The Secret Of Trefusis Cove

The three of them gazed at the metal box. What might it contain?

YOU mustn’t enter the building till the all-clear is given tomorrow,” a fireman said. “What are we going to do, Betty?” Val wailed. “Our clothes are there. And where do we sleep tonight?”

“The Crab and Mermaid do B and B,” the fireman said. “Good breakfast, too.”

“You’ll not stay at the pub,” Aircut said firmly. “There’s room at mine. Sally’s room has twin beds. You can bunk in there, Sally can have my room and I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“I’ve night clothes you can borrow,” Sally added.

“What if the cottage is badly damaged?” Val fretted. “We’ll have to get a message to Peter soon.”

“Don’t worry about Tangara.” Kit grinned. “That cottage was built by true Cornishmen. They’d have built it three times stronger than it needed to be. Everything will seem better in the daylight.”

“Thank you, Aircut,” Betty said. “It’s very kind of you to shelter us for the night.”

“I’ll phone Peter later,” Kit told them as they left.

At Aircut’s cottage they made up the twin beds and Sally lent them nighties. Aircut made hot chocolate with, Betty suspected, a dash of the cordial.

She didn’t mind. Sitting up in bed, she and Val sipped the hot drinks.

“I hope Aircut’s right about Tangara.” Betty put down her empty mug.

“I’m worried about Alex,” Val said. “I hope he’s OK.”

“Of course he is,” Betty replied, hoping that she was right. “He’s a tough Aussie – a few bruises won’t hurt.”

“He’s had a bad shock,” Val replied. “I’m so glad we

were all there to help him.”

“The shock for him will be to discover how many people were willing to care.”

Val settled down then opened her eyes sleepily. “I didn’t clean my teeth.” “Neither did I, but I don’t suppose they’ll drop out before morning.”

Betty felt pleasantly relaxed despite the turmoil of the evening, and fell asleep wondering if it was due to the cocoa or the cordial.

The men from the fire station were there when Betty and Val, with Aircut and Sally, went back to Tangara. Kit, having a spare key to the cottage, was talking to the inspector. He smiled at them. “There’s no great damage. Just a scar on the back wall where the pick-up landed. Inside is fine. This place was built of stone and meant to last more than a few generations.

“A bit of plaster has come off the wall in the kitchen above the worktop. That’s the only damage we can detect. You’ll be OK to go in whenever you like.”

When they went inside it was to find that quite a lot of plaster had come off the wall above the worktop. The dusty mess was all over the sink, cooker and tin bath.

“We must set to and clear this up,” Betty said.

“Not now, you won’t,” Aircut declared. “You’ll come back with us for a spot of lunch. I’ll check my moorings and then we’ll all set to and help.”

“I’ll phone Peter John again with the latest news. It will be nice to say that there’s no real harm done.” Kit hurried away.

“Can we phone the hospital to ask about Alex?” Val asked. “They probably kept him in overnight.”

“Has Val gone sweet on him?” Aircut whispered to Betty. “She seems more than a bit concerned.”

“Of course she isn’t. She’s just a bit worried, as am I.”

Aircut didn’t answer but called the hospital.

“He discharged himself last night and went home in a taxi. Said he had to look after his horse,” Aircut reported, putting down the phone. “So all’s well apart from the pick-up. That was an old rust bucket already, so it won’t be much loss.”

“He’s OK!” Val clasped her hands together. “Maybe we should call in.”

“He’s fine, Val. Remember he’s the man who is still capable of signing away a complete way of life for the people who rescued him.” Betty spoke firmly, praying her friend wouldn’t grow fond of him.

Sally came from the kitchen with sandwiches and a pot of tea.

“Tuck in. Then we’ll get stuck in to cleaning up the mess at Tangara.”

Despite their large breakfast, they did.

“I’ve a casserole I cooked yesterday,” Sally added. “We’ll take that with us for an evening meal.”

“There’s the rest of the pavlova, too,” Val recalled. “If the cream isn’t sour.”

