‘I prefer to rely on the solar panels, but if I was going to change my mind, I’ve left it a bit late,’ Bastian said.
‘So how can we prepare?’ said Cass, not sure if she was worried or a bit excited.
‘We’ll board up the windows and make sure nothing is outside that isn’t secured. Fill up water containersand assemble food that doesn’t need to be cooked, just basic things.’
‘You seem very relaxed about it, Bastian,’ said Ranulph.
‘Not so much relaxed as calm,’ Bastian replied.
‘Bastian knows what needs to be done. You guys just trust him and stop fretting,’ said Delphine.
‘I’m not fretting,’ said Austin, who seemed edgier suddenly. ‘How is your brother getting on with the pick-up, Delphine?’
Delphine shrugged. ‘It’ll be finished when it’s finished.’
‘I’ll go over and see if I can hurry up the process,’ he said.
Austin found Cass while she was finishing clearing up dinner a little while later.
‘I’ve been to see Errol and the pick-up is ready. We’ll leave at dawn tomorrow for the airport. All the small planes are coming in there. We’ll get a place on one, easy, I’m sure. Sleep on the veranda so I can wake you.’
‘But the hurricane, Austin! We can’t set off in a hurricane!’
‘The hurricane is just a rumour. One of Bastian’s weird friends might think there’s one on its way but we’ve no real evidence.’
‘I still think—’
Austin suddenly slammed his hand down on the table. ‘Enough arguing! You have to come with me, Cass. If you don’t I will personally ruin your boyfriend’s academic career. I will tell the academicworld that there are parts of his thesis that are not supported.’
‘But it’s only your word against his!’
‘Mud sticks! I have some standing in those circles. I can ruin Bastian, make no mistake!’
Then he picked up the rum bottle and took it to his room.
Cass didn’t know what to do. Ranulph had gone down to the dig for the evening with Becca, so she couldn’t consult him. She had no idea where Bastian was but she knew if she told him, Bastian would say she shouldn’t go with Austin. It wouldn’t be fair to ask him, even if she could.
Ultimately, she knew she had to leave as she had to prevent Austin from ruining Bastian’s reputation. But more importantly, she had to get Bastian’s work sent off in time for him to be in with a chance of the prize that he and Austin were competing for. That was the only way she could be sure that Bastian would have an equal chance.
As she couldn’t talk to anyone, she wrote some goodbye notes.Dear Ranulph, sorry to go without saying goodbye but Austin is taking us to a plane that will get us away. I really need to go. Bastian will explain why. Thank you for everything.Then she paused for a very long time before writinglove, Cass.
Signing off a letter wasn’t usually something that had to be thought about, but the simple words she’d end almost any email with seemed loaded with meaning.
Bastian’s letter was easier to write.I’m going withAustin. I have everything I need. Thank you for having me to stay for so long. Lots of love, Cass.
If Austin found the note (and Cass was almost sure he would find it) it didn’t say anything revealing (she hoped). But with luck, Bastian would realise it meant she was taking his work with her.
That night, Cass packed very carefully. Although she really didn’t have a lot to bring in her rucksack and her day bag, her packing was very precise. It included her travel documents, a large box of tampons and the small pot of moisturiser that Becca had used. She had her father’s camera wrapped in her clothes for added protection. She couldn’t help thinking of the day she had found the petroglyph as she tucked her jeans around it.
Ranulph came back up just as Cass was saying goodnight to Bastian. She had wanted to whisper to him about what she was about to do. Of course, Ranulph appeared just as she had her lips near Bastian’s ear and Bastian had his hand on her arm to keep her close, so she wasn’t able to tell Bastian anything.
She realised this must have looked a little odd – intimate even – but it was too late, she couldn’t explain to Ranulph what was going on. She just nodded to him and then went to get ready for bed.
She hadn’t really slept by the time Austin woke her. She had her rucksack and her day bag under the bench she used for sleeping on and was wearing her clothes.
‘I’m ready,’ she said. He nodded and she followed him to his pick-up truck which was parked a little way away.
‘You’re obviously a woman to travel with. I’m sure you’ve got useful things in that pack of yours.’
