CHAPTER IV

THE gentle strumming of native guitars fell around them as they left the car at the modem building facing the lagoon and made their way along a path lighted by flares in iron stanchions. The swift tropical night had fallen and fairy lights strung in the sweet-scented foliage overhead threw their gleam over smoke rising from a barbecue, the flower-bedecked islanders moving amongst long tables set on the grass.

Robyn took her seat with the others at a long table covered in banana leaves and tropical blooms and set with succulent seafoods and native delicacies. There were lobsters, prawns, mounds of fresh fruit, pineapple, paw-paw, golden melons —jugs of coconut milk.

Bruce, the flight-engineer, followed her gaze towards a heaped wooden platter. "That's kokoda."

"Sorry," Robyn said with a smile, "but I still don't know —"

"To you," he interpreted, "raw fish marinated in coconut cream. And don't be put off by the 'raw' part. It's delicious. Let me help you to some —"

"Wait a minute," Pam called gaily. "First she has to have a drink — Talei."

Robyn glanced down at the glass with an orchid clinging to the rim, that the waiter had set down before her.

Laughingly Bruce raised his glass. "It's almost Fiji's national cocktail. I'll even give you the recipe if you like! You take some Bacardi —"

"Add a dash of rum, passion-fruit nectar and bitter lemon," a co-pilot put in. "Serve decorated with a frangipani flower —"

"And don't forget a sliver of sugar-cane for a swizzlestick," Pam cried laughingly. "Afterwards you can chew the stick — like this !"

Pam was strung-up, excited, talkative, a different person entirely, Robyn thought, from the distraught heartbroken girl

of earlier in the day. If Pam was wearing a mask she wore it well and no one would guess that her gaiety wasn't of the genuine variety.

Soon, to the infectious beat of guitars throbbing through the darkness, Fijian girls and men approached the coconut mat outspread on the grass for entertainers. Robyn watched as fibre skirts and flower leis swung as the troupe swayed in the graceful rhythm of their native dances.

Presently their place was taken by a Fijian girl, young and attractive with her flowing, flower-bedecked hair and long sulu skirt. In the still air her voice rose poignantly sweet in the age-old melodies of the Pacific islands.

She was followed by a stamping band of warriors, upraised pointed spears in their hands, shark-tooth ornaments in their ears. The wild movements and ferocious cries left no doubt as to the significance of the war dance.

It was all novel and colourful. Robyn, applauding with the others, wondered why she wasn't enjoying the entertainment more, instead of feeling merely as though she were watching a scene in a play. Come on now, admit it. If only David Kinnear had brought her here everything would have been excitingly different. Wasn't that the reason too why she found herself glancing around her in search of a certain dark masculine head? It was a long drive back to Suva. He might be staying at this hotel for the night. Not that she wanted to see him here, not after having refused his invitation. She was just ... wondering ... But in the warm velvety darkness she could see little beyond the flare-lighted radius of the tables. And anyway, she chided herself, in this gay company why on earth was she wasting time thinking of anyone else, especially him!

The dinner was coming to an end now and couples were leaving the tables to move over the grass and join the guests who danced under a canopy of stars.

"Dance, Robyn?" A trembling ran along her nerves. Wouldn't you just know that David would appear tonight, after she'd refused his invitation to join him at the island dinner? Giving her no time for explanations, he drew her to her feet and in a few moments they were moving to the pulsing beat of singing guitars.

In the glimmer of the fairy-lights overhead, she searched his face. He appeared as affable, as cool as ever. What had she expected? Disappointment at finding her here with a party after having refused his own invitation? Annoyance? But of course it would take a lot more than that to shake his cool composure. Don't forget, she chided herself, that he regards you as a silly schoolgirl, an unknown girl whose company he's forced to endure because of a business deal.

"I changed my mind," she told him breathlessly, moving to the tempo of an island melody, "about coming here tonight, I mean."