“Pavlova, what’s that?” a curious Aircut asked.

Val described her evening at Land’s End with Alex.

“That man’s an enigma. He’s almost being nice!” Aircut marvelled.

“Maybe he is nice, deep down,” Val said.

“Remember his motives,” Betty warned. “He might go to any lengths to get us to influence Peter. We have to come up with an idea to stop him getting Tangara and pulling it down.”

“He almost got his wish last night!” Aircut laughed. “But I doubt he engineered it. He could’ve been killed.”

“Of course he didn’t plan it,” Val protested. “He swerved to miss the rabbit!”

Sally put a comforting hand on Val’s shoulder. “Something will turn up.” “I know Alex will come round,” Val insisted.

Betty noticed Sally exchange a glance with Aircut. She got the feeling the pair knew something of which she and Val were unaware.

“If we put all this plaster into the tin bath we can carry it outside and get rid of it,” Betty suggested.

“Shall we bury it?” “Good idea, Val.” Aircut took a broom from a cupboard in the kitchen and began to sweep.

“Horrendous mess this stuff makes once it’s disturbed.” He coughed.

They worked together with dustpans, brushes and mop until most of the plaster was cleaned up. The wall behind the worktop was in a sorry state. The large stones with which the cottage had been built showed through the existing plasterwork.

Betty sat down by the table. She took a duster from her pocket and cleared a layer of white dust from the shade of the oil lamp.

Sally, who had volunteered to clean the cooker, lit the gas and placed the casserole inside.

“Ahh.” Aircut licked his lips. “I could just do with a dollop of that.”

That made them all laugh and things didn’t seem so bad after all.

Dust was everywhere but they managed to make the place spick and span by the time their meal was ready.

Betty lit the old oil lamp and Aircut found wood and laid a fire in the little stove.

They sat around the table in the lamplight with bowls and spoons, finishing up Sally’s casserole with thick slices of crusty bread and butter. The pavlova had had to be abandoned due to dust and sour cream.

“My, that makes the world come right again.” Aircut rubbed his tummy.”

Betty filled the kettle and put it on the hob to heat up for the dishwashing Val and Sally insisted on doing.

Aircut and Betty kept the stove going. They talked about plasterers and decorators, of whom Aircut had a wide knowledge.

“Best to leave it rough as it was. But all the old plaster will have to come off to make way for the new.”

“All that mess again!” Betty sighed.

“There’s a big lump of loose plaster here, over the taps,” Val called. “It doesn’t

How could they be sure of Alexander Grey’s motives?

look as if it would take much to move it.”

There came a splash and a thump. Betty and Aircut ran into the kitchen where Val and Sally were gazing into the washing-up bowl at a big lump of plaster. There was a huge hole in the wall where it had come loose and landed amid the bubbles.

“It came off in my hand! I can’t see daylight through it, there’s just a big hole in the wall.”

“Can you put it back?” “No, it’s all soggy now,” Sally explained. “At least there’s no dust.”

“It would have had to come out anyway,” Aircut reasoned.

“What will Peter say?” “That him who caused the damage with the pick-up should pay the plasterer,” Aircut said. “Despite the fact it was an accident.”

“It’s a big hole.” Val gazed at the damage. “There seems to be a brick inside. Part of the construction, I suppose.”

She leaned over the sink, closer to the hole.

“Wouldn’t be bricks,” Aircut argued. “Solid stone, this place.”

“Well, what’s that?” Val pointed to the opening in the wall. “It’s the shape of a brick.”

“I’ve got my little torch in my pocket. Let’s put some light to it.” Aircut shone the small beam of light into the space. “It’s not a brick. It looks like a metal box.”

He reached inside and brought out the object.

“It’s one of those old metal cash boxes.” Aircut shook it a little. “There’s something inside.”

He made to open it. “Don’t,” Betty said. “It doesn’t belong to us, it’s Peter’s. He owns Tangara and everything in it.”

