James Woods

The Great Escape


Slowly, they made their way along the beach to a sandy cove. The sun shone brightly and a gentle breeze disturbed Jane´s hat making her giggle as she hastily reached up to hold it in position. She looked so pretty with her golden locks, draped to her shoulders. My heart beat a little faster as she turned and her wide blue eyes stared into mine, tantalizing and inviting, it was as though I was peering into her very soul. This was Jane, the love of my life.
I had met her several weeks before, found her to be married and instantly attempted to cool the relationship. This was difficult as she immediately pronounced her love for me. She related the circumstances under which she had been forced by her mother and father to marry this man of their choice. He was wealthy, probably the reason for their decision. He had convinced her parents of his love for their daughter and this, being a great advantage in terms of security for their only child, had been a decisive point. Her parents were adamant that the marriage would work out, that in time they would adjust to each other.
In a short time, the novelty had worn off for him. She became aware of his lack of attention and the occasional appearance of other women -- once, even in their bedroom. She began realize that she was just an addition to his harem.
Her moral descended into the depths of despair and her parents appeared to have lost all interest in her welfare. She felt lost.
It was shortly after the marriage that I had appeared on the scene and things had gotten instantly out of control. From the moment we met, I was madly in love with Jane. I reached forward and with the back of my hand, gently drew my fingers across her cheek, so smooth so alluring. How could it be for one to find his hearts desire, only to find she belonged to another?
We had both reluctantly agreed that this would be our final meeting and that I would return to my homeland on the Continent. We were now at the cliff face; the cove beautifully wild with the waves lapping along the seashore. Shyly and cautiously, I put my arm around her shoulders and instantly she responded by laying her head upon my shoulder. In doing so, her hat fell to the ground. I smiled and tossed my cap to land right next to hers.
So exquisite were our desires, we were suddenly locked in a passionate embrace. This was heaven, a haven of peace saturating and demanding. Slowly our lithe bodies sank to the ground and into oblivion.
Sank was an apt description. At that moment I lowered myself down, my supporting arm quickly disappeared into the silty soft sand. With a horrible squelching sound I managed to tug myself free, only to discover that my leg had embedded itself into the sand up to my knee. Jane looked at me with horror creeping across her face. I could see now that both her legs had sunk deeply into the soft sand. My god, we were caught in quicksand? She began to struggle, driving her legs deeper into the soft mud. Terrified, I almost screamed out the warning not to move as we were in quicksand
I could feel the pulling motion and the suction, which held me firmly. “Don’t move, just be perfectly still,“ I said trying to sound calm and not let her hear the panic in my voice.
Trying to sound calm, I told her to lie still but the fear welled up inside me as I saw she had now sunk to her waist. I leaned backwards, lying as flat as I could, at the same time telling her to lean on me in her endeavour to drag herself free but she wasn’t very successful.
The cove was deserted.
We lay there for some time, unmoving, hoping by some miracle that someone would come on the scene but no one came
We were now both up to our waist in the noisy sucking sands.
We held hands and I swore to her that if I had the opportunity over again, `I would have carried her off to my homeland and to hell with the consequences.` “Like a night in shining armour,“ I quipped. She smiled.
It was getting dusk and my anxiety increased as I noticed the sea getting closer as the tide came in. I also observed that for the past hour, we hadn’t sunk any lower into the mire. My heart jumped at the discovery and I began to spade away the wet sand with my hands. Jane also began to dig out the sand. I wondered if it was due to the incoming tide that the sand had loosened.
Finally, I was free and worked frantically to free Jane.
It was almost dark as together we made our way up the rocky incline of the cliff and on reaching the top, were locked in each others arms as we welcomed our lucky escape
We sat for a while and I remembered my words I had spoken while sinking into the sand…if I ever got the opportunity …
I rose to my feet, pulling Jane up beside me.
“Darling, are you really sure that it is me you love?”
Jane threw her arms passionately round my neck and words were not necessary.
I took stock of the situation. I had left my car at the other end of the beach. To fulfill my plan, I would leave the car where it was now. My mind was made up. We would just disappear. I retrieved our two hats from the sand and skimmed them through the air landing them atop the patch of quicksand. He turned to face her and her eyes twinkled in agreement as she recognised his intensions.
People would think some disaster had befallen us in the quicksand, or maybe even the sea. they would find my car and our hats.
My eyes scanned the beach, not a sign of anyone, it was completely clear. Slowly, we made their way across the fields and down to the highway. Like two children, comfortable with their arms around each others shoulders, we set off in the direction of the port.

All rights belong to its author. It was published on e-Stories.org by demand of James Woods.
Published on e-Stories.org on 06/27/2004.

 
 

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