After what seemed like forever, they finally made it to shore. Even in the daylight, even in modern Donostia, they wouldn’t have known the layout of the coastline, but in the dark and in the past, they had no clue where they were going. They just wanted to get away from the island and the French.
Occasionally, another shot range out. Kepa expected the whole town to be on alert after the shelling and the gunshots, but he hoped they could find a secluded spot to beach the boat.
“Hor!” he exclaimed under his breath, pointing. “There! That looks like a quiet spot.”
They paddled to the dark corner, more an outcropping of rocks than the beach.
“Nola?” cried Maite as she looked at the rocks towering above her. “How are we supposed to get up there?”
“I’ll help you,” said Kepa, his half smile both reassuring and infinitely frustrating. Maite hated feeling weak. But, she simply nodded, resigned to the fact that getting to safety was more important than her pride.
Kepa found some purchase and pulled himself up onto a small ledge. Fortunately, the tide had been going out and the rocks were dry. He reached out with one hand, the other wedged into a crevice for stability, and helped pull Maite up.
“Only one more,” said Kepa.
Maite felt a rush of relief as she clambored over the edge of the rocks, Kepa’s hands on her buttocks, pushing her up. A moment later, he was also scrambling over the ledge. They looked around. Dawn was breaking. Everything was covered in long shadows.
“I think we are in the old part of town,” said Kepa.
Maite barely registered Kepa’s words. “We need to find a place to rest. I can’t go much longer.”
Kepa nodded. “That church,” he said, pointing at the large structure maybe one hundred feet ahead of them. “We should be able to find some shelter there.”
Maite let Kepa lead her to the church. The front door, made of large slabs of wood that were worn and splintered, was locked. Kepa half led, half drug Maite to the side, only to find the side door also locked. He looked around as he picked up a loose cobble stone. Smashing a side window, he crawled in. A moment later, the side door opened. Kepa quickly ushered Maite in before closing the door.
They found a corner in the back, in the sacristy. Kepa pushed aside all of the priestly garments, taking down a few that he threw on the ground as a make-shift bed. He grabbed a few more for blankets. He was about to ask Maite how she was doing before realizing she was already curled up, asleep. He covered her with one of the garments. He kissed her on the forehead before curling up next to her.
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