Previews Ghostly Echoes by Mai Griffin | Page 12

Mai Griffin it and was comfortable in lightweight shirts or smocks. When the nape of her slender neck began to ache as though exposed to an icy draught she was puzzled but expected that the sun’s rays would soon penetrate the trees. Unclipping her long hair, allowing it to flow freely over her shoulders, gave only temporary comfort – her hands soon became almost too numb to continue holding the palette and brush. It was ridiculous. This was supposed to be the hottest summer since 1911... Penguins at Bristol zoo were receiving daily cold showers of water to prevent them from dehydrating! Eventually, in an effort to restore some body warmth, Clarrie walked up and down the limited area, stamping her feet to bring back circulation. A sharp contrast, between cold and warm air, occurred abruptly at the edge of the copse and the incongruity made her apprehensive. Feeling strangely threatened she stared about her, reluctant to remain in isolation. Surely, she was alone. Among the thinly clumped bushes on the opposite bank of the small inlet, concealment was virtually impossible – she would have seen anyone loitering. Yet she did dimly recall voices, an hour ago perhaps, and a shout, obviously too distant to cause alarm. She might have dismissed a fancied threat but could not endure physical discomfort so had to give up. It was a nuisance having to move her equipment; starting to paint again from a different viewpoint would render the morning’s work wasted unless she found a similar clearing nearby – one more sheltered from the cold perhaps, if it didn’t envelope the whole bend of the river. The distant roar of traffic, made her feel less alone so, having packed her gear away, Clarrie paused to assess the terrain. Away from the river, the ground rose sharply and the heavily treed area adjoining the road should have afforded protection but perhaps even a light breeze might be deflected by the steep bank, creating a chilling swirl of air where water undermined the low bank before surging round the bend. It was too cold to stand and wonder for long and a relief to settle back in the warmth of the car. Normality soon returned to 10