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  Following the grassy path brought her out on an isolated dark sand beach. Aside from diving gannets out to sea there was not another creature in sight. Along the way she gathered pictures of old tractors and one she was particularly fond of; a door made of stacked stones at the entrance to a field. She already had the caption for that one, “Why cats are not the favourite pet on the island. Are you in or out, Fluffy?”

  Shade found a set of footprints indented in the sand and walked in them. The persons stride was much shorter than her lunging one. After a while at that pace she felt herself calming. Shade hid her backpack in the shadow of a dune that bristled with sword grass. Sharp dry seaweed prickled underfoot. She waded out into the water but the first wave that rose up her leg made her flinch and stop. Oh right, I’m in Ireland. Her legs were so cold they were painful. The frigid water bit at her nerve so she made to back out. Not in time though. She squealed as a larger wave rose up her legs, goose pimples peppering her skin. She stood there until she became accustomed to the bone-splintering chill.

  Once the shock subsided and she was numb enough, she waded out into the Atlantic. Lying back in the water she watched the elongated contrails of an intercontinental jet fizzle out behind it. What must this island look like from up there? Where are they going? Shade hid the mainland of Ireland behind her toes and watched the jet until it flew out of sight. It made her restless.

  I’m not meeting up with Diarmuid. Sure he was nice, but so was Nathan when we first met. I don’t need any of that hassle – I’m content the way things are. Besides, I’ve only six more days. Shade would have continued on dissuading herself from keeping her meeting with Diarmuid but a small jellyfish barged in on her swim. The menacing creature drifted slowly towards her. Water churned around her legs as she rushed back to shore.

  Shade stood in the shallows panting. Only now that she knew to look for them could she spot the diaphanous jellyfish. The water was like a pale field of mushrooms full of them. No more swimming.

  I won’t let Nathan sour anything. I won’t let him have any hold over my life. She did not like the anxiety meeting Diarmuid again caused her. It was unlike her new self.

  Shade towelled dry in the brisk breeze. She opened the map application on her phone, pinched the screen and flicked. The image of Inis Meáin disappeared and the world became visible. The practice calmed her; watching minute detail disappear in the bigger picture.

  Diarmuid had marked the location of a café with an X on her paper map of the island. It was on the coast past the old pier and second beach. Not one for following the same path twice, Shade set off along the water’s edge, slowing a few times to catch her breath. I’m never drinking again.

  Chartered fishing boats bobbed offshore, their passengers waved to the only person they had likely seen on the coast. Trawlers went about their rounds. Shade spotted the bright café overlooking the Foul Sound and Inis Oírr. She walked by the lesser-known Dún Fearbhaí which, though less grand, still warranted a few photographs. There’s still time. Shade took a detour up a steep winding hill to its entrance. An inquisitive donkey made for her immediately. He seemed friendly enough. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a donkey related death before, but I don’t want to be the first either. He was right in the field with the fort – its guardian. Shade examined the adjacent fields for a better shot while scratching its ears. It had a musty smell and a rusty brown, sun bleached coat covered with burrs. The field beside it was empty.

  Shade climbed over the wall. Between the weathered rock was ankle snapping fissures. She only needed to hop over one more wall and she could get to the dún.

  The donkey started galloping along the wall in the field beside her. Shade looked ahead to where it was running, a wide ‘V’ shaped gap in the wall that she had not seen from the angle outside the field. Shade turned back to run but the distance was too great. Instead she dashed for the fort, nimbly skirting over holes that to her anxious mind had become crevasses.

  Loose rock warbled beneath her as she climbed up the steep steps of the fort. Her foot slipped and she fell forward. The camera swung on its strap and struck the wall hard. She rolled over the cusp of the ruin onto sharp stone that bit into her back. The periphery of her vision started to dim, her head felt dizzy, the run did little to help her hangover. At least she was safe from the donkey pacing below her.

  Standing up she checked her camera first – only superficial scratches. The view though made her forget the beast for a moment. The sheer Cliffs of Moher and the isolated lighthouse of Inis Oírr. The scattered houses and green grey of the island she was on. She could not see any easy way to get out of the field though. Inside the fort it was clear to see that the donkey had lived there for quite some time. It was not going anywhere anytime soon. Considering it has water and food troughs and I have half a litre of water and a chocolate bar, he will outlast me. She could make out the roof of the café along the path she should have taken that would have brought her to Diarmuid. I’m already late.

  CHAPTER 7: A TRUTH

  Shade sat on the wall of the dún, out of reach of the donkey’s curiosity. I’m being stupid, I should go down there and stand my ground. They’re like big dogs. Shade had no desire to test out that theory. She checked her watch again and her anxiety flared up, there was no way of contacting Diarmuid, not without his phone number. At least I know he’s here for a few more days. Now that the option of meeting him was being taken away from her, she wanted nothing more than to sit down with him.

  Waving for aid would not differentiate her from the usual enthusiastic tourists. I’ll have to shout for help. I’ll not give that ass the satisfaction.

