'So I will tell you. I made a foolish bet with an old friend of mine for a very large sum of money. My friend is an excellent shot and always boasting about what he can do with a rifle. Foolishly I said that anyone could become a good shot with training.' He regarded me sharply with his flat snake's eyes. 'Even I, Mr. Benson, when I have had too much to drink, can be stupid. My friend betted me that my son couldn't kill a fast- moving animal with a rifle after nine days' tuition. I was drunk and angry and I accepted the bet. Now, I must win.'
'What animal?' I asked.
'A monkey swinging in a tree : a deer in flight : a hare running from a dog . . . I don't know . . . something like that. My friend has the choice, but it must be a clean, certain kill.'
I wiped my sweating hands on the back of my jeans.
'How much did you bet, Mr. Savanto?'
He showed his gold-capped teeth in a smile.
'You are very curious, but I will tell you. I bet half a million dollars. Although I am a rich man, I can't afford to lose that amount of money.' His smile became fixed. 'Nor do I intend to.'
As I stood hesitating, he went on, 'And you can't afford to lose ten per cent of that kind of money either.' He stared at me for a long moment. 'Then at seven this evening, Mr. Benson.'
He left the room and started off across the hot sand towards the Cadillac. I watched him go. Halfway to the Cadillac, he paused, turned and raised his hat. He was saluting Lucy.
Fifty thousand dollars!
The thought of owning such a sum turned me hot with a frightening, terrible desire.
Fifty thousand dollars for a miracle ! So I was going to perform a miracle !
* * *
I heard the front door open, then Lucy came in.
'Any luck, Jay? What was it all about?'
The sight of her brought me sharply down to earth. In those few moments as Savanto was driving away and Lucy was coming for news, my mind had been ablaze with the thoughts of becoming rich.
'Get me a beer, honey,' I said, 'and I'll tell you.'
'There's only one . . . Shouldn't we keep it?'
'Get it!'
I didn't mean to speak so sharply, but I was pretty worked up and I wanted the beer because my mouth was dry and my throat constricted.
'Of course.'
She gave me a startled look and then ran off to the kitchen. I walked out of the bungalow and sat down on the sand under the shade of the palm trees.
Fifty thousand dollars ! I kept thinking. God ! It can't be possible! I scooped up a handful of dry sand and let it run through my fingers. Fifty thousand dollars !
Lucy came from the bungalow, carrying a glass of beer. She came to me, gave it to me and then sat down beside me.
I drank until the glass was empty, then I found a cigarette and lit it.
Lucy watched me.
'Your hands are shaking,' she said, her expression worried. 'What is it, Jay?'
I told her.
She didn't interrupt, but sat still, her hands clasping her knees, looking at me and listening.
'That's it,' I said, and we looked at each other.
'I just don't believe it, Jay.'
'He showed me the two bonds . . . Each are worth twenty-five thousand dollars . . . I can believe that ! '
'Jay ! Think a moment ! No one would pay that sum of money without a good reason. I don't believe it.'
'I'd pay that sum of money to save half a million. Don't you call that a good reason?'
'You don't believe he made that bet, do you?'
I felt blood rising to my face.
'Why not ! Rich men make big bets . . . He said he was drunk at the time.'
'I don't believe it !'
'Don't keep saying that ! I've seen the money !' I found I was shouting at her. 'You don't know anything about this ! Don't keep saying you don't believe it!'
She flinched away from me.
'I'm sorry, Jay.'
I pulled myself together and gave her a wry grin.
'I'm sorry too. All that money ! Think what we can do with it ! Just think! We can turn this place into a dude ranch. We can have staff . . . a swimming pool . . . we can't miss! I've always thought with enough capital . . .'
