Carmen’s out of town for the week, so the studio’s dark.”

“How’s Pierre, is he in town?”

“He went with Carmen to Barcelona.”

“What’s in Barcelona?”

“They went to see the buildings of Antoni Gaudí.”

“I don’t know who that is.”

“Gaudí was a Spanish architect. His buildings are works of art. Unique, really. He integrated extensive ceramic work into his designs, and Carmen’s a big fan.”

“I suppose Pierre will bring back photos.”

“Of course.”

First Ethan, then Sally laid back on the sand. They remained quiet for awhile, gazing up at the stars. 

“Oh man, the ocean air,” he said.

“I think I’m falling asleep,” she said.

Ethan was shaken awake. In the moonlight he could see the outline of an officer of the Spanish Guardia Civil who was leaning over him. Wearing the signature three cornered hat, he had a Thompson submachine gun strapped over his shoulder.

“Que hace aqui?” the officer demanded.

“Oh,” said Ethan, half awake, “uh… sleeping. I mean… dormiendo.”

“Dormiendo?”

“Si Señor. Dormiendo.”

“No esta permitido. Donde Vives?”

“En Mijas,” said Sally, who had awakened.

“Bueno,” said the officer. “Ahora, ve a tu casa.”

“We’re being rousted,” Sally said to Ethan.

“Are we being arrested?” said Ethan.

“No. He told us to go home.”

“Then let’s go before he changes his mind.”

Another officer, also with a submachine gun, stood at a distance observing the encounter.

When they got to the motor scooter, Sally said, “Would you mind driving?”

“Sure,” said Ethan. “But why?”

“I’m a little shaken up. Those Guardia Civil guys can get rough. They’ve been known to shoot first.”

“At that beautiful beach?”

“They don’t call it ‘smugglers cove’ for nothing,” she said.

On the ride back to the village, Sally had her arms around Ethan’s waist. She held him in an ardent embrace, pressing her body into his. When they arrived at Ethan’s door, he invited her in for a cup of tea. Once inside, hardly aware they had disrobed, they fell onto the bed in a naked embrace.

In the morning when Ethan awoke, he saw that Sally was gone. He got up, dressed and walked down to the Plaza where he found her sitting on the church steps. He walked over and sat down beside her. Nothing was said. 

At length, Sally said, “We can’t do this again.”

“That bad?” said Ethan

“Oh no,” said Sally, “It was a wonderful night. Good God what a night.” 

Ethan chuckled. 

“This is funny?” said Sally.

“No,” said Ethan, “I’m laughing with delight.”

“If we get involved,” said Sally, “you’ll end up hating me.”

“How is that possible?”

 “You’ll hate me for derailing your adventure.”

“Oh. Well you could join me.”

“That would never work. I’m not like you, Ethan.”

“Meaning?”

“I’m not a wanderer, I’m a nester. If we travel together I’ll end up hating you.”

“Sally, I get this logically, but I don’t feel it in my bones.”

“Fools rush in,” she said.

“C’mon, have a heart.”

“There’s something else,” she said.

Ethan was silent.

“I’m involved with someone in Granada.”

“Y’know, I kinda figured,” he said. “I guess I don’t know who the guy is.”

“It’s not a guy,” she said.

“This just gets better.”

“Don’t be rude.”

“I don’t mean to be a rube, but what goes on with you?”

“I like men and I like women,” she said. “Rebecca and I have a very dear relationship.”

“I don’t think I want to know this,” he said.

“Probably for the best,” she said.

Ethan stood up, visibly upset. Sally gave him a curious look.

“I better go before I say something stupid.”

With that Ethan walked off. Sally watched him go, slightly shaking her head.

Three days later, Ethan encountered Carmen and Pierre at the Plaza.

“You’re back,” said Ethan.

“Got back yesterday,” said Carmen.

“How have you been mon ami,” said Pierre.

“Good enough, I s’pose.”

“What’s going on with you and Sally?” said Carmen.

“What do you mean?”

“I saw her last night and when I asked about you she said, ‘I wouldn’t know’.”

“I don’t know Carmen, did she say anything else?”

“No and I didn’t want to pry. But it’s obvious that there’s trouble in paradise. What happened with you two?”

“Let’s just say we had a misunderstanding. And I don’t want to talk about it either.”

“I would ask you to patch it up.”

“How? And why?”

“This village is too small for people to be feuding. Don’t let this get to the point where one of you has to leave town.”

“What do you suggest?”

“First of all, you have to get over yourself.”

Ethan was stunned by this suggestion. The concept had never occurred to him. ‘Get over myself?’ he thought. ‘What does that even mean?’ He looked back at Carmen and Pierre with a blank expression.

“How old are you now?” said Carmen.

“Twenty-one. Wait, is that right? Yah, twenty-one.”

“The night of the firing in April, that teacher you mentioned, the one who spoke of the revelatory nature of traveling. Do you think this might be what he was talking about?”

“Wow. You know Carmen, right now I think I’m out of my depth.”

“Would you care to have a meal with us?” said Pierre.

“No thanks Pierre. Right now I gotta take a walk. I need to get some perspective.”

“Sounds like a good idea my friend,” said Carmen.

He made his way down to ‘smugglers cove’. It was deserted except for an older man who was surf fishing. With a weeks growth of beard, the old guy wore threadbare clothes and a shabby straw hat. Needing to talk to somebody, anybody, Ethan walked up to the fisherman and said, “Hola señor, do you speak English?”

“Of course I do,” said the old man. He had fierce eyes and a British accent.

to be continued…