“Is the place so barren as that?”
He gave me a sober look.“Barren?No.But the Spaniards came looking for gold and found none, only dense, impenetrable jungle, insects, and heat.Their diseases decimated the indigenous population of this land, and then they left.”
“Well,” I said.“So what’s left, then?”
“Paradise,” Captain Martin said.
“Well.”
“The strongest have survived and now make a community of people living off the land as they’ve always done.It’s a modest life, for certain, but one that seems to fit Francis to a T.”
The day was a perfect one for our approach.Gulls danced and dove under a spattering of white clouds, their raucous cries announcing our arrival.
“There’s the island, there!”Dinesh said when he caught sight of it.“And Francis’s beach.See, Rooster?”
“Looks quite primeval.”I commented.
The rainforest came right to the edge of the sand, the jungle lush and green and intimidatingly large.I couldn’t take my eyes off the incredible vista.
We rounded the tiny island, which looked to be barely a league across.
“Whenever you’re ready, Hillier,” Captain Martin said to his quartermaster.
Hillier turned to the men gathered on deck.
“Clear the lines!Prepare to drop anchor!”
Several men sprang into action, making sure that the rope attached to the huge metal anchor was clear of obstruction.
“Stream the buoy!”Hillier ordered.“Stand clear!”
Captain Martin put an arm round my waist and pulled me in close.
“Are you excited to land?”he asked, gazing at me as we leaned on the rail, facing the shore.
I shrugged.“I suppose.Not sure what to expect, really.”
He squeezed me.“Francis is a lovely fellow, and his wife and her people are very friendly and welcoming.”
“You haven’t visited in so long.What if everything is different than you remember?”
“Well, I had the letter…”
“Aye, mailed to you six months ago.Much can change in that time.”
“I agree that we should be prepared for anything.However, I remain ever the optimist, and I’m looking forward to seeing my friend and enjoying a week or two off the ship.”
“All right, then.I shall try to be less gloomy,” I said.
I was excited, but I was also anxious about going to a place I’d never been and being with people I didn’t know.At least there were others on our crew who had never been to Talamanca before.
Chains rattled as the anchor was lowered by the fellows working the capstan.We stopped speaking and simply gazed across the water at the beach where we could see a group of huts and some slight movement.
Dinesh was holding his folded spyglass in one hand.Now he extended the scope and raised the implement to get a good look at the beach.
“Looks like men from Jimena’s village.I can’t see…it’s a fishing outpost so I have no idea who will be there.At least there are—wait a moment.Yes.Yes, there’s Francis.My God, but he’s tanned!And rather plump.”Dinesh laughed and lowered the glass.He glowed with excitement at the sight of his friend.“You see?Everything’s fine.They’re laying out some fish fillets on the racks.Fancy some fried ocean fish for supper?”
I couldn’t help but be infected with his joy and grinned.“Aye.Will be nice for a change.”I frowned.“Wait a moment.Why don’t any of the men throw a line over and catch us fresh fish?There are plenty of times they’ve got naught else to do…”
