Five Go Mad in the Brecon Beacons

Chapter Ten: The Sea

Jack was the last to go to bed that Sunday night. He had lingered in the bath, going over and over what he had seen by the cellars; it didn't frighten him so much but he still couldn't explain it. In pyjamas and dressing gown, he turned out the lights in the sitting room – the outer door was bolted for the first time since they had arrived – and padded up the stairs. The bedroom was welcoming, a little messy on his side and where the diving equipment was piled in a corner, but it contained Ianto and that reassured Jack more than he would admit – to himself or anyone else. Slipping off his dressing gown, Jack climbed into the large, old-fashioned bed and lay on his back.

"Ready to go to sleep?" asked Ianto, putting down the paperback book he had been reading.

"Yeah." The lamp was extinguished and the room became very dark until their eyes adjusted to the moonlight that came through the thin curtains. After a few minutes, Jack said, "You don't believe me, do you?"

Ianto picked his words with care. "I think you saw something, but a minotaur? That's a bit far-fetched, Jack." The Welsh boy turned onto his side to look at Jack, just able to make out his troubled expression.

"Tosh saw it too."

"I know. But it was raining and not very light … It could have been a strange-shaped tree. Or a man with something over his head to keep off the rain."

"No, no it wasn't." Jack turned his head and met the other boy's gaze. "We know what we saw, Ianto. It was a monster."

Seeing how serious Jack was, and hearing the quiver in his voice, moved Ianto. Jack was the bravest boy he knew and if he was scared by what he saw – and he undoubtedly was – then who was he, Ianto, to deny it. Ianto reached across and took Jack in his arms, holding him tight.

On the floor above, Toshiko was having trouble sleeping too. She kept as still as she could until Gwen had dropped off, then sat up in bed – hers was under the window – and pulled back the curtain a little. She sat staring out at the moonlit night for a long time, watching the treetops sway in the wind that had chased away the rain. It could have been a pleasant view but Toshiko could only think of what was out there in the dark. Eventually, she became so tired she slept but she was awake again early the following morning with a slight headache.

Moving quietly, she put on her dressing gown and slippers and left the room, hesitating on the landing before going to the top of the tower. The door to Owen's room was open and she peered in. The curtains had not been drawn and one window was open letting in a cold stream of air. The single bed stuck out into the middle of the small room and on it sprawled Owen, lying face down, with the covers hanging onto the floor. Hesitating again, Toshiko looked round and spotted what she wanted: Owen's medical kit. Tiptoeing across to the chest of drawers, she had just reached it when Owen woke up.

"Huh? Who's that?" He was propped on one elbow blinking at her blearily.

"I'm sorry, Owen. It's only me."

"Tosh? What are you doing here?" He sat up, rubbing his nose.

She smiled at the sight of him, so tousled and rumpled. "I wanted an aspirin."

"Got a headache again?" he asked solicitously, swinging his legs down and getting out of bed. "Did you get any sleep?"

"Some. Took a while to drop off," she admitted as he opened the medical kit and took out the tablets. "It's only a bit of a headache, not much at all, but I'd rather get rid of it so I can join you all today."

"Here you are." Owen handed her two tablets.

"Thanks. Sorry I woke you up." She made to leave.

"That's okay. Might as well get up myself." He pulled on a sweater and stuffed his feet into slippers. "Looks like it'll be nice today." The sun was just beginning to send its rays into the room.

"Hope it is, don't want any more rain." They went down together.

The rest of the children were awake early too, drawn out of bed by the sunshine and the promise of a better day. Once dressed, they gathered in the sitting room, lounging around until it was time to go across to the farmhouse for breakfast.

"Any idea what we want to do today?" asked Ianto. He was at the table with the map spread out in front of him.

"How about Brecon?" suggested Owen, sitting in an easy chair with his legs hanging over the arm. "Somewhere with some life."

"I'd like to get away from here if we could," added Toshiko in a small voice. "I don't mind where."

Jack smiled at her encouragingly. "Brecon's a possibility. What's there, Owen? You and Gwen have been there already." He sat beside Ianto, peering at the map.

"There's the pictures," answered Gwen, remembering her visit with Rhys. "Swimming baths too, I think."

Unexpectedly, Ianto said, "What about going to the coast?"

"The seaside!" enthused Jack, beaming at him. "Where? Show me."

His enthusiasm was catching and they all pored over the map and realised that the sea was not so very far away. Both Ianto and Gwen had taken holidays at resorts along Cardigan Bay and they considered those which were within a reasonable distance. Gwen ran across to the farmhouse to borrow the bus timetable and they compared this with where they preferred to go and found they could get to New Quay in a couple of hours.

