Many thanks to all the artists for their c.c. and my special thanks to Shalua for her beautiful world “Cornucopia”.

After looking at the island map, Val and Jane decided to take a walk and get to know the place.

*****

Cornucopia was a clean little town with a nice town square and while walking there, they saw a lovely white church. “Shall we go inside?”

“Yes why not.” They went inside and enjoyed the quiet and appropriate atmosphere for meditation. Each of them with their own thoughts but, above all, thinking of the religious education their mother (well… Lady Jane) had given them. They remembered her fondly. Of course, they had loved father as well but he had been less involved in their education; he had often been away for hunting or visiting his club.

That led their thoughts again to Sean McCormick.
“Sis… what was the present?”
“What present? Where are you talking about Val?”
“I mean the present you gave to Sean before we left.”
“Ah… you mean Lady Jane’s diary. Yes, I thought he would like to read it because she started to write it at a very young age and she happened to be in love with Sean before she knew our father.”

“Oh… I never would have expected that! But why did you give it to him? ”Well, I don’t know. I suspect that he was in love with her as well. When he talks about her, his voice changes and sounds more… lovingly, I don’t know what words to use to make myself clear. I could be wrong but my intuition tells me that he was fond of her. That reminds me that we should write him a letter.”

They went out of the church and returned to the train where Daisy was waiting for them.
She told them that the train could not leave today because they had to repair a few things and they would have to stay in Cornucopia during some days. She told them that she could prepare their meals anyway and they could use their sleepers but Jane said that she preferred to have a look around and find some nice place to sleep in the village or perhaps they could rent something for a couple of days. Daisy said that there was nothing to worry about. She would call them as soon as she knew when the train would be leaving so they could be back in time.

They took some clothes with them and went to the beach enjoying the sunshine.

There was a small beach house which was quite cheap. It had a wonderful view. Oh, it really was very small because there was only a one persons bed but outside there was a tent where one of them could sleep. Val said: “Sis, I don’t want to sleep out there; you know that I don’t like the dark.” “Yes Val, I know that you’re a coward; don’t worry, I will sleep in the tent.”

Inside the house there was a tiny kitchenette but they had to eat outside. That was not bad at all. Jane loved to be outside.
Val was having fun with the mirror in the bathroom and Jane called him: “Val, please, could you stop acting so childish? I think that they made some mistake when they say that we’re twins; you surely act if though you still were a teenager!”

“Oh come on Jane; I don’t say anything about the funny faces you put when you’re reading novels. I always can guess what you are reading and you’re laughing alone with the book. That’s ridiculous as well!”
Jane sighed and answered “Well, I guess that you could be right. Come and sit here with me; it’s a beautiful night. As there is no moon at all there seem to be millions of stars.”

They enjoyed the quiet and cool night air and afterwards Val went to bed and Jane into the tent.

Valdemar was a bit nervous and the words ‘coward’ and ‘childish’ were echoing in his head. As a matter of fact he felt guilty that his sister slept outside. It took him a while to fall asleep.

Val was walking in a forest. It was an unknown forest but he knew it was his own. Strangely enough he was walking on a prepared tile path and he felt sure because he felt that his sister was with him. The tile path was getting narrower and at a certain place the tiles stopped.

There was a tree in front of him and he could only go to the left or the right but there was no path he could follow. He took one step to the left but felt his heart accelerating in his chest. He quickly stepped on the path again. He just couldn’t take his eyes off the unknown mysterious paths without tiles but he didn’t feel sure.

Certain moment he saw himself from another angle: growing if stepping into the unknown, and shrinking if he stepped back to the known familiar warmth of his sister. He thought that he had understood the message but he was horrified.

Without even looking he felt that eyes were observing him from the dark.

Now his heart started beating like mad. He felt completely alone. In panic he screamed “Janey, Jane, where are you…” Please help me!”
He woke up sweating all over his body. He never had been so afraid.

“Val…, what happened? Did you have a bad dream?” She was standing next to him. He told her the nightmare he had and he felt so ridiculous that he had to be comforted by his sister again. He looked at her and said: “Jane, I would like to become more independent but I just don’t know how. I have no self esteem.”
She said: “I understand you brother; perhaps we should take a look in town tomorrow. There could be a gym and getting a better physical condition would be great to start with. Now go to sleep; within a few hours it will be a new day.” He felt how his panic decreased once taken the decision to get a better condition and he would be stronger. He turned around and slept safe and sound during the rest of the night.

Jane, in her tent, was thinking about the symbolic dream and she knew that her brother was right. He had to become more independent; she would try not to interfere. That would be quite difficult for her as used as she was to helping and comforting him after their parents’ death. Even as children she had wanted to protect him. Perhaps he had been overprotected.
After a while she fell asleep as well.

To be continued….