Kek sighed. He had already had a feeling the call wasn’t after his good health, or to query the weather.
“Changed in what way?”
The rasping voice dropped momentarily and then came up in volume again, as if realizing that ship-to-shore connections suffered enough from static without adding to the problem by whispering.
“I have just read in the newspapers that the object we intended to purchase, unfortunately, will not be at the shop after the end of this week. After four more days, to be exact. On Friday next it is to be shipped out. A display of all the various models produced by the same manufacturer is to be sent around the world to all the trade fairs. Obviously, this fact changes our purchasing position. Do you understand what I am saying?”
It was quite clear that Girard had prepared his little speech well, and deserved a pat on the head for it, plus an apple after school, but that scarcely solved the problem.
“I understand perfectly.” Merde! So there was to be a traveling exhibit of the carvings of Chang Tzu T’sien and “The Village Dance” would leave Ile Rocheux obviously on loan, and equally obviously under guard. In just four days. “So we forget the entire matter?” Kek asked innocently. “Of course, in that case, M’sieu, you must realize that at least technically I have won our small wager. However, possibly a compromise—”
“M’sieu!” Ice, touched by that tone, would have frozen; diamonds would have shattered under its induration. “Don’t play games!”
“Sorry. I thought—”
“Will you be quiet and listen! I have checked with your shipping line. As you know, your ship docks at Port Everglades tomorrow morning fairly early. I have already contacted the salesman I spoke to you about. He will arrange, as a convenience, to withdraw this one item from the trade-fair display tomorow evening. Everything will remain as we discussed, except the salesman will be prepared to accept your offer the day after tomorrow, rather than on the day we originally planned. You will have to leave your ship at Port Everglades and fly to meet him.”
“Why can’t he merely hold it until my ship arrives on schedule?”
“Because I don’t want it that way. The salesman is — well, a salesman, after all...”
Kek smiled again. It was all right to use a thief, but don’t, for Heaven’s sake, trust him. Or at least no more than you have to. Well, it was a logical position, when one considered it.
“I understand.”
“Good. The meeting will take place, as arranged, at the same place.”
“I’ll be there.”
“I will arrange your plane flight from Fort Lauderdale,” Girard said. “Call me from there at one o’clock sharp. I’ll be waiting. It’ll give you ample time; your flight doesn’t leave until one thirty.”
“Good enough,” Kek said, and heard the receiver at the other end placed firmly onto its cradle. He hung up and sighed. Merde, again! There went half his holiday with Anita! Not to mention the discussion that undoubtedly would ensue when he told her of the change in plans. He sighed, nearly suffocating himself in the restricted space, and managed to squeeze himself from the booth. The radio operator, seeing the expression on Kek’s face, nodded in understanding.
“Bad news, Signore?” It was a rhetorical question. Seldom did good news come in by radio-telephone. He waited interestedly in anticipation of a proper answer.
“Terrible!” Kek said.
“Ah!” said the officer happily, and bent to his duties, while Kek started down the narrow companionway leading to the stairs.
He took the turn at the bottom of the stairs and paused. Through the glass of the door he could see Anita in profile, and the men at the rail and the men in deck chairs all eyeing her. It suddenly occurred to him that he should have asked Girard if he was being accommodated by a helpful assistant he didn’t want; then a more interesting question came to him. He thought about it for several moments, and then went out on deck.
The wind had dropped a bit by the time of his return, and the waves, while still battling, were doing so halfheartedly, like third-rate fighters in the final round of a club match. Kek dropped into his chair across from Anita and nodded approvingly, as would any man whose newfound date had not only waited for him, but who had also forgone her drink until his arrival. He reached for his glass, smiled at Anita both for her patience and her beauty, and raised his glass in a toast.
“Here’s luck.”
Anita crushed out her cigarette and reached for her glass, smiling brightly for the onlookers.
“What was the call all about?”
“I’ll tell you later. This is brandy time.”
“Fair enough,” Anita said cordially. She tapped her glass to his, to the extreme discouragement of the eyeing stallions champing at their bits. Obviously, the stranger had the winning ticket on an Exacta. “To a happy cruise,” Anita said, and added, “together.”
Kek had been about to sip. Instead he paused, studying Anita over the rim of his glass. “Well, you see,” he said a bit diffidently, “that’s rather difficult to drink to...”
“What do you mean?”
“You see, I’m leaving the ship at Port Everglades tomorrow...”
Anita sputtered. Into the hearts of the watchers, hope sprang anew. From the instant disappearance of the dazzling smile and from the look that replaced it on the lovely lady’s face, there was no doubt their rival had said something undoubtedly stupid and probably improper, and stood a good chance of being scratched from the race. Each man was also able to draw several secondary conclusions from the scene he was witnessing: one, that the lovely lady had a hair-trigger temper: and two, that the path to the winner’s circle was one to be ridden with great care — the track might well be mined. In fact, several of the more cautious contenders declared themselves out of the event at that moment, but that still left a sizable starting gate.
“I’ll rejoin you when the ship gets to Barbados,” Kek went on evenly, not at all intimidated by the storm signals. “You’ll only be alone for five days, and all of those are in ports. You can get some of your shopping done. You’ve never been to any of the free ports, and—”
“You just think I’ll be alone,” Anita said, steel in her voice. “Is there any reason you can dream up in exactly two seconds as to why I can’t get off the ship with you in Port Everglades? And rejoin it in Barbados with you? If it’s the extra expense,” she went on with savage sarcasm, “I can manage on my own, thank you! I’ve been saving from my household allowance!”
“A goodly virtue,” Kek agreed. “One never knows when a rainy day might come. But it really isn’t a matter of money. I still have most of your boy Max’s ten thousand.”
“I know you do. So that settles that; I’ll come with you.”
“It’s usually polite to wait until you’re asked,” Kek said gently, and waited for the explosion.
There was a moment’s silence. Every one of the breathless watchers knew that whatever their rival had said had not smoothed any ruffled feelings, and that the idiot had clearly asked for trouble. It came with a speed that no one — including Kek — had anticipated. Anita reached across the table and slapped Kek with all the force of an arm well tempered by daily exercise. The crack resounded over a startled gallery; two more watchers disqualified themselves on the spot. A deck steward started forward to prevent ship’s property from being damaged if further mayhem were contemplated by the lovely signorina, and then stopped, quite sure that any man who looked like Signore Huuygens undoubtedly could take care of himself.