Mare’s Tales                   by: Beverly Taff

 

Chapter 23

We arrived at the final dockside in a remote little northern port high in the Scandinavian peninsular. A cruel winter gale had struck and the cold driving rain glittered like diamonds as the harsh dockside lights illuminated its descent. In the gathering puddles, the splash of each raindrop resembled a dazzling ballerina pirouetting in her shimmering quicksilver tutu for the fleeting instant of her brilliant glory. The cruel beauty of the scene belied my cold wet discomfort as I picked my way delicately between the gleaming gunmetal rail tracks towards the little ship we had chartered.

Our departure from England had been a narrow escape. I had been the last to leave and I had imprisoned the inquisitive reporter to kick his heels behind the time-locked door. My friends had left at different times to avoid attracting undue attention and we had each travelled a different route. Once clear of the house and the laboratories we had arranged our rendezvous at a ferry port on the east coast of England. This way nobody would have any advanced warning of our plans or final destination. We met up again in the large freight yard where our little convoy attracted no attention amongst the dozens of trucks and cars.

After crossing the North Sea we then crossed more land borders without any interference. Many times during our journey we had reason to be thankful for the recent new European border regulations that permitted easier border crossings without any searches.

At last we had arrived at the remote little northern Scandinavian port in the dead of night during a bitter gale. Our careful progress had left no discernible trail across half a continent and we had reason to feel proud of our achievement.

I had no reason to feel comfortable though. In the few seconds I spent crossing the dockside, the cold driving rain had penetrated my flimsy clothes and begun to chill my bones. I scuttled behind an abandoned container and peered back the way I had come. The two camper vans and the truck crouched under the huge dockside cranes as if huddling for shelter.

The bitter driving rain searched and probed for any leaks or weakness but Margaret and Dot sat cosily in their heated cabs whilst I had to brave the elements. I prepared to make another dash and spied some cargo grabs lurching drunkenly against each other. They were my next shelter.

As I teetered awkwardly in my wholly unsuitable heels, I was caught half way betwixt the grabs and the container when a vicious little squall whipped up my summer frock. The flimsy material ballooned up to expose my body to the cold and light. I was trapped beneath the glaring lights as I tried desperately to recover my modesty whilst getting rapidly soaked.

I pulled up the collar of my inadequate coat and huddled behind the grabs. With my back protected from the wind I peered again towards the vans and spotted several anxious faces watching my slow progress. I waved reassuringly then I suddenly recognised the additional faces of my centaur friends Veronica, Jennifer, Jacqueline and Cynthia as they peeped out from the camper vans.

I motioned angrily to them to get hidden again; there was no knowing who was looking at our little group.

I couldn’t blame them though. They had remained hidden away in cramped compartments for over three days as we had raced across country and they must have been itching to stretch their legs. My gesticulations conveyed my alarm and their faces disappeared again. Sighing with relief, I studied the last obstacle to the ship, a narrow swaying gangway.

The squall had rushed on leaving me hopelessly saturated. My underwear was soaking and my cold wet nipples rubbed sensitively against my bra as I picked my way towards the gangway. The ship was tugging and fretting as it fought with its moorings and the gangway was swaying each time the moorings became tight. Even in the shelter of the harbour the waves caused the ship to surge and sheer along the little quay. I gripped the gangway and wobbled nervously up the steps silently cursing the wholly unsuitable outfit of tight skirt and high-heeled shoes I had chosen to meet the captain and agent.

Once on the deck I paused to study the little ship.

She had been chartered at very short notice and had apparently only docked that afternoon. Despite the lack of time, I peeped down the trunking and was pleased to see that the extra equipment I had ordered was already stowed away in the lower hold. Next I studied the hatch covers and the lashing wires already pre-set to accept our vehicles. Who ever the agent was, they had done an excellent job.

Satisfied with the arrangements, I went to open the weather door and collided with someone sheltering in the dark alcove. I squeaked with surprise until I realised it was a girl and then I studied her with a puzzled frown. It was strange to find a woman in this essentially masculine environment and she could see that I was perplexed.

"I’m sorry to startle you, you must be Miss Beverly Hart," smiled the girl as she held out her hand, "my name’s Jane Cooper and I’m the agent who chartered the ship for you."

"Oh!" I gasped. "I wasn’t expecting a girl, you gave me quite a surprise. Have you been there all the time?"

"Yes."

I glanced meaningfully at our little convoy on the quay then back at the girl.

"You’ve obviously spotted the final consignment then."

"Indeed I have." Smiled Jane. "Shall we go and meet the captain?"

We struggled with the heavy clips on the weather tight doors and then stepped over the raised threshold into the accommodation. After a couple of flights of steep narrow stairs, we found the captain busy with some paperwork in his cabin. I knocked timidly and he spun around. A broad smile spread across his face and he stood up with his hand outstretched as I introduced myself.

"I’m Miss Beverly Hart Captain. The party who’s chartered your ship.

"Ah. Glad to haff you abooard." He smiled.

I placed my little hand in his huge paw and he shook it warmly. He was a huge figure of a man and resembled in every way my image of a Viking.

‘All he needs is a horned helmet and a sword’ I thought.

His thick Scandinavian accent rumbled in his throat as he explained the options available to me.

"I vill haff my crew lower der beeg loading ramp und your drifers can bring der trucks abooord straight avayee."

As he spoke he picked up his telephone and passed instructions to the mate. He then redialled and instructed the engineer to have the engines ready for departure. With these instructions completed, he turned to me again.

"Haff you all der papers ready?"

I opened my briefcase and presented him with the requisite documents and carnets. He scanned each one with a quick professional eye and then tapped them as he spoke.

"Gud, dey appeear to be in order. Ve can sail ass soon as der v’aggons drive abooard. Do not vorry about der veather. The v’ind is strong but the first part of der voyage is through de islands. Ve vill be well sheltered and my ship is sound."

Even as he spoke, I felt some vibrations and a dull rumble as the loading ramp slowly descended to the quay. The ships cargo deck lights came on and in a few minutes the whole ship had become a hive of activity. The captain advised me to get my ‘vaggons’ ready and I left with Jane. I was impressed with the efficiency of the whole operation and mentioned it to Jane.

"Yes," replied Jane, "I’ve used Captain Pedersen and his ship before. He’s an excellent seaman and this is an excellent little ship. It’s just right for the islands with a cargo hold and a vehicle ramp. You’ll have noticed that he’s a very taciturn man."

I was forced to agree. The ‘strong silent type’ sprung easily to my mind. Jane continued.

"Not much gets by him though; -nor out of him for that matter-, if he’s a mind to." She added as an afterthought.

"He won’t do anything illegal though. I think you’d better go and join your team or you’ll be holding us up."