“But Betty, I can’t bear the suspense. It must have been walled up here for years and years!” Val wailed. “Please open it.”

“Betty’s got a point. It’s Peter’s by rights.”

Aircut put the box down on the worktop. “Let’s have a look at it where there’s more light,” Sally said.

They followed Aircut into the living-room where he put the box on the table next to the oil lamp. There was no writing on it.

“Let’s open the thing,” Val said. “We can still give it to Peter when we see him next. After all, he doesn’t know it exists, any more than we did.”

She took hold of it and tried to open the lid. “It’s stuck.” “Locked, more like.” Aircut spoke quietly.

“So there must be a key somewhere. Maybe it was in the hole with the box. I’ll have a rummage around and see if I can find it.”

“There may be spiders, Val,” Betty warned.

“OK, I won’t. After all, if someone felt it necessary to lock the box they’re hardly going to leave the key in easy reach.”

“True. But if it was hidden long ago I suppose the key would be lost by now.”

They gazed at the box as it lay on the little table.

“It rattled a bit when you shook it,” Val said.

“It’s not heavy, though,” Aircut replied.

Silence reigned, then they all jumped at the sound of a knock on the door.

“That’ll be Kit,” Aircut said. “Come to see how we’re getting on.”

Betty went to the door and opened it. A man’s silhouette was framed in the doorway against the twilight.

“I hope I’m not intruding,” a voice said. “I wanted to find one or all of you, to thank you for saving my life. If you guys hadn’t been there I’d have perished for sure.”

“Alexander Grey!” Betty opened the door wide. “Please, come inside, we’re glad to see you. Have you recovered?”

“A few cuts and bruises but I’ll survive.” He smiled. “It looks cosy in here.”

“Would you like some tea?” Val asked.

“Nice of you to offer but I’m off to the Crab and Mermaid to thank whoever else was at the scene of my misfortune. I can’t stay long, I’ve got Polly outside.”

He glanced across at the kitchen area and walked over to the damaged wall.

“That’s a mess, and no mistake. It’ll need some renovation. Leave that to me. I’ll see it gets done soon as poss. After all, it was my fault.

“Hey, there’s a great hole over the sink.”

“We found something in there.” Val took the metal cash box off the table and showed it to Alex.

“Anything inside?” He took the box from her.

“We haven’t been able to get it open,” Betty said. “There’s no key and it must have been there for ages.”

“These old cash boxes are not very complicated. I could open it with a hairpin.” He grinned “Anyone got a hairpin?”

All three shook their heads.

“Well, any old bit of thin wire should do.”

“I don’t think we should attempt to open it,” Betty said. “Tangara belongs to Peter so whatever we’ve found belongs to him. Tempting though it may be, I don’t think we should interfere with it.”

“Betty, can’t we just open it, have a look and then lock it up again? Peter wouldn’t mind,” Val pleaded.

“He wouldn’t know,” Alex pointed out.

“That would be a bit sly.” Aircut shook his head. “I agree with Betty, we should wait until Peter sees it.”

“I shall burst with curiosity!” Val exclaimed.

“No, you won’t.” Betty laughed. “We’ll put it up on a shelf and forget about it until Peter comes. I’m sure he will when he hears about the accident.”

“You’re right.” Alex grinned. “I’m just naturally nosy, just like Val.”

“Cheeky monkey!” Val said as they all laughed.

“I must go. I’ll be riding home slowly tonight – doctor’s orders.”

Outside, with a wave of his hand, he mounted the horse and rode away.

“He’s not so bad, is he?” Val said.

“That,” Aircut said, “depends on a lot of things.”

They were all weary and Betty and Val accepted another night at Aircut’s cottage. It was very welcome to have a proper shower and to settle down in their comfortable beds.

“Sally must be interested in photography.” Val pointed. “Look, there’s a camera on top of the chest of drawers. A nice one, too. It looks professional.”

