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254 pages

English

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An amusing and exciting tale of student life in Liverpool in the Swinging Sixties. Mark is a nervous student. He is ruled by an overwhelming, irrational fear of people - particularly girls - which shows itself in a bad stammer, and a terror of heights. Fiona is the girl of his dreams, but she is in a steady relationship with a lifelong boyfriend in Scotland. Mark realises he is never going to get anywhere in life or in love unless he undergoes a complete personality change. He is befriended by Bob, who has a passion for potholing (and free love), and a plan is hatched. If Mark can beat his fear of heights - an escapade down a cave or two should sort that one - maybe he can also overcome his fear of girls and win FionaSo begins a whole series of madcap adventures, featuring a yacht race, horse riding, underground adventures in Yorkshire and Mendip caves, dances, parties and some wild and riotous student incidents, often involving too much alcohol and close shaves with the law.

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Publié par	Troubador Publishing Ltd
Date de parution	05 avril 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781848768949
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0074€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

THE
LONER
PAUL ANDREWS
Copyright 2010 Paul Andrews
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.
Matador 5 Weir Road Kibworth Beauchamp Leicester LE8 0LQ, UK Tel: ( 44) 116 279 2299 Email: books@troubador.co.uk Web: www.troubador.co.uk/matador
ISBN : 978184876293
A Cataloguing-in-Publication (CIP) catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author s imagination. Except in three instances, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or events is entirely coincidental. The three instances are John and Mary Conkerton and Bernie , who deserve to be remembered, in their separate ways, for the services they gave to young people not so long ago. There is also a reference to the Neil Moss disaster. Buchanan Street is an entirely fictitious address. As far as is known, there was no Buchanan Street located between Prince s Road and the Liverpool docks in the period covered by this story. The iron ladders in the Lancaster-Easegill system, referred to in Chapter 14, have been removed in recent years.
WARNING: Many adventure sports are dangerous, and the challenge presented by the element of danger can make a sport worth doing. Natural caves and old abandoned mines are dangerous places. Potholing is a strenuous and exciting sport, and nobody should try it unless they first join a reputable caving club, and go undergound with an experienced leader. Readers who might be encouraged to have a go, please beware.
Matador is an imprint of Troubador Publishing Ltd
A healthy mind in a healthy body
Juvenal Satires
To Diana
CONTENTS
1 Heavy Sea
2 Mark Flitley
3 Ferry Across the Mersey
4 Fiona and Susan
5 Bob Smith
6 The Royal Iris
7 Riding School
8 The Folksinger
9 Only a Hobo
10 The Grapes
11 A Party at Buchanan Street
12 Another Kind of Party
13 Gaping Gill
14 Dark as a Dungeon
15 A New Friend
16 Lakeside Adventure
17 All Students are Hippies
18 Make Love: Not War
19 The Tamborine Man
20 A Fresh Start
21 Buchanan Street Blues
22 Stuck up with Chewing Gum
23 Buchanan Street
24 Professional Blues
25 Tight Rope
26 Slit Squeeze
27 Pirate King
28 Vertigo Blues
29 Night School
30 Rope Walker
31 Disguised
32 The Evidence
33 Doubtful Plans
34 Black Velvet Band
35 Chimes of Freedom
36 The Aphrodite
CHAPTER 1
Heavy Sea
T he wind howled. There was a little rain, and the waves beyond the harbour entrance did not look particularly inviting. Mark Flitley, skipper of the Aphrodite, looked grim.
It s going to be a hard race, Carol. Are you sure you still want to come on board? he asked.
Carol was thoughtful. She had offered to crew the yacht. She had never sailed on one before, but had always wondered what it would be like. She d never been seasick in her life, and had given up the day for the experience. She had no idea what she was in for, but no particular wish to hang around the harbour either.
I ve told you: I m coming, she said.
Very well, you re welcome. She climbed onto the boat from the pontoon rather unsteadily. Skipper and crew were encased in smart waterproofs and wearing life jackets. She was wearing a grey anorak, the thick, red pullover she had bought for the occasion, and a pair of smart, expensive jeans. In her mid-forties, her long greying hair still kept its youthful lustre, and her face had few lines. She was tall and slim and looked good for her age.
Let me introduce you, he said, as he offered her a life jacket. This is Carol. She s coming along to see if she fancies joining the crew. Then, turning to Carol, he added: This is Bob and this is Pablo. They re not just crew. We re all lifelong friends. Just call me Mark.
She examined the two friends. The one called Pablo had short grey hair and a dark complexion with a look of sheer determination on his face. Bob looked more laid back with a gentle smile, longer hair, and a neat moustache. What she could see of the clothes they wore under the waterproofs suggested they were old and tired. She noted that Bob s waterproof suit looked more stylish than the others.
