Page 17 of Summer at Harbour View House
‘Do I eat the head?’ Hannah asked.
‘’Twill make ‘e an honoury Cornish maid,’ Jago said.
‘Oh, goodie,’ Hannah said, spearing the fish head with her fork and stuffing it into her mouth. Only after she bit down on it did her face change, a frown breaking out across her perfect brow. She chewed a couple of times, then the movement of her mouth came to an abrupt stop, and she stared at the others like a squirrel caught in the glare of a torch, cheeks puffed out with loot.
‘Might as well finish ‘e now,’ Jago said.
‘You really don’t have to,’ Demelza told her, patting her on the shoulder as Hannah started to turn red. ‘The heads are just for show. All the bones have been taken out, too. It might look epic, but it’s basically a regular fish pie.’
‘With heads,’ Natasha said.
Demelza nodded. ‘With heads.
Hannah’s eyes bulged as though she meant to explode. She shook her head back and forth, and for a moment Natasha thought she might have caught the fish head in her throat, then her mouth opened slightly and she muttered, ‘Help me…!’
‘I’ll get the bucket,’ Demelza said, jumping up and running into the kitchen. Then, suddenly back-wheeling, she shouted, ‘Someone clamp a hand over her mouth!’
That appeared to be Natasha’s duty, as Jago was busy refilling the drinks while singing a sea shanty to himself. She went behind Hannah, who was now clawing at the tablecloth, and awkwardly put her hands in front of Hannah’s mouth, afraid to touch her. She looked up in hope towards the kitchen, just as Hannah let out a little squeal.
Something hard but wet with saliva sprung forward into Natasha’s hands.
‘Thank god!’ Hannah cried, leaning back in the chair and letting out a huge gasp. ‘I just couldn’t get it down.’
‘Nice catch there,’ Demelza said, returning with a bucket. ‘Pop it in there.’
‘Don’t waste ‘e,’ Jago said. ‘Dog’ll have ‘im.’
‘I was going to put it on your plate,’ Demelza said.
‘Crikey, don’t do that. Will make me and the maid here practically lovers,’ Jago said, as Hannah exchanged a shocked look with Natasha.
‘Get on, you old rascal,’ Demelza said, swiping the bucket at Jago, who ducked theatrically out of the way. ‘Leave these two young things alone. Right, who’s for seconds?’
‘I’ll get the drinks,’ Jago said.
6
A Sneaky Companion and an Unwelcome Surprise
‘Natasha, wake up!’
Hands were shaking her, and even when she pushed them off, they returned, jerking her shoulders back and forth like she was some kind of multipack tin of beans sticking stubbornly to its plastic packaging.
‘Huh?’
‘We need to leave.’
‘What? Why?’
‘I think we’re in danger.’
Natasha sat up and looked around. For a moment she couldn’t remember where she was, then the previous evening slowly came back to her. Too many ciders. Dancing around the living room with Hannah and Demelza while Jago played old Cornish songs on the banjo.
‘I heard a chainsaw starting up. I think we’re going to die.’
‘A chainsaw?’
‘Yes! Come on, quick!’
