The Dragon's Tail

The First Day

It was a cold morning on The Tail. A harsh wind was rolling in from the ocean. Rob had awoke at the crack of dawn, just as the sun's rays were shining across the hills. He'd cautiously taken the shutters down from his window, a little worried it might still be dark outside. To his relief it was light enough for him to see again. He went to his cases to decide what to wear. He chose a pair of baggy jeans and a t-shirt. It wasn't really his style but people had told him to dress down and be a bit more relaxed when he was here. After all, he was here to do just that, relax. He went downstairs and had a look to see what there was to eat. After some toast and jam he felt he ought to make the most of the day. He found the maps that the house's owner had mentioned and looked through them, wondering where might be a good place for a walk. Rob couldn't help but wonder why none of the maps suggested going on to The Dragon's Tail itself. He looked out of one of the windows that faced The Tail. The place seemed perfectly fine for walking on. The old track that had brought him here yesterday even continued down the tail. He decided maybe it would be best to avoid it for now. But he vowed to try and learn more about The Tail.

After he had found a route which he was happy with, Rob grabbed his waterproof and put on some walking boots which much better suited the unpleasant terrain than his other shoes. They were still sat by the door, caked in mud. He felt a little guilty as he looked at them. Rob knew he ought to clean them up but that could wait for a bit. He double checked he had the key to the house on him and that he'd remembered the map he chosen and then he set out.

Rob's first destination was a nearby village named Rhossili. After that he would head through a valley and then up on to the hill that stood opposite The Tail. He planned to walk along the hill and finally he would be at the base of The Tail, near his cottage again.

As Rob slowly made his way along the old path he'd been driven down yesterday, he breathed deeply, enjoying the fresh salty air coming from the sea. He looked down at the bay that was inclosed by The Tail. He noticed that it was very still. No waves seemed to be breaking on the small sandy beach. It was rather strange, not something he expected. But there was more. He stopped walking and listened. All he could hear was the gentle wind. It was certainly calming but also unnerving. He expected to hear something else. The waves crashing against the rocks below him. The cries of seabirds. Anything. Just not this near silence. Rob kept walking, trying to put the whole situation from his mind though he couldn't help feeling a little creeped out unnerved by it.

After a half hour walk down the old path Rob reached the village he'd been aiming for. It was a quaint little settlement. Its houses looked several centuries old and slightly too small for a modern person. And most of the locals seemed to match the houses, none looking below forty even. And only a few were below sixty. The centre of the village was a cobbled square with a small fountain in the middle. It seemed almost unreal to Rob that a place like this could exist. From the outside it felt like some sort of village that time forgot. None of the locals seemed too keen to say 'hello' or 'good morning' to Rob despite the fact he was doing so to them. He supposed they just weren't used to outsiders. Still, they could have been a little more polite, Rob thought indignantly.

In the square there was a small corner shop which Rob cautiously entered. Inside the shop was a weird mixture of both old and new. The floor was old stone as were the walls on which racks of chocolate bars and newspapers were leaning. In the corner there was a fridge humming away in which large bottles of full fat milk sat, slowly curdling. Boxes of cereal were stacked up next to it, making the perfect out of date combination. In the centre of the small room that made up the shop was a counter and till behind which an old lady was sat. She was leaned on one hand, her eyes nearly closed. Her face was wrinkled and short, it was rather reminiscent of a cat's. This was made more so by the purring noise she made as Rob entered.