He merely nodded smilingly, uncaringly. Clearly what she did was a matter of indifference to him. She wasn't important enough in his scheme of things for it to make any difference, one way or the other. The thought was somehow unbearable. Suddenly it became very necessary to make him understand. Unconsciously her movements slowed to a routine in time with the beat. "I didn't mean to go to the dinner when I was talking to you, then afterwards Pam wanted to come and all of a sudden I —"

"Had second thoughts. I'm glad you did."

Somehow the cheerful words were more hurtful than straight-out annoyance. They made her feel more than ever stupidly young, and awkward, and foolish. "Are you — staying here?"

"Just for the night. Actually I was hoping to run across someone here, someone I knew."

"Oh ! Did he — she turn up?"

"Yes, wasn't I lucky!".

The notes of music died away and David strolled across the grass beside her. At the table he left her and her swift sideways glance showed her he was moving to join a group seated a short distance away. She strained her eyes in an effort to distinguish the woman seated beside him, but the crowd obscured her vision.

Around her the light chatter became general, until a smiling young Fijian waiter approached them, saying in his soft tones : "Airport control is on the phone with a message for the captain. Could you speak to them, please?"

"I'll be right there." The captain left the table, to return in a few minutes, a wry grin curving his lips.

"Don't tell me," called the red-haired air hostess, "let me guess! You've gotta go fly your plane —"

"Right! They managed to fit in the new engine sooner than they expected and we're due back at the airport right away. We can just make it if we step on the gas !"

"Who'd be an air hostess?" Pam joined the others standing in a group around the table. As goodbyes were called, she turned back towards Robyn. "Sorry we can't take you home! But you'll be all right," she added carelessly. "You can get David Kinnear to take you back to the Islander."

"Don't worry about me. 'Bye !"

She watched the group as they moved into the darkness pricked by flickering flares. Get David Kinnear to take you! That would be the last thing she'd do! She had other ideas on the subject. Feeling all at once conspicuously alone at the deserted, leaf-covered table, she slipped unnoticed into the shadows, found a winding path beneath the trees and soon she was down on the starlit sands below.

There was no moon, but the southern sky blazed with stars and the murmur of the surf breaking on the reef drowned out the haunting notes of the island band. Drowned too the sound of footsteps. When a vibrant familiar voice behind her called, "Hi, Robyn, wait for me !" she froze.

In a moment he had caught up with her. "You didn't think you'd get away that easily, did you?" he laughed, and linked her fingers in his.

She was swept by a heady excitement. It was because of him that her feelings were so mixed up. She should hate him. In a way she did — but in another way ... And how could you think straight about anything when he was clasping her hand in his, drawing her closer, saying in that relaxed way of his, "That's the trouble with you, little one. You're always running away —"

"I'd be all right on my own —"

"Better this way."

She was waging a losing battle against her own senses, and the languid tropical night. The gentle wash of waves on the beach, palms outlined against a dark sky, it wasn't fair. But she made an effort to pull her thoughts together. "How about your ... friend? Won't she ... miss you?" Horrified, she caught the betraying note of feeling in her tones.

"It was you," he said calmly, and tightened his arm around her.

"Well!" She turned to face him, but at something in his expression the words died away. All at once her heart was beating thud, thud, thud and a delicious warmth was stealing through her senses. "But I told you I wasn't coming. I ... didn't know myself."

"But you wanted to come — admit it, Robyn!" The teasing tones softened, deepened. "It was just that you didn't want me to bring you along. That was it, wasn't it?"

She didn't know how to reply, so correctly had he divined her state of mind, and she'd thought she'd been so convincing. It would be easy to fall in with his mood. Easy, and disastrous, for whatever would Johnny say if he returned to find her fraternising with the enemy? His enemy and hers ... or was that really the truth? Confused by the caressing note in his voice, his touch, she said very low, "Being under an obligation to someone makes a difference, and with Johnny feeling about you the way he does —"

"Robyn! Look at me !" But she knew that to do that would be to lose her argument and wrenching her hand free of his clasp, she hurried on.

