The Long Dry Read online

  Kate rose from bed and went over to the window. She leaned out and she let the rain fall on the bare skin of her arms. It seemed as strange as snow.

  On the stairs she hears him, and she knows that he is coming lovingly to her; that there is no malice now. She leans her head out of the window and when she turns back into the room the rain is on her face and her hair, and runs down her neck into the soft cloth of the shirt. She starts to cry. He is strong and proud and good.

  ‘It’s raining,’ he says, and she can hardly hear him.

  Acknowledgements

  The ‘memories’ that run through the book are taken from Hen Arferion a Hen Gymeriadau, recorded to tape by my grandfather David Llewelyn Williams before his death in 1991. They are given either faithfully, or I have used them and turned them to the purpose of the story.

  The section ‘The Rabbit’ is for Sean Kelly, who was there.

  About the Author

  Cynan Jones was born near Aberaeron, Wales in 1975.

  Copyright

  First published in 2007

  by Parthian

  The Old Surgery

  Napier Street

  Cardigan

  SA43 1ED

  www.parthianbooks.co.uk

  This ebook edition first published in 2011

  Published with the financial support of the Welsh Books Council.

  All rights reserved

  © Cynan Jones 2006

  The right of Cynan Jones to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Editor: Gwen Davies

  Cover design by James Fleming

  Typesetting by Lucy Llewellyn

  ISBN 9781908069405

  If you enjoyed this book, please visit www.parthianbooks.com for information on our other publications.