A Dolphins Dream by Carlos Eyles Read Free Book Online Page A

the bleached whiteness of his skin.
    He could hear them speaking in rapid Fijian while Esther put on the kettle. Then, as if they knew they were being overheard, they walked out the back door to the edge of the section where the green sea skidded up to a wall of gathered stones and stood for a long moment looking south before returning to the kitchen. James brought in the tea and when everyone had taken a sip, Esther spoke.
    “Moses is late. The wind come up, and we don’t see ‘em on the reef. Maybe he doesn’t come. But you wait for ‘em here.”
    Compton put down his tea. Concern edged into his voice. “What about you?”
    “I’m going to my sister’s up the road. If Moses come, you go with ‘em. He take you to Qamea.”
    Compton flicked a glance around the room. “What if he doesn’t show up?”
    Esther shrugged her round shoulders. “Then he come tomorrow or the day after that. Maybe I come back tomorrow and see what happen.”
    Compton resurveyed the room, his mind working all that could go wrong here.
    “You don’t have to stay,” continued Esther. “You get a cab at the airstrip and go back to Allison and John. Sleep there if you don’t like James’ couch. Moses will come but he won’t be looking for you.”
    Compton’s stomach twisted into what was becoming a familiar knot. He smiled self-consciously, unsure of what to do next. Esther and James did not smile back. They waited.
    Compton’s first impulse was to pick up his things and leave immediately but instead heard himself say, “No, I’ll be fine on the couch, if this is where Moses will come.”
    “He come here first,” assured Esther. “He always does.” She reached out her hand and Compton shook it weakly, then she turned and stood at the door, nodding to James before turning for the road. Compton watched her walk down the rutted roads as if the sharp stones didn’t exist.
    James had taken a seat at the table and was reading a newspaper from another week. “Sit down”, he said motioning to the couch, “and drink tea. Moses be along.”
    The couch sagged and pinched Compton’s back while his mind slipped its way into paranoia. All my money, what’s left of my gear, everything is just sitting here, ready to get ripped off. This whole thing could be a setup. I ought to go back to the resort right now while I still have the chance.
    James’ melodic voice penetrated Compton’s dark speculations. “I am shamed, Michael. We have not had a European in the house before. There is bread. Here, our friends eat if they are hungry.
    “No, thank you. This is fine. The tea is plenty.”
    James did not return to his newspaper and Compton knew he had sensed the awkwardness of the lie.
    “Tell me, James, why after all her trouble did Esther decide not to visit her family on Qamea?”
    James smiled. “She only say that so you don’t get lost on your way. She go back to work. Don’t worry, Moses come this day.“
    A charade thought Compton. Nothing is what it seems. I’ve fallen into some kind of rabbit hole here and Alice should be showing up any second now. Meanwhile, I make pleasant conversation with this Cheshire Cat.
    The next few hours were spent restlessly by both men. James repeatedly went out back and inspected the water for a sign of Moses and Compton, at every opportunity, would look out the open door to the road, waiting for a cab to pull up and a driver to call out his name. At least back at the resort I knew how the game was played, however horrendous it had become, but here? I’m sailing without a compass into dangerous waters. It doesn’t feel safe. These people appear harmless enough but I’ve already been lied to and now I’m a hostage for someone who may or may not show up. I got to get out of here at the first opportunity. 
    Into the late afternoon their conversation remained infrequent and awkward, due in large part to Compton’s singular belief that a conspiracy had been hatched to rob him of his possessions. The