  She vlogged her current situation. “Can you imagine how compromising it would be to my credibility as a seasoned traveller, if a cute, fuzzy ass trapped me? Funny right?” She panned the camera over her shoulder to capture the donkey below. She could only use what she had brought with her. That gave her an idea. Shade ruffled through her backpack. Her drone’s battery had a full charge. She clipped on the propellers. The loud sound of them whirring startled the donkey, it ran a few feet but returned to its position beneath the fort. I could chase it away. The thought was tempting but she did not want to be responsible for causing the animal to hurt itself by running across such rough terrain out of fear.

  Instead Shade launched the drone from her hand, it shot straight up. She focused the camera on herself and her predicament. If nothing else it will make a lovely edition to the vlog I make on my visit here. There was always a positive side to look on.

  Shade flew the drone low across the land towards the coffee house. There were a couple of people outside on the wooden deck. On the controller screen she could see all eyes turn up towards her. Diarmuid sat on the lawn with a book in his lap and headphones on, oblivious to the arrival of the drone. Shade hovered it in front of him. The down draft from the blades ruffled the pages of his book and he looked up with a start. He stared around to see if somebody was messing with him. She saw his lips move but could not guess at what he was saying. His face was crimson.

  Shade flew the drone in a suggestive ‘follow me’ manoeuvre. Diarmuid pointed at himself and Shade made the drone rise up and down in confirmation. He packed away his stuff; a book, notepad and pen and a brown bag and followed after the drone, looking abashed.

  Shade flew along the path, checking behind to make sure he was following. He did so at a brisk pace to keep up. Shade looked up from the screen and saw him on the road below.

  “Diarmuid!”

  He stopped and looked up, shading his eyes from the sun. Shade pressed return to home on the drone and waved as he looked up.

  By the time he made his way to the wall around the fort Shade had packed away the drone and was sitting on the side of the fort trying to look casual.

  “What’s this?” He was smiling.

  The donkey moved straight over to him and Diarmuid rubbed his nose in a way that told of familiarity with animals. Or at least with less fear tha
n I have towards them.

  “I’m in a bit of bother.”

  “For a moment I thought you’d brought me up here for a romantic picnic.”

  “I only have a half eaten bar of chocolate on me. If that counts as a picnic is it too late to say I did? I thought I was going to have to wait out the donkey but I got hungry and ate all my rations.”

  Diarmuid took a few apples from his bag. “I’ve not had a piece of fruit to myself since I’ve been here, there’s a donkey right beside the place I’m staying.” Diarmuid sat on the wall, cut half the apple with a pocket knife and passed it to the donkey. When the animal came up looking for more Diarmuid said “Are you ready? As soon as I throw this you come out. Be careful on the rocks mind.”

  Shade climbed down the wall and balanced on the balls of her feet waiting for the donkey to move away.

  “Go!” Diarmuid threw the other half of the apple to the far end of the field.

  Shade crossed the distance before the piece of apple rolled to a stop. Rolling over the stone wall she cradled her camera, cushioning it with her body. She checked it for damage before checking how bad the graze was on her leg and arm.

  “My lens cap’s gone, you evil ass!” The donkey just stared at her and crunched the fruit in its mouth.

  Diarmuid hunched over trying to help her back to her feet. She took his offered hand up and dusted herself off.

  Shade tried to guide the donkey into the other field to see if she could get the lens cap back but gave it up as a lost cause. Bested by the guardian of the dún. Rubbing salt on the wound, as she walked back down the hill braying laughter followed her.

  “Whereabouts is this going in your book of cringe moments?” Diarmuid asked.

  Shade corralled the smile back from her face. “If we never speak of this again, not only will I tell you all you want to know about me, you can have my bank details too.”

  “No deal, this is all I need. When I think back to you this is what I will linger on most.”

  “Do you remember what you said last night?” Shade asked.

  “Please!” He put up his hands to stop the memory surfacing. She caught him smiling – it was infectious. “If I cringe I may vomit. How was your morning?”

  “I’ve been dealing with asses all day,” Shade said. “I’ve made an arch nemesis.” She gave the donkey a last, cold look.

  “Arse nemesis eh? Work related?”

  “Well the donkey chased me round the field.”

  “It’s his field.”

  Shade held up an imaginary notepad and imitated scrawling a large X. “Supportive in time of need? No.”

  He smiled at her. Shade selfishly wanted to make him smile more often just to see it.

  “Are you in the mood for food? I picked up some sandwiches for us. Tuna salad.”

  “Not even if I wasn’t hungover. What about coffee and a walk?”

  “Sounds good to me.” Diarmuid kicked loose stones on the road. “Sorry about last night, I kept buying drink, it’s a … bad habit.”

  “I bought more drinks than you did.”

  Diarmuid took out his own invisible clipboard. “Overly competitive? Yes.”

  When Shade mimicked taking her own out again in retaliation Diarmuid grabbed her invisible pen and threw it away.

  “Have you any idea how expensive that was?” she asked.

  “In therapy sessions? Because if you think that pen was real …”

  Shade elbowed him in the side.

  They bought coffee to go and set off towards the beach and lay in the sun. Diarmuid smothered his arms, neck and face in a thick layer of sunscreen.

  “If you put any more on you’ll be reflecting light, you skinny snowman.”

