Loire

The sunlight spangled on the rolling ripples of the last wild river in the region, The Loire. its summer, nd I've stopped here to appreciate the shady glades, the summer breeze, a haven from the blazing broiling sun. Just over there are the sandbanks , the pools of water fast disappearing under the summer sun. Here and there are waterfowl, dipping in the river, flying around, terns nesting, cormorants fishing.on the horizon is the bridge at Ancenis and the river braids into many sections, leaving dry beds and islands.

Its been flowing through this region for centuries, millennium even. There are castles dotted all along its course, showing the power of the energy, the power of the communication. Just near where i'm standing are Neolithic stones, and about half a kilometer away archaeologists dug up a neolithic settlement on land to sold for a football club training grounds.

The branches hover over our heads, swaying in the wind, a green fringe to our vision. We will spend all day here, looking at the beach, watching the animals. A summer's day . The fluffy clouds float away, evaporated by the heat and nothing is moving on the dust roads away from the Loire. But here, down in the valley, a breeze still wisps its way over us, as we sit on our picnic blanket.

Our hamper is full of goodies, chilled drinks, a fine spread. Little by little we nibble through the fresh salad, the cold ham and chicken, the crunchy cucumber and radishes. A swig of cold lemonade and even a sip of ginger beer. We'd cooked a cake to finish our lunch, with a thermos of coffee.

The day druged to the twilight close. Dust settled and the heat started to leave the air. We'd gathered some rocks and built a circle, some flotsam and jetsam and we'd placed a hearth on the sand. We knew it was not permitted to set a fire on the beach, but we set up in a shady place over the dunes and we'd keep the fire low. A warm fire soon warmed us, the flames reflecting in the sweat of our bodies.

Suzie looked at me and smiled. The night was pulling in. No-one was around. She help two of my fingers, then my hand. She showed me she loved me, kissing me. She slipped off her top, I slipped of my clothes and we came close, breathing each others skins. Making love on the sandy beach was a risky business. There may be people walking their dog, or even perverts watching. We didn't care.

I stroked her hair, her shoulder, her breasts. Her eyes were on me, I smiled with my soul. She caressed my chest and my thighs. I slipped off her briefs and we we were naked under the stark starry sky. I could feel our hearts beating, throbbing in my moth. She showed me were to move my hands, my arms, my body.

Our night of passion was true, we really loved each other. We slept on the beach under the bivowak we'd build earlier, a flimsy canopy of leaves. We'd waited for this night.

It was in the early morning, the hush of dawn. There was an eerie summer haze over the Loire. That was when we saw the body floating down stream. Suzie stifled a scream, grabbing clothing from the piles around. We ran up the beach, towards the town, phones in hand. Garbling messages to the authorities, to families, to friends.

The gendarmes came and dragged out the corpse, and we had to explain what we'd been up to on the beach. After we wandered down to the beach, gathered all our things, hamper, leftover food and bottles and slowly walked to the top of the banks. A kiss, and a walk back to our homes. I didn't know if the gendarmes would tell our families but we were both adults. I didn't care anyway. I was more concerned about the corpse.

Was it another victim to the killer? there had been 6 bodies found in the last 4 months. Or a drowning? A suicide? A murder? The questions flashed through my mind like lights. I texted Suzie. What a great night but what a weird event. We'd meet later, that keenness of lovers. but the corpse left a bitter aftertaste to the outing and now we'd have to go public. Anyway, who wants to be in a relationship you can't share with anyone? We'd agreed. People would be happy for us, and those that weren't didn't count.