Felicity and I had been sitting on deck dozing through the night. I felt more at peace than I had since what I called the nightmare had begun. The sea was smooth; now and then I saw a phosphorescent gleam on the waters—weirdly beautiful; the Southern Cross above, with its myriads of companion stars, reminded me how far from home we were—but we were going to Cariba, and there I hoped I should discover some news of Philip and ... I should see Milton Harrington.
Life had become full of adventure—sometimes terrifying—but I believed that nothing which lay in store for me could be more fearful than that horrific experience through which I had just passed.
I looked at Felicity; her eyes were closed. There was a change in her since she had confessed to me what had really happened on that night. It was as though she felt she had shifted her burden a little. Poor Felicity! What she had suffered was beyond endurance. I could only be thankful that it was at an end—by whatever means we had reached that end.
And now before us... Cariba and Milton Harrington.
The sun rose as suddenly as it set and the water lost its mysterious darkness and was opalescent in the morning light.
And then I saw the islands. There was a group of them. I made out four... and yes, another one some distance away, separated from the others. It is an exciting moment when one catches sight of land and I could well imagine the exhilaration which those early explorers must have experienced when they sailed the uncharted seas.
As we drew nearer I awakened Felicity.
"Look, Felicity. We are nearly there."
We stood together leaning over the rail. I turned to look at her. She was smiling. I put my hand over hers. "You look so much better," I said.
"I feel more at peace. I didn't dream at all as I sat there dozing. It was... well, peace."
"That is how it is going to be from now on."
"Thank you," she said. Til never forget all you have done for me.
I was thoughtful for a moment, thinking: But for me it would never have happened. You would have married Raymond if I hadnt come along. And that episode would never have taken place.
What a difference that would have made to Felicity! I could see her married to Raymond, becoming a good wife and mother, living uneventfully, never dreaming that there could be men in the world like William Granville.
For the first time it occurred to me how suited they were—she and Raymond, and how but for me they would have drifted into marriage. Raymond would make the perfect husband ... to any woman he married.
It was strange that I who had contemplated marrying him myself— and had made excuses for delaying fulfilment—should be thinking of his marrying someone else.
But here was Cariba. A new adventure was beginning and I promised myself that this was going to be wonderful. I should achieve what I had come out for.
The islands were green and lush; a heat haze hung over them at the moment.
Felicity was shading her eyes. "That one seems a little apart," she said.
"Yes. The others are very close together. What would you think? No more than half a mile between them. Except that one. I wonder what it is called and if there are people on it."
We were approaching the largest of the islands—Cariba itself and our destination. There were several boats in the small harbour, which was alive with activity. We had weighed anchor. As I had expected the water was too shallow for the ship to go right in and we should go ashore in small boats.
Now little boats were rowing out to us; In them were small boys who grinned up at us and called to us in pidgin English to throw down coins which they would dive for. So we threw pennies into the water which was so clear that the sea bed was visible.
We hastily searched our purses and found more coins. We laughed as we watched the lithe brown bodies dive and squirm in the water like little fishes. When they found a coin they held it up to us triumphantly, threw it into their boat and called: "More. More."
This continued for some time before we were told to assemble below for the journey ashore.
We climbed rather perilously down a rope ladder to the boat below and in a short time we were being rowed to the island.
My excitement was intense. This was the last place where Philip had been known to be. Someone here must know something.
The sun was getting higher in the sky and it was perceptibly warmer. It glinted on white houses. I picked out a large building which I took to be the hotel.
It was not the desert island I had imagined. There must be a thriving community here. The dock was littered with large cases; of course it would be, for it was the day the ship came in from Sydney, and those cases would be loaded and taken for distribution probably to various ports in the world. I saw crates of green bananas, and fruits, the names of which I did not know. There were people of all colours— black, brown and some white. Everyone seemed to be dashing about and making a great deal of noise.
I said to Felicity: "We will go straight to the hotel. Some of these people will tell us how to get there."
The boat was almost there. One of the two big black men who had rowed us leaped into the water and secured it.
Then he lifted us out so that we did not get our feet wet.
I heard a shout—and there he was pushing his way through the crowd. I noticed the flash of his white teeth in his sunburned face.
"I thought you were never coming," he said.
I felt ridiculously emotional and the absurd idea came to me that my troubles were at an end.
He was shouting orders. Where was our baggage? He would see to that. Everyone seemed to stand to attention at the sound of his voice.
I laughed, feeling deliriously happy. I said: "You really are the big white chief."
"It is the only thing to be out here."
He took my arm and that of Felicity.
"You poor girls must be worn out. It's an exhausting journey, I know, and a night without sleep."
"We dozed, didn't we, Felicity?"
"It was so peaceful on deck and such a lovely night."
"You were lucky. It can be quite the reverse. Now I'll have your baggage seen to and sent up to the house."
"What house?"
"My house, of course. You are my guests."
"No, no," I said. "We are staying at the hotel."
"I won't hear of it."
"I insist. It is good of you to be so hospitable, but we must be in the hotel. I have so much to do and I want to be in the hotel."
"Every time the ship has come in from Sydney I have been here waiting. I have your room prepared. I did not know you would be here, Mrs. Granville."
"That is a long story which must wait," I said. "We shall stay at the hotel."
He looked at me sardonically.
"Short of taking you to my house by force, I see there is nothing I can do but take you to the hotel."
"Absolutely nothing."
"Perhaps I can persuade you to visit me later."
"Thank you. And please don't think I am ungrateful. I do appreciate all your kindness and the help you gave us before ... But I must be in the hotel. We don't want to be in a house again for a while. Something awful happened to Mr. Granville."
He was taken aback. So the news had not reached Cariba yet. I supposed it would in due course, but there had hardly been time yet.
"It was an accident," I said, willing him with my eyes to say no more in Felicity's presence.
"I'm sorry," he said to Felicity.
"It would be nice if you would help us get into the hotel," I put in quickly. "I dare say a word from you would ensure our getting the best treatment."
"Come along," he said. "This is your light baggage, is it?" He shouted to one of the men. "Have this brought to the hotel."
"Yes, Master," said the man.
"Now, let us go. It is here ... right on the waterfront."