I hesitated. It was enough for me to know he was sure that Lucy was still alive and he was being co- operative. It would be stupid to take a risk.
'No.' I paused, looking up at him. 'I'll tell you something. I don't think he trusts you any more. I think you could be in as much trouble as I am.'
'That's crazy talk!' But something I thought looked like fear jumped into his eyes. 'Now listen, soldier, you have got to fix Diaz! Make no mistake about it!' Suddenly he stiffened and looked hurriedly over his shoulder, then back to me. 'Take these pills.' His voice had become loud and harsh. 'You've got to sleep.'
The door had opened silently and I saw Carlo standing in the doorway.
I took the pills while Raimundo stood over me. When he was sure I had swallowed them, he turned round and started for the door.
Carlo, his little ape's eyes shifting, stepped back.
'You want something?' Raimundo demanded aggressively.
Carlo grinned like an idiot.
'I didn't know where you had got to.'
Raimundo snapped off the light. 'You know now.' He went out of the room and shut the door.
I lay in the darkness for only a few minutes before the pills hit me.
CHAPTER SEVEN
'Are you awake, soldier?'
I opened my eyes. The hot sunlight coming through the half- open shutters made me blink. I lifted my head from the sweat- soaked pillow. Raimundo was standing by the bed, looking down at me.
'I'm awake.'
I made the effort and swung my feet to the floor. I felt dopey. The pills he had given me certainly had carried authority.
'What's the time?'
'Just on twelve.' He put a cup of steaming black coffee on the bedside table. 'How are you feeling?'
Although my chest was still sore, the raging pain had gone.
'I'm all right.'
'Diaz arrived late last night. He should be tired of screwing her by now. With luck, he'll come out on the bay.'
I had nothing to say. After regarding me, he left the room. I sipped the coffee and smoked. When I had finished the coffee, I stuck my head under the cold shower. I was careful not to let the water get near the burn.
By the time I had shaved, I was feeling pretty good. The sleep had relaxed me. I put on cotton slacks and a shirt. The brand looked ugly, but it wasn't inflamed. When I began to button the shirt, the touch of the cotton made me wince so I left the shirt open. I went out on to the verandah.
Raimundo was sitting there, cigarette dangling between his lips. I
joined him, sitting in a chair close to his.
'Where's Carlo?' I asked.
'I've given him something to do. Forget him. How do you feel?' He looked at the brand, then at me.
'Okay.'
'Sure?'
'I'm all right,' I said impatiently.
'So is your wife, soldier.'
It was now my turn to stare at him.
'That's easy to say.'
'We ran out of whisky. I went over to the other place this morning for a refill. I saw her. She's okay.'
It was hard to believe he was lying.
'She's okay,' he repeated. 'Timoteo is Savanto's heir. He draws a lot of water.'
'What has that to do with my wife?'
He ran his fingers through his heavy black hair.
'Timoteo is looking after her. You don't have to worry.'
