Follow a Star by Christine Stovell Page A

ear, could give so much pleasure. His mouth caressed her skin, her eyelids fluttered and the small sound that could either have been denial or pleasure turned into a banshee wail of alarm as she noticed the huge hull of a bulk carrier filling the horizon as it bored down on them.
    ‘Shit!’ Seizing the helm, Bill moved fast. ‘Life jackets, quickly!’ he ordered May as he coaxed
Lucille
into going about. ‘And the grab bag too.’
    Her body moved but her brain stalled. The grab bag? The grab bag was there for emergencies. Packing a grab bag was one thing; water, chocolate, flares and space blanket etc. Yes, packing it was fine; quite fun really to throw in the Mars Bars never dreaming for one moment that she might actually end up bobbing around in the sea trying to eat one. A glimpse over the side at the sinister green water swirling around them made it even harder for her to fasten her life jacket. She really, really did not want to end up down there.
    Several thousand tons of grey metal moved steadily towards them, determinedly pushing the waves aside. In comparison
Lucille
was beginning to feel about as robust as a snail in a bus lane. Some very unwelcome pictures of shattered boats and limbs flooded her imagination. So much for the Mars Bars; knowing her luck she’d probably break both arms on the way down and not be able to unwrap one anyway.
    ‘Is it going to hit us?’ she asked, hoping that Bill would laugh and tell her not to be such a silly girl; couldn’t she see it was
miles
away? But Bill remained silent, keeping his eye on the huge great monster slicing almost malevolently through the water towards them.
    ‘Is it—’
    ‘I heard you,’ Bill snapped tersely. ‘Just get ready.’
    Ready for what? Ready to fall cleanly over the side only to be shredded by the prop shaft of the container vessel? Ready to be horribly mangled, caught between steel and wood like a clove of garlic on a chopping board? Ready to drift for days in her life jacket and finally be washed up on some distant shore where they’d shake their heads and say ‘Poor girl, if only she’d been able to get at her Mars Bar.’ How could she get ready to die when she hadn’t had sex for weeks? She was practically a virgin again. She hadn’t even had time to be kissed by Bill!
    ‘Bill! Kiss me, Bill!’
    He shot her a look of sheer exasperation. ‘May, this is no time to do your Nelson impression. If you think I’m letting go of anything until this thing’s gone past you’ve got to be joking.’
    ‘You did say “gone past”, didn’t you?’
    Bill grinned. ‘Just look, will you? But make sure you’re braced until we’re clear of the wash.’
    Sure enough the massive stern was gliding slowly by, close enough to make out a few tiny faces aboard, but far enough away for
Lucille
to be out of danger. Only when it finally dwindled to bath tub size in the distance did May’s nerves feel convinced. Sinking back into the cockpit she thanked her lucky stars, and anyone else who might have an interest, for her deliverance. She could breathe! Flex her toes and fingers! Feel the sun on her face! Hear Bill saying—
    ‘What?’
    ‘I said, about that kiss …’

Chapter Ten
    If only May knew what it had cost him to say that, Bill thought, as his initial relief gave way to guilt and shame as they kept the boat steady so they could take a break.
    ‘What do you mean it’s not going to happen?’ she said, in a squeal of indignation that was almost ultrasonic.
    Bill spread his hands. ‘I’m sorry, May. I just think it’s for the best.’
    ‘But you
liked
it! If that ship hadn’t come along …’
    He had liked it. That was the trouble. All those deliciously soft curves moulding against him were almost a temptation too far. ‘And that’s another thing,’ he told her, struggling to regain control of himself. ‘We could very easily have been killed if you hadn’t looked up in time. I’m afraid the high sea is no place for high