Chapter 6

The skies were clear while the sun cast a late afternoon heat on the pale beach of Saldanha. The ocean had a deep blue colour. A cool sea breeze swept over the land cooling it off from the earlier hot rays. Emily and her two brothers approached an unusual pair of rocks sticking out of the ocean. There were no people on the beach. They left a long trail of deep footprints in the sand.

'Aren't there supposed to be people on the beach?' Andrew asked. 'I mean, it is the holiday season and all.'

'You're right, it is quite strange,' Patrick said.

'Why is it so red over there?' Emily asked pointing towards what seemed to be an industrial plant in the distance.

'That red dust is coming from the iron ore inside the port. Saldanha is full of that stuff apparently,' Patrick said.

Patrick looked to his left. A few houses stood on the edge of the beach sloping upwards. Walls and fences surrounded some of them. Only a handful were average double-story houses. He expected more expensive-looking houses, especially with such an awesome view. Behind him, the rest of Saldanha's houses were scattered on a hill. To his right, the ocean was spitting out red vain-like seaweed releasing an awful smell. Deeper into the ocean, he could see the port of Saldanha with a long stretched-out terminal cast on solid concrete. He thought it would probably withstand a tsunami. Hugh ships with cranes stood alongside the quayside of the terminal.

'The deepest natural port in the Southern Hemisphere,' Patrick said when he noticed his sister intrigued by the dark blue ocean.

'Really? How do you know that?' Emily asked.

'Internet. Read it up on the way here,' Patrick said pointing to the phone in his pocket.

'Interesting,' Andrew said looking at the restless ocean surface.

'Check this out Em,' Patrick said walking towards the small rolling waves. 'Come look at this.' He picked up a small flat rock and threw it towards the water. It bounced three times before it got swallowed by the ocean.

'Is that the best you can do,' Andrew said searching for the perfect rock. 'Let me show you how it's done.' He aimed at the water waiting for the perfect moment before he launched. The rock went straight underneath the water with a heavy splash. 'Ah come on.'

'What was that?' Emily laughed. 'Even I can do better than that miserable attempt.'

Patrick roared from laughter holding onto his stomach. 'Yeah, anyone can do better than that.'

'My timing was a little off,' Andrew defended. 'Here comes a record.' He searched for the best rock and sent it flying over the water. The rock bounced several times before it disappeared into the water. 'What did I tell you, hey? I stopped counting at four.'

'That was great' Patrick said nodding.

More rocks bounced off the water as the three competed with one another, unaware they were being watched from a distance. In the shadows beneath the shades of the trees, a figure clutched a walking stick with his left hand. His middle finger had a beast-like silver skull. His fingers were long and boney ending with thick brown nails extending over the tips of his fingers. He wore a brown robe hiding the rest of his tall body. He seemed to struggle with some lung condition as he made a hissing sound when breathing. He lifted his head to smell the breeze pushing in from the ocean picking up the children's scent. A few dreadlocks fell from underneath his hoodie. His eyes changed colour from yellow to dark brown.