I watched her for a long moment, then I turned and walked down the sandbank into the sea.
I had a long swim ahead of me, but I was in the mood for a long swim.
* * *
The moon was coming up behind the palm trees as I came out of the sea. I had three things to do: I had to get a change of clothes; I had to pick up my car, and then I had to drive to the little white house and pick up the Weston & Lees rifle.
The villa where Lucy had been was in darkness, but I approached it cautiously. I moved through the flowering shrubs until I got round to the front of the house, then I paused to listen. I heard nothing. In the light of the moon I could see my Volkswagen parked where Raimundo had left it.
Nick and the other guards had been living in the place. In there, I would find a change of clothes. Although it was a temptation to jump into the car and drive away, I had to get out of my mud-stained, soaking-wet slacks and put on other clothes.
I found the front door unlocked. I moved into the darkness silently. I found the stairs and climbed them, listening, cautious all the time. The first door I opened led into a bathroom. The light from the moon was strong enough now for me to find my way around without turning on any lights. The second door led into a bedroom. There I found what I was looking for: dark slacks and a black sweat-shirt. The fit was tight but good enough. I also found with some impatient searching a pair of stout, leather-soled sandals. Holding the sandals in my hand, I crept down the stairs, paused at the front door to put the sandals on, then crossed the tarmac to the Volkswagen. I found the key in the ignition lock. With my heart banging against my ribs, I started the engine, engaged gear and drove down the drive.
No one shouted after me. When I reached the narrow road, I turned on the headlights and stamped down on the gas pedal. It took me under fifteen minutes to reach the road leading to the little white house. Here, I stopped the car, turned off the lights and walked the rest of the way.
Reaching the house, I saw it was in darkness, but even then I took my time approaching it.
The rifle was up on the roof where I had left it. Moving as silently as I knew how, I went up the steps of the verandah and moved into the dark house, pausing to listen. I heard nothing so
I went on up the stairs to the ladder that led to the roof, lit by the brilliant white moon.
Raimundo was sitting on the parapet, a colt automatic pistol in his hand : its blunt nose pointing at me.
'I've been waiting for you, soldier,' he said. His voice was husky and I could see in the light of the moon his throat was swollen. 'I thought you'd be along to collect the rifle. No tricks unless you want a second navel. Sit over there.'
I rubbed my hand across my bruised, mosquito-bitten face and then walked over to the parapet about five yards from him and sat down.
I had tricked him once before and given time I could trick him again, but did I have the time?
As I sat down, he lowered the gun, resting it on his thigh. His left hand went to his throat.
'You goddam nearly killed me,' he said.
'What did you expect?'
'Don't let's waste time. Savanto knows Timoteo and your wife got away. You know what that means, soldier?'
'You told me. We're dead men.'
'That's it. Did you find them?'
'I found them. She and he are doing a modern Romeo and Juliet act.'
He stared at me.
'Those were the characters who died young . . . or is my education slipping?'
'They were the two.'
He continued to stare at me.
'I don't know if I'm with you, soldier. Are you telling me Timoteo has stolen your wife?'
'That's about right, but it isn't one-sided.'
He touched his throat gingerly as he thought.
'Doesn't seem to be your lucky day, does it?'
Probably it was his way of saying he was sorry.
'Any cigarettes?' I asked.
He tossed me a pack and a book of matches. I lit up and as I made to throw them back, he said, 'Keep them; the way my throat feels I can't imagine I'll ever smoke again.'
'You had it coming.'
He grinned crookedly.
'I was holding on to the last pieces. Where are they?'
'Where you won't find them.'
'I don't want to.' Again he touched his throat. 'But Savanto will find them. He'll find you and me too.'
I didn't say anything. I was tempted to say that I would find Savanto first, but I wasn't sure if that kind of talk would pay dividends.
