The Ring

CHAPTER ONE

The Madman on the Beach

When I saw Rafael for the first time, I was twelve years old.

My family lived in a big town, far away from the sea. But my Uncle Miguel and his family lived in a little village on the coast. He had a cafe and a small farm there, and sometimes my family visited him.

There in that village I met poor, mad Rafael. I didn't know then who he was. I didn't know why he was mad. I knew nothing of his strange and terrible story. Now, fourteen years later, I know exactly what happened. But Rafael is dead. Why should I tell people his terrible secret? Only I know what happened to Rafael. Only I know what happened to the young and beautiful Anita. And to the soldier. Only I.

The people in the village told me what they knew. Their stories were all true. Every word. My uncle, his wife, Rodrigo the shopkeeper - nobody lied to me. Nobody. Not even poor Clara, Rafael's mother. And she was already dead when I went back to the village. Their stories were all true. But they didn't know what really happened.

The first time I saw Rafael, I was walking along the beach with my younger brother Pablo. Our parents were talking with my uncle and his family. We boys went along the beach to look around.

At the end of the beach there were high black rocks, where the mountains behind the village came down into the sea. Near them was an old wooden boat-house. It had no doors. The roof was broken at one end, and open to the sky. Inside there was an old wooden fishing boat.

My brother and I looked inside. The sand was deep and soft on the floor. Suddenly, in a corner behind the boat, something moved in the shadows. It was a dirty young man with long hair and a beard. He stood up and looked at us. His eyes were open, but empty. He looked at us, but he didn't see us. He was very thin.

He put one hand to his neck. I saw something shining under the dark beard. There was something small and bright on a thin fishing line round his neck. He pulled it out to show us. It was a small gold ring in the shape of a fish.

Suddenly he spoke. His voice was clear, but thin and high. He spoke words, but they didn't mean anything.

'She gave me the golden fish,' he said. 'She gave it back to me.'