Dangerous Waters by Rosalind Brett

Author:Rosalind Brett [Brett, Rosalind]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Eight months,” thought Mr. Winchester. “We’re completing it first, though the steel work on one of the others will also be well on the way by then. We shall have to leave the Mawa Bridge till last. It’s the trickiest, and we’ll have met a good many problems with the others, which might help.”

“Good bridges are going to open up the whole district. We prefer to transport our stuff to the coast or to Kuala Lumpur by lorry when we can, and others will do the same. I know some men who are anxious to set up an extraction plant for palm oil and we shall probably attract a few other industries, and get better roads. A lot can be done without spoiling the district.”

“Spoiling it?” echoed Annette. “Are you serious?”

Pete turned his dark eyes her way, interestedly. “You don’t care for Penghu?”

“Well, I suppose it’s all right, for what it is. But what is there here to spoil, for heaven’s sake? Surely anything that pushes back the jungle is good?”

“For the country’s prosperity, yes.” He paused. “You haven’t your sister’s capacity for enjoying palm trees and the feel of mud between the toes?”

“Perhaps I’ve grown out of it.”

“I don’t think you ever had it, but there’s no doubt at all that you have other capacities which she hasn’t. If you bother to think it out, we all even up with each other.”

“Are you telling us that your ability to push along a jungle river in a canoe is balanced by a sizeable blind spot in some other direction? Would you admit that?”

He smiled tantalising. “Of course. When you know me better you’ll realize just where the blind spot is.”

“So you’re willing to know us better.” Annette’s half-closed eyes appraised him in the soft lamplight. “That’s a concession, from one of you plantation types, isn’t it?”

“Bestowing one’s company on charming women is never a concession, from any man.” Pete’s half-bow included Vida Winchester. He pushed away his glass. “Well, meeting you has been very pleasant.”

“But you’ll stay for dinner, won’t you?” asked Vida. “We’d love it, if you would.”

“It’s kind of you, but I have a date with another plantation chap.”

“Then will you come tomorrow?”

“Sorry, but I’m booked up with this man every evening for about a fortnight. He wants to get the place and his books into first-class shape and sell out.” He flickered a sideways glance at Terry. “He’s a cool-blooded Swede, and he’s decided to go back home. The plantation belongs equally to him and his sister, and they naturally want to get the best price they can.”

Terry heard herself asking offhandedly, “Is she going home as well—the sister?”

“As a matter of fact, she’s staying,” he answered calmly. And then, with the sort of smile that might have been slightly malicious, if one could have seen it, “She’s not coldblooded, like her brother.”

Pete declined another drink and stood up. Bill and Vic got to their feet, but Annette lay back in her chair, the half curious, half enigmatic smile on her lips as she watched Pete.

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