Reluctantly, I pulled my flimsy coat around me and returned to the elements. The raw wind still sent sharp needles of cold sleet cutting into my face and exposed nylon clad legs as I splashed through the puddles. By the time I had reached my friends my flimsy summer frock was clinging like a second skin and exposing everything I had beneath. I glanced back self-consciously at the ship to see several pairs of greedy eyes studying me. A shiver sliced through me, whether from cold or fear I knew not but it prompted me to hurry around the blind side of my camper van and tap my little coded signal. The door unlocked and I gratefully clambered in, happy to escape the bitter Arctic wind. The engine was still ‘ticking over’ and I was desperately glad of the heat. Jenny and Cye studied my sodden condition and then passed me a warm towel to dry my hair.

"How’s everything going?" They asked as I handed them my soaking coat and clothes.

"Well the organisation is going fine but this bloody weather, we could do without. Can you pass me some dry knickers and a bra?"

They had already anticipated this and passed me a neatly folded change of warm dry clothes. I caught them studying my wet naked body and smiled.

"No time for any of that now. We’ve go to get aboard. Oh! And by the way, the ship doesn’t know about centaurs O.K."

They shrugged philosophically as I teetered awkwardly in the cramped space with my knickers around my ankles. Cye gently reached under my arms and supported me as I rushed to dress.

"More haste, less speed," Giggled Jenny.

With these words there was a loud growl as Dot revved up the truck. There followed some shouting as the mate strived to make his instructions heard above the rising wind. The truck’s headlamps swept across us as it swung wide to line up the ramp. For a brief instant the interior of my camper van was illuminated and my naked breasts were exposed for all to see. I cursed as Jenny and Cye ducked down just in time to avoid being seen. Sadly, my assets were arrayed for all to view as I frantically readjusted the curtains. Jane was leaning over the bulwark looking directly at my camper van. Her eyes widened appreciatively as she caught me with my arms spread wide and my breasts wobbling in the window as I tried to close the curtain. I was not too concerned about my tits. It was Jenny and Cye I was worried about.

After a few more hectic moments I was dressed and driving the camper van up the ramp to follow Margaret and Dot onto the little ship. Finally our vehicles were securely lashed down ready for the voyage. The centaurs kept silent as they heard the crew scrabbling around under the vehicles. It would be fatal if they were discovered at the last hurdle.

With the vehicles safely secured, Margaret, Dot and I were escorted to our cabins and the little ship sailed immediately. As the engines started to throb we girls prepared for bed. Margaret and Dot shared one cabin whilst I had been allotted to share with Jane. We tossed coins for bunks. I lost and took the upper one.

As the little ship swung and entered the channel she started to roll slightly and I glanced anxiously out of the window to study the vehicles. I kneeled on the little settee with my head in the porthole frame studying the spray lashing the foredeck. Silently I prayed that the seas would not wash the vehicles off the deck. Jane tapped me softly on the shoulder.

"Don’t open the curtains Beverly, it throws light out onto the foredeck and affects the watchman’s night vision."

I closed the curtains and blocked out any chinks of light. The ship gave a gentle lurch and I spun around unexpectedly. I caught Jane studying my derriere where I had been kneeling and leaning forward. In my tight stretch ski pants the outline of my bum was quite provocative and I secretly realised she had been lusting after it whilst I bent innocently looking out of the window. Her head had turned away too quickly as I had lurched off the settee. Women were alert to these things and I wondered what her sexual predilections were. I pretended not to have noticed.

"I hope it gets no rougher than that." I squawked as I recovered my balance.

"It’s only an alteration of course. Once we settle down on the next leg things will settle down."

"You know a lot about ships then?" I asked.

"Well I came here with the ship. It was quicker than going all the way round by road like you have done."

"Yes." I agreed. "If we had known about the route across the fjord we might have come on that little ferry we saw enter the harbour. Still; you live and learn"

We settled on her bunk to chat. I sat ‘cross-legged’ in my ski pants while she sat demurely in her business suite with her legs draped over the edge of the bunk board.

"It’s unusual to find a girl doing shipping agency work so far out here in the sticks." I commented.

"Well actually, I don’t live this far out. It’s my father’s business and I’m still learning the ropes before he retires. He operates out of London now whilst I have just started running the Rotterdam office. As I said, I came with the ship. I know Captain Pedersen well and his ship was handy in these waters at the time. It was just a happy coincidence and we’ve been able to save money. Had he been further away, say down in the Mediterranean; I would have had to charter another ship.

We loaded all the other stuff in Hamburg and Copenhagen as soon as your lawyer, Miss Veronica Tyler contacted us.

We just arranged for your lorries to meet the ship here as it was the nearest convenient place where you could be handled at such short notice. Once all the pieces were collected, it was simply a matter of jig-sawing them together."

"Well you’ve done very well at such short notice Jane. I’m impressed. How did Veronica get hold of your name?"

"Well apparently we both went to the same school and she contacted me down the old girl’s grapevine. Our old headmistress told Veronica about me.

Apparently Veronica was higher up the school and didn’t remember me but the school uses its old girl’s network a lot to keep contacts and business going."

A fricassee of excitement shuddered through my frame and I secretly hugged myself with anticipation as I spoke again.

"Oh yes. I remember now. Veronica once mentioned it, what was the name again; a Miss Lanners or Miss Langer or something?"

"Miss Lanes Academy," Corrected Jane.

"That’s right. Down in the country wasn’t it?"

"Yes. A beautiful setting."

"So. The old school tie and all that." I chided provocatively.

"Why not?" Jane responded defensively. "All the great public schools do it so why shouldn’t the lesser known ones do it as well?"

I was enjoying myself hugely and wondering if Jane was a girl or boy-girl. I decided to enjoy my little game a little longer and see what fun I could wring from the situation. I wondered if it would be possible to ‘accidentally’ walk in on Jane in the bathroom and see what turned up. I would have to lay my plans carefully.

"Yes I suppose so. All those types of schools do it don’t they?"

"Why. Do you disapprove?" She demanded, still on the defensive.

"Nooo," I shrugged dismissively. "It makes no difference to me. If Veronica can arrange a good deal for me through her old school tie then I’m quite happy. I’m only interested in saving and making money."

"Which school did you go to?" Inquired Jane.

"Oh just some common or garden place. I don’t know what you would think of it."

I tried to create the impression that I was just an ordinary kid from an ordinary school. Someone who had fought her own battles, carried the scars and made money in the fights. The last part was at least true.

"Ah well, it’s been a long day." I yawned. "Give me a hand up to bed please."