"Let's do it." cried Gwen. "It's going to be a lovely day, just right for the beach."

"Oh please," echoed Toshiko.

"That's decided," said Jack. "We're off to the sea! Go pack your swimming togs and stuff, we'll need to get away pretty smartish after breakfast. I expect Aunt Nerys will find us some towels."

"What about lunch?" asked Gwen, always practical. "Shall we treat ourselves to fish and chips?"

The others applauded this idea and scattered, leaving Ianto at the table carefully noting the bus times and the changes they would have to make in a notebook. Owen stopped at the bottom of the stairs then returned to sit opposite Ianto who glanced up.

"You okay? I'm sorry they decided on the sea. If you'd rather go to Brecon –"

"No, that's not it. I'd like to see the sea, don't get much chance normally. No, it's …" Owen bit his lip and mumbled, "I'm not sure I've got enough money, not if we're buying lunch. Mum didn't give me much."

"That's okay, I can give you some." Ianto smiled at his cousin, remembering things his parents had said about Owen's mother and how she was raising her son. It was hard to imagine she was Ianto's father's sister, they were so very different.

"Thanks, Ianto. You're a mate." Owen went off quickly, meeting Jack coming down the stairs.

"Hurry up, slowcoach!" called the American as they passed one another. "And you," he said to Ianto, dumping a bundle of stuff on the table.

"Just a minute." Ianto finished making his notes. "By the way, I need to borrow some money."

"Why?" Jack looked at him quizzically, knowing his friend had brought ten pounds with him which he had hardly touched.

"Owen's broke. Don't say anything to him," Ianto went on quickly, "but if I give him some I'll be a bit short myself."

"You're a good bloke, Ianto Jones. Sure, my lips are sealed." He paused, smiling at his friend. "And thanks for not suggesting I drive. It's a long way."

Standing up, face impassive except for a twinkle in his eye, Ianto said, "I was thinking more of our safety."

"You rotter!"

-ooOoo-

Travelling through the Welsh countryside by bus was great fun.

The journey involved two changes, one at Lampeter and the other at Aberaeron, both of which were made easily and with only a short wait. Most of the way, they had been able to travel sitting close together, though when they left Lampeter the bus was full and Jack and Ianto stood so that two young mothers with babies could sit. They were on the final leg now, travelling parallel to the sea and the bus was only half-full. Jack and Owen were trying very hard to pronounce the names of the villages they passed through – Llaingarreglwyd was the latest - to the vast amusement of their friends and fellow passengers.

"I'll never get it right," said Jack mournfully. He was in a seat on his own, sitting sideways so he could see the others who occupied the seat behind him and one across the aisle. Beside him on the seat were two haversacks and Uncle Bryn's military greatcoat; Jack had decided the latter made him look dashing.

"If you listened you would," said Ianto calmly. "Oh, thanks, Gwen." He accepted an aniseed ball from the bag she held out. "This is the alphabet." Ianto went through it, slowly, before putting the sweet in his mouth.

"Welsh is the most complicated language I've ever come across. Give me Latin and Greek any day!"

"Is that what you do?" asked Owen, sucking on a sweet. "Only the brain boxes do Latin in my school. I'm lumbered with French."

"Sounds like our school," replied Toshiko. She was sitting beside Owen, next to the window. "Though we can do German or Spanish too."

They continued to discuss their schools and the differences between them, their favourite subjects and the teachers. The time flew by and they were soon in New Quay, a small fishing village popular with holidaymakers, set on the side of hills edging Cardigan Bay. The bus dropped them in the main square and they automatically wandered over to the pier, a short stubby projection of local stone, to get their bearings.

"This is lovely," said Toshiko, leaning against the railing and looking out over the blue sea. The beach was lower down, on the right, where a good number of families were sitting in the sunshine. It was not as hot as on previous days with a strong breeze coming in from the sea and most were wearing sweaters when not actually in the water.

"Smells good," agreed Owen, joining her. "Lots of sea air is good for you."

Behind them, Jack was surveying the houses, built up the hills in tiers. "Must have been difficult to build up there," he observed.

"What shall we do first?" asked Gwen. "Fancy a dip?"

Ianto checked his watch. "It's just gone eleven so it's too early for lunch," he said. "We can either swim or explore the town."

"Swim," said Jack and Gwen together, laughing. "Got to build up an appetite," she went on. Turning to Toshiko and Owen, she asked, "What about you two?"

"I'd like to swim," said Toshiko.

"Swimming it is!" cried Jack. "To the beach!" He led the way with Gwen, his long coat flapping round his ankles.

