Part 33 (2/2)

”You're a thief,” she attacked again

”Yes,” I agreed ”I was once - but that was a long tio, and since then I worked hard on it With a bit of help, I'd havethe throne”

”No, rinned at her ”What is in the coffin then?”

”Three hundred pounds of beach sand from Turtle Bay When you see it, think of the times we had there”

”The throne - where is it?”

”With its rightful owner, the representative of the people of St Mary's, President Godfrey Biddle”

”You gave it up?” she stared at an to dawn in her eyes ”Why, Harry, why?” ”Like I said, I' hard at each other, and suddenly I saw the clear liquid flooding her dark blue eyes

”And you ca what I had to do?” she asked, her voice choking

”I ';2:+' wanted you tolike dewdrops in the thick dark eyelashes I went on deliberately, ”I'ate If nobody blows the whistle I will be on the next flight out of here and the day after toh the reef to look for the dolphins”

”They'll come after you, Harry,” she said, and I shook my head

”President Biddle has just altered his extradition agreements

nobody will be able to touch me on St Mary's I have his word for it”

I turned and opened the door of the booth ”I' to be lonely as all hell out there at Turtle Bay”

I turned my back on her then and walked slowly and deliberately to the departures gate, just as they called est and scariest walk of my entire life, and ed me and I dared not look back

As I settled into the seat of the Swissair Caravelle and fastenedit would take her to screw up her nerve enough to follow me out to St Mary's, and I reflected-that there was much I still had to tell her

I had to tell her that I had contracted to raise the rest of the golden throne from Gunfire Break for the benefit of the people of St Mary's In return President Godfrey Biddle had undertaken to buy me a new deep-sea boat from the proceeds - just like Wave Dancer - a token of the people's gratitude

I would be able to keep my lady in the style to which I was accustoian silver gilt plate buried behind the shack at Turtle Bay for the lean and hungry off season I hadn't reforht runs, however

As the Caravelle took off and climbed steeply up over the blue lakes and forested mountains, I realized that I did not even know her real na I would ask her when I met her at the airport of St Mary's island, - Pearl of the Indian Ocean

The novels of Wilbur Smith

The Courtney Novels:

When the Lion Feeds

The Sound of Thunder

A Sparrow Falls

The Burning Shore

Power of the Sword

Rage

A Time to Die

The Ballantyne novels:

A Falcon Flies

Men of Men

The Angels Weep