“Don’t touch it, Val,” Betty warned.

“There’s a pack of photographs beside it,” Val observed.

“Don’t touch them, either.”

“Not even just the top one?” Val pleaded.

“No. Sally will show us if she wants to.”

“I wonder why we didn’t notice the camera last night. It must be Sally’s. Maybe she’s as interested in photography as I am.”

“We were dog-tired, I expect. I just wanted to sleep.”

“I’m bursting with curiosity!”

“You always are.” Betty laughed. “Let’s forget about everything except the shanty singing tomorrow.” Val sighed.

“With so much going on I don’t think I’ll remember the words.”

“You will. Wait and see.” It began to rain. Val looked out of the window.

“We won’t get much done at Tangara today, and there’s still that old bath full of wet plaster to get rid of.”

“Rain before seven, fair before eleven,” Betty pronounced.

“Old wives’ tale.”

But the adage turned out to be correct. By the time they’d had breakfast and helped with chores the sun was shining brightly.

“Rain freshens things up lovely,” Aircut said as they walked to Tangara.

Outside the cottage, as well as Betty’s little car there was a white van with a logo on the side.

PLUMBING, BUILDING AND DECORATING.

Parked behind it was a pick-up truck laden with timber, bags of plaster plus an assortment of bits and pieces. Polly was tethered to a mooring post and was happily chomping the grass.

“My word!” Sally cried. “Mr Grey has got started on the repairs already!”

“There, you see?” Val said. “Alex is honourable. He wants it all shipshape before Peter John arrives.” Betty sniffed.

“I suppose I ought to admire him for that.”

Alex appeared as they approached.

“I thought I’d start the ball rolling,” he said. “I met a couple of builders in the Crab and Mermaid last night. They worked on the restoration of my uncle’s old homestead.

“They were eager to take on this job, so after getting Mr John’s permission I gave them the OK. Not stepping on any toes, am I?”

“No, Alex, it’s very kind of you to take on the task so soon,” Val said. He smiled.

“No worries. The damage was my fault, despite it being an accident. I’ve just got to get back in there now to help the blokes chip off more of the loose bits.

“More mess, I’m afraid, but we’ll clean it all up. And these guys say they’ll do it up in the character of the old place.” He disappeared inside the cottage again.

“There,” Val said. “Why would he mend something he intends to pull down?”

“I have no idea, but I fear he’s up to something.”

“Betty, have a heart. He’s being good and kind.”

“Well,” Aircut said, “as we seem superfluous here I suggest you two pick up as much gear as you need and come back to my place. You can stay for a few days until all this is over.”

“That’s so kind.” Betty smiled. “But we don’t like to impose.”

“No trouble at all. Besides, I want you two singing clearly with no plaster dust in your tonsils. There’s method in my invitation!” He grinned.

Betty and Val went into Tangara and packed up everything they’d need for a few days. Alex

declared it a “beaut idea” as that would mean that he and the workmen wouldn’t be disturbed.

At the moment they were having a tea break outside on the grass, looking like a trio of white ghosts covered in plaster dust.

Back at Aircut’s cottage they put their suitcases in the little bedroom. Val opened hers and took out her camera.

Betty smiled.

“I didn’t imagine you’d be without that for long.”

“I also brought this.” Val put the old cash box on top of the chest of drawers. “Best keep it safe. One of the workmen might be tempted to open it. They’ve got tools for that sort of thing and they’re local enough to be interested.”

The Shanty Night at the Crab and Mermaid had become popular and the place was full to bursting, much to the delight of the landlord. Betty felt more confident as they made ready to perform.

She saw Polly was tethered comfortably in the lean-to beside the pub. Alex Grey was sitting at his usual table by the window, close to the temporary platform.

Aircut played a short tune on his concertina and the room was hushed.

“Shenandoah” was the first shanty and Val found she hadn’t forgotten the words, nor the delightful harmony that Aircut had composed. Rousing applause followed each song and everyone joined in with the “Drunken Sailor” at the conclusion.