They claimed a spot about halfway up the beach and Jack hired a couple of deck chairs. The girls went to the changing rooms to put on their swimming costumes but the boys managed under cover of the large towels Aunt Nerys had provided. Leaving their belongings on the deck chairs under the friendly eye of an elderly couple nearby, they ran down to the sea. Gwen and Jack plunged straight in but the others hung back, testing the water first, until the jeers from Jack shamed them. Once in, the water lost its coldness and they swam around, ducked one another and played about for more than an hour, joining in a game of ball with some other young people at one point. Owen was the first to return to their spot, wrapping himself in a towel and sweater and sitting in a deck chair to watch the others. Not long afterwards Ianto joined him and they chatted quietly as the others cavorted about noisily. Finally even these hardy souls had had enough, and they traipsed up the beach. Toshiko made them all sit together and took some snaps before they flopped down on towels on the sand.

"This is the life," said Jack, lying back with his hands behind his head. He knew he was getting admiring glances from the young women around him and he revelled in it.

Gwen, lying on her front and making patterns in the sand with her fingers, said, "I'm hungry. Is it time for lunch?"

"You're always hungry," commented Owen.

"Am not!"

"She does a lot of exercise, so it doesn't count," put in Toshiko, the peacemaker. "Anyway, I wouldn't mind something soon."

"There's a fish and chip shop off the square," said Ianto who had deliberately made a note of it when they passed it earlier. "They'll be serving now."

"That would be wonderful," agreed Jack. "But let's eat them here, from the newspaper. They taste so much better than off a plate."

"I'm not sure Aunt Nerys would approve."

"She's not here, Ianto."

After an internal tussle with his conscience, Ianto agreed and pulled on trousers, shirt, sweater and shoes while the others decided what they wanted and got out their money. At the last minute, Jack decided it would be too much for Ianto to carry alone and got up to accompany him. Unlike Ianto, however, he just put on the greatcoat which covered him up completely and shoes. While they were away, Gwen went back into the sea for a short swim leaving Toshiko and Owen to watch.

"Enjoying it?" asked Toshiko, sitting in the deck chair next to him.

"Today? Yeah, it's nice here. Unspoilt." His rare visits to the sea had all been to Southend and Clacton which had funfairs and penny arcades. "How's your headache?"

"Oh, that went ages ago, thanks." She sighed. "It's funny, isn't it? I've only known you, Jack and Ianto just over a week and yet I feel I know you better than friends I've had for much longer."

"Me too. Though Gwen can be a bit much sometimes, and Jack's bossy."

"They're okay. We can't all be alike."

"No, suppose not." He twisted round to face her. "I still don't actually know much about you, you know. I'd like to." He waited, hoping he hadn't spoilt the moment.

"I'll tell you, if you tell me," she laughed. They began to chat about their lives only stopping when Gwen and the other boys joined them.

"Here we are," said Jack, kicking off his shoes and passing his four parcels of food to Gwen so he could arrange his coat under him and sit down. "Those are the ones with salt and vinegar."

"This one's yours, Tosh," said Ianto handing over the one he carried. "No salt or vinegar. And we got a bottle of lemonade and one of orangeade to help them go down." He pressed these into the sand so they stood upright. "Glasses, Jack."

"In my coat pocket," he mumbled having already opened his parcel and stuffed some chips in his mouth.

Ianto tutted and got the plastic glasses from the pocket of the coat. He poured out drinks for them all and then started on his own meal. They were quiet as they ate, enjoying the tasty fish and chunky chips. Above them seagulls circled and swooped expectantly but nothing was left for them; the children ate the lot.

"Excellent," pronounced Jack, wiping his hands on a towel. "I feel like a new man."

"Why does everything taste better in the open-air?" mused Gwen, scrunching up the wrappings.

"Who knows? Fancy a swim?"

"You shouldn't," cautioned Ianto, "not so soon after eating."

"He's right," added Owen, finishing his last chip. "I wouldn't advise it."

"Oooh, listen to him! Doctor Harper has spoken!" teased Gwen, already on her feet and tearing off her sweater. "Race you!" she called to Jack as she ran off.

"Wait for me!" he yelled, throwing off his greatcoat and charging after her.

With a sigh Ianto reached over, picked up the coat and folded it tidily, brushing the sand off it. "They never listen."

"It's too cold for me," admitted Toshiko. The sun was only visible occasionally now, peeping out from behind scudding clouds in the strong breeze. "Think I'll go and get dressed."

She was returning when Jack and Gwen rejoined them. They too had had enough of the water and all the children decided to change back into their street clothes. Gwen went to the changing rooms and the boys performed contortions under towels as they changed. Toshiko made a strategic withdrawal at this point, taking the rubbish to a large bin near the pier. When they were all ready, they packed the haversacks and returned the deck chairs on their way into the village.

