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girls she instructed, her small breasts, just delicate swellings, hardly spoiling the illusion. Yet at twenty-three, eleven years younger than himself, she possessed a quiet maturity that he was in just a little wonder of; it was not always evident, for there was also a tantalising innocence about her that enhanced the pubescent impression even more. The combination was often confusing, for she was unaware of her own qualities and the moods could quickly change.
        Amy's slender and mockingly desperate fingers reached for the glass as he approached and early-evening sunlight struck her hand, making it glow a lighter gold.
        'If only Miss Piprelly knew she had a lush on her staff,' he remarked, passing the gin and tonic to her.
        She allowed the glass to tremble in her grasp as she brought it to her lips. 'If only Pip knew half her staff were inebriates. And she's the cause.'
        Childes sat opposite so that he could watch her, sacrificing closeness for the pleasure of eye contact. 'Our headmistress wants me to put in more time at the school,' he said, and Amy's sudden smile warmed him.
        'Jon, that would be lovely.'
        'I'm not so sure. I mean, yes, great to see more of you, but when I came here I was opting out of the rat race, remember?'
        'It's hardly that. This is a different civilisation to the one you were used to.'
        'Yeah, another planet. But I've got used to the easy pace, afternoons when I can go walking, or diving, or just plain snoozing on the beach. At last I've found time to think.'
        'Sometimes you do too much thinking.'
        The mood change.
        He looked away. 'I said I'd let her know.'
        Humour came back to Amy's voice. 'Coward.'
        Childes shook his head. 'She makes me feel like a ten-year-old.'
        'Her bark isn't as bad as her bite. I'd do as she asks.'
        'Some help you are.'
        She placed her glass between them. 'I'd like to think I am. I know you spend too much time on your own and perhaps a bigger commitment to the college might be what you need.'
        'You know how I feel about commitments.'
        A look passed between them.
        'You have one to your daughter.'
        He sipped his beer.
        'Let's lighten up,' he said, after a while. 'It's been a long day.'
        Amy smiled, but her eyes were still troubled. She reached for his hand and stroked his fingers, masking more serious thoughts with bright banter. 'I think Pip would consider it quite a coup to have you on the staff full-time.'
        'She only wants me for an extra afternoon.'
        'Two and a half days of your time now, tomorrow your soul.'
        'You were supposed to be encouraging me.'
        Her expression was mischievous. Just letting you know it's useless to resist. Others have tried,' she added, her voice deepening ominously, making him grin.
        'Strangely enough, she has been giving me some peculiar looks lately.'
        'Working her voodoo.'
        He relaxed back in the chair. A few more people were wandering out into the hotel's beer garden, drinks in hand, taking advantage of a welcome relief from the preceding weeks of cold drizzle. A huge, furry bee hovered over nearby azaleas, its drone giving notice of the warmer months to come. Until recently, he had felt close to finding his peace on the island. The easy-going lifestyle, the pleasant nature of the island itself, Amy - beautiful Amy -, his own self-imposed occasional solitude, had brought a balance to his existence, a steadiness far removed from the frenetic pace of the constantly changing microchip world, a career in and around the madding city, a wife who had once loved him, but who had later been in fear of… of what? Something neither of them understood.
        Psychic power. An inconsistent curse.
        'Who's serious now?'
        He stared blankly at Amy, her question breaking into his thoughts.
        'You had that