The woolymander
| I’m prepared to run but the exit of the grotto is on the other side. The tiny egg glistens and I notice that it has small talons sticking out from the side. But we are trapped! At that moment, Bobby starts mumbling.”It’s ok,”I can see it in his eyes that he’s trying to hide his fear. |
| The woolymander stops and slowly moves its head to one side. Its bloodshot eyes lock onto us both.”We’re not going to attack you or your egg. We’ll protect you.” Bobby raises one arm to symbolise that he is no threat. They both stand and glare at each other. The woolymander almost seems to listen. It gives a soft growl; the bony spines on its back lower. I think it’s working. Bobby is talking to the woolymander! |
| “We’re leaving now,” says Bobby, stepping to one side and together we walk to the exit of the grotto. Its eyes stare at me and through them I see crashing waves, decaying ships and the rotten bones of sailors. It nods its head, steps back and lets us pass. |
| The fog has cleared. Twinkling stars shine and a bright moon slowly emerges from the darkness. We walk back towards the rocks and talk. No one must discover the grotto. No one must find the woolymanders home and his precious egg. Bobby rapidly talks about how we need to keep the woolymander anonymous. He is full of ideas – place signs up, report that there has been a rockfall and ban people from entering as it is dangerous. I listen as he speaks endlessly, his face eager and determined. |
| By the time we are strolling around the town, it is awakening. The sun borders the sleeping sea and casts shadows across the sand. Charlie’s Fish and Chip shop is placing a few chairs outside as it seems that it might be a lovely sunny day. He waves at us with a grin full of joy. Bailey’s Ice Cream shop is opening and he’s inside sweeping the floors. Mr James sets down his cappuccino at his Starbucks Coffee shop. He places umbrellas, sand buckets and toys outside for the children. By the time we arrive at the museum, the early morning traffic begins. Cars whizz past us on their way to the beach’s car park. |
| All day, Bobby has searched book after book trying to find information. He finds ancient records and logs. In a white envelope he finds a captain’s note written in 1744. It is the story of fishermans that netted a large rock that shined with freckles of gold. They kept the precious find but later that night, the rock shattered and the captain told the story of how the ship had been visited by the devil’s dog. They had barely managed to capture it and throw it into the sea. Since then, fishermen have an unspoken bond to capture and kill any sort of mander that they find.
2 hours later, we talk. Our mission is not complete; it has only just begun. |
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