A pale moon hung silently in the sky, casting a pale glow throughout the valley to lead the boys to their destination. Stephen ran headlong into the night knowing the way to the orchard by heart. Scrambling over the low stone wall he paused to look back for Robert, two years his younger. Robert was keeping up the best he could, but at seven he trailed his brother by several yards. "Come on Robbie, I'll "ave eaten me fill fore ye even get "ere." Stephen shouted back as way of encouragement before disappearing into the orchard to gorge himself on the ripe apples.
When Robert finally caught up he found his brother sitting under a tree happily munching away on an apple. Throwing himself down on the ground next to his brother Robert picked up an apple and took a bite. "Ye thin" Ma will be sore if"n she finds out we stole away?" Stephen ignored Robert's question and stood grabbing a low branch of the tree. "Let's climb up an' see if we can see the fleet!" Stephen started to pick his way up through the branches to the top of the tree.
While Stephen found a secure place from his perch at the top of the tree to scan the dark bay Robert was content to sit at the base now working on his second apple. Stephen let out an excited yelp as he pointed out to the bay. "Look Robbie, there be lights out on the bay!" Robert shrugged and laid his head back against the tree. "I'm tired Stephen lets go home." Stephen swung down through the branches until he stood before Robert a sword fashioned from a branch swishing back and forth. "Go home" Ye are a babe Robbie. Jus" imagine tha' migh' be Ol" Grannie O"Malley out there." Stephen bounced about slaying imaginary foes on the deck of a ship.
"Let's go to the bay an' see if we can get a better view." Stephen suggested and then turned to run. "I dun want tae go down there Stephen." Robert answered, fear rising in his voice. Stephen gave a disgusted look to his brother unable to fathom his fear of the dark waters and what lived in them. "Fine stay "ere then." Stephen stated and then he cruely added "By yerself in the dark." Taking off before Robert could decide lest he would miss the passing of the ship.
Stephen was running as fast as he legs could carry him, the sounds of Roberts cries echoing after him. Reaching the stony shore head of the bay Stephen began to look for the lights of the ship. There was a small skiff down the shore that the old men used to fish the bay. In his excitement Stephen decided that borrowing the skiff to get a better look at the bigger ship wouldn't cause anyone a problem. As he waded into the tidewaters Robert showed up, his face streaked with tears. "Come on then Robbie ye can "elp me row." Robert shook his head but still followed his brother, more afraid of being left alone again then he was of the dark mysterious waters. "Dun worry Robbie, I promise I will always protect ye." Stephen flung an arm about his brother to reassure him before he grabbed an oar and began to row them out into the gloom.
When Robert finally caught up he found his brother sitting under a tree happily munching away on an apple. Throwing himself down on the ground next to his brother Robert picked up an apple and took a bite. "Ye thin" Ma will be sore if"n she finds out we stole away?" Stephen ignored Robert's question and stood grabbing a low branch of the tree. "Let's climb up an' see if we can see the fleet!" Stephen started to pick his way up through the branches to the top of the tree.
While Stephen found a secure place from his perch at the top of the tree to scan the dark bay Robert was content to sit at the base now working on his second apple. Stephen let out an excited yelp as he pointed out to the bay. "Look Robbie, there be lights out on the bay!" Robert shrugged and laid his head back against the tree. "I'm tired Stephen lets go home." Stephen swung down through the branches until he stood before Robert a sword fashioned from a branch swishing back and forth. "Go home" Ye are a babe Robbie. Jus" imagine tha' migh' be Ol" Grannie O"Malley out there." Stephen bounced about slaying imaginary foes on the deck of a ship.
"Let's go to the bay an' see if we can get a better view." Stephen suggested and then turned to run. "I dun want tae go down there Stephen." Robert answered, fear rising in his voice. Stephen gave a disgusted look to his brother unable to fathom his fear of the dark waters and what lived in them. "Fine stay "ere then." Stephen stated and then he cruely added "By yerself in the dark." Taking off before Robert could decide lest he would miss the passing of the ship.
Stephen was running as fast as he legs could carry him, the sounds of Roberts cries echoing after him. Reaching the stony shore head of the bay Stephen began to look for the lights of the ship. There was a small skiff down the shore that the old men used to fish the bay. In his excitement Stephen decided that borrowing the skiff to get a better look at the bigger ship wouldn't cause anyone a problem. As he waded into the tidewaters Robert showed up, his face streaked with tears. "Come on then Robbie ye can "elp me row." Robert shook his head but still followed his brother, more afraid of being left alone again then he was of the dark mysterious waters. "Dun worry Robbie, I promise I will always protect ye." Stephen flung an arm about his brother to reassure him before he grabbed an oar and began to row them out into the gloom.