Chapter Twelve

Sand

‘…every grain is a story millions of years old. It has seen so many lives, it is important to our ecosystem, protecting coasts from wind and waves, and providing a safe haven for all manner of creatures.’

‘Wow’ Beatrice sighed in awe, her eyes growing large. ‘You know so much about everything.’

‘I’ve not even scratching the surface’ Vladislav told her, ‘not even touching it in fact. There is so much I can tell you about the creation of the lands, and the shifting continents and oceans, creatures that have come and gone…’ he paused a moment thoughtfully, seemingly trying to collect himself.

‘Maybe continue with sand?’ Beatrice suggested. ‘It’s where you left off after all.’

Vladislav lifted his mighty head, looking out towards the ocean, and her vast horizon.

‘Sand comes in all sorts of colours, the rarest being green, which is caused by a special type of volcanic eruption in which crystals are brought to the earth’s surface.’

‘I’ll have to read up more about this when we get home’ Beatrice said.

‘I have plenty of books about it. There are all sorts of different sources at your fingertips. I am glad you enjoy reading now.’

‘It’s definitely much easier now’ Beatrice replied.

‘I told you it would not be too hard’ Vladislav nodded. ‘Once you learn the basics, the rest comes easy.’

‘Now that you’ve just reminded me, there was something I wanted to tell you’ Beatrice grinned at him, leaning closer.

‘Oh?’ Vladislav tilted his head curiously, ‘and what is that?’

‘Grimalkin.’

Vladislav chuckled.

‘An ancient word meaning ‘cat’, or, it can almost mean ‘spiteful old woman.’

Beatrice glowered at that.

‘Excrescence’ she said.

‘An outgrowth, typically abnormal or diseased, can be on both a body or a plant.’

She huffed.

‘Brummagem.’

Vladislav faltered. ‘Ah’ he said, ‘um…’

Beatrice leaned closer towards him, hanging onto his words in anticipation.

Vladislav hissed then, dipping his head.

‘I am afraid I must admit defeat’ he told her. ‘I do not know what that word means.’

Beatrice let out a triumphant cry, clapping her hands excitedly.

‘Finally’ she declared, ‘after all this time, the master has been defeated.’

‘Well tell me then’ Vladislav replied, ‘don’t keep me in suspense. Tell me what it means already.’

‘It means to be ‘cheap’ and ‘showy’.’ She told him. ‘It’s spelled like this…’ she wrote the word in the sand, ‘and its pronounced brum-ma-gem.’

‘Very good’ Vladislav nodded, leaning forwards to observe the word. ‘Have you finished your snacks now?’ he asked then.

‘I have.’

‘Then let’s go and see the rockpools. I want to show you all the creatures you could find there.’

They had a wonderful time looking in the pools, seeing what life resided in there. Beatrice was able to see several different types of fish, crabs, a starfish, some anemone, sea urchins, and what Vladislav described as a ‘mermaid’s purse’, which he explained was an egg case for a shark.

‘There’s a shark in there?’ Beatrice asked.

‘Perhaps’ Vladislav replied, ‘it could also be some kind of ray.’

‘What is that?’

‘A ray?’

‘Yes.’

Vladislav pondered this.

‘It’s like a fish that looks like a blanket.’

‘What?’ Beatrice replied, speaking after a few moments, once her brain had gradually processed what Vladislav said. ‘How can a fish be a blanket?’

‘Fish can look like all sorts of things’ Vladislav told her. ‘As can animals.’ He paused. ‘I can show you a picture when we get home.’

‘And what is a shark?’

‘A predatory fish’ Vladislav replied, ‘with a lot of scary teeth.’

‘Sounds scary’ Beatrice uttered.

‘It can be, especially if you are in the water. But don’t worry’ he said, placing a gentle hand upon her shoulder. ‘They don’t like the taste of people. Most of them would not be interested in eating you. And the ones that are, well…we don’t have them in this area.’

‘Well,’ Beatrice sighed deeply, feeling a little more relieved. ‘That’s good.’

‘Oh look’ Vladislav said suddenly, reaching into the rockpool, his glove already soaking wet.

‘What is it?’

‘It’s a little baby octopus’ Vladislav said, his voice endearing. ‘Look at how sweet and small it is.’

Beatrice came closer to look at the strange thing.

‘It looks so…. bizarre’ she said. ‘I’ve never seen an animal like that.’

‘There are all sorts that have not been discovered yet, and some of what we have discovered, have been truly other worldly.’

Beatrice stared at the strange thing, sliding across his hand with its weird tentacles.

‘How big do they get?’ Beatrice asked.

‘Not that big. Maybe about the size of my head. Although its not impossible for them to get bigger I’m sure.’ Vladislav dipped his head, seeing the little thing on his hand. ‘You know they can change colour.’

‘Change colour?’

‘Yes. Octopus and squid, a similar creature, can change the colour of their skin. They are said to be quite intelligent. They are truly fascinating’ Vladislav said.

‘Are they dangerous?’ Beatrice asked.

‘Not particularly. There are some that are poisonous, and it has been known for larger octopus to grab a person and pull them underwater, but this is might well just be a fable.’ Vladislav continued to hold the octopus gently. ‘I would say they are mostly harmless. Don’t you try this yourself mind. They have a sharp beak in the centre of all those tentacles, and while this one isn’t all that dangerous, it could still give you a nasty bite. Not for me though. I don’t feel it. A poisonous one would not be much of a threat to me either, since I have no flesh.’

‘Do you feel anything?’ Beatrice asked suddenly.

‘Hm?’

‘Can you…feel anything in your bones…or your body. Like…warmth from the sun…or any sort of pain.’

‘Yes’ Vladislav answered. ‘I feel those things. All those things, just in a different way.’ He said, reaching down. ‘Don’t think too hard on it.’ Vladislav returned his hand to the rockpool, placing his skeletal fingers beneath the surface.

The octopus immediately released him, swimming quickly away and becoming invisible.

Beatrice let out a sigh then, dipping her head.

Vladislav rose to his feet putting his arm around her, shielding her form the now chilly breeze.

‘It’s getting late’ he told her. ‘You must be getting tired. We should head back now.’

 [END OF CHAPTER]