The mass of narrow streets were fascinating, containing many small fishermen's cottages which were now mostly let as holiday homes. Interspersed with them were shops for tourists and they made a beeline for the rock emporium, taking a while to select their favourites. The boys made do with sticks of rock, half a dozen large ones in Jack's case, but Gwen also had a sugar dummy. Toshiko amazed them by not buying any, preferring a small box of fudge as a present for her brother. Next stop was for postcards which they wrote sitting on a patch of grass: Ianto sent one to his parents and sister; Toshiko to her brother; Gwen to her mother in hospital (she had got the address when they had spoken the night before); Owen to a school friend; and Jack to his little brother (he knew his parents would also read it). With stamps from the post office, they put them in the box and then looked round for what to do next.

As had become natural, they looked to Ianto to spell out the options. "There's two buses we could get. One in half an hour and another in an hour and a bit. But the later one would mean less delay when we change," he said, consulting his notebook. "So we have an hour to kill."

"Can we get up the cliffs?" asked Owen. "There was a sign back there to a cliff walk."

"Great!" beamed Jack who loved high places. "Lots of fresh air and exercise. Where do we go, Ianto?"

"Hang on, other people have to be considered," said his friend. "Gwen, Tosh?"

"Cliff sounds fine for me," said Gwen, sucking on the last of the aniseed balls she had bought at Lampeter bus station.

"And me," agreed Toshiko.

"So, Ianto," said Jack pointedly, arms crossed, "just you to decide."

The Welsh boy rolled his eyes and shook his head even as he smiled. "I'm in. And it's that way."

They were soon out of the village and climbing a steep path up above the beach. Owen led with Gwen close behind, scampering up quickly. Ianto was next, taking it a bit more carefully – the path was very close to the edge in places and the breeze was strong – with Jack and Toshiko in the rear. She stopped occasionally to take photographs of the view. At one such halt, she said, "Jack, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Yesterday … did we, did we really see what … Well, what I thought we saw?"

Jack did not reply immediately, looking out to sea while he thought about his answer. "Ianto's tried ever so hard to dissuade me."

"Gwen did the same to me."

"But …"

"Yes, that's what I think," she said, biting her lip. "No matter what they say, I still think it was a … minotaur. Or something very like it."

"Me too." It was a relief to admit it to one other.

"If it was, don't you think we should say something? To Uncle Bryn or that policeman?" They had been too shocked the day before and persuaded not to by their friends.

Jack shook his head. "No. If Ianto and Gwen don't believe us, no one else will."

"But it could be dangerous," she persisted.

"It didn't attack us," he pointed out.

"That's no proof it won't attack other people." She paused then went on, "I wondered if it had anything to do with the bones."

"I wondered that too. But I decided it couldn't." They had taken a few paces up the path but now stopped again as the conversation grew more serious, standing face to face. "Those bones were old."

"How long do minotaurs live?" she asked.

He smiled. "Good point. I don't know, but I don't remember seeing any teeth marks or anything."

"No, that's true."

"Hey, you two, got stuck?" called down Ianto from fifty yards above them.

"No," called back Jack with a wave, "admiring the view."

The interruption ended the conversation and they clambered up to join Ianto and then went a bit further to where Gwen and Owen were standing on a large flat stone, leaning forward with their arms stretched out as the wind held them in place. Jack jumped up to join them and soon his greatcoat was streaming out behind him. From a safer place, Toshiko took photographs of them. Beside her, Ianto watched the trio and for the first time considered Jack's coat dashing. The chilly wind soon sent them back down the path to the warmer confines of the narrow streets. They wandered slowly, making for the main square and the bus stop and were there when the bus drew up. They climbed aboard and took the long back seat where they could all sit together in one row.

The journey back to Trecastle was not as interesting as they were retracing their route and the sun was no longer shining on them. They felt like old hands when changing buses and found seats together on all three. Finally, at just gone 18.00, they alighted at the stop in Trecastle. The village was quiet: the shops shut, the pub not yet open and the people indoors. They walked slowly along the main road and up towards the lane that would take them back to the farm. The sky was full of grey clouds but it was too windy for rain.

"It's been a lovely day," said Gwen happily, her arm through Toshiko's as they led the way.

"I'll sleep well tonight," said Toshiko. "All that sea air has tired me out."

"Good. You were awake ever so early today. No more adventures, eh?"

"No, no more."

Gwen laughed suddenly. "What would Monica say if we told her you were seeing minotaurs!" She continued to giggle at the thought and didn't notice Toshiko's troubled expression.