“Sing ‘Wild Colonial Boy’!” someone shouted.

Others kept up a slow handclap until Alex rose to his feet. He had obviously gained popularity since the accident and the repairs on Tangara.

“I won’t sing this alone,” he announced. “There’s a lady here who knows the harmony as well as I do.”

He held out his hand to Val, who took it and stood beside him. Aircut played a short introduction and the pair began to sing.

Betty felt a shiver down her spine as she watched Val smiling up at Alex.

He put an arm around Val’s shoulder as they sang the last verse together and bowed to the tumultuous applause at the end.

Aircut was right – Val had gone sweet on Alex.

Betty foresaw trouble. This might only be a game to Alex, but Val was romantic and vulnerable.

She had no idea how to handle the situation without appearing an interfering busybody. They had been friends since schooldays. Betty wouldn’t stand in the way of her friend’s happiness unless she sensed a forthcoming disaster.

“Tell you what would round the evening off perfectly.” Betty heard Alex address Val. “How about I give you a ride back to Aircut’s cottage on old Polly?” He grinned.

“How will I get up on Polly’s back?”

“We’ll stand you on one of the empty barrels in the lean-to. You can mount up behind me from that. You’ll help, won’t you, Betty?”

Val looked eagerly at her friend and Betty felt she could only agree. She was not Val’s keeper but she glowered at Alex, who only grinned more.

She felt comforted by the thought that it was only a little way to the cottage. Surely nothing could go amiss in such a short time.

She would come along later in the car with Aircut when the car park had cleared of visitors and they could get out easily.

She was comforted by the thought that Sally would be there, as she had stayed back to do some work on a project for the firm she worked for.

The three went outside into the fresh night sea air and made their way to the lean-to where Polly was waiting.

She whinnied when she saw them. It was easy to roll one of the empty barrels alongside her and stand it on end.

Alex mounted easily and Betty helped Val up on to the barrel, amid laughter and encouragement from Alex. He leaned down and grasped Val’s arm, swinging her up behind him as if he’d been doing it for years.

“There, now. Comfy?” he said over his shoulder. “Put your arms around me, hold tight and we’ll be off.”

He urged Polly into a walk.

“See you later!” he called back to Betty.

“You won’t gallop, will you?” Val asked nervously, her cheek pressed close against Alex’s leather jacket.

“Of course not. It’s too nice a night to get home too quickly, don’t you think?”

The question didn’t require a reply so Val remained silent as they rode on through the dark.

They turned right off the main road and went along the path leading to Tangara, then another right turn to the rough road leading to Aircut’s cottage.

Tonight the moon presented a bright orange glow with dark clouds skimming across it, making patterns on the full tide like an artist’s brush strokes.

Alex pulled Polly to a halt and they sat in silence except for the mare’s breathing and occasional snort.

“How beautiful.” Val smiled.

“I never noticed before how lovely this place is; always in a hurry, me. No time to stop and stare.”

“What about Australia? Aren’t there beautiful places there?”

“No doubt, but not where I make a living, on the Gold Coast. It’s noisy, colourful and fun most of the time. Not like here. Here makes you stop and think, like in the outback.”

He sighed.

“If it wasn’t for you, Val, I’d have never noticed this at all.”

“According to your current plans all this won’t last much longer,” Val said quietly. “We were wondering why you’re doing all these renovations to Tangara if you mean to pull it down.”

“I don’t know, either. I suppose I felt guilty about scaring you two and making things uncomfortable. Anyway, a few dabs of new plaster can hardly make any difference. It’s no bother to my bank account.” He offered his arm.

“Do you want to get down now so we can walk Polly the rest of the way?”

Alex held out his arm and Val grasped it. He lowered her to the ground and she felt his strength as he did so.

He dismounted and stood beside her.

They looked out over the water of the cove.

“I always regarded all this as an enterprise,” Alex said, “but since I’ve known you, Val, I’ve looked at things with new eyes.”

