Leaving their hotel as night still hovered around them, soft shades of dawn appeared on the horizon, dark clouds looming across a streaky sky, and various thoughts were flickering around Tony's mind, like butterflies on a buddleia.
He turned to Harry, who was concentrating on finding the right road to the docks. 'What did you mean last night when you said that about crossing the Channel?'
'I'm not sure what you mean old boy.' Harry frowned slightly, watching the line of cars in front of him, all heading in the same direction.
'Of course you do. That comment that I would really enjoy the crossing today.'
Harry couldn't help smiling to himself, but tried not to show it. 'Oh that! He followed a few other cars through a roundabout. 'Nothing really...' then glanced quickly over at Tony, who was still looking puzzled.
'Yes you do.' His eyes narrowed suspiciously. 'You made quite a point of it.'
'Did I?'
Tony let the matter drop for now, as they neared the end of the long queue to load onto the ferry.
Somewhere a flock of gulls were calling, their loud mewing piercing the salt-sea air. Lights surrounding the fisherman's end of the long wharf, shimmered golden across the movement of water, waves constantly slapping against large wooden bollards.
The cross Channel ferry waited patiently to admit the seemingly endless onslaught of vehicles, like a huge animal lying in wait for its prey. Although still early, morning light had barely encroached upon the scene, but rather darkened further, as ever increasing clouds fingered tauntingly across the sky. By now it was mid autumn, when storms could blow up menacingly from the Atlantic shrouding everything in its path, with strong winds and heavy rain.
'I hope we are not in for a violent storm.' Harry studied the threatening sky, his expression equally dark.
Tony peered directly ahead at what was heading their in their direction. 'Doesn't look good at all, but shouldn't affect the sailing. They must be used to it by now. But I still can't swim. Not much anyway.'
Harry was searching for their tickets muttering, 'you did pretty well when you jumped into the river after that young child. It was a miracle neither of you drowned.'
'Different if it was the English Channel and in a storm though,' Tony replied, beginning to look a little concerned.
His friend chuckled playfully. 'No chance of that,' he emphasized. 'Good grief Tony! These ferries to and fro every day - well most days I think. How often do they get caught in a bad storm? The captain would take the impending weather conditions into consideration first, I would have thought. Now quit worrying - alright?'
But Tony wasn't so sure. He continued scowling while looking fearfully at the oncoming blackness.
They drove aboard, pulling up close to the car in front, Harry firmly applying the hand brake, engaging reverse gear just in case of any future movement after the ship set sail. He hoped it would help keep the car more stable should there be a swell, although he wasn't convinced it would.
As they reached a lounge on the top deck, clouds appeared to explode with increasing intensity, shedding water horizontally across the windows, making it almost impossible to see the lightning strikes forking the sky. Thunder raged and the wind became gradually more ferocious as they set sail.
An announcement from the bridge informed the passengers that the crossing might "become a little rough," and to expect movement within the ship.
Tony was tempted to say 'I told you so' to Harry, but refrained for now.
As the ship sailed beyond French waters, an obvious swell became apparent, creating a certain amount of nervous trepidation amongst its passengers. It began to move from side to side perilously.
'I don't like this,' Tony informed Harry, as they began to settle into their seats.
'No, but what you might like, is about to happen.'
Tony became very curious, watching the expression on his friend's face light up. 'What on earth do you mean by that?' he asked, studying Harry's face for enlightenment.
Harry suddenly stood up to greet the two ladies approaching, with enough feminine grace to please any man. Kathleen and Maudy smiled with obvious pleasure to see the two men.
'We meet again,' Maudy said, extending her hand to Harry.
Tony was more than a little surprised at the unexpected meeting, and could hardly conceal his obvious enthusiasm for seeing Kathleen again. His attention turned quickly back to Harry thinking he was now well aware of what he'd known all along. He greeted the other lady with a delighted smile.
'How lovely to see you again, and here of all places.' He was about to take both her hands in his, when the ferry unexpectedly lurched into a large wave. The giant bow dived headlong into it, before the stern sat high out of the water, shuddering briefly, then came crashing down into the last of the swell. It sent Tony flying towards Kathleen, grabbing her shoulders in his alarm to prevent himself falling. He was horrified at his actions.
'Oh dear! I'm so sorry my dear. What a thing to happen. I quite lost my footing. Are you alright?'
'Yes of course,' she laughed. 'Please don't worry, it's not a problem at all. I think we are in for a rough crossing by the feel of it.'
Tony reddened. 'I'm afraid I'm not a very good sailor, but judging by the look of a few other people, neither are they.'
The storm raged as the sea became even more angry, tossing the ferry around like a cork in a bathtub. People clung to side rails where possible, while others found it difficult to go up and down the staircase. In the restaurant, glasses and plates were held to prevent them tumbling onto the floor, as anxious faces looked on. Platters of breakfast food slide from one side of the table to the other while the ferry crashed into another huge wave.
Harry looked a little alarmed but stood firm, inviting the ladies to the restaurant, his face a peculiar shade of green. 'Have you had any breakfast yet?' he asked, not all that interested himself.
They shook their heads. 'We left too early for that,' answered Kathleen.
