Red Hawk Rising

Tony turned the car around at the bottom of the street and drove towards Lesbury to take the coast road north to Craster. Ten minutes later they pulled up outside a smokehouse and shop to buy the kippers. They waited in the car while Margaret went in and bought the kippers. Next they drove to the small harbour to buy the fresh crabs. Tony parked the car and they all got out. Alice marvelled at the small harbour with its sea walls to protect the fishing boats. How could such a small place be so famous for its kippers and crabs, she wondered. Crab pots were piled high on the sides of the harbour and men were busy preparing their boats for the night’s fishing. One of the cottages had a counter at the front door with crabs piled up for sale. The fisher-wife sat on an old wooden chair behind the counter, knitting while she waited for customers. She wore a grey woollen sweater and a black oilskin apron over her black skirt. Her sleeves were pushed up above the elbow. Margaret walked up to the counter and greeted her. Alice followed, really interested in this scene. Father and son Hill stayed at the harbour, studying the boats. The fisher-wife stood up and put her knitting aside. Margaret noticed the pattern of the knitting and commented on it, which pleased the woman and a conversation started while Margaret looked at the crabs. While the selection was going on, down at the harbour a voice called out, “Hallo-o-o, Mr Hill. Are you looking for some fish?” Tony turned in the direction of the voice and saw it was one of his clients. He waved back and the client waved for them to come down to the boat.

The two men needed no second bidding. “Hi, Dick. This is my son, Andy,” said Tony Hill as they got near the boat.

“Nice to meet yer, lad,” said Dick. Tony asked how the fishing had been lately. “Not bad. Not bad. Would be nice if ‘twer better,” replied Dick. Andy eyed off the boat, a typical old Northumbrian coble but well maintained. The design handled the rough weather of the North Sea very well.

The sound of a female voice floated down from the quayside, “I might have known!” It was Margaret Hill in teasing form.

Tony waved back and said, “We’d better go, Dick. Nice to see you again. The missus has done the shopping for seafood.” The men shook hands and Tony and Andy climbed back up to the quayside to join the women.

“There’s a cafe just up the road, Tony, we can get afternoon tea there.” They all walked up the street. To the north of Craster the remains of Dunstanboro’ Castle stood out against the skyline, originally built on a promontory atop the cliffs.

“It’s a nice walk along the cliffs to the castle,” Andy said to Alice. “Perhaps we could do it together one day.”

Alice squeezed his hand and said, “That would be nice.” They all entered the little cafe.

The rest of the day passed quietly. Andy opted to stay home that evening as it was his first day with his parents and that was the purpose of this weekend leave for him. Alice understood and was happy to learn more about Andy and his parents. She noticed real similarities between the Hills and her own family and this gave her a comfortable feeling. The four of them played cards in the dining room, mainly gin rummy, and then about 9.00 p.m. Tony and Margaret Hill excused themselves and said that they wanted an early night. It was their way of letting the young couple have time alone. After his parents had gone upstairs, Andy put a Frank Sinatra record on the radiogram in the sitting room, switched the table lamps on and the main light off. “What are you trying to do?” Alice asked Andy with a smile.

“I thought we could turn the rug back and have a slow waltz together. Would you care to dance?” he asked with a slight bow. Alice got up and helped Andy turn the rug back and came into his arms for a slow waltz to the crooner. She could feel his heart beating as he held her close. The light gave Alice’s auburn hair a tint that made her seen even more attractive to Andy and her perfume heightened his desire. His feelings were growing strong and then he remembered his promise to Alice’s father. The music ended and Andy suggested a walk in the garden. It was a clear moonlit night and he felt that the night air might cool his ardour down somewhat. Alice nodded and they went out by the French windows in the dining room. The moon was nearly full and its craters were clearly visible. The moonlight lit up the garden and house with an eerie glow. There was an arbour at the end of the long lawn and they went in and sat looking at the night sky. Alice cuddled into Andy and he put his arm around her. She let out a contented sigh. It was a beautiful evening. They sat there for a while listening to the night sounds. A jay called an alarm somewhere over in the trees beyond the garden and an owl glided past as it looked for prey. A slight breeze rustled the leaves in the trees. The evening grew cooler and they went back into the house. Alice turned to Andy to kiss her. She appreciated him not making a pass at her and guessed the real reason for going out into the garden. She shivered with pleasure at the thought that he wanted her but knew they must wait and see how their relationship developed. Andy kissed her gently and asked if she would mind if he headed up for bed. It was about 10.00 p.m. and he was suddenly feeling