Authors: Steve Hammond Kaye

Thirty Four Minutes DEAD (35 page)

Greg had brought the small mobile barbecue, for what would probably be their last opportunity before winter would rape the autumnal warmth that hung over Herm. The obligatory football had also been taken with them. A solitary speedboat weaved through the waves close to the beach itself. Like the Vains, it seemed to be playing out summer.

Greg was about to turn his attention to setting up the barbecue when Tanya and Gary playfully knocked him over, kicking the football in front of them. Vain joined in the shenanigans, punting the ball with some force. It disappeared behind an outcrop of rocks and Rachel was overjoyed to play her part at last.

“I’ll get it, Daddy!”

The boat turned to the shore, with a strong revving of its engines. A man in a half-mast wetsuit got out. His feet contacted the white sand. He was twenty metres from the family when Vain saw the gun in his right hand. Time seemed to freeze as the figure drew nearer. Gary stood open-mouthed looking straight at the man. As the man placed both hands on his machine-gun, Vain drew Tanya and Gary to him. His voice was hoarse.

“I love you. Love you”.

The gun reports rocked the tranquillity of Belvoir Bay. Twenty-five rounds and then an empty magazine. The blood of the Vains entwined, flowing as one towards the surf.

The man halted and then spoke to the dead in front of him.

“I’ll leave your ‘Tsar’s privilege’”.

He turned to walk back into the waves. His feet didn’t touch the blood of the Vains.

EPILOGUE

The little girl had nearly reached the football, when loud engine noises distracted her.

From her vantage point, she saw a man walking towards her family. She saw the gun in his hands, but the scream that she longed to release never came.

She heard her Daddy say something, but she wasn’t quite able to detect his specific word choices due to the whispered nature of the utterance.

Then she saw her family die and heard the killer mutter something afterwards - exactly what she couldn’t decipher.

Rachel sat down as the man got back into his boat and departed.

After staying motionless for some time, she felt inside her dress pocket. She carefully took out the small amethyst broach. Daddy had given her it - he would stay with her.

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