The early morning rush to complete packing, take showers, eat breakfast and get to the airport precluded any discussion about the previous night. Linda's mother did manage to ask after Tom, and her father wondered how Linda had got into the house and into bed without anyone hearing. Linda was trying to avoid her parents, an intention that went unnoticed in the scramble to catch the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service – Qantas – airliner. Linda made a half-hearted attempt to scribble a note to Tom before she left, but it was no use. She was weighed down with an overwhelming sense of guilt, at the same time feeling shocked and disappointed with him. Each time the incident came into her mind she pushed it away, only to be haunted again and again by the scene in the convertible as well as the low depths to which her parents had sunk.
She didn't ask them about their farewell parties, the only thing said being her mother's comment.
"I swear I'll never mix cocktails and champagne again as long as I live. I don't even remember going to bed last night."
Neither the mother nor daughter noticed the smile on Arnold Spender's face. He was quite used to her pretense that she didn't remember a thing… especially after they had enjoyed a particularly wanton session of lovemaking… and the more uninhibited she had been the night before, the less she pretended to remember.
Linda, however, wondered if her father had also suffered a blackout, if what she had witnessed had been performed while they were both semiconscious under the influence of alcohol. She felt a little relieved at this thought then paled at the remembrance that she, herself, when she kissed Tom's penis, was perfectly sober. She could not lay the blame on drink or drugs, and she was beginning to realize that she couldn't really blame Tom.
They arrived at Honolulu in the early afternoon, allowing time for the three of them to go to the beach before dinner. Linda's parents were pleased to see that she was getting over her dark mood. The poor girl was missing Tom quite badly, they both thought, and went out of their way to indulge her with little gifts, including a color Polaroid land camera. They dined late, taking a long while over the meal, since they were to change to a different flight after midnight. There was plenty of time, explained Arnold Spender, as he didn't have to be in Sydney until Sunday.
"Well, this is only Friday," said Linda. "Why don't we stay in Honolulu another day?"
"Because, Princess, we lose a day when we cross the International Date Line. We leave here early on Saturday morning, and a few hours later we land at Sydney on Sunday morning. Then, on Sunday afternoon we're invited to tea with the Dowlings. He's chairman of the Australian company."
"I don't think I'd want to go visiting, Daddy. Couldn't I just go surfing… we're staying at Bondi Beach, aren't we?"
"Sure you can," her mother said. "Do whatever you please. This is a vacation for you, and we want you to make the most of it. You're only young once, Princess."
Her father called for the check and they left the restaurant to catch a taxi out to the airport. "I think you'll be surprised when we get to Bondi Beach, Linda. The apartment looks right over the beach, and on Sunday they've got a spectacular surf carnival that will be more fun for you than having tea with these dull old business associates of mine."
The plane took off on schedule and landed, after a little over six hours, at Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport. An hour later, the Spenders entered their luxurious apartment overlooking Bondi Beach with the blue Pacific stretching out to the horizon.
Early as it was, the morning sun was already hot, its rays burning down on a crowd of people already swimming in the surf or lying on the beach. It was all so inviting, so temptingly cool, and the surf was just right for shooting; Linda could hardly wait to slip into a bikini. During the long flight she had made up her mind to forgive Tom, a decision that eased some of the shameful guilt nagging her for so long that she'd felt she was on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Having made that decision and having slept soundly on the plane, she now felt exhilarated, as though she were about to enter a wonderful adventure.
"When do we go to church, Daddy?" she called out.
"Guess we'll skip it this Sunday, Princess. Perhaps we'll go twice next Sunday, to make up," he said teasingly.
Hundreds of cars were moving in to park along the beach front as Linda walked across the broad boulevard to the beach. She copied the local girls who wore nothing except bikini and sandals, noting that there didn't seem to be any obvious difference between Americans and Australians, as far as looks were concerned. Suntanned youths earned boards across clean golden sand down to the surf where the breakers were rolling in. The sights and smell of the sand and sea reminded her more of Hawaii's Waikiki than of Long Beach. At this hour of the morning there were long patches of empty spaces. She dropped her towel and ran into the sea, diving under a breaker then swimming out against the rollers to wait for a big one that would bring her back to shore. The cool salt water washing over her body brought on the animal sensations that always flooded tingling through her body when she lay flat on a board, her pelvis pushing hard down to hold her balance.
If only she had a surfboard to ride these superb waves! After shooting several breakers, she was about to leave the water when an empty board came tumbling towards her and she automatically grabbed it, knowing that its owner would be saved an extra swim from the beach to retrieve it. She was looking around for someone to claim it when suddenly a head popped up beside her, a slightly freckled face under a strange looking red and green cap. A lean and bronzed arm reached over the board and the young man's pleasant voice said, "Thanks, Miss, that's very kind of you to catch it for me."
Linda stared at this handsome apparition, this smiling young man with twinkling blue eyes and the funny cap.
