“Huh?” Gary grunted.

“Your fucking hair, hanging all over your face like that.” Clarified Alex.

“It’s only because I couldn't be arsed spiking it up tonight.” Argued Gary.

“Well, I can see that, but… oh fucking hell, it doesn't matter.” Mumbled Alex.

“So, what’s this favour that you mentioned?” Asked Gary, for a second time.

“Look, it’s to do with Mary. We’re doing the Black Pathway Trail.” Stated Alex. Gary, who had been sipping on his pint, began to choke on it.

“You’re fucking joking! You couldn't do it the first time!” He laughed, taking the piss.

“Shut the fuck up, Gary.” Barked Alex Crennell, angrily.

“I can still remember the fucking state of you after we’d come down from off Knighton Mountain… talk about a sweaty, wheezing, moaning old cunt…”

“I said shut the fuck up!” Repeated Alex.

“Ah, calm down. You’re such a sensitive little prick at times.” Mocked Gary. “So, you're doing the Black Pathway, huh? When? In the summer?” He wanted to know.

“No. Tomorrow.” Alex informed his friend, which caused Gary Ackley to look at him as if he’d gone completely insane.

Gary took a swig of his beer.

“You are fucking joking, right?” He asked Alex, his face suddenly deadly serious.

“Joking about what?” Mumbled Alex.

“About doing the Black Pathway tomorrow? You’re kidding me, yeah?” Repeated Gary.

“No, I’m not kidding you.” Confirmed Alex.

“Have you lost your marbles, mate?” Gary said, querying Alex’s sanity.

“No.” Shrugged Alex. “We’re doing the Black Pathway Trail, me and Mary.”

“Yeah, I heard you the first time. Which is why I’m asking you now, have you lost the fucking plot?”

“No, why? What’s wrong with doing the Pathway?” Questioned Alex.

‘Fuck, man, do you need me to spell it out for you?” Replied Gary. Alex didn't say anything. “Right, so you DO want me to spell it out for you… okay. Alex, hardly anybody walks the Black Pathway during the winter, apart from hardcore fucking ramblers and climbers… you know what I mean, real experienced guys. Man, I ain’t being funny, but you couldn’t cope with that walk during the summer, it nearly killed you…”

“Like fuck did it!” Interrupted Alex.

“Yeah, it did, Alex, and we both know it. So stop bull-shitting.” Gary snapped back at his friend.

“Okay, okay. I found it difficult, I admit it. Are you happy now?” Conceded Alex. Gary simply stared back at him. “But that’s part of the problem.” Alex continued.

“What’s part of the problem?” Gary asked, with suspicion in his eyes.

“The fact that I found the walk difficult, and had to give up… because I forgot to mention all of that to Mary.” Admitted Alex Crennell.

Gary Ackley rolled his eyes in disbelief.

“What, exactly, have you told Mary, Alex?” He asked.

“I told her that I’d completed the walk before… that I thought it was easy… a piece of piss, I think I said.” Revealed Alex.

“Oh shit.” Sighed Gary. “What the fuck were you playing at, mate?”

“It’s all because of that little bastard, Howard Trenton.” Spat Alex.

“What the fuck has Howard Trenton got to do with any of this?” Asked Gary, totally confused.

“He was sniffing around Mary, before her and I got together. He wanted Mary to do the Black Pathway with him.” Alex confided.

“So what? He’s not with Mary, you are… what’s the fucking problem?”

“I got pissed off, coz I found out that Howard has completed the trail loads of times… the smug little arse-hole. It made me jealous.” Admitted Alex.

“Oh, Jesus Christ, do you realise what you sound like?” Laughed Gary.

“Shut up.” Alex replied.

“You’re like a big fucking kid at times, Alex, you really are, and now it's landed you in the shit. Oh, and you still haven’t told me exactly what this favour is that you want, either.” Reminded Gary. “Hang on a minute… please don’t tell me that you want me to come on the walk with you and Mary, in case you get into trouble up there?”

“No, of course not. I was just going to ask you not to, well, you know, let on to Mary that I’ve never actually completed the trail.” Alex finally revealed.

Gary Ackley rolled his head back, grinning up at the pub ceiling for a few seconds, before looking at his friend with amusement.

“Bloody hell, Alex, you’re priceless, you really are. Don’t worry, man, your secret’s safe with me.” He said.

“Cheers.” Alex thanked him. He played with his pint glass for a moment or two, slowly spinning it around on the bar, awkwardly. “Actually, that might not be a bad idea.” He commented. Gary frowned at him.

“What might not be a bad idea?” He asked, unsure what Alex was talking about. Alex spun the beer glass around again.

“If you came along on the walk. What with you having already completed it.” Answered Alex, refusing to look his friend in the eye.

“You’ve got to be kidding me, right?” Laughed Gary. Alex didn’t reply. “What? You’re being serious? You actually want me to come along with you and Mary? Up on the Black Pathway? Play fucking gooseberry for three days, whilst listening to you whinge and moan and…”

“I won’t be whinging and moaning!” Protested Alex.

“Yes, Alex, you will. If you thought that the Black Pathway was difficult to walk in the summer, then you have no idea what it’ll…”

“I promise, I won’t whinge or moan… plus you wouldn’t be playing gooseberry, either. In fact, this could work out very nicely for you.” Hinted Alex.

“What the fuck are you talking about, Alex? How could traipsing along the Black Pathway in the middle of winter work out nicely for me?” Asked Gary.

“Because it just so happens that a certain young lady, with whom you're somewhat enamoured, mentioned to me earlier that she’s always wanted to walk the trail, when I was telling her about me and Mary going up there… I reckon that she’d jump at the chance to join us.” Revealed Alex.

“Who? Shark?” Replied Gary Ackley, a grin spreading across his face.

“Yes, Gary. Shark.” Answered Alex Crennell.

***

Kate Williams looked up at the clock on the lounge wall. It was eight thirty. He’s not coming… Alan’s stood me up, she dwelled, angrily. Kate checked her mobile phone again; there were no new text messages in her inbox. She dialled Alan’s number again, and, as it had been doing all evening, Kate’s call went straight to voicemail.

“Alan, will you please return my messages as soon as you can. I need to know where you are, and why you didn’t turn up earlier.” Spoke Kate, into her phone. When she’d finished leaving the message, she flung the phone down onto the settee. Maybe he hasn’t stood me up after all. Perhaps he’s been in an accident or something? Or what if Alan’s wife has somehow found out about the pair of us? She could be on her way around here right now, hell-bent on having it out with me, for all I know, considered Kate. No, Alan’s too careful to get caught out. I bet that his bottle has gone… can’t stomach any more cheating on his precious Deborah. I shouldn’t have bothered getting involved with him, I guessed that it might come to this sort of… Kate’s thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock on the front door.

“Ah, finally, he’s here.” Kate said out loud, with a feeling of relief. Steady on… it could be Deborah… nah! It’ll be Alan. He’s probably just been held up or something, probably at college, thought Kate. She got up from the sofa and walked through the lounge, into the small hallway. She reached the front door and opened it, expecting to see Alan. But there was no-one there.

Kate stood on her front doorstep, and looked up and down the road where she lived. There appeared to be nobody about. Kate frowned. That was definitely someone knocking on my door, I definitely didn’t imagine it. A thought crossed Kate’s mind; maybe Alan was playing some sort of practical joke on her.