A lifetime seemed to have passed since they’d set off but at last the plane landed in Guadeloupe. Cass had felt bonded to the plane, to her seat, to the people around her. Now, when the long journey was finally ending, she felt as if she was exchanging a safe place for the dangerous unknown. She knew it was because she was tired.
The warmth of the air and the unidentifiable smell of vegetation hit her like a blanket as she reached the top of the steps. But at least she had feeling in her legs and feet by the time she got to the bottom.
Guadeloupe was one of the French islands and they were to spend a night here before finding the ferry to Marie-Galante – provided there was one. From there it was a matter of finding a fishing boat to take them to Dominica. There would be dozens of boats, bringing aid to their fellow islanders; they just needed to find space on one of them.
Cass followed Ranulph in a daze. Everyone was talking at the tops of their voices, dragging their cases and bundles and boxes along to the first of many queues.
Eventually, duly processed, they emerged and found the queue outside the airport for taxis.
Possibly because of the hurricane, the little town was heaving with people, but Eleanor had managed to find them a small Airbnb. This was a very simple concrete building with wooden windows and doors and a tin roof. Inside there was a bedroom with twin beds, a small bathroom and a kitchenette.
‘It has everything we need,’ said Cass, looking around. But in her heart she wanted a bedroom in a building with a proper roof, and preferably a bedroom she didn’t have to share. Although when she thought about it more, she realised that, since she used to share a squat, she should be fine with this clean, simple building.
She put her backpack on the bed. It was mostly full of a first aid kit – one of the ones that they had collected in Glasgow. Ranulph had the others. The afternoon sun cast shadows and Cass longed to stretch out on her bed and sleep.
‘You must be tired,’ said Ranulph, making her feel like a child and a hundred-year-old lady at the same time.
‘I’m fine!’ Cass said airily and then she jumped and gave a small scream as something small scuttled across the wall at speed.
‘It’s a lizard,’ said Ranulph. ‘There are lots of them in the Caribbean. They eat the flies.’
Her heart was still pounding. ‘If that had been a spider or a mouse, I’d have screamed the place down. Somehow knowing it’s a lizard makes it better.’ Sheshuddered. ‘A spider that size would be utterly terrifying!’
She sat on her bed. ‘I probably shouldn’t lie down but I’m longing to stretch out.’
‘You can have a short rest but not for too long. We must get a good night’s sleep tonight.’
‘What are you going to do?’ Cass was feeling fragile. She didn’t really want to be left alone in this little cabin, even if she had discovered she didn’t mind lizards.
‘I’m going to organise collecting the emergency supplies to take with us. Eleanor arranged for them to be here for us to pick up. Obviously we couldn’t bring much in our rucksacks.’ He smiled down at her. ‘She’s a bit of a miracle worker.’
Cass nodded. She suddenly felt close to tears. She knew it was because she was exhausted and her body didn’t know what time of day or night it was. She had to hold it together.
Ranulph frowned, possibly seeing her effort. ‘We don’t know what’s ahead of us, Cass, but one thing is certain: it’s going to be tough. There’ll be challenges neither of us have ever faced before. We need to rest while we can.’
Cass cleared her throat. ‘I just hope I can do it …’
‘Do what?’
‘Everything my dad has asked me to do. It seems so much. Back in Scotland, surrounded by luxury, not feeling tired, doing this – coming here – seemed hard, but not impossible. Now it seems a ridiculous thing to even try.’ She bit her lip hard.
She was aware that Ranulph was standing there, looking at her, unsure of how to help.
‘All you really have to do,’ he said, ‘the only thing that no one else can do, is to give the map of where to find the petroglyph to Bastian.’
‘But we might not find Bastian. Bastian might be dead.’ Her voice broke as she said it.
Ranulph shook his head decisively. ‘That’s very unlikely. He had warning that the hurricane was coming. He would have taken every sensible precaution. He might be cut off from the world but he’ll be there on the island, I’m sure of it.’
Cass sniffed.
‘I do wish I knew what to say or do to make you feel better,’ said Ranulph, having realised she was crying.
Cass looked up, having found a tissue in her pocket, and blew her nose. ‘A hug would help.’
He was sitting on the bed next to her in seconds, his strong arms wrapped around her making her feel safe. He smelt quite strongly, she realised. He’d said how badly he wanted a shower on the journey to the Airbnb; but somehow this was comforting.
‘Thank you,’ said Cass after a moment, letting him go. ‘You could have your shower now. I’m going to nap.’