She was glad they clearly did not realise she knew them. She was vaguely aware of a puzzled look on Mark s face, as if she resembled someone he might have known before.
Once introduced, Mark lost no time in giving instructions. It s strong winds today - a five going on to a six, and it s going to be rough, he said. So we ll need to be fully reefed, and we ll use our smallest fore sail. Carol, just lend a hand where you can.
Once prepared for sailing, the Aphrodite slid from her berth and motored across the harbour. She was a sleek white 25 foot long light weight yacht with a fibreglass hull, fractional mast, and outboard engine. The crew untied and stowed the fenders.
Now then, Carol, said the skipper, you must stay in the pit - that s down there. He pointed to the hatch down into the cabin. Just stand on the steps, and do what you can to help. Whatever you do, stay down there, please. It could get a bit hairy on deck in these conditions.
Carol did as she was asked and stood on the steps below the hatch, with her head and shoulders well above the cabin roof, looking out to sea.
As they left the harbour, they could see the sea more clearly. There was a flat patch where the yachts hoisted their sails, and, just a little further out, rows of fast moving sinister looking tall, dark waves. The skipper pointed the yacht into the wind, and the sails were hoisted. They could hardly hear each other speak for the wind.
The yacht turned out to sea, with sails filled and the motor switched off. She soon reached the waves. A mountain of water surged towards them, almost half the height of the mast, and lifted them up to face others that came rolling after it. As Aphrodite plunged into the trough of the wave, the spray flew past them and splashed all over the cockpit deck.
Carol could see other yachts heading round the harbour wall in the same direction. Where are we going? she asked.
We re off to start, Bob replied, as he was nearest. That s line between buoy with black flag over there and those two posts on harbour wall.
Carol looked for these marks. She could just about see the black flag, but could not make out which of the many poles or posts on the harbour Bob was referring to.
Ready about? called Mark. We re going to turn back and sail down the line.
Ready, the others replied.
Go, said Mark.
The yacht began to turn and slowed as it did so. There was a gust of stronger wind, and she turned back to her original course.
Ready again, called the skipper, and this time, back the foresail, please, to bring us round.
Ready, they said.
Aphrodite started her turn. Bob eased the foresail sheet.
What are you doing, Bob? cried Mark, bringing the boat back to her previous course. Keep the sheet tight - otherwise the jib won t back.
Bob did as he was asked. Mark waited until they were almost on the top of the next wave, and then pushed the tiller over. Bob held the foresail sheet tight, and the boat span round. As she passed through the wind, he let go the sheet, while Pablo quickly tightened the other sheet for the new course.
Well done. We ll do that again, said Mark.
They did and looked more confident.
Just then a voice called from the cabin. That s the radio, Pablo said. Carol, can you go down and find out what s being said?
Carol held on tight as she lowered herself into the cabin. The boat was tossing about, and loose flares were rolling on the floor. She looked for the radio. A voice said calmly: Race control, Race control, this is Moon Raker.
Come in, Moon Raker, said race control.
Race control, we have just had damage to our rudder. We re going to have to retire.
Carol climbed the steps and called: Moon Raker s retired. They ve got a broken rudder. Then she turned to Bob and asked: What about us? Are we all right?
Pablo heard this remark, lowered his voice and glared at her. Don t say such things he cried. If you don t shut up, skipper will get cold feet, and we ll miss the race
Another voice from the radio. It was race control: This is race control. Good afternoon, racing fleet. Today s race is a bay race. There will be one lap. The course is South about to the Outfall buoy, then to the Harbour Wall buoy, and then back to the start.
The hoot from the race station could not be heard, but they could see the lights change on the race control hut. That s the four minute gun, Bob remarked, looking at his watch.
By now, Aphrodite and five other boats were manoeuvring for position by the black flag, sailing up and down the line and waiting for the start. Bob looked at his watch. Thirty seconds, he said.
Tighten sheets, said Mark.
Aphrodite began to pick up speed, as she approached the invisible start line.
There s not many boats out today, Mark observed coolly, as he struggled to keep Aphrodite on course and avoid collisions in the confusion of the waves. If anybody doesn t want to do this, we can go back and have a pint.
No-one spoke. Pablo glared at Carol once more, willing her not to spoil their fun.
Aphrodite was third across the line. They had not gone far, when there was another call over the radio. Carol went down to listen.
Race station, race station, came the voice. This is Spaceman. We re not happy with racing in these