“Take a left up here,” Josh said.

“Here?” Luke said.

Luke barely touched the brakes and the back end slid as he took the corner. Ahead were sand dunes topped with dark green shrubs and streaks of grass. Josh wound down the window and sucked in the scented ocean air.

The track reached a natural depression in the dunes. Luke rounded the top and accelerated down the potholed bitumen ramp and onto the beach.

“Where do we go?” Luke said.

“Anywhere you want,” Josh said.

Luke slowed and pointed the car out to the horizon. He looked up and down the beach.

“Where is everyone?” Luke said.

“This beach is a well-kept secret,” Josh said.

“You didn’t tell me only you and your mother know about it. What are we going to do all weekend?”

Nick dumped the cooler in the sand. He unlatched the lid and pulled out three beers. “Stop your complaining. It’s a nice beach.”

By late afternoon a half-dozen beers had only added to Luke’s agitation. “Get me another beer.”

“That was the last round.”

“What?”

Nick shrugged. “I thought there would be a bar or something here.”

“Where can we buy more?”

“The last town we went through,” Josh said.

“That’s an hour away.” Luke pointed to Josh. “You wait here. Your car privileges are revoked until further notice. And besides someone has to stay here in case we lose our spot.”

Josh considered arguing but thought better of it. “I’m going for a swim.”

Josh didn’t look back as he waded out. The water was up to his neck before he turned, surprised to see the car still on the beach. He swam back.

Luke stood beside the car leaning on a collapsible shovel. As Josh neared he saw the hole dug into the sand. It was deep, at least three-quarters his height.

“What’s that for?”

“Get in the hole,” Luke said.

Josh looked to Nick who averted his gaze.

“Why?”

“Punishment,” Luke said.

Josh hesitated. It was no use trying to laugh this off. He’d seen this look in Luke’s eyes before. He had to get in, if only to make a spectacle of contrition.

Josh lowered himself into the hole. Luke filled in the gaps and patted down the sand. Josh was surprised at how tightly the sand filled the gaps.

Luke threw the shovel in the car. “See you soon.” And with that he drove off with Nick.

“Wait, wait.”

The sun began to sink. What was the time? He’d lost track drinking beer. And then Josh remembered – the tide. This beach was notorious for its fast rising tide, catching out newcomers and drowning towels and chairs and sometimes cars. The horizon turned blood red.

When the water carried an empty can to his chin, Josh knew he was in trouble. He thrashed against the sand entombing him, but it was no use. He couldn’t move. But the water could.