with the offer by the Sheikhs to buy out Ocean Salvage and Towage.
Will you sell,' she asked quietly. You won't will you,' For seven
million dollars clear? the asked. Do you know how much money that is,'
I can't count that far/ she admitted. But what would you do if you
sold? I cannot imagine you playing bowls or golf for the rest of your
life. Part of the deal is that I run Ocean Salvage for them for two
years, and then I've been offered a part-time assignment which will fill
any spare time I've got left over. What is it? 'Associate Professor at
Miami University. She stopped dead and dragged him around to face her.
You're having me on! she accused.
That's a start only/ he admitted. in two years or so, when I've
finished with Ocean Salvage, there may be a full chair of applied
oceanology. It's not true! she said, and took him by the arms, shaking
him with surprising strength.
Tom, wants me to ram-rod the applied aspects of the environmental
research. I'll trouble-shoot with legislators and the maritime
conference, a sort of hired gun for the Green-Peacers Oh Nicholas,
Nicholas' Sweet Christ! he accused. You're crying again. I can't help
it. She was in his arms still wet and cold and gritty with beach sand.
She clung to him, quivering with joy. Do you know what this means,
Nicholas?
You don't, do you? You just don't realize what this means. Tell me/he
invited. What does it mean? What it means is that, in future, we can
do everything together, not just munch food and go boom in bed - but
everything, work and play and, and live together like a man and woman
should! She sounded stunned and frightened by the magnitude of the
vision.
The prospect daunts me not at all/he murmured gently, and lifted her
chin. They washed off the salt and the sand, crowding together into the
thick, perfumed steam of the shower cubicle and afterwards they lay
together on the patchwork quilt in the darkness with the sound of the
sea as background music to the plans and dreams they wove together.
Every time they both descended to the very frontiers of sleep, one of
them would think of something vitally important and prod the other awake
to say it.
I've got to be in London on Tuesday. Don't spoil it all, now/she
murmured sleepily.
And then we're launching Sea Witch on the 7th April. I'm not listening/
she whispered. I've got my fingers in my ears. Will you launch her - I
mean break the bottle of bubbly and bless her? I've just taken my
fingers out again. Jules would love it. Nicholas, I cannot spend my
life commuting across the Atlantic, not even for you. I've got work to
do. Peter will be there, I'll work that as a bribe. 'That's unfair
pressure, she protested.
Will you come?
You know I will, you sexy bastard. I wouldn't miss it for all the
world. She moved across the quilt and found his ear with her lips. I
am honoured. Both of you are sea witches/ Nick told her.
And you are my warlock. Sea witch and warlock/he chuckled. 'Together we
will work miracles. Look, I know it's terribly forward of me, but
