Lotus Blood

Lotus Blood Part 5

Chapter Three

I collapsed on the sand, facing the hotel. The Bodhi tree glared back, malevolent and no doubt full of spirits. Lines of dark shadows drifted along the beach, turning the sand and puddles a muddy grey.

Then everything was going in slow motion, all the people on the beach a long way away, all the noise muffled. A single high note on Mum's piano cut through the air. One sharp note, then another, somebody was hitting the keys hard.

"Mum?" That didn't sound like her.

Bob stood stiff legged, head and tail up, staring out to sea. He growled and bared his teeth towards the nearest squid boat, the hair on his back sticking straight up.

"Bob, Bobberty, it's ok."

I snapped my fingers at him. He turned to me, his eyes wide, panting then put his head back and howled. I've heard dogs howl a few times, but this was high and horrible. The skin on the back of my neck twitched and my chest did that tight thing again.

Junior stared at Bob. "What's up with Bob the Dog?"

"Something's spooked him."

"Thais believe dogs howl when they see a ghost," said Junior. "Don't they, Ploy?"

But she was pointing up the beach at a pack of dogs. They huddled together, staring out towards where the sea should have been.

"What is it, Ploy?" Junior asked.

"I don't know."

In perfect unison, all the dogs stuck their noses up to the sky, howled once then broke away and ran flat out into the hotel and away from the beach. Bob stood next to me, his hackles raised.

"Good boy!" I patted his head.

"Maybe they saw one of the ghosts, Ploy," said Junior.

The cloud shifted, the sun beat down again and the beach sparkled. The drying sand was covered in shells; blues and whites, heart shaped ridges and long spirals.

Mum will love these. A peace offering.

I scooped a handful, letting the sand trickle though my fingers. A flash of red glinted in the rock pool and I squelched over to take a look. The pool was slimy, but there was no seaweed. I put my hand out towards the red and white ridged clam shell and the clear water started vibrating, ripples bouncing on the surface.

What the hell is going on this morning?

"Junior, look!"

But he was stood head down at another pool.

"Just another earthquake, sis."

The palm trees started thrashing around and that same sick feeling moved up through my legs.

"Well I want it to stop. I feel funny," I said.

"You are funny," replied Junior, but he was distracted, uncertain.

The blue shirts out by the furthest squid boats shouted, pointing at the stranded speedboat. I squelched over to Junior, still clutching my shells.

"What's going on?"

He shaded his eyes.

"Dunno, sis. Wait there ... and there."

Way out on the horizon, the sky and sea blurred together in a haze of white and the blur was moving. Bubbling, white flecks appeared, disappeared, wavered, then flowed and settled into a line. The ripples in the rock pools were now lines and ridges marching towards the palm trees.