'Let's eat then, if you can brave the conditions.' He glanced quickly at Tony for approval. 'It might be preferable than just sitting around here.'
'But it's getting even rougher,' Tony remarked quietly, eyeing the rain-splashed windows with apprehension.
'Good idea.' Thank you - yes let's.' Maudy smiled, turned and led the way into the restaurant.
Tony managed to whisper sideways to Harry as they wandered in. 'Are you sure about this? I mean, you look, err... a little odd.'
'Yes of course, I'll be fine, don't worry,' came the firm reply. Tony wasn't so sure, and muttered something a little disparaging to himself about Harry's decision.
The ship continued pitching, then dipping and crashing in and out giant continuous waves, its passengers bravely nonchalant about the conditions, most of them taking it in their stride, while others sat looking apprehensive, or walking slowing stopping and starting down the corridors as the ship rose and sank with the motion.
Several mouthfuls into the meal, Harry placed his cutlery in the middle of the plate. 'Will you excuse me? I... I'd like to... sit elsewhere for a while.'
Immediately Maudy glanced at him. 'You do look a bit queasy. Are you alright?'
'I'll be fine soon. Thank you.' Harry rose awkwardly from the table as a momentous thunderclap sounded almost overhead. Lightning streaked the sky soon after, as the ship moved unforgivingly upon the sea. Apologizing to the others for his eminent condition, but not exactly admitting to the fact he felt awful, he hesitated for a moment, holding fast to the table. The ship gave another shudder before diving into yet another deep wave. 'Ohh...' He wasn't even sure he could keep his breakfast down, excusing himself once more before exiting the restaurant.
'Oh dear!' said Kathleen, sympathetically. 'Poor Harry, I do hope he'll be back soon.'
'He's not a great sailor when it's rough I'm afraid.' Tony wasn't either, but was reluctant to admit it.
Maudy gave a hint of a laugh. 'Neither are we for that matter, but were happy to give breakfast a try, weren't we Kathleen?'
'You were,' she retorted gently, with a grin. 'But I had my doubts.' Her expression changed to one more serious, eyebrows gently knitting together, eyes bright. Tony noticed how endearing they were as they appeared to sparkle before him - momentarily he was lost in them. Her mouth was pretty, a dimple appearing in each cheek.
He shook himself inwardly. 'So did I,' he owned up - then chuckled. 'It seems we all did.'
Not long after, Harry returned with a certain amount of trepidation, slipping gingerly back into his seat.
Tony turned, putting one elbow on the table, resting his cheek against a fist to study him. 'How are we now then?' He frowned again as he often did, when he saw the look on the other man's face.
'Hmm...' he said again. 'Like that is it?'
'I guess so,' replied Harry, in no uncertain terms. 'I'm sorry ladies. Let's hope things will improve soon. I've never experienced conditions quite as rough as this in all the times I've crossed the English Channel.'
Maudy commiserated. 'Don't you worry Harry. None of us are feeling all that bright so far. It hasn't been easy, so let's hope this storm will abate soon and our arrival back in England will be brighter. Portsmouth can look really welcoming most of the time.'
She tried to reassure him, placing a hand over his arm. Immediately he felt a warmth flood throughout his whole body, and smiled back at her appreciating the soothing words and apparent kindness.
'It's simply not cricket, as the English might say,' Tony suddenly announced, tongue in cheek, surprising everyone with his outburst. 'I mean, here we are, all four of us meeting up again after a splendid journey here, there and everywhere, and a nasty storm decides to try and upset things.' He looked at the others and they all laughed together - he included.
'Oh never mind,' Kathleen said with a shrug. 'What the heck! We are all still in one piece - well sort of. Apart from poor Harry.' She glanced in his direction, her head inquiringly to one side. 'Alright now Harry?'
'I'll live, and none of us have fallen overboard - have we Tony?' he asked pointedly, reminding him of jumping into the river when he couldn't swim, to save a young girl from drowning.
'Not this time thank goodness.'
He muttered something to himself about learning how to swim and whether it was possible to teach an old dog new tricks.
Eventually and in everyone's opinion, the last part of the crossing was much improved. The storm passed, the sea becoming quieter, much to the relief of the crew, making the docking in Portsmouth on the south coast of England, relatively straightforward.
As Harry drove down the ramp leaving the large ferry nestled against the wharf in bright sunshine, he sighed with obvious delight to be almost home. He glanced over to his friend sitting beside him.
'It will be wonderful to see the ladies again, once we have settled in back home again, won't it?'
'Indeed it will. Something to look forward to. I for one feel a different man. I'm pleased we have arranged to see each other.'
Tony smiled inwardly to himself, happy in the knowledge that Kathleen had agreed for them to meet up again soon. The ladies didn't live a long way from the men, making things easier for the future.
He tapped the dashboard. 'And we won't be needing her again, thank goodness!' He thought he heard a distinct huffiness in reply, and looked incredulous back again. His eyebrows shot up before turning to his right.
'Honestly Harry, it's been a fabulous trip - not all plain sailing as we've said before, but you've been great company old boy.'
'Old boy huh? We'll see about that!'
Tony grinned in his usual charming way.
'Yeah, but not that old!'
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