“Has it changed your mind about your plans?”

“Afraid not,” he said quietly. “I can see this place will appeal to a lot of people: holidaymakers and such.

“There are a few more legalities to sort out, then things will begin to change. I just have to persuade Peter John to sell Tangara to me, then the deal will be done.”

He looked down at her. “Don’t let’s talk about my plans, Val. I have to tell you something right this minute, but you may have realised it already.”

Val looked up into his eyes, her heart beating hard.

“You must have guessed that I’m in love with you,” he whispered. “I never thought it could happen to me again, but it has.

“Ever since I nearly mowed you down on the top road behind Tangara, I haven’t been able to get your frightened little face out of my mind.”

“You can’t be!” she whispered back “We’ve known one another for such a little time.”

“How much time do you think it takes to feel this way? And I know you feel it, too.” He pulled her gently into his arms.

“Alex, maybe you just think you’re in love. This is such a romantic place and we’ve been thrown together by such strange circumstances. Maybe it’s not real . . .”

She was silenced by his lips pressing gently

against her own and she didn’t pull away.

In that moment she knew that it was what she wanted, too.

He released her after a time and held her close. She rested her cheek against his chest and could hear his heart beating fast, in rhythm with her own.

The only sound was the wash of the waves below on the little beach in front of Aircut’s cottage, and Polly munching the sparse bit of greenery at the edge of the lane.

A car came along the lane from the direction of the Crab and Mermaid. The headlights held them both in the glow.

It pulled up beside them and Alex released Val.

It was Betty and Aircut. “Hi, you two, you haven’t got very far since you left the Crab and Mermaid. Did Val fall off?”

Betty’s laugh was forced, as she’d witnessed the romantic tableau in the headlights.

She was angry Alex had seemed to take advantage of the situation.

Val was her friend and it pained Betty to think that she would be hurt. The situation was going from bad to worse, as far as she could see.

Aircut called out from the passenger window.

“We’ll take you the rest of the way, Val. No need to struggle up into the saddle again.”

Betty sensed that he had observed the scene, too. He got out of the passenger seat, leaving the door open for Val.

“Thank you for the ride.” Val held out her hand awkwardly to shake Alex’s hand.

He took it and held it. “It was my pleasure, Val.” Betty was near enough to hear his next words.

“I have to see you again – we have to talk.”

“Full tide tonight,” Aircut observed as he gazed out over the water.

Betty felt relieved that he’d lightened the situation. She looked at the waves washing into the beach in front of Aircut’s cottage.

“Look!” She pointed to the large rock surrounded by the tide.

“Is that the seal you saw the other night?”

“Oh, my goodness!” Val gasped. “It looks like the very same.”

The creature sat poised on the rock looking out over the water. It shone grey and silky, glistening in the moonlight.

Alex chuckled quietly. “It’s your mermaid again, Val,” he said. “Tell you what, I’ll give it a call that my old dad used to use on his sheep station.”

He raised his cupped hands to his mouth and let out a “Cooo-eee!”

It was so loud that the others put their hands over their ears and closed their eyes.

The creature turned its head to face the sound, then slipped quickly into the water and disappeared under the waves.

“That was unkind.” Betty frowned. “You frightened the poor thing nearly to death – us, too!”

“It did the trick, though, didn’t it?” Alex laughed. “I think it saw us.”

“I think you only startled the poor thing.” Aircut shook his head. “Seals are pretty adept at handling the unexpected. They can get out of trouble very quickly.”

“This particular seal especially.” Alex grinned. “I’m surprised that no-one saw what I saw.” “Why?”

“Because this seal had arms,” he replied, “and a great swishing tail. You must have seen it, too.” Val gasped.

“Arms? I didn’t see it because you made such a noise! I had my eyes closed and my ears covered.” Her eyes widened. “Then it must have been a real mermaid. Now we all know that they’re real ... and I didn’t have my camera!”

To be concluded.