This story resulted from an activity in which each circle member drew a name, a location and an emotion from a series of envelopes. Malcolm’s name was Ted, location Ingonish and emotion awe.
Ted Malone couldn’t explain it. Only that before his last assignment he had planned to come, but had to cancel. Still the invitation surprised him. His feelings were a strange mix of excitement, wonder and hope. Perhaps he was imagining it. And what did he have to lose? Anyway, it was a second chance. And would he get there in time? Life is full of what if’s.
The July high noon sun teased the scarf of earth and stunted spruce growth by the highway. The sunlight bounced off the rugged sharp granite rocks and the light danced on the black 2007 Sebring Chrysler that he guided up the winding curves over Smokey. On the way he puzzled if anyone had plunged over the cliff and lived. Not likely he thought as he pulled into the partly filled lookout at the top. He stopped.
When he stepped out of the car he was awestruck. The view was like a master painting. The colour, the depth and harmony were perfect. His eyes followed the cliffs’ drop hundreds of feet below as if it were volcanic lava. It reached the ocean which hissed and pounded a wash of whitecaps on a long smooth stretch of brown sugar sand that matched his loafers. Above the cerulean blue sky wore a soft white cloud spotted dress.
At thirty-five, he is a successful defence attorney and a partner in a prestigious Los Angeles law firm. Although a big man most of his colleagues see him as an affectionate, gentle man. In court, others see his dark eyes and handsome face and razor mind and gestures and an ability to freeze a witness in seconds; as if he read their mind. Ted’s thoughts drifted away to another time, like ghosts that haunted him in sleep on a dark rainy night.
He had just returned from the chaos in Iraq where he worked for a corporation client. His job was legal litigation in the dangerous oil fields. In memory trance that gripped his heart, he heard the guns roar, smelt the smell of fresh cordite, shook a the sound of explosions; he witnessed the driven hungry desperation of the people’s sunken faces; their relentless search for food and where dying and death were constant companions. And then there was the awful heat, dirt and dust. People were everywhere. He felt older, saddened by the experience and his emotions.
Now he stood alone and stared out at the ocean and watched three grey and white seagulls float dreamily on the fresh air currents.