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was more thoroughly, richly tanned than Bill, as if he had been born and raised in the open air, under
clear skies. He was not so handsome as Bill, but more rugged, earthier in a way that made him look
somewhat older than he really was.
 Ken Blenwell, he said, stepping in front of her and grinning broadly.
She remembered the man whom she had seen when they took a boat tour around the island, the man
standing on the Blenwell pier and watching the Lady Jane with field glasses. So this was what he looked
like close up.
 Do you have a name? he asked, still grinning.
 Oh, of course! she said, embarrassed by her lapse.  You startled me so, that I sort of lost track.
 Sorry about that.
 I'm Sonya Carter.
 What a lovely name! he said.
 Thank you.
 Were you coming to see us?
His teeth were exceptionally white, strong and broad, like the teeth of a healthy animal.
 Us?
 My grandparents and me, he said.  The Blen-wells? Down at Hawk House?
 Oh, she said,  no. No, I was just out for a walk, getting to know the island. Am I close to Hawk
House, then?
 Quite close, yes.
 I was enjoying myself so much, she said,  that I didn't realize how far I'd come.
He stood before her, his bare feet planted wide apart in the warm sand, almost as if he were there to
stop her from proceeding any farther. He said,  Well, this makes two disappointments in less than a
week.
 Oh?
 When you came around the point in Lady Jane, with Peterson, I thought you were coming to pay us
a visit then. But you went right on by, leav-ing me disappointed. His grin no longer seemed as pleasant
as it first had; it seemed positively threatening. Or was that her imagination? Yes, it must be that:
imagination, exaggeration. He was still smiling; he seemed personable and charming.
 That was you on the pier, with the binocu-lars? she asked.
 You know it was.
 I suppose I do, yes.
 Will you accept my invitation to visit us? he asked, looking down on her. He was quite tall.
 I'd like that.
 Now?
She hesitated, then said,  I don't see why not.
 Wonderful!
He stepped out of her way, walked up beside her and took her arm, as if he thought she might turn
and run unless he had a good hold on her. His grip was firm; he appeared inordinately strong.
They walked along the beach together. From a distance, they might have looked like any
happy-go-lucky couple. Up close, the observer would have seen the lines of tension around the girl's
eyes, would have seen something something not quite identifiable, but unsettling, in the big man's dark
face.
 You like the island? he asked.
 It's beautiful, she said.
 It is that. Someday, I hope to own it.
 Oh?
 Unless, of course, your employer, Dougherty, refuses to sell his portion. But I'm confident that, given
time, he'll come around to my offer. It's more than adequate. He could turn a neat profit with what I'm
willing to go for it.
 But I doubt he needs the money, she said. She didn't know why she felt like needling the man, but
she couldn't resist the chance.
 Everyone needs the money or thinks he does. Millionaires are no different; Dougherty is no
different. As the beach turned and Hawk House came into view, he let go her arm.  What strikes you
most about Distingue?
 Too many things to choose one, she said.  The beaches are so pure white.
 That's because they're white volcanic beaches. The sand was formed at the most terrific heat oh,
ten or twenty thousand years ago, and maybe longer. Surely, longer.
 And the palm trees, she said, motioning to the lovely green giants to their left where they closed in
on Hawk House.  I wanted to climb one of the coconut palms for some fruit, but I was afraid that I'd fall
and couldn't call for help.
 We'll get some coconuts later, together, he said.
 I like the parrots, too, Sonya said. When she talked, she felt more at ease.  They're so pretty and
bright. And when they make that cawing, trill-ing noise, they make me think I'm in some old movie about
Africa or South America.
He said,  I hate the parrots.
 For heaven's sake, why? she asked.
 The noise they make is raucous, bothersome, he said.
She looked at him, saw that he was serious. His jaw was set tight, almost as if he were gritting his
teeth.
 But 
He interrupted her:  I'd exterminate them if I owned the island myself.
 They're so pretty, she insisted.
 But they don't belong, he said.  They're not a natural lifeform to Distingue. Doughtery imported
them for his own amusement.
 So?
 They simply don't belong, he repeated, giving each word the same, harsh force.
 By that reasoning, Sonya said,  you could argue for the extermination of the people on Disingue.
We aren't indigenous to the island either.
We don't belong, naturally speaking. Why not ex-terminate us too?
 Maybe you have something there, he said. He grinned at her, but she could not be certain if the grin
were genuine.
 Here we are, he said, taking her arm again.  Watch your step.
He lead her onto the front porch of Hawk House, opened the door, and lead her into a gloomy
entrance hall that smelled of furniture pol-ish and old lace curtains.
SEVEN
Kenneth Blenwell escorted Sonya along the dimly lighted main hall to a set of sliding doors, pulled [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]