'Somehow,' said Rick, 'he doesn't seem the type.'
'Good thing, or you and I would get to bring only one change of underwear.'
'I believe you,' said Rick. 'I waited on those people at dinner. Fancy china . . . champagne . . .'
'Green has a thing about champagne.'
'The daughter was wearing a dress, for God's sake. A dress, out here. Who was she trying to impress?'
'The rich, if you haven't noticed, are different from you and me,' said Joe. 'Hell, they even look different now.'
'I thought the girl might have been okay. I mean, she wasn't redone.'
'Bet she's souped, though.'
'Genetically enhanced?'
'Sure,' said Joe. 'All rich kids are. You served to-night, bet she ate like a pig.'
'Five helpings.'
'Yep,' said Joe. 'Probably has the metabolism of a hummingbird. That's how she keeps that nice slim fig-ure.'
'Then she's probably smart, too,' said Rick.
'
'I'm afraid you're right.'
Joe and Rick silently watched the waves, each caught up in his own thoughts.
'I don't get this setup,' said Rick after a while. 'Some of it's the height of technology and the rest is downright primitive. Why don't we have a power hookup? The guests' quarters have voice-controlled lighting while our kitchen has only a small propane-powered refrigerator. We're washing dishes in cold water. A lot of the basic stuff is missing. It doesn't make sense.'
Joe looked down and shook his head. 'Green was wor-ried about you. I can see why.'
'What do you mean?'
'Look, I don't speak for the man. Don't want to. But I know him, and I know he doesn't like questions. That's why you're our naturalist. He wanted a college kid rather than some scientist.'
'You don't need a degree to be a scientist, just curi-osity.'
'Curiosity's exactly what Green wants to avoid. He wants this place kept secret.'
'Then why build a resort?'
'He has his reasons,' said Joe, 'and you don't want to know them.'
'Why even pretend you can keep this place secret? Those guest quarters must have involved a massive con- struction crew. Surely, some of those people have talked by now. It's pointless to be so hush-hush.'
'There was no construction crew.'
'Are you telling me Green built this place without help? That's absurd.'
'Green didn't build this place,' replied Joe, 'he found it.' He looked at the stunned, puzzled expression on Rick's face. 'There, now you know too much already.'
'But...'
'I told you so you'd keep your mouth shut. I'm not going to tell you more, and, if you have any sense, you won't ask any more questions. Focus your curiosity on this place'—Joe swept his hand over the sea and the land beyond—'not on Green's business. Trust me, it's safer.'
