THE RESCUE WAS effected out at sea by a life craft which roared into action down a sloping jetty, scattering bathers and joggers in equal number as it plunged with alacrity into the surf, bursting some foamy beachballs along the way. There were even a couple of light flitters hovering over the scene with cameras, no doubt reporting on proceedings. The two Perfecta girls Pinky and Pirouette ensured they were some distance from the other first years whenever the cameras scanned the beach so that their stylish poses would show up to maximum effect.
'Well, we are certainly learning lots of even more interesting things in this outing,' Miss Dubbers eventually said in a breathless voice once the rescue was concluded successfully and the crew safely landed to the cheers from a gathered crowd.
Of course among such a gathering were a number of beachcombers drawn by the activity.
'Got a coin lady?' one said in a slightly fragrant voice to Miss Dubbers.
'Multitudes,' she replied, taking a step back. 'Please be gone.'
'If'n you got multitudes lady, mayhap you might spare some for us that got not long to live,' a glassy-eyed woman dressed in curious rags said, a claw-like hand reaching out suggestively.
'Yessun, what wiv the world ending soon and all,' another comber said with a laugh. 'I wuz so looking forward to my retirement. Now it's all going kablooiee, whatever that is.'
'Do not be ridiculous,' Miss Dubbers said sternly. 'Girls, stand behind me, downwind,' Miss Dubbers said firmly, making gestures. Then she confronted the combers who seemed to increase, for here was a comedy show in the offing.
'Do not be ridiculous, my good man, person, or whatever you may be,' the mistress said scornfully, though with a hint of confusion mixed in. 'The world is not going to end any time soon. That is merely a gimmick of certain pedlars of doom.'
'Says you.'
Then to her horror Miss Dubbers saw a small figure with bright hair wander past her towards the gathered combers. They too were shocked and took a step back.
'For you,' Vetta said softly, holding out a coin. 'For your trouble.'
'Don't want no trouble,' the glassy-eyed lady said, not touching the proferred largesse. She looked a little discomfited by this generous gesture from an unexpected source.
The shrill sound of whistles drowned out Vetta's response and a number of beach wardens appeared on the scene wielding birch rods.
'Away, away,' they shouted. 'Scatter!' and they made to hit the combers. Of course as soon as the whistles were sounded the beach folk scattered in every direction, screaming in despair at being driven away. It was an oft repeated performance but Vetta Mindal did not know this as she watched the ragged souls depart as best they could, some hobbling, some limping and others staggering in a semblance of a straight line along the beach and behind rocky outcrops to eventually disappear.
'Sorry about that, ma'am,' one of the wardens said, puffing as he jogged up to the Plazenby mistress. 'Hope no one was alarmed,' and he smirked at the clustered girls, still being bravely shielded by Miss Dubbers.
'Thank you for your help, kind sir,' she said politely.
Then it was time to return to Mount Syzywyg and pick useful bones out of the adventure along the way.
'The wardens helped I might say,' Sharshua Dragonsong explained to her dorm mates on the trip back up the hill, 'because there can be no commission from such people as those.'
Vetta did not hear this. All she could do was look back over her shoulder at the bright and happy beach and wonder what life was like for such people as those.
In her hand she still tightly clutched the coin she wanted to give to the strange lady with the croaking voice and glassy eye. A part of her desperately wanted to do so still.
For generosity she well knew was one of the five wellsprings of joy.