Eleven
The morning was growing hotter and the sun beat down as Russell and Hanna sat in a queue of traffic. They had driven in silence for the last ten or fifteen minutes, partly because Russell wasn’t sure if Hanna had dozed off, or if she was simply ignoring him, and partly because he couldn’t think of the right thing to say after their earlier conversation. But now he had to say something.
‘Would you like me to pull over somewhere so that we can get that ice cream? It shouldn’t be much longer, once we get out of this traffic jam, but it’s already a scorcher. Shall I put the roof up and turn on the air conditioning?’
‘I don’t mind,’ she said, without turning to look at him. ‘I’m fine. But if you want the roof up, that’s also fine with me. And I can wait for the ice cream. Good things are worth waiting for, so I’ve heard.’ Now she did give him a brief smile, and relief surged through him.
‘I’m fine too. Erm. Have you been to Hastings before?’
‘Nope. I’ve heard of it, of course. Who hasn’t? The Battle in 1066. The arrow in King Harold’s eye. The Bayeux Tapestry.William the Conqueror, and all that. But no. I’ve never been there. Have you?’
‘No. It’ll be an adventure for both of us. I hear there’s a Crazy Golf course on the seafront.’ He grinned across at her. ‘And, of course, like Folkestone, the town is famous for its fishing fleet. There’re caves in the cliffs, where smugglers hid their goods in a maze of tunnels. There’re a couple of museums. And all the usual things a seaside town has to offer.’
‘Like deckchairs you trap your fingers in, and seagulls pooing on your head and nicking your chips, you mean?’
‘Yes. Exactly like that. Which is why we’ll eat at a restaurant.’
‘I’m glad you’re paying then.’
He threw her a smile. ‘Ah, at last. The traffic is moving again. Hastings, here we come.’
‘I bet that’s what William the Conqueror said,’ she joked. ‘Although I suppose he came by boat.’
‘And he didn’t land in Hastings. He landed a little farther along the coast, although from what I read on line, there’s some dispute as to the precise location. Plus, the battle wasn’t in Hastings either. It was at Senlac Hill, a few miles north of Hastings, and where the town of Battle is now situated.’
‘It must’ve been a tough life in those days. I bet they didn’t have ice cream either.’
‘No. It makes you wonder how they survived.’
Their banter seemed to be back on track and they chatted amiably for the rest of the journey to the Old Town of Hastings.
‘Is it actually called ‘the Old Town’ and is that because there’s a new town?’ Hanna asked as they neared their destination.
‘Yes. And there’s the sign to prove it. That coat of arms on the sign is the heraldic emblem of the Cinque Ports, and Hastings is one of the original towns. Since those first five towns of Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich, were given thestatus, other towns, like Folkestone, have been added, as so called, limbs, of the originals.’
‘Why are there three golden lions, cut in half and attached to the sterns of three gold ships? Is that depicting the lions of England, and the ships providing service to the Crown?’
‘That’s exactly what it is.’
‘I’m not just a pretty face and a hugely talented artist,’ she joked. ‘I can also read stuff in books and on the internet.’
Russell laughed. ‘I knew that.’
He parked in the car park at a place called The Stade at one end of the Old Town and bought them both an ice cream as they wandered along the promenade. They strolled past the fun fair and the boating lake, until they reached the Crazy Golf course where Hanna challenged him to a game. Which she won.
From there they walked along George Street which was pedestrianised, and they popped in and out of a variety of shops until Hanna announced she was starving.
They found a restaurant that served fresh fish, and had a covered outside space, providing the best of both worlds. They were shaded from the glare of the sun but could still sit outside and watch the world go by.
After lunch they visited the art gallery Russell’s friend from uni had opened.
‘This is Emma,’ Russell said, introducing his friend to Hanna. ‘And Emma, this is Hanna, a good friend of mine from Betancourt Bay.’
Emma shrieked with delight and ran to Hanna and hugged her.
‘Oh God, I’m sorry, Hanna,’ Emma said, releasing Hanna as quickly as she had grabbed hold of her. ‘I didn’t mean to do that, but I couldn’t help myself. I’m a huge fan. And no. That isn’t how I usually greet famous artists. But when Russell said you were a friend, I sort of forgot myself in my excitement.’
‘Don’t worry about it, Emma. Any friend of Russell’s is a friend of mine. It’s lovely to meet you.’ Hanna glanced around at the stunning art hanging on the walls. ‘I’m impressed. This is the perfect space. I’d be happy to see my art here.’
