Ben rearranged his cutlery for a moment. Then he glanced out at the harbour. Then he got up, three-quarters of his breakfast untouched, and he left. He just vaulted over the wall dividing them from the path and walked away, hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched.
The waiter returned and they both studied the uneaten food for a moment. They came to this restaurant a lot, and there had never been anything left on Ben’s plate before. ‘Was everything okay for you, sir?’
Aleksey just nodded and handed over his credit card. Everything had been just fine until his demons had stirred once more and he’d done the inevitable—lashed out.
When he’d paid, he went out the more civilised way and headed back towards the boat, assuming Ben would also have gone that way. He found him sitting on the harbour wall, staring out to sea. He was unbelievably beautiful, and all he’d done that morning was throw on a short-sleeved cotton shirt, some cargo shorts and boat shoes. His hair was rumpled, his face unshaven, but not a single person would pass him by without a second glance. In other circumstances, Aleksey would have taken a photo. These were not those circumstances.
He levered himself up onto the wall a little way away and gloomily inspected his nails for a while. ‘I’m sorry. You’re right.’ This was said with no particular bitterness, only a kind of weary resignation.
Aleksey thought for a moment, then realisedhehadn’t spoken. ‘Huh? I thought I was in…I mean…I’m the one…Well, yes, good.’ He shut up while he was ahead.
‘That should have been the first thing I thought, too. I should have some kind of father-alert, spidery senses thing. You do.’
Aleksey was gracious enough to say uncharacteristically honestly, ‘I believe everyone is out to kill us, Ben, so this is no special skill of mine. I don’t want you to think like me—it’s…exhausting.’
Ben shook his head. ‘No, you read people. Everyone you’ve chosen in the family…they’re all a bit weird, but somehow you know they’re all solid.’
Aleksey could have added that those that weren’t had been weeded out. He slid a bit closer along the wall. ‘Don’t see the world as I do, Ben. It’s hard work.’
‘No. I need to—at least where Molly’s concerned. I’m all she’s got. I should have immediately thought to ask about him.’
‘Well, you said you know him, and you’re a good judge of character.’ He poked Ben in the thigh.
Ben smiled contritely. ‘Sometimes.’
‘When it counts?’
‘Yeah, I guess. When it really counted—I saw through your bullshit the first time I met you.’
Aleksey smiled too and closed the gap some more. ‘What do you suppose Sarah will want to do? She works very long hours—overnight as well. That’s not very conducive to having a personal life.’
‘She loves Molly.’
‘I know she does.’
‘I guess I’ll have to ask her, see what her plans are.’
‘Okay. Good.’ He went back to examining his nails, which were, after a few days on the island, unrecognisable as his.
Ben gave his arm a punch and hopped off the wall. ‘Let’s go get the things we need to hoist the flag.’
Aleksey grinned. In another world they probably would have kissed and made up, but a punch was just as good.
Ben bought a couple of pasties on the way to the ships’ chandlers and offered one to him, but was extremely happy to eat both in lieu of his missed breakfast when that offer was decisively rejected. They bought the things they wanted and arranged to collect it all later to save carrying heavy rope and the winch around, and as they emerged back into the mild September day, Aleksey spotted the tourist office and museum they’d visited on their first trip a couple of months before. He nudged Ben. ‘Come. I have an idea.’
‘Those words in that exact order have never worked out too well for us, have they?’
‘Ack. Can you imagine how boring your life would be without me? Ben went there, did nothing, the end.’
Ben laughed, shaking his head slightly at the sarcasm in his voice.
They entered the little building by the harbour, ducking beneath the lintel. The manager glanced up and a slight frown creased his brow as he appeared to recognise them and was attempting to place them. Then he nodded to himself. ‘You’re back then. Had a feeling you might be.’
‘I wanted to ask you about someone—if you knew him. I think he must be local. A man called Billy—although he calls himself Billynomates. Very small. About this high.’ He indicated with his hand.
The shopkeeper pursed his lips. ‘’Spect everyone seems small to you. Can’t say I know ’im.’
Aleksey glanced to Ben for help, and Ben offered, ‘Kind of old but not?’