"You're in a big hurry," he observed, "for a stroll along the beach. Hasn't anyone ever told you that no one ever hurries in Fiji?" Suddenly he had dropped down and pulled her down beside him on the sand. "Mmmm ... heady stuff, frangipani. I wanted to have a word with you —"

All at once the magic slipped away. He was the man Johnny hated, the man he had warned her about, and they both entirely in his power.

"It wasn't Johnny's fault, what happened," she said with spirit, "he did try! What's wrong with enjoying yourself, anyway?"

"Nothing. I'm all for it, so long as —"

"I know what you're going to say — so long as it isn't on someone one else's money !" Why couldn't he understand that Johnny was particularly vulnerable because of hurt pride, that later when he'd had time to get over the loss of the schooner, he would feel differently about everything? "Well, it wasn't like that with me. Coming here, I mean. If I'd known about Johnny —"

"Couldn't we leave your brother out of it, just for tonight?" "It was you," she said in a low tone, "who wanted to have a word about all that."

"About you and me, Robyn! Just the two of us! No Johnny, no debts, nothing like that. Let's take it from here, shall we? It's start-again time, didn't you know?"

"It's not as simple as all that," she pointed out in a distressed tone. "Johnny thinks you —"

"I get it. Brother John blames me for the lot. But do you have to be all on his side? If he behaves himself —"

"There you go," she flashed, "expecting him to do what you want him to ! That's what he hates. He thinks you want him here for your runabout man."

For a moment he was silent. "Does it ever occur to you or your brother," came the lazy tones, "that what I'm doing is for your benefit too? I'm on your side, Robyn. Think of the profits that are going to come rolling in once we get the place known about."

"Profits for you!"

"And you."

"You're a funny girl." He raised a hand and very gentle brushed back the long hair blowing across her face in the night breeze.

 

Nervously she plucked at the creamy blossoms of the flower necklace. It was the silence that was dangerous. It did things to her, made her forget everything but his nearness.

His voice softened, deepened. "Do you have to try so hard, Robyn?"

"Try?"

"Hating me. It didn't seem to bother you out at Castaway the other day."

"Oh, but that was before — before .. ."

"I could change your mind, you know —"

At something in his tone she sprang to her feet. "Come on ! " She had a traitorous suspicion that if she didn't leave him now, this minute, she'd be lost. She wouldn't want to leave him — ever. She made her way along the beach, her feet sinking into the soft sand at every step.

"It's no use running away —" She pretended not to hear him. "I can catch you up any time I want —" She felt herself stumble over a piece of driftwood lying in the shadows and the next moment, trembling, shaken, felt his arms around her. She wondered if he was going to kiss her and felt a betraying regret when he released her. They were approaching the Islander now and together took the winding track between the coconut palms that led towards her bure-style unit.

In the dark-blue, star-ridden night it took a lot of determination to force herself to turn away from him with a lightly spoken, "See you next time you're down here." He didn't even try to detain her, but as she took a step forward along the path he called softly, "Haven't you forgotten something?"

She swung around in surprise, realising too late his meaning as he caught her close. For a second she caught the glint in his eyes, then he bent his head low and everything merged into rapture. It was a kiss that stirred her, no use denying it, and she gave herself up to enchantment. Between them the perfume from the bruised blossoms rose heady and sweet. At length she drew herself free, heard his low laugh as she sped away. Quickly, quickly, Robyn, while you still retain a shred of sanity! Up the shadowy path, into the bure, out of range of a magnetic attraction of a man who drew her against her will. She was still trembling as she lifted the flower lei from around her neck.

In the morning she was roused by a chorus of birdsong, throaty and sweet, from the palms high overhead. For a few moments she lay listening, wondering idly at her feeling of happiness left over from her dreams. Although why she should dream of David ... The frangipani lei lay on the table where she had flung it last night, the satiny petals fresh except where the petals had been crushed in his good-night embrace. Last night ...

