SUNSET DOG BEACH

SUNSET DOG BEACH

A man is sitting on a log looking across the sea to Fife enjoying the view and thinking.
If this sunset was music, it would be a rich symphony, or better still Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture, resplendent with drama, noise and passion.

In front of him yellow and red flames leap from a brightly burning fire.
He is sitting in a cove surrounded by sand dunes, which make a surprising pasture for the marram grass growing there. Sloping downwards away from the fire are boulders, rocks and flotsam. In the middle of all this is a patch of smooth, firm sand. It’s a clear space and contrasts with the jumble of natural and man made disorder which surrounds it. The patch runs all the way down to the small lapping waves which give a constant rhythm to the scene.
The fire was made quickly with bone dry marram grass hidden under this year’s fresh growth. By some quirk of the tide the cove has a good supply of wood. Branches, logs, twigs and odd parts of man made objects each with its own history to tell. He only needed one match to light the wigwam he carefully made by placing a large pile of the grass at the centre and building it up with twigs and sticks.
He could have built a huge fire with all the wood available but he settled for a smaller, contained fire… the perfect size and he is sitting close. The flames warm the chill out of him. It’s autumn and dusk has come early on this Sunday evening. He’s completely alone. The fire shines out into the gloaming, creating a pool of light in defiance to the black and dark blue glowering clouds slashed through with vivid red and light blue streaks. Opposite; over the Forth lies Kirkcaldy, showing itself as a thousand pin pricks of light and behind them are the Paps of Fife running into the mist and darkness.
The man bends nearer the fire. He can hear the waves; he can feel the touch of the chill breeze. He savours the smell of wood smoke and the contrast of firelight and deep blue, darkening. There is a taste of salt in the air. His thoughts are calm and tranquil. It’s a spiritual moment a connection with nature.

The man is dozing; he feels something wet on his left hand. He gazes over and sees the cold tip of a nose. A dog has joined him without making a sound. He is attractive and fit looking. The dog has black fur with some white in it and an intelligent face. His eyes look at the man expectantly and his ears are standing up; the dog is alert and ready for action. The man pats him and rubs behind his ears. In response the dog licks the man’s hands and sits comfortably on his haunches.
There is no name tag on the dog who isn’t at all concerned about being alone with a stranger. They sit together in amiable silence looking at the fire, serene and at peace
‘‘Nae thing like a guid fire to warm your fur’ the dog says.

The dog sits up with his tongue hanging out. He looks at the man as if expecting an answer. The man stares down at him and realises that this is an important moment in their relationship. Will they be friends or is it a strictly man-dog power relationship? He thinks back to other dogs he has known over the last few years. Quite a few when you add them up. His golden rule with dogs is ‘be prepared to be friends with the intelligent ones.’ He doesn’t want to waste any more time with the numpties.
The man is still surprised by his ability to talk with dogs. It’s not natural. It came about over fifteen years ago when he had a near death experience. He was on holiday in Papua New Guinea and was swimming in a river when he was dragged under by a strong current. He remembers it clearly; he knew his time had come. As he began to lose consciousness a man appeared. He had decorative scars on his face. His hair was matted with paint and there were sticks and feathers in it. The apparition poured a drink into the man’s open mouth. Immediately his heart beat so hard it felt as if it was pushing itself out of his throat. His body roared with fire. He blacked out.
When he woke was lying in a grass roofed hut. Later that day the local shaman came through the door. It was the same man he had seen in his apparition. The shaman told him that he had only been saved through drinking powerful medicine; Iaawaska, and he said he was there to complete the miracle. The man had to accompany the shaman to the spirit world. That’s when he met his spiritual animal… a dog, the first dog he had ever spoken to… the first of many.
The man feels tense; he feels his stomach knotting. This happens when he is thinking about his special gift. After all he is rational, a scientist. How can he deal with the fact that he can talk to dogs?
The dog makes a friendly whimpering noise and wags his tail. He nuzzles up to the man. He knows what this man needs, uncritical and unbounded affection and loyalty… qualities beyond reason.

