The silence sang. The girl whimpered softly. Bond hushed her and held her tighter.
The loud-hailer boomed. “Okay, folks. If you still got ears, we’ll be along soon to pick up the bits. And we’ll be bringing the dogs. ‘Bye for now.”
The slow thud of the diesel quickened. The engine accelerated into a hasty roar and through the fallen leaves Bond watched the stern of the launch settle lower in the water as it made off to the west. Within minutes it was out of earshot.
Bond cautiously raised his head. The bay was serene, the beach unmarked. All was as before except for the stench of cordite and the sour smell of blasted rock. Bond pulled the girl to her feet. There were tear streaks down her face. She looked at him aghast. She said solemnly, “That was horrible. What did they do it for? We might have been killed.”
Bond thought, this girl has always had to fend for herself, but only against nature. She knows the world of animals and insects and fishes and she’s got the better of it. But it’s been a small world, bounded by the sun and the moon and the seasons. She doesn’t know the big world of the smoke-filled room, of the bullion broker’s parlour, of the corridors and waiting-rooms of government offices, of careful meetings on park seats-she doesn’t know about the struggle for big power and big money by the big men. She doesn’t know that she’s been swept out of her rock pool into the dirty waters.
He said, “It’s all right, Honey. They’re just a lot of bad men who are frightened of us. We can manage them.” Bond put his arm round her shoulders, “And you were wonderful. As brave as anything. Come on now, we’ll look for Quarrel and make some plans. Anyway, it’s time we had something to eat. What do you eat on these expeditions?”
They turned and walked up the beach to the headland. After a minute she said in a controlled voice, “Oh, there’s stacks of food about. Sea urchins mostly. And there are wild bananas and things. I eat and sleep for two days before I come out here. I don’t need anything.”
Bond held her more closely. He dropped his arm as Quarrel appeared on the skyline. Quarrel scrambled down among the rocks. He stopped, looking down. They came up with him. The girl’s canoe was sawn almost in half by the bullets. The girl gave a cry. She looked desperately at Bond, “My boat! How am I to get back?”
“Don’t you worry, missy.” Quarrel appreciated the loss of a canoe better than Bond. He guessed it might be most of the girl’s capital. “Cap’n fix you up wit’ anudder. An’ yo come back wit’ we. Us got a fine boat in de mangrove. Hit not get broke. Ah’s bin to see him.” Quarrel looked at Bond. Now his face was worried. “But cap’n, yo sees what I means about dese folk, Dey mighty tough men an” dey means business. Dese dogs dey speak of. Dose is police-houns-Pinschers dey’s called. Big bastards. Mah frens tell me as der’s a pack of twenty or moh. We better make plans quick-an’ good.”
“All right, Quarrel. But first we must have something to eat. And I’m damned if I’m going to be scared off the island before I’ve had a good look. We’ll take Honey with us.” He turned to the girl. “Is that all right with you, Honey? You’ll be all right with us. Then we’ll sail home together.”
The girl looked doubtfully at him. “I guess there’s no alternative. I mean. I’d love to go with you if I won’t be in the way. I really don’t want anything to eat. But will you take me home as soon as you can? I don’t want to see any more of those people. How long are you going to be looking at these birds?”
Bond said evasively, “Not long. I’ve got to find out what happened to them and why. Then we’ll be off.” He looked at his watch. “It’s twelve now. You wait here. Have a bathe or something. Don’t walk about leaving footprints. Come on, Quarrel, we’d better get that boat hidden.”