I balanced on the edge of her bunk and tried to stretch my legs to reach the upper bunk. In the tight ski pants my derriere and mons bulged provocatively and Jane could not resist ‘helping’ me into my bunk. Her hands were very discreet but I could tell she was ‘testing’ the soft rounded texture of my bum. If I had been a ‘woman’ in the presence of a ‘man’ it would have been deemed improper the way she helped me up. I could tell that she was intrigued by my lack of protest. Her thoughtful silence as she undressed told me a lot. I undressed on my bunk and slipped my clothes into my wardrobe by simply stretching down off the end of my bunk and hooking them onto the hangers. It was only a jersey, shirt and ski pants and they were oldish clothes. Jane was much more careful folding and layering her business suite as she neatly hung it up in her wardrobe. She casually turned away from me as she undressed and my suspicions were strengthened.

"Ah well. It’s been a long day." I yawned as I fluffed up my pillow. "If your ‘Miss Lanes Academy’ produces all its old pupils like you and Veronica then it must be an excellent place."

Jane smiled self-consciously at me in the mirror as she cleaned the makeup off her face. I wasn’t wearing makeup and I really was feeling worn out so I settled down and pretended to go to sleep. As my eyes closed Jane’s hand solicitously patted my arm.

"Sleep tight." She whispered as she turned off the cabin lights.

The engines beat steadily and the cabin creaked gently as the little ship pitched and rolled easily to the sea. I could hear the wind and spray lashing the windows but there was no dull thud or roar of heavy seas coming inboard. My friends in the campers were safe.

Amidst the noises of the wind and spray I nearly missed the gentle creak of Jane getting up out of her bunk. The little bathroom door opened quietly with the faintest sigh and I slyly watched Jane sneak through. The door clicked softly and I saw the dim gleam of light through the crack. After a few minutes the light went out and the shower started whispering. It was almost inaudible with all the attendant noises of the ship and the storm. I decided that this was my chance.

If Jane was a girl then my entry into the bathroom was a simple accident and nothing would come of it but if she were a boy-girl; then there would be some fun. I had to ask myself why she was showering in the dark with the shower almost inaudible.

I slipped down from my bunk and sneaked across the cabin. Taking a firm grip of the bathroom door I casually opened the door and ‘innocently’ switched on the light.

As the door flung open the sudden draught blew the shower curtain aside and Jane was exposed for all to see. I immediately spotted Jane’s penis before she had time to cover it. I feigned an apology then shock as I spotted what I already half expected.

"Oh! I’m sorry Jane. I didn’t real- Oh my God! What’s that?" I yelped.

"Bloody hell! You’re a boy!"

I pretended to be startled and scuttled out of the bathroom. I climbed up onto my bunk and hitched my bedclothes up around me as I crouched up in the corner of the bunk creating the best image of a frightened and panicked girl. I smiled as I heard the Jane’s frantic attempt to dry herself and prepare to enter the cabin. Next there was an urgent tap on the bathroom door and Jane’s anxious voice pleaded to come in.

"Beverly! Beverly, I can explain honestly. Can I come in?"

"You’re a boy. You’re a boy. Don’t come near me." I squeaked as I maintained my pretence.

"Well can I at least come into the cabin?" Pleaded Jane. "I can’t stay here all night!"

"I- all right then but keep away from me."

The door opened and Jane stood silhouetted in the bathroom light. She had wrapped a towel around her hips like a man would but her breasts were totally exposed. I secretly admired the soft ripe mounds and had a sudden urge to touch them but I maintained my pretence of the surprised girl crouching in the corner.

As I studied her rounded form I gradually became the ‘curious little girl’ and studied her breasts more boldly as she switched on the light. The fact that she had wrapped the towel around herself like a man was obviously some sort of message. If she had been a girl she would have wrapped it around her breasts and hips.

"W- what are you?" I whimpered, "a boy or a girl."

"I- I’ve never been sure my self."  Jane whispered nervously.

I continued staring at her breasts and then down at the towel. I had to display a typical girl’s reactions to Jane’s strange feminised body; threatened but curious. I continued being ‘shy’ as I let my gaze lock on her breasts with occasional nervous glances into her eyes.

"Did I really see a- a- you know?"

Jane nodded dumbly and lowered her head.

"D- does it really- you know- work?"

She raised her eyes and then lowered them again as she nodded.

"You’re perfectly safe Beverly. I would never use it on any girl who didn’t want to- to- you know. I would never force myself on anybody so don’t be frightened."

I smiled inwardly but my feelings got the better of me.

"Y- you won’t attack me or anything?" I asked feigning nervousness.

"Of course not." She smiled softly trying to calm my fears.

"I- I’ve got to go to the loo. Will you let me get past?" I pleaded still feigning shock and fear.

"Yes of course Bev. I promise you you’ve nothing to fear."

I clambered down from my bunk and cautiously sidled towards the bathroom. She patiently waited for me to finish but I decided to take a shower. After I emerged again she was still sitting on the settee with her towel around her waist, her beautiful breasts still swelling free with the firm ripeness of youth. I had wrapped the bath towel around my breasts and returned as a lady. I sat on the chair opposite the mirror and looked at her through it as I dried my hair. I then took the blower and asked her to dry my hair.

"C- can I trust you to do my hair?"

She was anxious to prove her good intentions and jumped at the chance to prove I could trust her. I relaxed and enjoyed the gentle attentions of her fingers through my hair as the blower wafted its warm caress through my tresses. As she gently combed out the knots, her soft ripe breasts occasionally caressed my shoulders. I let her see my curiosity and deliberately stared in the mirror at her breasts as they wobbled enticingly around my head. Noticing my interest she moved around to dry my fringe and she paused for a moment with her treasures poised in front of me. Gently I touched one like a nervous young girl. She twitched and gasped softly.

"Are they real or silicone?" I asked.

"They are all my own, look; no scars."

She lifted up the beautiful fruit to reveal a clear white milky smoothness. She was quite right. No surgeon had ever been near them. I glanced up again into her eyes.

"A- and that p- p- penis. Th- that’s real as well."

"Yes." She sighed patiently. "But as I’ve said, I’ll never hurt you with it."

My hair was dry now and fell in long silky folds over my shoulders. I stood up and realised that without her heels, Jane was a very petite girl. Even smaller than my five feet three inches. She would pose no physical threat whatsoever. She tensed anxiously as I loomed over her then froze as I went to lift the towel.

"No you mustn’t. Please don’t." She begged. "I don’t mean you any harm, honestly. We can change cabins in the morning. I won’t do anything to you I promise. Please don’t tell anybody. Nobody knows." She pleaded.

I started to giggle, as Jane stood paralysed with fear. My shoulders started to heave and then I let go with a suppressed chortle of mirth. Jane wasn’t sure what to make of it. She smiled wanly and relaxed a little as I recovered myself and collapsed into the armchair. I wiped the tears from my eyes and recovered enough to speak then I looked at Jane and held out my hands. She paused nervously so I beckoned her towards me and she approached cautiously.

