Joe Lake's new serial novel in the gazette No. 75.

Fear Of The Dark
(a novel by Joe Lake)
The park was a short walk from their mobile home, with just half an hour of daylight left. They held each other tight, arms around waists, two as one, Julie liked to be close. She liked to dream and walk and float. She was a persistent 27-year-old. Slim, large-eyed, she seemed to look at the world in surprised wonder. She had an unusually deep musical voice, shy with people she didn’t know, yet always there was a smile. She didn’t like sport. She had a weak heart and would be easily exhausted. Besides, exercise bored her, but at home she would ride her exercise bike as she read a book. She was intelligent and found it satisfying to write poetry. As they turned towards the small bridge over the park’s duck pond, she looked back and said, "We are being followed, Robert."
"Really?"
"Sure. He hides behind bushes and trees. I saw him earlier. Now he’s back."
Robert gave her a firm hug. "Freddy Kruger, is he?"
Julie shook her head, her blonde ponytail swung free. "No. He kind of slouches and drags his feet."
Robert looked. "I can’t see him."
"One moment he’s there and then he’s gone," Julie said. She clung to his arm and looked over his shoulder. "There! Can you see him now?" She pointed.
Behind a tree, a man in dark clothes, dark face, walked slowly among the trees. At this time of evening as shadows lengthened, he was the only other person in the park.
"He doesn’t wear one of those long coats," Robert said, "with nothing underneath."
"Maybe," Julie said.
The trees in the park cast ominous shadows as the sun’s last rays struggled through leaves, a breeze rustled them and it had turned cold. Julie snuggled closer to Robert as they watched the ducks in the park’s pond dive for the last supper of the day.
The cool wind bit at their cheeks. Robert took Julie’s head between his hands and kissed her gently. His lips lingered and his tongue explored with gentle probing. Robert thought that he had never been more in love. Julie was as pliant and soft and warm, as a purring cat, in his arms. Soon night would fall and the lights would come on. Robert contemplated his future with Julie.
"The man is still there," Julie said, as she stared at the shadow among the shadows of the trees.
(To be continued next month)

Tim Heath's poem.

Retirement
We are driving to Burnie
ocean and beaches on our right
houses on our left
railway line on our right
fence scrub rocks on our right
houses gaze at the sea
across road fence scrub railway
and rocks
all saying no access go around the long way
look but don’t touch
Fulfilment and ease are within
my sights
just past the roads fences scrub and railway lines
I still construct.
© Tim Heath April 7 2010