Solstice at Flinders Cove

Flinders Cove is an imaginary location near Port Lincoln in South Australia.  The coastline is rugged, pristine and Lincoln National Park protects the southern part of the peninsula.  It's a truly amazing place to visit for the wildlife, fishing, swimming, surfing, kayaking and beautiful scenery.  Imagine a luxury resort development abutting the park boundary.

The first chapter of Solstice at Flinders Cove begins...

New Year's Day

Under moonlight and high tide waves washed the white body ashore.  Stranded, the torso lay face down partly swathed in a cloak of green sea weed.  Gulls and crows squawked noisily squabbling to peck at the torn flesh.  Malcolm Thomas, a reclusive beachcomber saw the unusual scene at daybreak while making his regular survey of the deserted beach.  Running at them he waved his arms and shouted to scare them off.

Crabs and other sea creatures had disfigured the naked body.  Instinctively he knew what to do.  Hurrying he left the body exposed and returned to his shack.  The birds greedily returned as soon as he hurried off.  Minutes later he strode back along the beach carrying a green canvas sheet and calico bags stuffed in his pockets.  The sun peaked over the cliffs while opposite the Southern Ocean lapped the shore.

Their feeding space invaded, the birds reluctantly took flight after hastily pecking at the soft corpse.  Thomas flung the canvas across the smelly remains and then filled the small calico bags with sand which he used to fasten down the covering sheet.  Standing back to inspect his work he wondered who it was and where they were from.  At first he rushed eagerly away wanting to notify the police, but then he settled into an easy stride knowing the remains were protected.  He knew that the farm house located above a steep cliff was the nearest place with a telephone.  His steps took him towards a set of stairs hewn into the soft sandstone cliff.