"Oh dear! Oh dear." I gasped as I fought to recover my composure. "Oh dear me Jane, you looked a picture then. I’ve never seen anybody look so crestfallen and frightened in all my life."

I then fell into more paroxysms of silent mirth as I desperately tried to catch my breath again. I finally ended up giggling as I spoke.

"Oh dear Jane, I’ve never had such fun since I don’t know how long. Come here darling, you’ve got a lot to learn."

Jane edged forward until I could reach out and touch her. I stood up and gently kissed her cheek then lifted her hand to my lips. After kissing her hand I hugged her close then whispered in her ear.

"Darling, you’ll never have to force yourself upon me because I’d like to take you voluntarily. How would you like to go with me now?"

Jane nervously twisted around and searched my face for any trace of deceit. She couldn’t find it and I felt her relax a little as she replied.

"You mean- tonight?"

"Of course I mean here- and now." I added.

I gently peeled Jane’s towel off her hips to reveal the pretty little penis that had caused us both so much concern. She stood; unsure of herself and uncertain as to whether to cover it modestly or cross her legs demurely. Before she had a chance to do either I spoke.

"It’s not very big is it?"

"Well it’s the way the hormones worked when I was growing up. It caused my penis to be very small. I- I can’t do anything about it now." She sobbed.

"What on earth d’you mean hormones?" I demanded, as if I didn’t know.

"Oh it’s a long story," wept Jane, "and it never gets any easier with the telling."

"Never mind, my darling," I crooned, "size doesn’t really matter. Come on." I added encouragingly as I crawled into Jane’s bed and smiled invitingly over my shoulder.

She took the hint and softly slid into the bed behind me. I struggled with my nighty and she helped me ease it over my head then dropped it onto the floor. Carefully I unsnapped the poppers of my body shaper and worked it up over my bum.

Gently Jane peeled it up my back and over my shoulders with particular attention to my breasts as she eased them free of the cups. I giggled and squirmed as she tweaked my nipples and they erected almost immediately. Then completely naked, we snuggled up like two spoons in a draw. I snuggled my bum against Jane’s tummy as I felt her stiffening nipples gently prodding my back. With a couple more provocative twitches of my bum I felt her stiffening little cock gently insinuating its head questioningly towards my bum. I eased it past my bum hole and slowly started to rub it back and forth against my supersensitive vulva lips. My pussy inevitable responded to her evident skills and I smiled to myself as I felt that old familiar dampness around my labia.

Jane’s hand tenderly fingered around my hips searching for my clitty but I gently pushed it away and whispered that ‘I would play with my own ‘clitty’ when I was good and ready.’

Her training at Miss Lanes Academy had prepared her perfectly and she immediately obeyed my request. Instead, her tantalising fingers wandered slowly upwards and knowingly repeated their test of my nipples. Their stiff erect condition confirmed that I was ready for the cock and she gently inveigled her organ into my hungry sex. Now that the cock was firmly lodged inside me I began to think of her as a young boy and me as a young girl even though I was older than him.

Slowly, her short tender strokes and soft caressing of my nipples brought me to a superb orgasm then I felt her juices spurting, as her urgent needs were satiated. There was no doubt that Miss Lanes Academy had turned out an excellent lady-lover and I sighed with complete satisfaction at her generous and careful attentions.

The effects of the long day finally overwhelmed us and we fell into a deep sleep with her tumescent little cock drawn inside my greedy cleft. The gentle rocking motion and the deep regular throb of the engines acted like a lullaby, as we lay locked together until morning.

When we woke, Jane was still unaware that I had a cock and I decided not to tell her until after I had showered. With a soft skilful twitch I gently evicted her limp little cock from my cunny and slithered over her sleepy prone body as I stealthily crept to the bathroom. She mumbled sleepily but remained half asleep and I slipped into the shower.

I had completed my toilet and shower but she still lay on her back with her eyes closed as I re-entered the cabin. My nighty covered my secret so I gently knelt down over her as her lips smiled sleepily. Her tempting breasts rose and fell steadily under the thin linen sheets and I could see her nipples were stiff and erect. This usually meant that a boy-girl’s cock was erect so I carefully lifted the sheet and peeped down her body. She had a ‘lazy-lob’ so I decided to liven things up a bit. I gently took one nipple in my lips and slowly rolled it between my soft lips.

Jane still didn’t open her eyes as a soft smile wreathed around her lips. I gently reached down and softly fingered her cock so that the combined stimulation at that time of the morning soon had her as I needed her, hard and erect.

I slid under the sheet and proceeded to ‘mount’ her. She gave a little squeak and opened her eyes to study my ripe breasts as they wobbled in her face. Her smile said it all and she lay back to enjoy being ‘shagged by a girl’.

At first I sat upright but as our actions became more urgent, I lay along her and our tits, started to press and mash against each other. Her nipples started to excite my nipples. Inevitably this started to harden my cock and it started to press into her softly rounded tummy. I saw the puzzled expression cross her brow as she tried to squint down between our breasts and tummies. Suddenly her loins tensed and her body froze as she saw my cock for the first time. She reached up for my shoulders and bucked feebly as the shock of realisation crashed into her brain.

"Wh- what th-, Oooh! That’s not mi-. Mi- mine’s inside, I can feel it inside! Oh Christ Beverly. Th- that’s yours. My god! You’ve got a cock as well."

She tried bucking again but simply lodged her little cock deeper into my pussy. She hooted as I gently squeezed her member in my hermaphrodite sex. She stared pleadingly into my eyes as she experimented with the sensations around her cock.

"It- it’s not up you bum is it? It doesn’t feel like a bum. Please God, don’t let it be up your bum!" Her eyes screwed tightly closed and her lips whispered a little prayer as soft tears started to gather on her long soft lashes.

I sat bolt upright so that she could see my erect cock. She stared mesmerised, as I slowly lifted myself up on my knees until she could see her own cock lodged up my pussy. A look of puzzlement crossed her face as she noted the folds of my wet labia embracing her organ. Nervously she reached down and fingered along my cunny lips to check that her cock really was up a cunny. Eventually she reached my virginal bum hole and prodded with her nail. I let out a loud squeak and she jerked with fright.

"Ouch! That’s my bum."

Her fingers retreated and resumed exploring my cunny lips. I squirmed with pleasure and a deep frown of puzzlement came to her brow as her fingers pressed and probed. She thrusted experimentally with her cock again and I gave off a little gasp as my juices started flowing freely. Jane felt them dribbling onto her pubic hair and she hoisted me a little bit higher until her cock was nearly all the way out. My cunny was not to be denied and my pussy lips dragged demandingly on the last inch of her organ as though determined to keep it where it belonged. The gap was enough for Jane to twist her head around and ensure definitely that her rigid cock was not lodged in my bum hole. As the realisation dawned on her she let out a gasp of surprise and stared at me in shock.

