The Diary of a Girl

By Helen Allan

In The Diary of a Girl, a young girl’s life is upended by a catastrophic event that renders her city perilously unsafe. Amidst this chaos, her family decides to leave, desperately seeking refuge. With communication lines severed, they embark on a journey towards safety, eventually finding solace in the close-knit community on Scotland’s serene Black Isle.

It’s here that the girl encounters The Boy, sparking a series of adventures and experiences that enrich her life in unexpected ways. But even in this newfound haven, questions linger. Is she truly safe in this remote corner of the world? What does the future hold for her in this unfamiliar place? And, most crucially, amidst the uncertainty that surrounds them, can she and The Boy muster the strength and resilience to survive? The diary unveils a tale of hope, resilience, and the enduring quest for a safe harbour in a tumultuous world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Feb 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9781035845460

Helen Allan

Helen Allan’s work has been described as ‘ethereal’ and ‘edge of your seat.’ Exhibiting a gifted command of the English language and being a keen observer of human nature, Allan’s work has a dark edge that leaves the reader thinking about her books long after they put them down. Much of her work is underpinned by a love of the natural environment and a deep understanding of the depths of the human psyche. Prior to becoming an author, she worked as a newspaper journalist, sub-editor and editor for more than a decade before moving into lecturing journalism at university. Later she taught high school English for more than a decade before leaving teaching to concentrate full-time on her own writing. She lives in Margaret River Western Australia with her husband, daughter and a collection of re-homed animals, many of whom bite. You can follow her work and learn about her new releases at www.helenallan.com

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About the Author

Helen Allan has throughout her life told and written stories for family, her children, their children, and the children of all ages. She uses stories to illustrate concepts and themes for more accessible and deeper understanding of the world around. Helen lives in Central Scotland in a very old house.

Dedication

To my children, their children, and all who believe

like children.

Copyright Information ©

Helen Allan 2024

The right of Helen Allan to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781035845453 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781035845460 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

To all the team at Austin Macauley who have been patient and made this process a pleasure.

January 5

She stood on the hill overlooking the Firth and the beach where the body lay.

The wind blew her long dark hair across her eyes, and she shook her head to free it.

Her attention was taken by the boy coming up the hill. She smiled. She liked him and it had been better since he and his father had arrived.

Her warm coat and scarf were protection for the Bitter January cold, but it hadn’t snowed heavily as yet. She waved her red gloved hand and he waved back.

He wore a huge parka and jeans and also had on scarf and gloves.

They didn’t regard taking the best of clothes from the posh shops in Inverness as stealing as really there were no one else to have them.

What’s going on down there? she called.

A boat has beached and body has been found by the fishermen. He climbed up the last rock and stood beside her looking down on the crowd who had gathered on the beach.

Is he dead?

Yes, I’m sure he is. Dad asked me to leave so I came up here ’cause I saw you and reckoned it’s a better view.

They watched till the crowd dispersed and the body was carried to the Town Hall.

He cast sly glances at her. He had noticed her in the hall. She often sat alone and he knew she had had a traumatic journey with her family. She was very pretty and was always nicely dressed. She had been very quiet and depressed at first but now she helped with the younger children and he heard her laughing when the kids were into mischief. She was the same height as him and he guessed about the same age.

She turned and looked at him for a few seconds then nodded as if to confirm something in her mind.

Let’s go. I know the guy on the boat and we can have a look.

She pulled his hand and they descended the hill going towards the back end of the Town.

Who do you think it is? She gasped as he was going fast and it was hard to keep up.

No idea but it’s not one of us. I hear Duncan say he thought he looked foreign.

That means nothing. Anyone south of Inverness is foreign to Duncan.

They laughed. It was true that some of their group had never been south of Inverness and did not trust anything they heard about ‘foreign’ parts.

They reached the boat and she called up to the guy left in charge.

Hey, Tommy, can we come aboard?

Tommy put his head over the rail. Well, you’re not supposed to but on ye come.

Remember never to trust him with anything, the boy whispered to him and smiled.

They climbed aboard and looked around.

It was really super. Definitely new as the seats under the canopy were still covered in plastic.

It had a power engine, radio and radar and extras he didn’t know about. There was no key to start it though.

It’s a beauty. Tommy assumed the role of tour guide. You should see the shower and toilet. I would live on this. I’m going to ask for it when we get back.

They exchanged looks. As if.

They entered the salon. It was very modern, Ikea like furnishings all new. The cabins were small but immaculate but had no bedding or any sign of life. The shower and toilet were the same and there was a scrap of paper across the shower head so it had never been used.

On the table in the salon, there was folder and coffee cups and food debris.

The boy opened the folder to find sales adverts for the boat.

Seafaring 34 11 metres 2,080,622 Krona, sold by Marstrand Sweden. Oh he is Swedish. And he stole this boat I bet.

The girl moved the food papers and cups around and under it all was an ID card with a name, date of birth and address in Mastrand.

Bingo, she cried. Let’s go we have to tell the others.

The boy was looking through the cupboards and drawers.

Oh, wow. He stood back sharply. She looked at him. His face had a funny look. What is it? She looked nervously into the bottom drawer.

OH. She also stepped back.

The drawer was full of guns. Pistols rifles and an assault rifle.

He hastily closed the drawer as Tommy entered the room.

Great, isn’t she? I’m going to sail her to Edinburgh and find my dad.

In that case, you should sit outside and look out for others in case someone wants to steal it. Read this manual so you are up on how to steer it. Handing him the manual, the boy pulled the girl out of the salon and off the boat.

She hid the card and invoice slip in her coat and they left the boat. Thanks, hope you get it, Tommy. See you.

When they looked back, Tommy was standing on the bow looking like the owner already.

We need to tell my dad, yours too and quick before Tommy starts looking around.

They ran to the hall where they were stopped by a fisherman of huge size. Where do you think you’re going?

The boy told him he had information for his dad in relation to the body.

The man pushed the boy down a step. STAY HERE.

He was back in a minute with the dads and the dignified man.

What are you both up to? The girl handed over the ID and the information about the boat.

His dad and the man came forward and took it and laughed. Well done, you two. Where did you find this?

They explained and asked how they had caught him but the dignified man said that was a story for another time.

You too should get off home now. This is no place for you.

The boy was about to explain about the guns but the girl pulled him away.

The boy was ready to explode with anger at being treated like a child but the girl said, Yes, you’re right, I’m exhausted, and pulled him out the door.

Once out the door, she made straight for the stairs and they soon found themselves overlooking the scene from the balcony and hearing every word.

They smiled at each other and high fived quietly and settled down to the fun.

The body lay on a mattress on a table. They had removed his top clothing and he looked ok. No blood or anything like that.

A woman entered carrying a bag. She went to the man and took a stethoscope from the bag and started checking his vitals. They knew she was a nurse and on the committee.

He has a bump on his temple so that would have knocked him out. He seems fine otherwise if a bit dehydrated. You need to get me some cold fresh water and a cloth.

The boy looked at the girl. He mouthed Not Dead!

He would have fallen when he beached. Will he be all right?

As far as I can see but I told you I’m a midwife not a doctor.

The dignified man put his hand on her arm. You are good enough for us.

The nurse soaked the cloth in water and put it into the prone man’s mouth.

He swallowed and she nodded.

I’ll sit with him tonight till 6 if someone relieves me then.

I will also stay and keep you company. We can’t leave you on your own. The dignified man pulled over a chair and sat down.

"You should all go home and not a word till we have a