As time passed, now that he no longer had to make any considerable effort, he gradually got his breath back and his condition improved a little; but whether his endurance would have proved sufficient for him to maintain his precarious position until wind or a current carried him to land remained open to question.
He was roused from semi lethargy by a shout and, lifting his head, saw James swimming vigorously towards him. From the shore the Ratu had sighted the roof and wondered if Gregory was still clinging to it. He had already made up his mind to swim off and find out when he saw Gregory struggling to turn the roof into a raft, and set off to his rescue.
As the raft was still a quarter of a mile from land, it was hard work to push and tow it to the beach; but James was a magnificent swimmer and at length the two friends staggered ashore, worn out but thankful to be still alive.
It seemed to them that many hours had elapsed since they had left San Antonio Palopo; but Gregory's waterproof watch showed it to be only a little after five o'clock, so they could not have been in the water for much more than an hour and a quarter. Fortunately, they had landed on the promontory furthest from San Antonio; but, even so, as they would still have to go round the furthest bay, they were several miles from the Hotel Tzanjuyu.
As the sun was no longer sufficiently strong to dry their clothes on them, they took off all but their under garments. Then, when they were well rested, carrying their other things, they set off on their long tramp. It proved far from easy going, as there was no path along the shore. At times they had to scramble over patches of rock and at others, where precipitous cliffs came straight down to the water, make their way up steep slopes, then through long patches of scrub to the next beach.
Every twenty minutes or so they sat down for a breather and discussed what they should say about their recent experience when they reached the hotel. As there had been no boatman in the Colons' launch, it seemed probable that they had stolen it from one of the villas on the foreshore. If so, the odds were that they would beach it somewhere not far distant from the road, regain a car that they had left in some secluded spot, and by now be well on their way back to Antigua without anyone in Panajachel having seen them. As they had set out intending to commit murder, it could also be assumed that they had arranged some form of alibi In consequence, if a charge was brought against them, it might be impossible to prove that they had even been in the district.
In any case, bringing a charge would mean Gregory and James being detained in Guatemala as essential witnesses, perhaps for several weeks, which would seriously interfere with their own plans, and be a foolish thing to do if there was little hope of bringing the criminals to justice. They therefore decided to make no mention of having even seen the Colons or their launch, and simply say that their own boat had blown up without warning, leading to the unfortunate loss of the boatman.
When they had accomplished about two thirds of their trek they came upon a cluster of poor dwellings. From them a rough track led on round the lake, which was fortunate, as by then darkness was falling, and it was past eight when they came in sight of the first villa on the long beach outside Panajachel.
James' splendid physique had enabled him to come through their ordeal without ill effect, but, fit as Gregory was for his age, his powers of endurance were no longer what they had been and he was drooping with fatigue. So, instead of continuing on the last mile to the hotel, they knocked up the occupants of the villa.
They proved to be an elderly couple and the husband was a German, so Gregory was able to tell him without difficulty about their boat having blown up. The man said that he had been resident in Guatemala for many years and had recently retired from the export business. No doubt that was true, although Gregory had a shrewd suspicion that he was one of the many Nazis who, after the defeat of Hitler, had emigrated to Latin America. But the couple could not have been kinder and more helpful. Having refreshed their visitors with drinks, as they had no telephone they sent a servant with a message to the hotel; and twenty minutes later the driver from Antigua, who had been very worried by his passengers' failure to return, arrived with the car.
It was by then nearly nine o'clock and Gregory was feeling terribly done up, so instead of setting out on the long drive back, they decided to spend the night at the Tzanjuyu. There they gave the manager their account of what had happened and commiserated with him on the death of his boatman and the loss of his boat. With Latin resignation he said that `one must accept the trials sent by the Good God' and that he would break the sad news to the man's widow. Feeling himself responsible in part for the tragedy, Gregory produced his book of traveller's cheques and cashed one for a considerable sum to be given to her. He then put through a call to Manon.
It did not come through until they were finishing a belated supper. On hearing his voice, she was infinitely more relieved than he could know, but he put her breathless exclamations of delight at his safety down to her perhaps loving him more than he had thought. He told her only that the boat that James and he had been in had blown up, but that they were both unharmed and expected to be back by lunchtime the next day.
Manon had no doubt at all that Lacost had in some way caused the explosion to occur; and she hurried to his room, intending to upbraid him for his callous disregard of her interests by endangering Gregory's life as well that of James. But she found his room empty and, on enquiring at the desk, learned that he and Corbin had departed that morning, leaving no address.
On his return to Antigua the next day, Gregory gave her the full story of what had taken place. It did not surprise her in the least but, wide eyed, she listened with simulated horror to his tale of Lacost's villainy. Then, when Gregory had done, she burst out
`But, cheri, you have only yourself to blame. That this terrible man would attempt to kill you I did not think. But injure you, and seriously, yes. Did I not warn you that these Colons are without scruple? Embittered by their misfortunes they have become hard, brutal men. Now that Lacost and his confreres have this chance to retrieve their broken fortunes they will stick at nothing to gain their ends. Already you have escaped death at their hands only by a miracle. Now that they have shown their determination to rid themselves of you; it is certain that they will try, again and again.
`I implore you to be sensible. Forget this wretched gold. What is it to you, who are already so rich? Give the good James a sum of money a big sum so that he can improve the prospects of his people. However large, it would be cheap as the price of your life. Instead, come with me to Fiji. We will laze in the sunshine, drink champagne together in the moonlight, make love under the stars. If you prefer, I will come to Europe with you. I'll do anything you ask. I am yours to do with as you will. You know that.'
He kissed her hand, finished his second daiquiri and said,
`No, darling, no. You are sweetness personified and I adore you. Perhaps I would have been wise to listen to you in Rio, or even after Lacost threatened me here. But now the game is set and must be played out. Those two rogues did their best to kill James and me. And they did kill that poor devil the boatman. Now I mean to kill them, even if I swing for it.'