"My God" She squealed. "Y-you’ve got a cock and a cunt!"

I smiled coyly and nodded as I spoke.

"That’s right clever girl. Don’t you remember all those stories about a hermaphrodite being at Miss Lanes the same time as Veronica."

A slow light began to dawn in Jane’s eyes as she realised how she had been tricked. It developed into a huge grin as she grasped how she had been strung along and she gave off a shrill squeak of laughter before starting to buck and squirm underneath me.

"Why you cunning little bugger!" She squealed, "If I had but realised. I- well I’ll be buggered. Well you’re a rum one and no mistake Beverly Hart."

She paused as she remembered my name.

"That’s right! Beverly Hart. Now I remember. So they weren’t rumours then. It was all true."

"As true as I’m sitting here." I giggled. "And Boy am I sitting here." I emphasised as I squirmed and gripped her rigid organ in my cunny.

Jane suddenly reached up and tweaked my nipples.

"Ow!" I squawked.

I reached for hers to return the insult but she hurriedly covered them with her hands and smirked.

"That’s for leading me such a dance you minx. I’ve been worrying half the night about you discovering my prick and all the time you- why it was an evil trick to play."

I smiled as I gently massaged my sore nipples

"It was good fun though." I giggled. "Dam! These nipples are sore now. You hurt me then."

Jane’s expression softened and she reached up towards me with her arms.

"Here. Let me kiss them better."

I got myself fully comfortable on her splendidly hard cock and gently leaned forward.

My own hard cock pressed into our soft tummies and my breasts swung invitingly over her face. She gently grasped one nipple with her petal soft lips and then carefully pushed the other one into her mouth. With both my tingling teats between her soft lips she gently licked them with her soft wet tongue. Within minutes the pain was subsiding. Soon the combined sensations of her tongue and prick had my whole body twanging like a harp. I started to squirm and pant in the throws of ecstasy as Jane’s hot urgent juices began to spray and splash inside me. Her moans of delight were muffled by my nipples, which had swollen like ripe strawberries in her warm soft mouth.

Our activities had attracted the attention of Dot and Margaret. There was only a thin steel bulkhead separating our cabins and they had heard our thumps and moans of our delight once they had woken up. They tapped discreetly on the dividing bulkhead and Jane froze with fear before I told her to relax.

"It’s only Dot and Margaret. They’re probably up to the same things themselves. Do you remember the old tapping code from school?"

Jane smiled and giggled as she nodded.

"Yes, along the heating pipes."

"What was the ‘all-clear’ signal? I can’t remember." I frowned "Wasn’t it three taps?"

Jane nodded affirmatively and smiled again before speaking.

"Yes and four taps was -Do you want to come to our dorm? -" She confirmed.

"Well go on then. Try it." I chuckled.

Jane tapped out three distinct knocks followed by four more. The old affirmative signal came back; two quick taps. We felt like two naughty schoolgirls as I tapped out ‘shave and a hair cut’. Two hard taps came back to complete the rhythm.

I stretched from the bunk and unlocked the latch of the cabin door to await Dot and Margaret. I felt Jane twitch inside me as though preparing to come out.

"No. You can stay inside me. They’ll understand."

"Won’t they be offended?" Jane whispered.

"Not if I know those two. They’ll want to join in."

There was a discreet double knock before they slipped quietly in and locked the door behind them as they turned to study us.

"Well! Well!" Giggled Dot. "What have we got here then?"

"Another ex pupil of Miss Lanes Academy. Look Margaret."

Jane had suddenly recognised Margaret and I felt her freeze with fear underneath me. They had not met the previous evening because Margaret had stayed with the centaurs on the pretext of checking some equipment. Jane’s little organ wilted inside me as the shock made her sag. She tried to wriggle from under me but her feeble efforts were useless under the firm grip of my thighs. Her efforts were pathetic and she couldn’t get free.

"D- Dr- Doctor James! Is it really you?" She bleated.

"Why yes of course it’s me. And you’re Miss Jane Cooper if I remember rightly, aren’t you?"

"Yes." Gulped Jane.

"So how come your here on this ship?" Asked Margaret.

"I- I’m the agent who booked it for Veronica."

"Aah! I see. So the Kraken’s tentacles of Miss Lanes Academy reach out even unto the northern seas do they?"

"W- well not quite Doctor James. Uhhm, Veronica contacted me via the old school tie network."

"More like the old school knicker network," I chided, "still. It seems to be working quite well."

Margaret smiled and chuckled.

"Well, there’s still something to be said for it then. Now if I remember rightly Jane, you left us as ‘boy-girl’ didn’t you?"

"Yes Dr James." Replied Jane nervously.

Margaret and Dot smiled at each other as Dot spoke.

"So who has been doing what and to whom?" She laughed as she quoted the limerick about a lesbian taking a queer to her room in Khartoum.

"Oh yes Dot." I giggled. "How does it go again?"

Dot smirked and recited the limerick.

"There was a young queer from Khartoum,

Who took a lesbian to his room.

They argued all night over who had the right,

To do what, and with which and to whom."

"I’ll bet something like that has been going on here." Smirked Margaret.

Jane and I chuckled as we smiled and wrapped the blankets around us. Thus swathed with her little organ still lodged inside me we shuffled into the bathroom and showered together. Margaret and Dot returned to their own cabin and we met again later at breakfast. At the table I noticed that the ship was beginning to move about more.

Captain Pedersen explained that the ship was now leaving the shelter of the islands and that we would be exposed to the open waves of the sea for about six hours. Even as he spoke Dots face became pale and she excused herself from the table.

After a splendid breakfast we made our various excuses and left to check our ‘ valuable equipment’ in the camper vans. Here we found Jacky, Cye, Jenny and Vee in excellent spirits considering their cramped conditions. Poor Vee, like Dot, was a little seasick but it was nothing too serious. They were warm because the vans were plugged into the ships supply and they had been able to cross between vans in the stormy secrecy of the dark during the night. This was the reason for their high spirits. The girls had spent a delightful evening sharing Jenny’s generous favours and Jenny looked little the worse for wear. The power and stamina of her centaur cock enabled her to perform all night if necessary. Furthermore, there had been so much noise from the other laboratory animals in the large truck that any noise by the centaurs had been completely masked.

In the tight confines of the camper vans we helped all four centaurs dress in clean unitards and underwear before we returned to the deck.

