Rain Music Read Online Free PDF Page A

day lazing by the pool, but there was no reply from Ned.
    When it cooled down late in the afternoon, Bella decided to explore the southern end of the beach, so she set off along the shell-dotted strand, splashing through the tepid water. People were out walking and several frisky dogs chased each other over the sand, but no one was in the ocean. Everyone seemed to be heeding the large, prominent warning signs that ominously read: Swim at your own risk . Bella assumed they referred to box jellyfish which, the rental agent had told her, had stings so poisonous that they could put you in hospital and had even been known to cause death.
    She reached the rocky headland at the end of the beach and turned and walked back above the high water mark, avoiding the leaning coconut palms, though their coconuts appeared to have been picked.
    When she came to a creek of crystal water sluggishly making its way across the sand to the sea, she headed towards it in order to admire the water lilies and floating islands of grass that lay in the shadows beneath the overhanging trees. Here the creek looked darker and rather sinister, and it was then she saw a yellow sign reading, Achtung! Warning! , and sporting an illustration of a snapping crocodile.
    Surely crocs didn’t come onto the beach? she wondered. Bella shivered, turning away, and hastily walked back to one of the benches conveniently placed on the edge of the beach. She sat and watched the placid sea for a while. The view was so beautiful and in that moment she wished Brendan was there to share it with her. As the waves rolled gently in to shore, she thought about their relationship. What was wrong with her? They laughed at the same things, enjoyed the same movies and she agreed with his politics and quietly admired his ethical behaviour. And yet Bella couldn’t help but feel that their relationship was dull. He always asked her what she would like to do. He never fought with her over anything. And while she liked his impeccable manners and quiet ways, she wished he would be more spontaneous, be willing to engage with her even if it meant the occasional quarrel, and sometimes surprise her. She knew Brendan had been hurt when she wanted to go away by herself but, as always, he’d been considerate of her wishes. He was just so nice all the time. Was he really what she wanted?
    Suddenly, Bella became aware of a young woman several metres away, who was sitting in a yoga position, arms raised above her head, eyes closed as she meditated. Bella thought of the crocodile warning. She’d heard how smart the reptiles were, spending time watching the habits and routine of their selected prey before striking, carrying their victim into a convenient creek and stuffing them in a watery trap beneath a tangle of tree roots. Very few victims had survived to describe this horror. Did the yoga girl know crocs were in the vicinity?
    Bella got up and walked over to her.
    â€˜I’m sorry to interrupt you when you are meditating, but you do know that there are crocodiles in this area, don’t you? You’re by yourself here and with your eyes closed . . .’
    The girl looked up and smiled. ‘They’re everywhere in this part of the world. Live and let live. They used to be hunted to near extinction and now they’re protected. How the world works,’ she added enigmatically.
    â€˜Doesn’t that worry you?’ said Bella, a little concerned at the girl’s insouciance.
    â€˜I’m far enough from the creek to be safe, although a large croc was taken from the lagoon about a week ago.’
    â€˜You’re kidding,’ said Bella in amazement. This place looked so serene, and yet a killer croc had lurked beneath those beautiful water lilies.
    â€˜You’ve just arrived, have you?’ asked the girl.
    â€˜Is it obvious?’ laughed Bella. ‘Ironic to think somewhere so placid and beautiful could be so treacherous.’
    â€˜Still waters,