‘It seems OK.’
Ranulph made to put his leg down but Cass stopped him. She couldn’t wait another moment to give him the good news.
‘I found the petroglyph! I had drawn the map I gave Bastian and the others a little bit wrong but I remembered the original pretty accurately. I knew where the petroglyph should be, although I couldn’t find the river it would have been on.’
‘You drew the map wrong?’ Ranulph sounded amazed.
Cass flicked a hand. ‘You know I don’t trust Austin. I didn’t want him to find the petroglyph. I thought he’d find a way of making out it wasn’t real or something. Anyway, I found somewhere to rest and I heard running water. The river had reduced to a little stream over the years. Then, by some miracle, a gust of wind parted the tops of the trees and sunlight shone on the rocks – and I saw it.’
‘My goodness! Cass!’
‘I tied a bit of shoelace near the spot. I didn’t say anything to the others because I wanted to get Bastian on his own. The thing was, Austin had pretty much flung my camera into the trees earlier on, pretending it was an accident.’
‘So you didn’t manage to get a picture of the petroglyph?’
‘No, but I did draw it, so hopefully Bastian will be able to find it again fairly easily.’
‘Can I see the drawing?’
‘Of course.’
They went into the house and back into the light. ‘I’ll get it,’ said Cass. ‘Wait here in the library. Rest your leg.’
She was back with her drawing in seconds andRanulph looked at it. ‘But, Cass, this drawing is amazing! I didn’t know you could draw like this.’
‘Not many people do know, to be fair,’ she said. ‘Photography is more respected in my family. Although, according to my dad, I do have a good eye for that, too.’
Before Ranulph could answer they heard the sound of the pick-up returning.
‘I’ll put it back in the bedroom,’ said Cass quickly. ‘We’ll eat now Bastian is home.’
‘No rush. Let him get in the door first,’ said Ranulph. ‘I’m so impressed, Cass. You’re – so much more than I was led to expect.’
Just for a moment their eyes met. Cass had always felt that Ranulph looked on her with a sort of kind tolerance. But now there was something else – an expression she didn’t quite recognise.
After dinner, while Cass and Delphine were still clearing the table, Austin, Bastian and Ranulph took drinks on to the veranda. Cass hurried to join them. As she got there, Austin was talking.
‘I understand that you’re disappointed your father was wrong about the petroglyph, Bastian,’ he said, apparently sympathetic. ‘But it’s obvious he was, and we academics have to accept the facts and not get emotional about it.’
Bastian sighed. ‘Is drinking rum, sitting watching the stars being emotional?’ he asked.
‘No, but you must be disappointed—’
Austin obviously wasn’t going to stop baiting Bastianuntil he did get emotional. Cass, who didn’t want to watch the process, said, ‘Actually, Bastian, if I could disturb you for a minute?’
‘Something you need, Cass?’ he said.
Cass thought rapidly. ‘I just thought we should think about our journey back to the UK—’
Bastian sighed. He sounded tired. ‘Can we leave it until tomorrow, Cass? It’s late and currently there’s no way anyone can get off the island anytime soon.’
Deflated, Cass went to bed.
She tried again in the morning, following Bastian to the outhouse where he cooked the dog food. Annoyingly, Austin hurried to catch her up, probably guessing she wanted to get Bastian on his own.
‘Sorry to go on about it, but our journey home—’
‘Ranulph isn’t fit to leave yet,’ said Bastian.