We studied the unfolding scene as the ship steadily ploughed on into the open sea. The gale had been short lived and blown itself out but a steady breeze and long easy swell caused the ship to pitch and roll easily. As the bow pushed into each rolling swell a vicious little cats-paw was snatched by the breeze and whipped spitefully across the deck to catch the unwary. We all scampered for cover amidst squeals of surprise and a loud laugh of amusement from the wheelhouse.

The cold spray had soaked our flimsy blouses and we each noticed our nipples hardening through the cold wet material. We gathered behind the mast house trying to get warm and hide our embarrassing condition from the worldly gaze of the seamen.

It was no easy task to get past the knowing looks of the seamen on deck as we self-consciously returned to our cabins and dry clothes.

Eventually, the ship reached the lee of the island that was our destination. We rounded a headland and skirted along the coast until we came upon a little harbour tucked secretively between the two highest hills on the southern part of the island. The island had been deserted for several years after the original wealthy owners had abandoned it. None of us knew what to expect.

Captain Pedersen nosed his way carefully between the headlands and felt his way towards a small stone quay as the mate carefully sounded around the bow. Nobody knew what to expect but it was a sensible man who checked that no obstructions had fallen into the water beside the quay. Slowly the little ship inched inwards until one of the younger crewmembers leaped nimbly ashore and secured the mooring ropes.

The old captain had wisely coincided his arrival with a suitable tide so that the loading ramp was ideally pitched for trucks, camper-vans and forklifts to drive straight off. The ship’s derricks also lifted two additional Landrovers out of the main hold along with all the packing cases and animal cages. The whole operation was completed within the hour and the documentation finished soon after. We paid our respects to Captain Pedersen as I studied the mountain of material filling the quay. I had never realised just how much cargo even a small ship could carry. Captain Pedersen raised a glass.

"Vell ladies. De tide iss falling now and ve must get avay beffore I lose my depth. I vish you der best off luck."

I placed my hand in his huge paw and bade him farewell before making my way ashore down the cargo ramp. I was surprised to find Jane following me down the ramp and I turned to her as I walked along the quay.

"I won’t need any help with the mooring ropes. There’s only four and I can easily manage them. You get back aboard before she sails."

Jane looked pleadingly into my eyes as she spoke.

"Can I stay with you on the island for a while? I can help you set things up."

I thought about my friends, Jenny, Cye, Vee and Jacky with their centaur bodies then tried to determine what extra risks there where from another person finding out. I was about to refuse but her pleading eyes and wistful expression made me change my mind.

"O.K., then, but do you promise not to reveal or talk about anything you see or hear on the island?" I demanded.

Jane looked puzzled for a moment and wrinkled her forehead.

"Yes. O.K. then. But what’s going on?"

The stern ropes were slackening down and I lifted them free as I spoke again. My voice was drowned by the whoosh of the ships engine and the surge of angry water under the stern as it the ship moved off. I saved my breath as we trotted to the bow to handle the bow ropes. After letting these go I stood recovering my breath as we watched the little ship manoeuvre skilfully away. Finally he captain gave one last toot on his whistle and the ship slowly passed behind the headland. I had a long time to gather my thoughts before turning again to Jane.

"We are conducting biological research into limb replacement and surgery. For this we need complete secrecy from our competitors. This mountain of stuff behind us on the quay is all scientific equipment and it needs storing away in that shed as soon as possible before the weather breaks. Can you drive a fork-lift truck?" I asked jokingly.

"Actually, I can. It’s just the sort of thing a stevedoring agent would learn in her job."

I stared at her in surprise then smiled happily.

"Oh excellent. You can start on this lot then."

I motioned to the mountain of equipment with my thumb just as the sound of a returning engine interrupted us. Dot and Margaret had returned from the farm in the middle of the island. They looked suspiciously at Jane as they climbed down but their questioning glances were directed at me.

"I thought Jane was returning with the ship?" Queried Margaret.

"She asked if she could stay to help set it all up and- well we could do with an extra pair of hands." I finished lamely.

"Or another pair of balls." Murmured Dot.

Only I heard Dot’s remark and I did not respond to her accusation. Subconsciously I knew it held more than a grain of truth but I found it hard to admit to myself.

Jane fidgeted nervously. She realised that her presence was causing some friction but she couldn’t work out why. She decided to break the ice by offering to drive the forklift truck and Dot acceded to this. Dot had to drive the heavy truck full of laboratory animals over the rough road from the quay to the warm farmhouse. Jane’s offer would save a lot of time and work if she moved the equipment into the shed on the quay. It would also make it safe from the threatening rain. Dot was the only other one amongst us who could drive the forklift so she realised that Jane’s additional skills would be more than welcome. It also gave Dot a chance to warn the centaurs about the new addition to our group when she returned to the farm.

With these arrangements sorted, Dot climbed into the truck and drove to the farm whilst Margaret, Jane and I set about moving the packing cases into the shed and sorting out the equipment. Jane’s skill with the forklift meant we were ready to load the remaining essentials onto the truck when Dot returned empty. This done we formed a small convoy as we drove to the farm with truck, fork-lift, camper van and one of the two Landrovers we had brought over with us on the boat. Margaret and Dot went on ahead as I escorted Jane’s forklift in the Landrover.

By the time we two arrived at the farmhouse there was a huge fire roaring and the waterwheel was generating power. Jacky and Cye were busy modifying the back door to a simple swinging split stable door to facilitate easy access for Jenny and Vee who still lacked any arms. As I topped the last brow approaching the farm I spotted my four centaur friends discreetly slip inside the farmhouse to await Jane’s arrival. We stopped in the farmyard beside the truck and Jane climbed down to meet Dot and Margaret’s reception.

"Made it!" Jane grimaced as she rubbed her bum. "That road is terribly bumpy without springs on the fork-lift."

Her gaze spanned the three of us and she realised that something important was afoot.

"Oh oh!" She gulped. "Now what?"

There was a longish pregnant silence. Dot and Margaret had elected me to be spokesman by simply saying nothing and waiting. I wasn’t sure how to start, so I simply demanded that Jane re-iterate her earlier vow of secrecy.

"Before we go any further Jane. Will you absolutely swear to keep anything you see or hear on the island absolutely secret?"

"Yes." She agreed impatiently. "I already said that back on the dockside."

"I know that Jane but I wanted to make sure that Margaret and Dot heard it as well as Veronica, Jennifer, Cynthia and Jacqueline."

Jane frowned again with puzzlement

"Who?" She queried.

I called my friends from the kitchen where they had been patiently waiting. The split doors flew open and Veronica trotted into view.

Jane was thunderstruck. Her Jaw sagged and her eyes popped as a strangled gurgle escaped her. Her jaw started to work for several seconds before her voice returned.

