A Raucous Time

  Chapter Thirty

   

  Crombie found a decent enough field for them to set down. If he noticed the absence of engine noise, he didn’t comment. They were trudging now up a steep hill. The town of Tintagel perched to their right and even higher along the cliff tops. This area didn’t seem badly affected by the freakish weather. Still streams of water rushed along the sides of the road to swirl around overflowing drains. Rhyllann was transfixed by Tintagel Castle, unable to take his eyes from it. It loomed to their right, erupting from the granite cliffs built from slabs of grey stone. Like the monolith Taffy’s Folly, it seemed part of the natural landscape. Crombie pushed Rhyllann towards a stile.

  ‘This way – a footpath over the fields.’ It was all right for him. He had wellies. Still Rhyllann’s feet couldn’t get any wetter, or colder. He squelch forward trying to find the firmest ground as they crossed the field diagonally, surprised Crombie hadn’t insisted on heading for the local police station first. The air tasted salty now and smelled of fresh seaweed. The soaring cliffs descended to scrub land as they headed left, with the castle and town to their right. A few brave souls hiked along the coastal path. Even further to their left Rhyllann spotted a sandy beach snuggled into a cove. He imagined Crombie and wife sunbathing, their girls giggling round their deckchairs. His mind shied away from the image of Crombie in swimming trunks. A thought struck him.

  ‘What did Wren mean? When he asked if you knew who built Tintagel Castle?’

  Crombie thought for a moment then said. ‘You saw it. It’s supposed to be the birthplace of King Arthur. Only it’s thirteenth century.’ He paused, trawling his memory. ‘The Earl of Cornwall built it. Henry the Third’s brother.’ After a further pause he added. ‘Guess that would make him a nephew of your Princess.'

   

  They trudged on in silence, Crombie busy with his own thoughts, Rhyllann’s wandering off in all directions. Now Crombie tugged at him.

  ‘There.’ He said pointing. What Rhyllann had taken for a huddle of bungalows was apparently the ruined monastery. According to Crombie, there had never been mention of a convent. The rain began again.

  ‘Jesus – how much more is there up there?’ Crombie said tugging his collar upwards. Rhyllann shivered. But even as it splattered the ground the rain drizzled out, one last jeer at mankind. The sun came out arching a brilliant rainbow, bridging the land to the ocean. As they watched, two land rovers veered off road towards the ruins. 

  Rhyllann turned to Crombie: ‘We beat them here!’

  ‘Don’t sound so surprised son. They’ve probably had to detour like crazy.’

  Still Rhyllann felt stupefied until he worked out that since leaving Holden probably only two hours had elapsed. It only seemed like a lifetime ago.