The Wall Read Online Free PDF Page B

questioning
    her own reaction. In those eyes she had seen for a few minutes a
    friendly gleam that had dispelled the hard quality from the afternoon.
    He had laughed, too, and although it had provoked her, she had to.
    acknowledge that the sound had been good. With that laughter, a
    smile had curved the corners of his well shaped lips, and it had not
    been a cynical twist but a genuine smile.
    These thoughts made her peep back at him with a tentative smile of
    her own. He was still regarding her, this time with a thoughtful
    expression on his lean features. 'Do you have the time to perhaps go
    for a walk down the beach with me?' she invited diffidently.
    One corner of his mouth quirked as she watched. 'So I can protect
    you from the big black doggy?'
    Laughing at him, she replied, 'Is that such a bad idea? No, I just
    thought a walk would be nice.' Greg shot another one of those
    piercing glances her way and instead of answering, turned and started
    to stroll towards the water.
    Sara stood with the camera bag dangling from one slim hand and felt
    bereft as she watched him move away. He turned, saw her standing in
    an undecided attitude with dark hair blowing around her small face,
    and her large hazel eyes looking rather uncertain. A flash of white
    streaked across his face quickly, startling her with its attractive
    gleam, then was gone. 'You can leave your camera bag over in the
    ferns while we walk,' he told her. 'It'll be quite safe there.'
    Her eyes lit up, and she ran back to the treeline quickly, depositing
    her bag and then running back. She didn't stop at his waiting figure
    but continued past until she reached the water's edge. Prompted by
    impulse, she bent and untied her shoes, stripping them and her socks
    off quickly, rolling her jeans up to her knees.
    Two long legs joined her as she stooped and she sent a quick smile
    slanting up at Greg's watching eyes. 'I haven't been wading in the
    water yet, and I've been here for a week,' she remarked in
    explanation, and straightened. 'You could wade if you wanted to, and
    it wouldn't hurt those nice slacks if you roll them up enough so that
    they don't get wet.'
    She didn't wait to see what he did but went into the cool water
    without hesitation. The hard wet sand gave way to soft, silky, shifting
    coolness, and she dug in her toes in appreciation. A wave crept up
    and licked delicately around her feet, receding almost immediately.
    Another came and lapped gently at her toes, and then another. She
    chuckled with pleasure and walked farther into the water until she
    was in up to her shins in a continuous push and pull from the ever-
    continuing waves that swirled about. She walked back to the shallow
    water, kicking over some stones, with her head bent to watch in the
    fading light for pretty flashes of colour. When she reached the sandy
    part of the wetness, past the row of small stones thrown up by waves,
    she stooped suddenly and dug in with both hands into the sand.
    Water crept up and touched her feet. She shot a sideways glance at
    the bare, dark brown shins that joined her in the water, then squatted
    back so that she could look up at Greg.
    Her dark hair was falling like rain about her shoulders and over her
    forehead, and she used one arm to try and push it back, still clutching
    a handful of wet sand. He squatted with her and reached out one hand
    to push the hair away from her face gently. She smiled a thanks and
    dropped the sand, rinsing her hands quickly. 'Look,' she said softly,
    as a wave curled again about their feet, barely reaching them as it
    spent itself. She dug in again under the few inches of water and
    squeezed the wet sand through her fingers. It oozed delightfully,
    smooth and cool and very soft. 'Under the water everything's so
    magical and wonderful. It's just like silk, so soft and smooth. It's as
    fascinating as the bright glints of colour from the stones that flash
    under the water in the sunlight. They never look half as good dry and
    at