"Oh my God!" She blurted, "a- a- centaur."

"Yes indeed," laughed Veronica as she pranced up to Jane, "but you may call me Veronica, or Vee for short."

Jane stood transfixed with her back against the forklift as the remainder of my friends burst through the door and stood around her.

"Oh poor dear," crooned Jenny, "she’s nearly feinted."

Jacky and Cye gently lifted Jane onto Jenny’s back and they carefully carried her into the kitchen. Poor Jane’s skirt had ridden up over her thighs as she sat astride Jenny’s back and Jacky and Cye carefully massaged her thighs before placing her in a kitchen chair by the fire. The rest of us followed at a discreet distance to find Cye and Jacky gently loosening the bodice of Jane’s blouse. The kettle was already boiling so we made some tea and waited for Jane to recover from her shock.

None of the centaurs knew about Jane’s penis and I decided to let them enjoy the surprise that night. It would also be a wonderful surprise for Jane when she discovered that each of the centaurs had a girl’s pussy between their front legs in addition to their pony pussies.

Jane had yet to realise my real reasons for letting her join us. (Only Dot had worked that one out.) It was to help me meet the demands of six very active pussies.

The ‘cup that cheers’ soon helped Jane to recover and she sat up to study the centaurs more closely. Each of them was wearing a Lycra unitard with stretch lace bodies underneath so their general forms were quite apparent to Jane. She noticed the additional bulge under Jenny’s flanks and raised a questioning eyebrow. Jenny smiled and nodded her head. This fascinated Jane and she carefully reached under Jenny’s flanks to touch the Lycra encased penis. Jenny let out a little snort followed by a sigh as she sidled nervously away. She turned to speak to Jane.

"You be careful Jane. Don’t start what you can’t finish."

"Are you a stallion then and the other three mares?" Asked Jane.

I caught Jenny’s eye and raised a warning finger before pointing to my pussy. Jenny caught my drift and gave a noncommittal reply.

"Well sort of Jane."

"Hmmm, this gets more interesting by the minute."

I decided to interrupt proceedings before too much was given away too early.

"Is the big bed ready yet?" I demanded.

"Yes!" Chorused the centaurs.

"What a stupid question Bev." Chided Cye. "That was the first thing we did."

The centaurs had been extremely busy whilst we had been down on the quay. The largest bedroom had already been prepared and the centaurs led the way. The farmhouse had been a huge rambling affair in its heyday. It was all built on one level and added to by various owners and generations. It suited our purposes exactly. Jane gasped when she spied the big bed in all its glory and she grasped the significance of it immediately.

"Do the centaurs sleep on it?"

"We all sleep on it my dear," grinned Dot, "except when any of us is tired or wants a rest." She added significantly.

I Distinctly saw Jane’s thighs squeeze together with anticipation and noticed that Margaret had spotted it too. She caught my eye and nodded surreptitiously towards the door. We sauntered over and Margaret whispered in my ear.

"Do the centaurs know she’s a boy-girl?"

"No." I mouthed.

"Fun and games tonight then." She smiled.

I glanced around and already Jane was sitting on the bed. It was too early to start anything yet so I clapped my hands like a teacher bringing the class to order.

"I’m starving. How about something to eat before any fun starts."

Reluctantly everybody agreed to this and we returned to the kitchen to prepare a meal. The atmosphere was electric in the kitchen as everybody pitched in. We couldn’t resist touching and fondling each other as we busied ourselves with the various tasks. Everybody was anticipating the various delights of the evening to come and we were all in excellent high spirits.

Many hands make light work and with six pairs of hands between eight, the meal was not long coming. Jane was fascinated with the way we all pitched in and pulled together, especially the centaurs. She had now realised that the centaurs were essentially ‘human’ and accepted them for that. She even occasionally groped their rumps as they passed her in the kitchen. She still hadn’t realised that my friends had front pussies as well and my friends were well aware of the surprise awaiting her on the big bed. The undercurrents of anticipation and excitement were supercharged with tension during the meal and the food was consumed amidst a noisy chatter and laughter as we related our researches and histories to Jane. We even let her sit next to Jenny so that she could familiarise herself with Jenny’s needs. As she helped to spoon jenny’s food I described our plans to eventually replace Jenny and Vee’s useless limbs by grafting some suitable appendages onto their stumps.

Jane studied Jenny’s equine rump and smiled as she spoke.

"Well I can see that you must be well on the way to success. This alone is an incredible development?" She patted Jenny’s rump and gently squeezed her flanks.

"Six months to a year should just about complete our work. We’ve already tested some suitable limbs. It’s a matter now of simply growing suitable specimens."

"And boy won’t we be glad when we have." Added Jenny.

The meal was drawing to a close and the autumnal northern sun was setting behind the hills. As the shadows lengthened the mood around the table turned to thoughts of the bed and the atmosphere became charged with sexual tension. I was just finishing my cup of coffee when Margaret suddenly announced-

"Last one to bed is a sissy."

The chairs and benches scraped noisily across the floor as we erupted from the table and rushed headlong down the hall to the bedroom. Needless to add I arrived last. The tension around the table had already caused my supersensitive pussy lips to become engorged and damp. With each urgent step down the hall my penis had become stiffer and stiffer so I was fully erected by the time I arrived at the big bed. My desperate condition was not helped by the tight constriction of my erection in my body shaper and I frantically fiddled under my skirt to relieve the discomfort. My late arrival almost caused me to miss the early fun.

As I entered the door, Jane was already starting to remove Jenny’s body shaper. She discovered the poppers in Jenny’s front crotch and let out a squeal of joy as she discovered Jenny’s beautiful pussy nestling between her forelegs. She couldn’t resist gently investigating Jenny’s sweet surprise before removing the rest of her unitard to reveal Jenny’s gorgeous stallions penis. Having made this discovery, Jane turned her attentions to the other centaurs as they undressed. She shrieked with ecstatic delight as they each exposed their front pussies then she self-consciously investigated each pussy and gasped as she ascertained that my friends each had front and rear pleasure spots.

"My God! But you’re lucky. I wish I had two sets of organs. Still this’ll be a nice surprise."

She turned her back to me and I helped undo the back buttoning bodice of her frock. Then, after briefly fiddling with the poppers of her panty corselet, she shyly pulled her little penis into view. It was beginning to get erect and presented an acceptable addition to the variety of organs amongst the group.

The centaurs cheered and clapped as they realised that they would not have to wait so long for my services in future. Veronica turned to me and whispered as she pointed to Jane’s pretty little organ.

"That may not suite me, but it will mean that I can have more call on yours as the others share Jane."

