The Harbour Village.
Mina stood high upon the eastern hill, overlooking the harbour. The sky was blue but scattered with white clouds, and the waves rolled out at sea like foam on top of a glass of dark stout. They heaved and rolled and tossled with each other endlessly out over the great expanse of water. The wind brushed her long dark hair across her face as she stood and looked out over the sea and harbour.
The small fishing village lay quiet and without any noticeable activity out on the dusty, narrow streets. It was early in the morning, and the boats were already far out at water, far beyond sight. Here and there a trickle of smoke arose from one of the chimneys of the houses. Women cooking early morning breakfast for their families. The harbour now lay as quiet and as silent as the streets. The last line of small waves lapped gently against the peer, and washed out smoothly on the pebble-strewn beach.
A lonely white seagull screamed hungrily from the sky above the harbour. He flew on searching vainly for a meal from above as he flew away. The sun was mild and warm on her face and her body. Her white, linen dress hugged the contours of her youthful body in the light breeze. The air smelt saturated with water and salt, and the old familiar sea-smell always pleased her, and made her smile when she remembered it.
The trees growing in a clump nearby bended slightly in the breeze, and rustled their leaves in co-operation. She sat down on the short, green grass and kept on looking out over the sea. Perhaps if she waited long enough, she would spot the sails of a ship on the horison. The seagull had returned and was circling the harbour once more, screaming from above.
After a long while she got up and wiped of the bits of grass from her dress. She started walking down the sloping path down the hill, back towards the village. The tall, green grass grew on either side of the pathway. On her way down she met old Captain Hawkins, and they greeted each other briefly, and cordially.
Then she wandered on and entered the village on an old stone path. Two swallows darted past her in the sky, flying on the light sea-breeze, and disappeared among the houses…