‘Where are you from?’ the man asks.
‘North of here Master’ the dog says and tilts his head to one side.
‘What’s your rank?’
‘Second to the pack leader.’
‘Do you have a name?’
‘Aye Master, it’s Spear.’
‘Who are your friends?’
‘The pack and you Master.’
‘Good we can talk.’
‘Aye, master.’
‘You realise that logically this can’t be happening. It means one of two things. Either I have broken through the species barrier or I have gone mad. I find both of those alternatives unacceptable.’
‘Master is worrit. Throw a stick, I’ll run after it for you. It’ll make you feel better.’
‘Not now… Maybe I should conduct an experiment. But my colleagues will never believe me.
‘They dinnae have to. You and I are allies. Foreby, oor ancestors fought togither through the ages. Dinnae fesh, let me comfort you.’
‘Listen, you’re an animal, a dog. You operate by instinct and gut feelings. I’m advanced, I have an intellect and I operate on rational principles, yet I feel as though I’ve lost something. I don’t feel content. Perhaps I should be more like you!’
‘Master. Can I speak plainly?’
‘Yes’
‘Do you mind humans treat us dogs fairly?’
‘No, not everyone but you have legal rights you know. People can’t treat you just as they want with impunity.’
‘But ye ken humans’ abuse dogs!
‘Yes they do, but then humans abuse each other and sometimes for no apparent reason.’
‘Och aye Master, and this is what you cry rational-scientific is it?’

The dog feels compassion for the man. He has seen into his heart. What resides there is loneliness. The man is using logic and rationality to fend off despair.
But this is a good Master. If he wants I’ll be his companion. He’s a better man than my last. He was neglectful; left me alone every day, ignored me and did’nae feed me richt.

But Spear senses that the man is angry; he doesn’t want to admit his fragility and he is frightened of commitment, to him or to anyone else.
‘You’re nae alone Master, you’re a part of nature, a part of allthing. You’re part o the human pack with your position understood by all.
As he listens the man thinks of his mother, brother and sister. He remembers being part of a family… he’s on his own now. He’ll tell the dog to go. He doesn’t need anyone or anything.
Before he can speak Spear looks up to the night sky. A full moon has appeared from behind the clouds. He stretches his head back and howls… a long heartfelt plea to the universe.
A moment later, far off a howl is heard in answer then another and a third, a fourth… a tenth.
Shadows appear at the edge of the firelight. One dog comes nearer than the rest. He looks more like a wolf than a dog. He is gnarled and has fur missing from his coat and he is showing yellow fangs.
The man is scared of the shadows and terrified of the wolf-dog. From nowhere he hears the voice of the shaman telling him to look into the eyes of the wolf-dog.
He looks into the primordial eyes and his vision becomes blurred, his boundaries become indistinct, waves of light flow over him, bathing him in warmth, opening up his consciousness. Passion grips him and he feels a strong bond with the pack. He understands them. The wolf-dog is called Scar. He’s the aggressive side of nature, he has to control and dominate. The opposite to Spear who is generous and compassionate. It’s an elemental clash. The man feels an alliance with Spear based on respect and affection.
Scar onto Spear and knocks him over. He lunges and takes Spear’s throat, going for his wind pipe and tearing at his jugular artery.
The pack barks and howls encouragement.
Now the man looks into Spears eyes and he sees himself years earlier on the ground, under the body of the school bully who was sitting astride him, hitting him in the face. The man recalls the taste blood… metallic and the pain, the humiliation. He remembers his integrity and spirit being compromised. Then his school teacher Mr. Derbyshire pulled the bully off and threw him against the chain fence surrounding the tennis court.
The man doesn’t hesitate, he draws his knife and thrusts it into Scar’s heart. After a moment’s silence the pack become angry, growling and moving forward.
Spear jumps into the pack but not to fight. He turns towards the man.
‘Master it’s time to decide. Open up your mind and feel the union of the pack. Become one with us.’
The man could go home to his cold, lonely flat, he could return to his tedious research job. But his heart jumps, it craves to be part of something vital and alive; to become a true aspect of nature. His heart demands that he answer Spear and face the pack.

The next day some walkers come across the remains of a fire. A man’s clothes are lying nearby. There are dozens of paw marks in the sand.

1781 Words.

11 Nov. 07
Revised 17.12.07 Revised 10 March 08