I smiled and gently hugged Vee towards me as we clambered onto the bed and slipped under the huge duvet. By now all of us were raring to go and the three cocks were as stiff as iron. The pussy owners decided to toss coins for turns and Veronica and Jacky won. We briefly explained about Veronicas buried clitty and Jane agreed to take Jacky. Jane carefully studied how I made love to Veronica’s front pussy before allowing Jacky to gently push her down and mount her with her front pussy. Jane let out a little squeak of delight as Jacky settled down gently and gripped her delicious little organ inside her hungry sex. As Jane started to gently rock back and forth she was startled to find Jenny mounting Jacky from the rear. Jacky let out a soft whinny of pleasure as she responded to Jenny’s affections and the threesome were soon in the throws of a gigantic mutual orgasm. Needless to add, Veronica and I were not unaffected by this activity and our own mutual climax was not long in arriving.

Cye gently nestled down with her front cunny by my lips so I gently raised my head and softly kissed her swollen clitty. Vee took the hint and gently reached down to kiss Cye’s turgid nipples as we three were swept into our own world of delight.

Jane was not slow to realise that Jenny’s front clitty was within easy reach and her knowing fingers were soon reaching around Jacky’s ‘waist-neck’ to tantalise the precious ripening fruit. Jenny let out a series of confused squeaks and neighs as her male and female parts combined to send her into paroxysms of ecstasy.

Margaret and Dot decided to share a fully lesbian relationship at the head of the bed and their pussies became connected by a double-headed dildo. I slyly reached out and started to wiggle the dildo to and fro between them and a series of startled gasps erupted before they realised what was going on. As they became aware of my activities their bodies simultaneously started to react to my handiwork and they started to grunt with pleasure. Within a few minutes their metabolisms had erupted into climax and they collapsed in a befuddled heap.

This jigsaw of activity continued in various different permutations for some time before the whole octet settled into an exhausted but satiated sleep.

The following morning found the humans gently contained between the soft velvety flanks of the centaurs with their heads and torsos each curved inwards to share the intimacy like the spirals of a galaxy. Despite the cold northern dawn we cuddled cosy and snug as we enjoyed the extra body heat of their warm velvety skins. Each mouth had someone else’s nipple gently grasped within its lips as the weak sunlight slowly cast its feeble rays onto the bed. We were all reluctant to leave the luxury of our octet for the cold of the farmhouse kitchen.

Our reluctance was consequent upon our exhaustion from the last few days of solid driving across half a continent and the final voyage on the ship. Each of us drifted into and out of sleep as we lay abed until the early afternoon before anybody had enough energy and determination to stir. Eventually I was forced to leave the bed as a call of nature demanded to be met.

I secretly cursed Margaret for her surgery to my bladder all those years ago. I had hung on long enough and minced awkwardly as I crossed my legs and waddled provocatively to the bathroom. I could feel several sets of eyes resting on my swaying buttocks as I closed the door. A desperate flood finally escaped me and I gasped with relief. As I made to enter the shower there was another sharp tap on the door. It was Jenny demanding to come in and relieve herself. The hard click of her hoof on the door served only to accentuate the fact that she still had no arms and was unable to open the door.

I could sympathise with her predicament and I opened the door. She stepped in and I helped to guide her stallion’s cock into the pan. There she stood with a look of self-conscious relief as her water thundered noisily into the pan.

"Can I join you in the shower Bev?"

"O.K. Jen, just don’t step on my bare feet." I giggled.

Carefully we squeezed into the shower. It was not designed for centaurs and Jenny’s rump stuck out as we rubbed each other down. She then turned around and I washed her rear quarters.

We also lacked the drying facilities we had always enjoyed and it was a long time before her velvety coat was dry enough to put her unitard on. The installation of the new showers and dryers was to be our first priority especially now there were eight of us to cater for.

As I returned to the bedroom the others were still lying in. They were in various states of arousal and some were still indulging themselves whilst others still slept. Jenny and I smiled as we made our way to the kitchen. The deep trust and understanding that had developed between us meant that any one of us could enjoy any one else if both parties felt like it. This rule applied to threesomes or more and there were no jealousies about it. We had become a very close nit society. As we busied ourselves in the kitchen we heard the others showering and slowly they appeared in the kitchen as hunger manifested itself.

Dot of course, with her fixations about sex and domestic activities was the first to join us. In anticipation of her favourite sexual activity, namely housework, she had dressed in a very skimpy sexy French maid’s outfit that made her look very vulnerable. After eating she shooed us out of her kitchen and we decided to go for a drive and get to know the island. The centaurs had a little bit of trouble getting into the long wheelbase Landrovers but with some judicious pushing, probing and surreptitious groping we finally got them in amidst some giggling and squeals of laughter. Poor jenny and Vee had the ‘worst’ of it. With having no arms to help them in it was a bit of a fiddle to manoeuvre their rumps onto the seats. Their squeals and shrieks of mock protestation were certainly the loudest. Eventually we were all ensconced in the Landrovers and setting off around the Island.

The rough weather of the last few days had finally given way to some sunshine and the island looked it’s best as we carefully picked our way along the rough tracks. The autumn colours were certainly a maelstrom of gold, reds, oranges and yellows to complement the purple and grey hills. This high ridge of hills protected the island pastures from the cold northern and easterly winds and this was why the farm had grown there through history.

The lower slopes of these hills were covered in trees that encroached slightly onto the grassy plain. It was obvious that the larger trees on the plain had been allowed to grow to provide protection and shelter for any crops of livestock. The farmhouse and little harbour were at the southern end of the island where a lower line of hills sheltered the harbour from the prevailing southwesterly seas. The only direction where the farmhouse could be seen was from the west and we could easily watch anybody approaching from that direction. The privacy offered by the island was perfect.

I stopped and Jenny and Vee scrambled awkwardly out. Margaret and Jane pulled up alongside and Cye and Jacky let themselves out. We prepared an excellent picnic under the trees then the centaurs enjoyed themselves galloping about on the grassy plain playing tag. Their shouts and laughter could be heard for nearly a mile in the stillness of the autumnal afternoon. We finally signalled to them that we were returning but they simply replied that we could carry on while they would return on their own. They arrived back at the farmhouse nearly half an hour before us having dashed over the undulating pastures whilst we had stuck to the winding road.

As Margaret and I drove over the last little hill we spotted my father’s helicopter flying low over the hills from the south. He spotted our vehicles and buzzed low. I recognised Bernard, Jeanette, my older children and Nicholas and Christine sitting on their knees. Margaret’s daughter Susan also held her younger sister Pauline on her knee. I finally recognised my stepmother Mary as the last passenger. The helicopter must have been flying close to the limit of its capacity. We gunned the Landrovers to meet them in the farmyard.

 

 

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© 2001 by Beverly Taff. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.