‘The thing is,’ said Ranulph, ‘this is going to be expensive. Tickets, a suitably large donation to the disaster fund, food, first aid, all those things—’
‘I’ll fund it!’ said Howard. Then he became more reflective. ‘I owe it to Dominica. It was there, the first time I went, that I realised I wanted to be a photographer.’ He paused, and Cass saw he looked older suddenly. ‘I just wish I’d taken more photographs when I had the chance.’
‘You’ve devoted your life to taking wonderful photographs,’ said Eleanor.
‘But is that enough?’
Cass went to make more tea before her father could get too philosophical. Eleanor followed her out.
‘This is going to cost Dad an absolute fortune,’ said Cass, the moment they were alone. ‘Is it a wild goose chase, do you think?’
Eleanor shook her head. ‘I don’t think it is. It’s important to Howard that the petroglyph is found and recorded so it would be wonderful if you could do that for him.’ She paused. ‘I’m delighted that Ranulph wants to go too. Howard still hasn’t quite decided if he should let Ranulph write his life story or whether he’s going to write it himself. But he has so many projects on the go, I don’t think he’d get round to it. Ranulph will get it done, and I think it will sell. This is earning Ranulph major brownie points!’
‘I don’t think that’s why he’s doing it,’ said Cass. ‘He loves Dominica too.’
‘I know, but I also know Howard will be far happier about you going if you’re with Ranulph.’
‘Ha!’ said Cass. ‘If he’s that worried about me, why is he sending me there?’
Eleanor shrugged. ‘Good question. I think he feels sending you is almost the same as going himself.’
‘Well, not really,’ said Cass, but she knew if something stopped her from going now, she’d be extremely disappointed. ‘Are there any injections I should have before we go?’
‘How’s your tetanus? Up to date?’
Unexpectedly, this made Cass laugh. ‘Bang up to date. I hardly like to confess this, but my last boyfriend was so, well, muddy that my mother insisted I get my tetanus booster if I was going to have anything to do with him.’
Eleanor laughed too. ‘That is funny! And, as it happens, very convenient.’
The following days were full of preparations and included a rather difficult phone call with Cass’s mother, which ended with an angry ‘Put your father on!’
Cass went for a walk to avoid overhearing this conversation. Of course it was perfectly normal for her parents to treat her like a child but she didn’t want to listen to them doing it.
But then, as she walked further, taking in the rugged scenery that surrounded her – rocks, heather and, beyond that, the sea – she realised that up to now she had behaved rather childishly. Living in a squat with a boyfriend nobody liked, never following anythingthrough: it had all been a bit ridiculous. Maybe this trip to Dominica was her chance to prove to her family – and, most importantly, to herself – that she was an adult and could behave like one. She went back to Eleanor’s beautiful house on the headland full of determination to be more responsible.
Ranulph was in charge of ordering high-end first aid kits that included sutures, needles and syringes. When they had arrived, a few days later, he brought them up to show Cass and to discuss luggage.
Cass looked at the first aid kit with horror. ‘So much more than sticking plaster and some sterile wipes!’ she said. ‘I hope I don’t have to use them.’
‘Oh, don’t worry, you won’t have to. We’ll pass them on to experienced first aiders. Now, food we’ll buy locally. Will you need a rucksack?’
Cass fetched the one she had packed her clothes to come to Scotland in.
‘I think you will need something bigger,’ said Ranulph, looking at it. ‘Would you like a kit list? I suggest you travel in your walking boots.’
‘These aren’t really walking boots,’ said Cass. ‘More substantial trainers.’
‘They’re perfect. It’ll be muddy, that’s for sure, so don’t take anything precious with you. Assume everything will be ruined.’
‘That sounds like good advice. By the way, Dad said he wanted a word when he heard you were coming up.’
Ranulph nodded. ‘I want a word with him too.’
They went together through the house to theglassed-in veranda that made a painting of the tumbling sea. Howard spent almost all his time here.
After he’d said hello, Ranulph said, ‘It’s weird to imagine that the sea we’re looking at now is the one you’ll see in Dominica.’
‘I know that’s true: Dad told me. But I thought Dominica was in the Caribbean,’ said Cass.
