Mouse is built for speed. Sinews, pulleys and bones gliding across the sand – the grace of a sine wave unfurling through space. Carter is slower but stronger. Chasing an empty plastic bottle he times his run precisely to jump the six-foot waves, his paws ploughing through the collapsing white crests. As the wave subsides Carter’s head reappears, slicing the smooth grey water behind. As they run, speed, time and distance collapse. It’s hard to imagine being able to become a grey dot in the distance in so little time. The two dogs weave patterns across sand – the joy of speed sparkling in their eyes.
Standing in one place like a ruminating cow I am transfixed by canine velocity. The spell is broken by the rising water. The beach has disappeared and the two dog leads are nowhere to be seen.