"Hi. Do all Australians wear bathing caps?" she asked laughingly. "Or have you got your curlers in?"
The young man threw back his head and laughed. "Hell no! You must be a stranger not to recognize a life saver's cap. Where do you come from?"
"Actually, I only arrived a couple of hours ago," Linda explained. "I'm from California. You know where that is, don't you?"
"Sure thing. It's where they grow oranges and beautiful girls. I bet they don't have beaches like Bondi over there."
"Of course we do. Maybe better than this, though it's hard to imagine a more perfect day than this. Anyway. I do like your cap. It's kinda cute."
Linda was attracted to him despite the fact that he obviously worked as some sort of lifeguard. She was in a mood to flirt, at least to meet some young people, to get away from the presence of her parents for awhile. These was still that disturbing image of them lingering in the back of her mind.
"Is that all you do, save lives?" she asked.
"Hell no! It's only a voluntary job. By the way," he said, lifting his body onto the board, "My name's Hugh. Hugh Watson."
"Hello Hugh. I'm Linda."
"Can you ride a board, Linda?"
"Certainly. Are you offering me yours?"
Hugh smiled. He was offering her his all right. He'd give it to her right up the ass! he chuckled to himself. So far, he'd only been able to see the long blonde hair falling down into the blue-green water and two nice little rounded breasts cupped in a narrow black bikini top.
"Climb aboard and take it away, Linda. It's all yours. I'll wait for you on the beach."
He slid off the board, treading water while she pulled herself up to lie flat and paddle out into the oncoming breakers. Phew! He said to himself, what a luscious piece of ass. Hope she's sixteen or it could mean jail for me. Floating on his back, he watched Linda's ass-cheeks tightening and relaxing as she pushed the board out, noticing that, when she knelt up on it, her golden tan went all the way down to the small cleft between her well-rounded buttocks showing temptingly above the brief bikini pants. He smiled luxuriously to himself, closed his eyes and let the waves float him back towards the beach. He was going to get inside those pants if it was the last thing he did.
Hugh was captain of a life saving team from Brisbane competing in the national championships being held at the carnival that Sunday. He was, in fact, a professional, working as an inspector on the beach at Surfer's Paradise in Queensland. It was the only life he knew, having left school early, and now, at the age of twenty-one, he wasn't interested in doing anything else. He'd tried various jobs, driving trucks on the Brisbane-Sydney run and working as a builder's laborer, work that took him away too long from the lazy days on beaches and pleasant nights with girls so easily picked up. At Surfer's Paradise it was holiday time all year round. For Hugh, that was what life was all about – sun, sea and girls – a life his police sergeant father constantly complained about, always unavailingly. Typically Australian, the young surfer detested snobbery and resented being looked down on for his coarse accent – he considered himself as good as anyone.
Hugh eased his six foot frame out of the sea and strolled along the beach to a small group of friends from his team. They all wore the little red and green caps tied with tape under their chins. Their carnival swimsuits were also green with a band of red zigzagged from chest to crotch. The "crooked phallic symbol", they called it. He lowered himself down onto the sand beside Tiger Kelly.
"Just picked up a snooty little American broad, Tiger," he said, cocking his eyes out to where Linda was sliding his board down a wave. "There she goes."
"Looks fuckable from here," drawled Tiger. "What's she like close up?"
"Pretty as a picture. Well stacked and a butt like two ripe melons. Bit young though – might be unlucky thirteen, but I'm hoping she's lucky sixteen."
"Better keep old Sludge-Pump Yates away from her. You know what a bastard he is with kids. Likes to try and split them apart with his colossal tool," Tiger observed, referring to Jim Yates, another of the team. "Of course, we could always open her up for him."
"Yeah," replied Hugh, "and don't forget I get the openers. Don't start getting ideas yet, friend. We haven't got it on a plate."
"What's the plan, Hugh? Can we use Jenny's apartment?"
Jenny was Hugh's cousin who shared an apartment with another girl in a building at the north end of the beach. She was a leading fashion model who traveled a great deal to other cities and had invited Hugh to stay at the apartment while he was down for the carnivals at Bondi and Coogee. Hugh often wondered why Jenny never seemed to have a regular boyfriend, let alone prospective husband. At twenty-seven, she was a stunningly beautiful girl. Hugh supposed she was too busy with her career, never staying anywhere long enough to establish a lasting association with a man. Tiger Kelly had taken her out in Brisbane and had gotten nowhere with her. A bit of a dyke, he thought then, keeping his ideas to himself so as not to offend Hugh who could be quick-tempered and a little too ready with his fists.
"Jenny won't be back from Melbourne until late tonight and her roommate's away in the country," said Hugh. "I think the little Yankee doll and I might have a twosome after the carnival. You guys can come along later for a gang-bang," he added, relapsing into his normal coarse speech.
