"No, I haven't."

"Ought to. It's a rugged climb up the side, but it's worth it." "Why don't we go?"

As they went down the beach they did not speak. Paul walked a little behind the man, watching him. There were areas of sweat on the back of his shirt and under his arms, and his pants which were tight around his waist had been rolled up. He was barefoot.

When they came to where the land rose straight up the man turned and smiled.

"I told you it was rugged," he said and stepped out onto the rocks. Paul followed him.

And when they came to a path that weaved up the incline out towards the ocean the man smiled again.

"It helps if you don't look down," he said.

When they reached the top the man swept his arm in a semi-circle, re-rolled his shirt sleeves and looked at Paul.

"It is a view," Paul said.

He sat down and the man sat down beside him. The man removed his hat and tossed it on the grass, ran his fingers through his hair and stretched out. Paul got up and went over to the light house. He had never been this close to one before. He wanted to yell at the man to come and look too, but he didn't. He walked around it and when he was out of sight he touched it and found it strangely cool. He went around it again, and then he went back to where the man was stretched out and sat down beside him.

He looked at his hands and at the arm muscles which bulged his shirt. "It's warm here," the man said, and he took off his shirt and tossed it beside his hat.

Paul said, "I forgot my cigarettes. Do you mind if I have one of yours?" The man reached for his shirt too distant from him. "You get them," he said, "they're in the pocket," and he stretched his legs, then reached his arms to the sky and let them cross on his stomach. Then he closed his eyes. While Paul smoked he watched the man. He watched his stomach rise and fall and noticed that his skin was hairy.

Paul got up and went over to the edge of the cliff. He threw the cigarette over and watched it swirled away by the waves.

He returned to the man.

The man opened his eyes. "Feel like a swim? The water will be cold but that needn't stop us.

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"I didn't bring a suit."

"We don't need one."

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Paul followed the man back to the beach. The man stopped and squatted on the sand and removed his shirt. Then he stood up and undid his pants and slipped them off; then his underwear.

He turned to Paul.

“I don't think I'll go in. If you don't mind I'll just sit here and watch." The man frowned. "Sure," he said, "the water is cold if you're not used to it." Then he turned and strolled to the water.

Paul watched him wade in, and as the water swirled around his waist, Paul thought: when the man comes out I must leave. I must tell him I have to go home, and he sat down and watched the naked man as he moved among the

waves.

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