Running water into the bath, she laid the flowers gently down, then went out into pearly freshness and colour and tropical growth.

When she reached the dining room Mrs. Daley greeted her with a smile.

"Morning. Is Johnny up yet?"

The older woman shook her head. "He took off last night and we expect him back always when we see him. Sometimes he doesn't show up for a day or two, other times it could be a week or a month. Usually he's away on some job or other, guiding a tourist party around the islands or helping to crew a boat."

He might have left a message for me, Robyn thought. Aloud she said, "But surely he must give you some idea of how long he'll be away —"

Mrs. Daley's indulgent smile did nothing to assuage Robyn's growing sense of apprehension. "Goodness, no ! He likes to be free, to come and go as he pleases. He doesn't have to tell me, you know."

Robyn was puzzled. "But that means, then, that you have to carry on managing the place all the time he's gone?"

"My dear," there was a wry twist to the older woman's lips, "what difference does it make?"

"Well, it makes a difference to me," Robyn said with spirit.

"I think it's real mean of him! He could meet with an accident, anything could happen. He could at least send a note from wherever he is."

Mrs. Daley shrugged philosophical shoulders. "What would be the use? There'd be no address to send a reply to and by the time the letter arrived he'd most likely be back here anyway. He's probably a long way from mails where he is —"

"Yes, but —"

"Don't worry, dear, he'll turn up again. He always does."

Robyn stared back at her. "But what about the coral boat? What if someone from the hotel rings up and wants him to take a party out today?"

"They did, actually, just a few minutes ago. I said I'd ring them back in an hour. Not that I thought there'd be much chance of Johnny coming back by then — he usually takes off for a week or so at a time when he goes — but —"

"I'll take them out!"

Mrs. Daley's suntanned face expressed surprise. "You! But —" her expression cleared, "can you manage the boat?"

"Of course I can! Johnny showed me all about the controls the other day. Ring them back, Mrs. Daley. Tell them I'll meet them on the beach in an hour —"

The older woman hesitated. "Well, if you're quite sure you can cope —"

Robyn pushed aside any doubts she might have had on the matter. At the moment one thought only filled her mind and that was that she was determined to make an effort to repay at least something of the debt she and her brother owed to David Kinnear. And this was an easy way to do something about it. She would have preferred a little more practice with the old Katrina, but she had taken the boat out herself a short distance once or twice yesterday and on the calm waters of the lagoon she was sure she could manage it.

When she reached the beach a little later, the party was waiting for her, a group of tourists in holiday mood, glad of a diversion that would be a change in their pattern of sunbathing and swimming in the waters of the hotel pool. If only she were more informed on the nature of marine life! What if her passengers should enquire of her the scientific names of the brilliantly coloured shoals of fish, the mushroom-like growths, or waving seagrasses? She was fortunate, however, for the young crowd aboard were content to gaze down through the glass observation panels as with cries of "Oh !" and "Quick, look at that!" they took in the vibrant undersea gardens. The hour flew by, then she was guiding the Katrina back towards the shallows. Soon passengers, scuffs in their hands, were climbing over the side of the boat. They thanked her for the trip, then boarded the mini-bus that would take them around the sandy point and back to their hotel.

It was a pattern that repeated itself as the days went by. Robyn discovered on the shelf in the dining room a manual dealing with marine life in the warm reef waters and she now felt confident in being able to answer at least the usual queries made to her by passengers on the reef excursion.

Perhaps because sun and sea were having their way with her, as the days passed her concern for Johnny's safety lessened. It was evident that Eve Daley knew Johnny much better than she did ... his restlessness, his search for new sensations and above all, his hatred of being forced into a position of subservience to anyone. Hadn't Pam told her much the same thing? "He can't bear to take second place," she had said to Robyn. And the prospect of being David Kinnear's "runabout man" was just about the worst thing he could imagine! Another man might agree to put up with it for what it would mean to him in the future, but Johnny, never! He had to be first or not at all!

