Animals of St Orison

Dexter

Elliot & Jonah’s Airedale Terrier

Dexter arrives in St Orison as a young Airedale puppy: dark-coated, long-legged and still growing into himself, with his distinctive pumpkin-orange collar and an enthusiasm for almost everything he encounters.

Curious, affectionate and gloriously uncoordinated, he quickly becomes part of Elliot and Jonah’s home. Dexter adores Rufus, even if Rufus occasionally requires a little more notice before being subjected to his enthusiasm. And, like several animals in St Orison, Dexter sometimes appears to notice things before the humans around him do.

Smudge

Caitlin Richards’ cat

Smudge shares Caitlin’s cottage at Smugglers Rise and conducts himself with the quiet certainty of a cat who believes the house is really his. He is affectionate on his own terms, highly alert to changes around the cottage and perfectly capable of making his displeasure known when meals fail to arrive at the expected time.

During the strange events of 1987, Smudge becomes one of Caitlin’s earliest warning systems. He hears disturbances before she does, watches places that appear empty and reacts to changes in the natural world long before Caitlin can explain them scientifically. Yet he remains, above all, her companion — a warm presence beside her during some of the most unsettling moments of The Lore of St Orison.

Rufus

Travis & Michael’s Terrier

Small, wiry and possessed of considerably more confidence than his size might suggest, Rufus has been part of Travis’s life for years and takes his responsibilities around St Orison very seriously — particularly those involving beaches, food and other people’s business.

He quickly accepts Michael as part of the family and has a habit of deciding for himself who can be trusted. Affectionate, energetic and occasionally wilful, Rufus is equally at home around Surf & Paddle, aboard a boat or somewhere beneath a table waiting for somebody to drop something edible.

Desdemona

Helen Williams’ cat

A large, self-possessed long-haired cat who has perfected the art of occupying whichever chair, sketchbook or patch of sunlight Helen happens to need. Desdemona spends much of her time in Helen’s studio, observing the harbour through the window and treating visitors with the measured suspicion of someone who considers herself part owner of the place.

Desdemona has a presence entirely in keeping with Helen’s studio — theatrical, imposing and perfectly aware of the effect she has on visitors. Few people leave without remembering her.

Bertie

Percy Penrose’s budgerigar

A bright green-and-yellow budgie who has occupied the sunny corner of Percy’s Harbour Road cottage for years. Bertie whistles along with the radio, complains when breakfast is late and has learned a handful of phrases that Percy insists he never deliberately taught him. Like several animals in St Orison, he occasionally falls silent at moments when the rest of the town has yet to realise something has changed.