TERRY DARLINGTON was an athlete and a businessman before becoming a writer. Like many Welshmen, he is ill at ease with practical matters and known to linger in public houses. He likes boating, but is not very good at it. MONICA DARLINGTON was beauty queen of Brecon and Radnor, has a first-class degree, has run thirty marathons, and leaps tall buildings with a single bound. She quite likes boating. JIM is sprung from a long line of whippets with ridiculous names. He is cowardly, thieving, and disrespectful and hates boating. JESS is a rescue whippet. She is affectionate but three parts wild. She really really hates boating.