telling yourself that. Thank you, Mr. Berg. Samantha had spent half
the afternoon helping with the arrangements for taking off the remaining
passengers from Golden Adventurer and embarking them in the waiting
fleet of tourist buses which would distribute them to hotels throughout
the city while they waited for the London charter flight.
It had been a sad occasion, farewell to many who had become friends and
remembering those who had not come back from Cape Alarm with them - Ken,
who might have been her lover, and the crew of raft Number 16 who had
been her special charges.
once the final bus had left, with the occupants waving for the last time
to Samantha, Take care, honey! You come and visit with us now, hear!
she was as lonely and forlorn as the silent ship. She stood for a long
time staring up the liner's high side, the damage where sea and ice had
battered her - then she turned and picked her way dejectedly along the
edge of the basin, ignoring the occasional whistle or ribald invitation
from the fishermen and crew members of the freighters on their moorings.
Warlock seemed as welcoming as home, rakish and gallant, wearing her new
scars with high panache, already thrusting and impatient at the
restraint of her mooring lines. And then Samantha remembered that
Nicholas Berg was no longer aboard her, and her spirits sagged again.
God! Tim Graham met her at the gangplank. I'm glad you got back. I
didn't know what to do with your gear. What do you mean? Samantha
demanded. Are you throwing me off the ship? Unless you want to come
with us to Rio. He thought about that for a moment, and then he
grinned, Hey, that's not a bad idea, how about it, old girl? Rio in
Carnival time, you and me Don't get carried away, Timothy/ she warned
him.
Why Rio? The Captain Captain Berg? No, David Allen, he's the new
skipper/ and she lost interest.
When are you sailing? Midnight. I'd best go pack up. She left him on
the quarter-deck, and Angel pounced on her as she passed the galley.
,Where have you been? He was in a flutter, all wrists and tossing hair,
I've been beside myself, darling. What is it, Angel It's probably too
late already. What is it? She caught his urgency. Tell me. He's still
in town. Who? But she knew, they spoke of only one person in these
emotional terms.
Don't be dense, luv. Your crumpet. She hated it when he referred to
Nick like that, but now she let him go on.
But he won't be very much longer. His plane leaves at five o'clock, he
is making the local flight to Johannesburg, and connecting there for
London. She stared at him.
Well what are you waiting for? Angel keened. It's almost four o'clock
now, and it will take you at least half an hour to reach the airport.
She did not move. But, Angel/ she almost wrung her hands in anguish,
but what do I do when I get there? Angel shook his head and twinkled
his diamonds in exasperation. Sweet merciful heavens, duckie. Then he
sighed. When I was a boy I had two guinea pigs, and they also refused
to get it on. I think they were retarded, or something. I tried
everything, even hormones, but neither of them survived the shots. Alas,
their love was never consummated Be serious, Angel., You could hold him