Having caught two long rides right up to the beach Linda decided to leave the water to dry off in the sun. As she dragged the board onto the sand, she saw Hugh detach himself from the group of men in green and red swimsuits and run towards her. She couldn't help but notice his powerful build, the lithe and easy stride of his long legs – nor could she help looking down the red zigzag to the bulge between his legs. She felt a strange excitement slowly building up inside her, putting it down to the fact that she liked the look of this fresh-faced Australian with his nice smile and twinkling blue eyes. Surely she couldn't be falling in love with a complete stranger, especially one dressed as though he were prepared for some outlandish beach side-show or circus. The idea somehow thrilled her. Tom was thousands of miles away. Why shouldn't she like someone she met in the sea, someone who was built like a Greek God?
"You ride a board like an expert. Almost as good as a man," Hugh said, laughing as he ran up to greet her. "What did you think of it?"
"I loved the ride," Linda replied. "But I'm afraid the board is out of my league. I'd be happier with a shorter one."
"I can arrange that, if you're staying around for awhile," said Hugh, remembering that Jenny had a shorter board in her apartment.
"Oh, I'll be around for two weeks. Daddy is here on business. In fact, we are staying in an apartment over there," Linda said, pointing to the large apartment building. "Look, on the third floor, I think that's Mom on the balcony watching us." Linda waved and the figure on the balcony waved back then lifted her right arm, signaling to Linda that it was time she returned for lunch. "I'm afraid I'll have to go. Thank you very much Hugh for the board."
"Before you go I'd like you to meet my friends, some of the boys from the Brisbane team." They walked over to the group sitting on the sand. "This is Tiger, that's Billy and that one laying down is Sludge… I mean Jim."
They smilingly called their hellos, letting her know with their eyes their approval of her face and figure. The one called Jim was a little too appraising, his eyes lasciviously glued on the four inches of bikini that covered the space between her legs. She nodded coldly in their direction. They didn't appeal to her at all.
"I suppose you have to be friendly with members of your team," she remarked, her nose tilting in the air. "It's too bad they're such a dull group." Hugh could hardly believe his ears and a red flush of temper colored his cheeks. She did not notice the anger showing on his face as she walked away. He decided to say nothing for the time being.
He dropped the board to walk with her to the steps. "Are you coming to watch the carnival this afternoon?" he asked.
"I can't wait," she replied. "I'm dying to see the surf-boat race."
"I'll look out for you Linda. Afterwards you might like to meet my cousin Jenny. She'll lend you her board for as long as you like."
"Yes, I'd love to meet her. Thank you very much. You must come to our apartment sometime to meet Dad and Mom. See you later at the carnival. Bye for now, Hugh."
"Cheerio, Linda."
As he watched her crossing the street his eyes were drawn to the magnetic sight of her light brown, silken back with its little cleft showing above her buttocks, the slim legs and thin ankles, the long blonde hair bouncing back into its natural waves as the sun dried it out. He watched until she disappeared into the entrance of the apartment building. Looking up at the balcony he saw her mother still watching; he waved to her but she made no response; perhaps she was looking at the scene on the beach where thousands of people in a variety of beach gear were lounging around on the hot sand… or perhaps she was a snob, too.
As Linda entered the apartment she was unable to prevent her mind again filling with resentment against her parents, remembering that debauched scene of her mother sucking away at her father's penis… and swallowing. She wished she hadn't returned from the beach where she felt free and happy riding rollers in on Hugh's board. Why did that scene of debauchery keep returning to haunt her mind? She was unreasonably annoyed when her mother asked, "Who was that person I saw you talking to on the beach?"
"Oh, just a boy who loaned me a surf hoard. He's one of the life savers or whatever they call themselves; he's in the carnival this afternoon," she replied, somewhat petulantly. Linda had enjoyed so much freedom and trust back home she now resented this tone of her mother, suggesting that her independence could be restricted. "Is lunch ready?" she asked. "I'm starved."
"Yes, it's all ready," her mother replied. She had long accepted the fact that Linda was a headstrong girl. "You'd better leave your shower until later."
After lunch Linda washed off the salt water and lay on her bed with the sunlight playing on her naked body, her eyes closed as she felt the heat relaxing her. Half-asleep in the sun-induced doze, she dreamily caressed her small, rounded breasts, bringing the little pink nipples up as she did so, then letting one hand almost aimlessly wander down along her flat stomach, her palm pressing firmly down until she felt the soft mound of her pubic triangle. As she sank towards sleep she felt with her middle finger the lips of her vagina, unconsciously probing further until her finger slid unexpectedly into the moist groove. She rolled gently from side to side with her hand still there, her finger moving slowly back and forth over the firmly erect clitoris. She was barely conscious of what she was doing or the fact that she was getting half-formed visions of Hugh's face… her mother guiding her father's cock inside her… Hugh running towards her… the swollen red patch of his carnival swimming costume. The sensuousness of the touch of her finger lingered with her as she fell into a deep, contented sleep.