Each morning when she awoke she told herself hopefully, "Perhaps Johnny will come today." If only she could be as philosophical about his movements as Mrs. Daley, but then the older woman didn't have this feeling of doom. Of David Kinnear about to descend on her at any moment, a sheaf of papers tucked beneath his arm and a question in his eyes, asking in his deceptively quiet tones where Johnny was and

when he would be back.

The only consolation of her brother's absence from the house was that her daily trips out to the reef had made her conversant with the gardens beneath the sea, and the big mural commissioned by David was at last completed. Perhaps because her imagination had been fired by the coral and sea-creatures, the picture done in acrylic paints approached more than anything she had yet done, her standard of perfection in her work. At any rate, it should please David and would constitute in a small way something towards paying off the insuperable mountain of debt that loomed between them.

At the end of the week there was still no word from Johnny. One afternoon she was returning after taking a party off tourists out to the reef in the Katrina when she glanced up to see David advancing towards her across the sand.

"Hey, I'll do that!" Hurrying to her side, he took the anchor and threw it up on the beach. His smiling glance ran over her, taking in the translucent apricot-tan of her skin. "Suits you —"

"What does?"

"The island tan."

"Oh, that . .." Until this moment she had scarcely realised herself how different she must appear from the day of their first meeting. Now she was darkly tanned, barefooted, her pink cotton shift bleached by the hot island sun.

"Your hair," he was saying appreciatively, "it's streaked with paler gold. To think that women go to hairdressers to get that effect and here you sit on the beach and collect it for free!"

She strolled beside him over the drifts of sand. "I don't just sit — at least, not all of the time !" Immediately the words were out she regretted them. How much did he know, she wondered, of Johnny's unexplained absence from the Islander? To change the subject she said quickly, "I suppose you've brought the plans for the alterations with you?"

"Uh-huh ! I thought you and your brother could cast an eye over them, tell me what you think of the new image, before I draw up the final sketches. Is Johnny around today?"

"No." Frantically she wondered how long he had been at the house. Long enough for Mrs. Daley to have told him the truth? "Not today. He had to go away ... on some business."

"Bad luck. Be away long, do you think?"

She hesitated. If she answered "yes", he would be suspicious of the true state of affairs. If she said "no", he would probably insist on waiting for Johnny's return. At last she murmured, "He didn't say." Adding, on an inspiration, "I know! You can leave the plans here with me and I'll show them to him later." She thrust aside a mental picture of Johnny's reaction to any suggestion of David's. "He'll get in touch with you afterwards. Yes, that would be the best way —"

"I've got a better idea —"

"You have?" She raised questioning eyes to his laughing glance.

"Sure ! You'll do instead."

"Me ! But I don't know the first thing about building. .. things like that. Anyway," in the nick of time she remembered who he was and how he figured in her scheme of things, "you'll know all about it. It's your business now."

"And yours. Come on, Rob, don't be like that!" He caught her hand in his, but she wrenched herself free. Why did this man's touch mean so much to her?

He didn't appear to notice, merely saying mildly, "I don't suppose you've made a start on the mural yet for the new restaurant?"

"As a matter of fact, I have. I've finished it!" That would surprise him, but of course he would never let it show. "Pleased with it?"

For a moment she forgot who she was speaking to and conscious only of the interest in his face, spoke her thoughts aloud. "Oh, you know how it is with any art work, you never really feel satisfied with it. Somehow it never matches up with how you've imagined it at the beginning. But the subjects are pretty authentic. I had lots of chances to study all that underwater sea life going out in the Katrina."

"Good for you, Rob! I want to see that mural!"

When they reached the house there was no one on the shady verandah and he spread out on the old table a roll of plans he had taken from his pocket. "Run your eye over these, will you, Robyn?"

