‘That’s a good idea,’ I agreed, ‘but while we’re about it let’s be ambitious. Let’s go as far as Inverness and see some shops.’ Morag and I had often talked of going away together for a few days’ holiday but always before she had pleaded that her animals and poultry prevented her from leaving the croft for more than a day. I was prepared for excuses now. ‘Aye,’ she agreed surprisingly; ‘and we might even get farther. I’d like to go to Edinburgh and see them little penny-goin’-ins I seen when I was there a few years back.’ ‘You mean those slot machines you put a coin in and get chocolate or something in return?’ I asked. ‘No, no, mo ghaoil. I mean them black and white birds they feed fish to at the zoo.’ Our tour was soon arranged. To save us the usual early morning bus ride and to make our journey scenically more interesting, Hector volunteered to take us to the mainland in his boat. He reckoned he could count on getting together a party of tourists who could be persuaded into thinking that the trip was exactly what they wanted and thus make it a financial success.
