Thirteen Days By Sunset Beach by Ramsey Campbell Read Free Book Online Page B

answer."
    "Then I hope you didn't. Good boy." Less enthusiastically his mother said "I hope you weren't thinking of that silly story of your uncle."
    "I didn't make it up, Nat."
    "I don't care who did. We don't want that kind of thing keeping anyone awake."
    "I went back to sleep," William said. "It didn't even really wake me up. It was too soggy."
    "Well, that's the first time I've ever heard about a soggy knock," Sandra said. "Are we all finishing our breakfasts? We don't want to miss the pickup."
    ***
    As everybody crossed the courtyard a coach slowed to a halt beyond the arch, and a chubby young man with a shock of unmistakably bleached hair pranced down the steps. His badge named him Jamie, and his gestures were graceful enough for a dancer. "Good morning, all you lively people," he cried, waving extravagantly as well.
    William giggled before Natalie could hush him. Ray helped Sandra up the steps and kissed her hand. They and their party were the first passengers on the coach. "You have the front seat, William," Sandra said.
    "Just you thank grandma," Natalie said as he made to do so. They took the seat while Julian sat opposite, and she murmured "Don't be rude again, William."
    "I said thank you."
    "You know perfectly well what your mother means," Julian said, and Ray wondered if he was annoyed because Jonquil hadn't sat with him. "We don't laugh at anyone. We've told you, other people make different choices about the kind of life they live."
    Though he wasn't looking at Jamie the guide said "That's if you think everybody has a choice."
    "I do, yes. Otherwise we'd have no morals."
    "Some of the folk here might give you an argument."
    "We're aware the economy has problems. That doesn't mean they can't choose how to solve them."
    "They have," Jamie said, picking up a clipboard to plant crosses next to names. "Elysian Apartments next, Alexandras."
    The bus was speeding along the deserted dusty road to Sunset Beach when Pris said "What's with the musical chairs, you two?"
    Ray glanced back to see Tim and Jonquil moving to his side of the aisle. Although like their grandmother they were wearing hats and sunglasses, Tim said "Too sunny over there."
    "You aren't still determined not to get a tan," Doug protested.
    "That's how some people like to look these days," Natalie said. "Remember when we used to fight over who had the best one?"
    "I'm glad you've calmed down, then," Julian said. "All the same, it's a pity to spend money on the sun if it won't be put to use."
    The road through Sunset Beach looked as dead as all the signs. The electric jester was arrested with one bent leg in the air, while the neon cat would be poised all day at the start of a leap. A few of the locals were cleaning or tidying bars and tavernas at a sleepy pace that struck Ray as typically Greek. The coach halted in front of an apartment complex, outside which a young couple sat in the shade of a trellis so laden with vines that the tendrils appeared not just to be growing on the grey wood but feeding on it. "Good morning, lively folk," Jamie cried, and they blinked at him.
    Two of the accommodations where the coach stopped didn't yield up any customers. "You'd wonder why anyone would bother booking," Sandra commented, "If they aren't going to put in an appearance."
    "They should have got someone to give them a knock," Doug said.
    "Do you have to keep talking about that?" Jonquil complained.
    "No need for impoliteness," Julian said, "even if you're trying to protect William."
    "Can't I do anything right?"
    "A great many things," Sandra told her. "And we like how you look after your brother. Our two did for each other."
    Ray wondered if she meant they'd stopped, because he didn't think they entirely had. As Jamie returned to the coach by himself again Pris said "Why would anyone come all this way to your island and then miss a day like today?"
    "Something brings them," Jamie said. "They keep coming back."
    Once the coach left Sunset Beach behind, the hills