The Boat Across

That night there was a tremendous wind. We fell asleep to the sound of rain lashing against the shutters. I heard a haunting sound coming from the ocean auditorium, it sounded like a child's sobbing-moan. A shadowy thing was lurking beneath the waves, not exactly 'blue planet', where was David Attenborough when you needed him? Those soothing tones would have come in handy.

The shadowy thing broke the surface and I screamed in abject terror. For the second time that night, Jo shook me out of my slumber. 'Al! Al! Wake up!' 'What's up? Was I snoring again?' She switched on the dodgy bedside lamp. The bulb flicked to life, somewhat reluctantly. Jo's face was full of concern. 'You were making these terrible gurgling sounds, sounded like you were drowning.' 'I think I was.' 'So what were you dreaming about?' I mentioned about the thing lurking. 'And?' 'At first I thought it was a whale, you know, the mating call?' Jo nodded. She was into the discovery channel as much as me. 'Then I realised it was an arm, just sitting there, staring. 'Arms don't stare.' 'Don't be so anal, you know what I mean.' 'Go on.' 'It looked like it had been hacked off some poor person with an axe. And the fingernails were all bloody and torn. Horrible.' Jo opened her bedside drawer. 'Magic pill time.' So far, I hadn't needed my pill. The beautiful surroundings and the fresh sea air had done the job, but the nightmares were back. I tossed down the tablet with some left over wine in a glass next to my bed. 'Listen Ali,' Jo said, 'About this party tomorrow.' 'What about it?' 'I don't feel comfortable going.'

I knew exactly what she meant. 'Why not?' ' I don't know, I just don't get a good feeling... ' I reached under the pillow. My phone said 3am, Jesus h, not the ideal time for a debate. 'Look, I know my dream sounded ominous but... ' ' Sounded what?' 'Never mind. Listen Jo, I'm pooped, can we decide this in the morning?' 'It is morning.' 'I know.' 'I'm worried about you Ali,' Jo said. 'Why?' 'These dreams... ' 'Nahhh... just my period coming... you know what I'm like once a month. Total psychopath.' 'Okay.'

Jo switched off the lamp again. Ironically, she fell back asleep almost immediately,sans pill whereas I tossed and turned for another hour, unable to recapture my dreams, not that I wanted to because that last dream was toxic; still I hated being awake in the'darkest hour just before dawn.'

Finally, the pill kicked in and I dozed off for the third time.

Murder mystery set in Amalfi.. true story
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