The Dark Ocean by Jack Vance

Author:Jack Vance [Vance, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781619470217
Publisher: Spatterlight Press, Oakland, California

Chapter VII

1

Betty climbed to the top deck, went out on the flying bridge, but the sun blazed with such white passion that she retreated under the awning. The air was heavy and quiet, for the wind had died with the ship’s motion; every object within vision glittered and trembled with heat. Betty’s blouse became limp, her jeans clung to her legs like wet paper. She looked longingly toward the town, where there was at least the illusion of coolness under the great green trees.

A tug pulled away from the pier, and started toward the Garda, towing a lighter piled high with large tawny sacks, evidently coffee. Betty searched for the launch, which was nowhere to be seen. Behind the pier, perhaps? Then from alongside came a thrum and sputter, and the launch slanted away through the sparkling green waves. Betty ran to the rail, fearing that she had missed connections. But the launch carried only one man: Alan Calder. Evidently the launch would take him ashore, then return.

Betty returned to her seat under the awning, considering the immediate future. Alan had as good as assured her that she could transfer to the Maggiore. Conditions had changed, of course: Alan might refuse to provide Isabelle passage on the Garda. If this were the case, Betty would have Cabin #2 to herself … She toyed with the possibilities of the situation. If Isabelle disembarked, then Betty would be inclined to stay aboard. Finsch was revolting, but could be avoided. Nevertheless it seemed probable that Alan, however reluctantly, would arrange passage for Isabelle. After all, this was his job, and he had no right to discriminate for purely personal reasons.

Alec and Ora appeared dressed for shore, and joined her under the awning. “We’ve got till midnight tonight,” said Ora. “We’re going up to San Salvador; are you coming?”

“No. At least not right away.”

Ora looked at her sidewise. “You may not get another chance.”

“I’ll come along later … I have some business with Alan Calder.”

“Is he in a state to do business? There was a terrible row, so we hear.”

“I was right in the middle of it.” Betty described the unpleasant quarter-hour. “Alan may be upset, but at least he knows the worst.”

“He put Finsch very nicely on the spot,” said Alec. “Finsch doesn’t like to spend his money. I’ve seen Isabelle signing bar checks.”

“There he goes now,” said Ora. The tug which had brought out the lighter was returning to the dock. On the forward deck stood Finsch, in his gray suit and broad-brimmed hat. “And here comes the launch. We can go ashore now.”

Betty looked down at her clothes — blue jeans, blouse, sandals. “I wonder — do you think these clothes are all right?”

“They look all right to me,” said Alec. “Why shouldn’t they be?”

“I’ve heard that some of these countries are peculiar about clothes. I don’t want to get thrown in jail for indecency. Especially after what I hear of the jails.”

“Indecency is in the mind of the beholder,” Alec told her.

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