"I told you, it's no use asking me!" All at once it came to her that if she could give him her approval of the proposed alterations, and after all in view of his own financial involvement in the venture he would be sure to do the best for all concerned, then there would be no need for Johnny to go over the plans. She had a suspicion that the less her brother saw of David Kinnear the fewer stormy scenes there would be. "All right then, if you're happy about me looking them over instead of Johnny?"

"I'm happy! Look, Robyn, this is the new layout. It's only a rough draft, but you'll be able to get the general idea." As she bent over the neatly etched drawings she was surprised how easily she could follow the design of the buildings.

"No need to alter the outside walls of the place," David indicated the main building. "The old verandah will go, it's unsound anyway, and a wide patio can take its place, with trailing orchids at the end. Here's the swimming pool, in front of the main entrance. It will mean cutting down a few trees, but I'll keep that to a minimum. The way I look at it I don't want to move against the sculptural elements of the landscape but to go along with them. We'll have paths winding down amongst the coconut palms to the pool — what's on your mind?"

"Oh, it's just ... I was thinking about the pool. There's an island out there somewhere," she waved a hand towards the shimmering expanse of sea, "where they tell me there are huge turtles. Do you know, they come when they're called by the natives of that particular island, they really do ! I couldn't help thinking that a pool would be rather attractive if it was made in the shape of a big fat turtle."

"Good for you, Rob ! You're a girl of ideas, as well as —" He broke off, glancing down at her bent head.

"As well as what?" she challenged him.

"Long term project," he said softly, "but I've got it all worked you ... tell you another time ... meantime, this is the inside of the place." He unrolled another sheet of drawings and as she studied the tentative plans she realised that this venture was something into which he had put a lot of time and effort. For himself, of course, she reminded herself. Suddenly she had a crazy impulse to touch the thick dark head as he bent over the designs. Jerking herself back to sanity, she tried to concentrate on what he was saying.

"Each unit to have separate kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, lounge ... We can decide on colour schemes later. Okay with you?"

She nodded.

"And this is how I see the restaurant. Separate from the main building, but you reach it by a covered thatched walkway amongst the trees. The thatched roofing is for when it rains —"

"Rain — here? I can't imagine it!" She was thinking how attractive he was at the moment, intent on his project, so that she could gaze at him to her heart's content. At that moment he glanced upwards and she wrenched her thoughts aside.

"Does it rain? Ever heard of a tropical downpour, Robyn? You'll be surprised one of these days!"

She laughed and attempted to concentrate on the detailed sketch.

"It'll be open, bamboo pillars with climbing plants, looking out over the lagoon. I picture it with native-style decor —coconut matting on the floor, walls hung with tapa-cloth, lights shining through big conch shells —"

"And Bula —"

"You don't think I'd forget him !"

They laughed together and he rolled up the stiff papers. "I'll get on to all this right away. You'll be lucky being in one of the bures, with all the hammering and tearing down that's going to go on around here next week, but the sooner it's started the better."

"Yes, of course." He would of course be in a hurry to get his money back from the venture. You couldn't blame him for that.

"Now it's your turn," he smiled, and twisted a rubber band around the roll of papers. "You were going to show me the mural for the restaurant?"

"I'll go and get it."

The long picture was awkward to carry, but she brought it to the verandah. David came to meet her at the foot of the steps and held it up at arm's length while he studied the canvas. "You've got it, Robyn!" Enthusiasm tinged his tone. "That translucent underwater colour that isn't like anything else on earth! And this stylised form of coral and sea-plants and tortoise is just what I had in mind — only I never thought I'd be lucky enough to find anyone who could carry it out I Are you working on anything at the moment?"

Once again his genuine interest in her work served to put other matters from her mind. She said eagerly, "I've got an idea for the painting of a child, a native child. Selani, that's my nice Fijian maid, says her family live in the nearest village. She tells me I can take a walk over there any time and have a model all ready-made. It seems her married sister lives in the village with her husband and their two small boys." Without realising the implications of what she was saying, she ran on, "I'm thinking of going over there this afternoon."