  He shrugged it off. “I can’t say I’ve ever been summoned by drone before,” Diarmuid said to break the silence lengthening between them.

  “This was much easier with alcohol wasn’t it?” Shade said.

  “Yes. Worst thing about it is that this morning I wasn’t in the mood for doing anything. All I wanted to do was curl up and ask you to rub my belly. Not exactly second date material,” he said.

  “I’ve nothing against that so long as you rub my head. I’m dying this morning. Can’t remember the last time I drank so much. But I need to know a bit more about you before I start rubbing anything.” She took his hand and lifted it up trying to find a wedding band mark to appease Oliva.

  “Keeping belly rubs behind an information barrier is a cold move, Shade.”

  “By the time I leave this island I will have your biography.”

  “Well it’s a Monday afternoon and neither of us are at work,” he said. “This biography will likely be a short read.”

  “What makes you think I’m not working? Do you mind if I take a bit of video footage?” She asked.

  She took out the drone and changed the battery for a full one. She was waiting for it to let her down, waiting for the out of range signal, but it chirped and shot up into the air without any problems. Diarmuid sat close on the sand beside her, rapt at the technology, giving little exhalations of excitement as the island opened out on the screen.

  “That’s so cool.”

  Shade flew the drone above the fort, taking as many unobstructed photos as she wanted. “Who’s laughing now, donkey?”

  Then she flew the drone out across the coast and let it hover to capture footage of the entire island. When she went to bring it home, nothing happened.

  “Everything okay?” Diarmuid said, when Shade started toggling the joysticks without response.

  “Yes, it does this quite a bit.”

  They watched as the drone started a slow descent towards the water.

  “I’m sure you could pick up another one in Galway. How much are they anyway?”

  “A couple of grand.”

  His head turned around to her so fast she thought he was going to wince. “Fuck.” Diarmuid started to undress, kicking his shoes off.

  “You don’t have to.” The lack of conviction in her tone was not lost on Diarmuid.

  “The second round is on you.” He stepped into the surf. “Oh! It’s very nipply.”

  “I can tell.”

  Diarmuid covered his nipples as he waded out further. His gasps and squeals in the cold water made her laugh. Once he acclimatised, he swam out and trod water below the drone.

  “How long does the battery last on this thing actually?”

  “About twenty more minutes or so come to think of it,” she shouted out to him. “There’s nothing wrong with the battery, somethings up with the signal connection I think.”

  “Oh – this was a mistake.”

  Her laughter reached out to him.

  “You’re a tit lad,” he said to himself, then, “It’s cold, you know. You could take my mind off it if you told me a bit about yourself,” he called across the water.

  Shade sat on a rock above the tide line hoping the added height might give her a better signal. She rested the remote on her knees while pressing the “Return home” button. She put her jacket on against the wind that had become cold now that she was sitting still. “You’re welcome to guess.”

  Diarmuid yelped.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. Nothing. I thought it was a seal. It’s only a bit of seaweed. Don’t mind me.” He swam along the shore to keep warm. “I reckon you’re … a teacher?”

  “Nowhere close. I’m not even allowed near my niece alone for fear I may emotionally damage her. That was not a very imaginative guess.”

  “Yeah, well I didn’t want to be rude and say you struck me as an actuary.”

  “Nope, I’m a cartographer of sorts.”

  “You are in my bollox with faulty equipment like this.”

  “I love your accent.”

  “Don’t go changing the…” He spluttered and chocked on a mouthful of sea water. “Don’t go changing the subject. Okay, you’re a writer then. Anybody could have guessed that from your use of that notepad last night.” />
  “I looked up some of the places you suggested. They’re beautiful.”

  “Pictures don’t do them justice. Here, has the drone started coming down a little bit? I can’t tell from under it.”

  “A little,” Shade lied.

  “Can I be honest with you?” His teeth chattered as he spoke.

  The remote caught her eye. How long has the “Lost signal” light been off? Should I say something? The controls were operational again. He had distracted her.

  “Eh … sure, go for it.”

  Diarmuid grabbed hold of a floating orange buoy for support. “I know you’re a travel blogger.”

  Shade’s mind raced, she had no black out spots from the night. Did I say something without remembering it? What else did I say? Oh God, did I come off like I was bragging?

  “My friend got talking to one of the people you were with in the pub.”

  “Will we stop the game then?” Shade asked.

  “No. What was it you said again? We’re not just one thing.”

  “So you knew all along and were going to make me guess yours?” Shade pressed the Home button on the drone’s controller with more force than was necessary.

  “Here!” The drone sped off from its stationary position and landed close to Shade. Diarmuid swam after it. When he emerged from the water his arms curled around his shivering body. His lips were turning blue. He gave her a cold look but it thawed in the warmth of her laughter.

  She gave him her towel. “A valiant ef …”

  “Let’s not speak of it.”

  Shade packed away the drone as Diarmuid awkwardly took his wet boxers off beneath her beach towel and dressed beneath it too. From what she could see he had nothing to be awkward about. He caught her looking at his body and with nothing left to pack she quickly pretended like she had. He still shivered even with her borrowed jacket.