to stop shaking. This was the gentling process. I spoke quietly. I was trying to will into him that this rifle could come alive in his hands, could obey him, could be his friend. I didn't say all this crap in so many words, but I tried to convey it. So far, my words were bouncing off him like a golf ball against a concrete wall. But years as an instructor had taught me that often just when you were despairing, you get the break-through. Lucy's sudden appearance broke the beginning of his concentration and sent a rush of blood to my head.
'I'm sorry, Jay,' she said, seeing the way I reacted. 'I didn't mean to disturb you . . .'
'What is it?'
The snap in my voice made Timoteo stiffen. It also made Lucy take a step back.
'The car won't start.'
I drew in a deep breath. I looked at my watch. I was surprised to see I had been talking to this beanpole for close on an hour. I shot him a quick look. He was staring down at his feet and I could see a vein in his forehead pounding. Lucy and my barking voice had undone the work of an hour.
I put down the rifle.
'What's the matter then?'
She looked like a kid caught with her fingers in the jam.
'I — I don't know. It just won't start.'
I made an effort to hold down a burst of temper and succeeded, but only just.
'Okay, I'll come.' I put down the rifle. Then to Timoteo, I said, 'I won't be a moment. Stay here now your eyes are getting used to this light. Don't put those sun glasses on.'
He mumbled something, but I was already moving to the door. Lucy fell back, giving me room to pass.
'Did you put your foot hard down on the gas pedal?' I asked as she trotted alongside me to keep up with my strides.
'Yes.'
'A hell of a time for it to play up. Well, I'll get it going.'
I was sure she had done something stupid and it infuriated me that she had come to me just when I was getting this goddam beanpole in a more relaxed state of mind.
The Volkswagen was parked under a palm thatched lean-to. I jerked open the door, slid into the driving seat, sure that under my hand, the car would start.
Lucy stood by watching.
I jiggled the gear lever to check it was in neutral, then I shoved the gas pedal to the floor and switched on. I got a noise, but no start. I did this three times. Finally, the noise convinced me that the engine wasn't going to fire. I cursed under my breath, my hands resting on the steering wheel as I glared through the dusty windscreen. I weighed up the importance of making the car start against the importance of getting Timoteo to shoot.
I had this twenty-five thousand dollar bond. This was like having twenty-five thousand dollars in cash. This bond had to be lodged in the safe keeping of a bank. Suppose someone stole it? Suppose our bungalow caught fire and the bond got destroyed? I was now responsible for it. I could imagine Savanto's reaction if I had to tell him I had lost it.
I got out of the car, went around to the back and opened the lid. I looked at the engine. When a car makes the noise this one is making, the first thing to do, if you know anything about cars, is to check the distributor head and he prepared to clean the points. So I looked. The distributor head was missing.
That cooled me. My temper and my irritation with Lucy went away. Again I felt that itchy Prickle run up my spine.
'No wonder you couldn't start it . . . the distributor head has been taken away. Have you the bond with you?'
With wide eves, Lucy stared at me, then opened her bag and gave me the bond.
'I never expected it would be easy. honey,' I said. 'No one can earn money this big without sweating for it. Now listen : there was something Savanto said to me which I haven't told you. He said you would be best off away from here while I'm teaching Timoteo to shoot. I can call a taxi and you can go to a hotel. We have the money, and it will be only for nine days. What do you say?'
'I'm not going!'
Although she looked scared, she also looked determined.
'Fine.' I put the bond in my hip pocket, then went to her, and put my arms around her. 'I don't want you to go. Go and keep Timoteo company while I talk to Raimundo. It's my bet he's taken the distributor head.'
'Be careful, Jay. That man frightens me.'
'He doesn't frighten me.'
I kissed her, then set off across the sand towards the distant palms.
It was a longish walk in the sun and I was sweating by the time I was within sight of the truck.
Raimundo and Nick were pitching a tent. They had picked a good spot. There was shade, plenty of beach and the sea. As I approached, I saw Nick, his Hawaiian shirt black with sweat, doing most of the work. Raimundo was singing. He had a good voice. It sounded good enough to come out of a transistor.
He stopped singing when he saw me, turned and said something to Nick who looked up, stared at me and then went on driving in a tent peg.
Raimundo came towards me. He moved well, and he was very sure of himself.
I stopped when I was within six feet of him. He stopped too.
'You have the distributor head of my car,' I said. There was a bite in my voice, but I wasn't bawling. 'I
