The prow of the boat dipped and rose into the waves, its rainbow design in contrast to the heavy iron grey skies above the boat and the muddy water below.
At the front of the boat, Caspian felt his chest tighten, and pulled his vegan down jacket around him, tucking his beard into the warm collar. The wind pushed the boat rapidly up river, the sails taut. A gust of wind skirled Autumn leaves across the deck, as the river narrowed and the north and south banks got closer.
He frowned, and looked down into the water, pondering the plans. They had been laid carefully, but at every point he saw risk, danger. This was the last chance, though. They had to succeed.
Sunshine briefly glinted through a cloud. Caspian saw it highlighting something in the water. A wheeling movement, oily, grey. Coming higher out of the water, travelling at the same speed as the point. Another shape. Caspian gasped as the captain shouted down, 'Porpoises!'
YOU ARE READING
The COP26 Kabuff: A Beatrice Deft Short
Short StoryThe world of international book fairs has ground to a halt for over a year and a half. But when Beatrice Deft, International Publishing Consultant, receives a summons to Scotland to attend an even bigger and - some might argue - even more urgent eve...
