At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen Read Free Book Online Page A

dutifully asking, “What news?”
    â€œI’ve found us passage.”
    â€œPassage to where?” I asked in the same disinterested voice.
    I knew full well what he was talking about, and was trying to convey that I didn’t want to play, and was quite sure that Ellis didn’t either.
    â€œYou know,” Hank said with a coy smile.
    I went for the direct approach. “Hank, we’re not in the mood right now. That’s what got us into this pickle in the first place.”
    â€œThen get in the mood. We leave in three days.”
    I put my drink down and took stock of his demeanor. He was deadpan, yet clearly pleased with himself.
    â€œYou’re not serious,” I said.
    â€œI’m in absolute earnest,” he replied.
    â€œBut it’s impossible. There are no liners running.”
    â€œConnections, Maddie, connections,” he said with a flourish. “We’re going on a Liberty ship. The SS
Mallory
, a freighter taking supplies. It’s part of a convoy. And speaking of supplies, stock up on cigarettes and stockings, both nylon and silk. International currency, if you will.”
    His continued straight face began to worry me.
    â€œHank, this isn’t funny.”
    â€œIt’s not meant to be.”
    â€œWe can’t cross the Atlantic during the war—”
    â€œWe’ll be perfectly safe. We’re going to the Highlands. That’s where they sent the evacuated children from the cities, for God’s sake.”
    I turned to Ellis. He’d abandoned the ice, and was now pushing the ashtray back and forth.
    â€œDarling, say something,” I pleaded.
    â€œDon’t we need papers, or something?” he asked.
    â€œArranged for them too,” Hank said brightly. “And a sixteen-millimeter Cine-Kodak movie camera. After we get our footage of the monster, we’ll send the reel directly to Eastman Kodak and have them develop it. Voilà—would-be naysayers won’t have a nay to say. We’ll make history. We’ll be famous.”
    After a moment of silent stammering, I managed to ask, “And what does Violet think about this?”
    Violet was nothing if not sensible. She didn’t even approve when we pulled entirely harmless pranks, like hiding someone’s yacht in the wrong slip, or turning the racquet club’s pool water purple. She’d sent an apology after we had General Pew’s sailboat moved around to the back of his house, even though she wasn’t there when the crime was committed.
    â€œNo idea. She’s off doing something or other,” said Hank. “Rolling bandages or the like.”
    â€œYou haven’t told her,” I said in disbelief.
    â€œNot yet,” said Hank, sipping his drink. “I figured one day of misery was preferable to three.”
    â€œShe’ll never agree to it.”
    â€œI don’t expect her to.”
    â€œHank, she’s expecting you to
propose
. You can’t just abandon her.”
    â€œI will propose, just as soon as we get back. Frankly, I’m getting a little worried that she’s rubbing off on you. I was hoping it would work the other way around.”
    â€œHank’s right,” said Ellis, still pushing the ashtray around. “You used to like adventures.”
    â€œI do like adventures, but sailing into the war is hardly an adventure!”
    â€œThen think of it as a scientific excursion,” Hank said calmly. “Honestly, Maddie. We’ll be perfectly safe. You can’t imagine I would even suggest it if I weren’t completely sure of that, and Freddie certainly wouldn’t have arranged it.”
    â€œFreddie?” I said with growing despair. “What’s Freddie got to do with this?”
    â€œHe’s the one who made the arrangements, of course.”
    While I was trying to wrap my head around Freddie’s involvement in all this, Hank looked deep into my