Free The Bamboo Mirror by Faith Mortimer

was there?
    I pull out Inspector Roberts’ card and with trembling hands I dial his number.
     
     

    July 2011   Rebecca With Two Cs by Faith Mortimer

 
     
    Summer Visitors
    by Faith Mortimer
     
    Alex sat watching the birds swooping high above her head. They put on a marvellous aerobatic display that she imagined was for her alone. Soaring, dipping, their cries were faint but distinct upon the air. Alex knew little about birdlife, but could still appreciate the agility and beauty of these small warm-blooded animals. She supposed they were swallows, remembering nature classes back in junior school, or were they house martins? It didn’t matter; she enjoyed their seeming spontaneous and erratic flight. She sighed. If only she could join them and fly far away.
    ‘Excuse me, but do you mind if I sit here?’
    Startled, Alex looked down at this intrusion into her musings.
    ‘Sorry to bother you, it’s just that all the other tables are full.’
    Alex shook her head. ‘No that’s fine, I don’t mind at all,’ she said removing her bag from the vacant seat he was indicating. ‘Feel free.’ She did mind, she’d particularly chosen a small table hoping no one else would join her.
    ‘Thanks.’ He placed what looked like a double espresso on the table and sat down. Alex couldn’t help stealing a look at this newcomer: dark blonde hair, medium height, quite slim, not handsome but pleasant looking. She remembered she was off men for good. Perhaps she could try being a lesbian. She returned her gaze to the swallows.
    ‘Swifts,’ he said.
    Alex looked back at him. ‘I beg your pardon?’
    ‘They’re swifts. Aren’t they beautiful?’
    ‘Yes very. I thought they were swallows, are you sure?’ Without reason, the fact that he knew which birds they were and she didn’t, niggled her.
    ‘Swallows are small birds with dark glossy blue backs, red throats, pale under-parts and long distinctive tail streamers. They are extremely agile in flight and spend most of their time on the wing. They come here to breed, migrating south in winter. There have been recent declines in numbers due to loss of habitat quality in both their breeding and wintering grounds, which puts them on the Amber List of Endangered Species. Swifts on the other hand are a medium-sized aerial bird and a superb flier as you can see. The summer sky is often full with them, usually flying very high. Swifts never perch on wires like swallows. You might see excited screaming parties of them careering madly at high speed around rooftops and houses, especially towards dusk.’ He sat back and lifted his coffee cup to his mouth, his eyes watching her over the rim.
    ‘Oh.’ Alex was lost for words. She’s never imagined him to be an ardent bird-watcher, but then she didn’t know him either. He was a total stranger and a know-it-all. ‘What do you know about house martins then?’
    Noting the acerbity in her voice he laughed. ‘Well – since you ask. The House Martin is a small bird with glossy blue-black upper parts and pure white under-parts. It has a distinctive white rump with a forked tail and, on close inspection, white feathers covering its legs and toes. It spends much of its time on the wing collecting insect prey. The bird's mud nest is usually sited below the eaves of buildings. They are summer migrants and spend their winters in Africa. Although still numerous and widespread, again recent moderate declines earn them a place on the Amber List.’
    Alex stared. He really was a - what were they called? A twitcher! All she could think to say was, ‘You must be a twitcher! Okay then, what’s the Amber List?’
    Placing his cup back in its saucer, he shifted in his seat. ‘In the UK, birds can be split in to three categories of conservation importance - red, amber and green. Red is the highest conservation priority, with species needing urgent action. Amber is the next most critical group, followed by green. It’s quite a comprehensive list and