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The Beacon on the Shore by Darren Arthurs

29/3/2021

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“This won’t take long” the man said as he stepped onto the short, narrow jetty that led from the choppy waters to the lighthouse. His knees felt stiff as he placed a foot onto the sodden wood, but his blood contained as much salt as the sea and he had a few good years remaining in his joints.
He took a final look back at the small craft and thanked Gordon for bringing him out here at such short notice and wondered if Gordon’s useless son, Henry, had the same desire to spend his days on the water.
The air was cool and damp and the pathway was illuminated by the pale moonlight that made his ascent to the circular building a little easier. Why Joseph, the keeper, had not lit the gas burner meant something was wrong, whether that was the lighthouse or Joseph himself remained to be seen. Either way, it was the man’s responsibility to check.
Gripping the length of thick rope that acted as a handrail that ran parallel to the path, the man looked out to sea, he wondered what ships travelled out there in the darkness, where they had travelled from and what cargo they carried. The world was changing, becoming smaller, new trade routes established, it was a time of much change, but they would still need the warning light from the beacon on the shore.
Upon reaching the small door, the man used his shoulder to gain entrance, shoving the heavy wood backwards and immediately feeling the shift in conditions. The base of the tower was warm and sheltered, circular with a staircase running upwards and around. He placed one foot on the bottom step and hesitated at the sight of a bloodied boot print.
“Joseph?” he called up into the gloom.
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    Issue 10 & 11

    March 2021


    The Stories

    All
    A Flawless Defense By C.E. Tidswell
    A Mother's Love By Jo Winwood
    And Chaos Ensued By Hilary Taylor
    An Emperor By Felicity Edwards
    Another Chance By Jeff Jones
    A Ritual By Victoria Kuzmina
    A Sociologist On Brick Lane By R.T. Hardwick
    Blessed By Amy Harte
    Blood Is Thicker Than Water By Cindy Periera
    Date Night By Caitlin M Kearns
    Drama Queen By Elaine Peters
    Dying With A View By Felicity Edwards
    Flirting With Benefits By Hilary Taylor
    For Better
    For Worse By Liz Berg
    Getting Lost By Liz O'Shea
    Inaction Speaks Louder By Rachel Smith
    Justice In A Kidney Tray By Cindy Pereira
    Lost By Steve Goodlad
    Married In D Minor By Ryan Coull
    Mary And The Spirit By Graham Crisp
    Midday
    Officially Dead By Emily Dixon
    Pope Urban By Stephen Lisle
    Race Ya By James Northern
    Say Cheese By Steve Stucko
    Short Changed By Liz Berg
    Snow Angel By Steve Goodlad
    Soap By Gilles Talarek
    The Affair By Graham Crisp
    The Barista Of Verona By Steve Goodlad
    The Beacon On The Shore By Darren Arthurs
    The Doctor’s Peculiar Boy By Katrina Hayes
    The French Connection By R.T. Hardwick
    The Night Cleaner By Darren Arthurs
    The Right Place By Sven Camrath
    The Shopping Trip By Hilary Taylor
    The Suicide Tree By Beverley Byrne
    The Vaccination Centre Volunteer By Steve Goodlad
    Thursday By Darren Arthurs
    ‘Tis Goodbye By Hilary Taylor
    Wrong Number By Rachel Smith


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Secret Attic - Founded March 2020