"Good ! I'll take you."

"You don't need to. I mean ... I can easily find the way by myself ..." At the teasing glimmer in his eyes her voice faltered into silence. Well, it wasn't her fault that he insisted on coming with her, she told herself defensively. She'd tried to dissuade him so Johnny needn't think — Oh dear, why was she worrying about Johnny's opinion? He wasn't even here. It didn't matter to him what she did. Only somehow it did matter — a lot. It was dreadful to feel torn in two directions. She knew she shouldn't go with David Kinnear, or at least if she did go, she shouldn't feel so wildly happy about the idea.

They lunched with Eve Daley, and to Robyn's dismay the older woman had to let out the fact that Johnny had been absent from the Islander for almost two weeks. Not that David made any comment, but she knew he wouldn't let her off that lightly. He didn't. For as they took a path winding amongst the palms he turned towards her, asking without preamble, "Why didn't you tell me that your brother had taken off? That he hasn't been around since I was last here?"

She stole a glance, but it told her nothing. "I didn't think," she said lamely, "that you'd be interested."

"Interested!" He meant because of the debt, of course.

"Leaving you alone here to cope with everything, including the coral boat. So it wasn't because of the art work that you've been out so much in the boat lately. You took it out because your brother wasn't here to do the job."

"I enjoyed it," she protested swiftly. "Honestly, it's something I've always wanted to do, learn to handle a motor boat. It was fun!" She added a trifle belatedly, "Besides, I wanted to get all the views of the coral I could, for future pictures."

"What's he doing with himself anyway?" She might have known she couldn't fool him one little bit. He wasn't the type of man from whom one could hide things, unfortunately. Such a lazy voice, yet he never missed a thing. Still she struggled determinedly on.

"He'll be away working, trying to help you by getting some cash in hand —"

"Did he tell you that?"

"No, but I just ... know."

He eyed her consideringly. "You're a nice kid, Robyn, but trying to protect your brother only makes you a lot more vulnerable. He's old enough to look after himself, wouldn't you say?"

She pretended not to understand. "Oh yes, yes ! That's why he's away, probably somewhere at sea. Working ... doing his best," she added wildly.

All at once he appeared to have lost interest in the subject of Johnny. "Ever seen a breadfruit tree? There's one right over your head."

She had been too involved in her own affairs to notice that they had entered a dusty pathway curving between high spreading trees. The green branches met overhead. "Or tapioca?"

"Never !"

"You've seen nothing yet! Look over there! What does that look like to you?"

She followed his glance towards the indentation by the side of the path where grass grew over a cluster of great flat stones. "Just a pit of some sort —"

"It's one that's been used by the firewalkers at some time or other, by the look of it. They come from their own island of Beqa. Ever heard of them, Rob?"

She nodded, only too happy to forget personal problems. "Johnny told me about them ... but I still can't believe anyone could walk barefooted on white-hot stones and not feel a thing —"

"It's true! Just one of those mystical affairs the scientists can't find any explanation for." They strolled on along a road cut through the jungle rising on either side. As they went on, David, carrying her sketching materials, pointed out to her the various trees with their tropical fruits, the metal bands high on the coconut trees that had been put there to combat the rats. Somehow Robyn thought she had never known a two-mile walk pass so effortlessly and enjoyably.

At last they emerged from the filtered light of the jungle in sight of the coast. The tide had receded, leaving an expanse of flat silver sea and gleaming sand. They rounded a point and quite suddenly they came in sight of a grassy clearing with its clusters of native bures. Fijian men were busy stripping the fibre from coconut palms and putting up foundations for new huts. Not far from a large thatched hut, women were seated on the grass weaving mats from pandanus leaves. Beside them were piled shell ornaments, woven mats, necklaces of beads and dried nuts. The smiling dark-eyed women did not press the sale of their handiwork, but as Robyn paused to admire the local jewellery David said to her, "Which one

would you like?"

She chose a long necklace made of tiny shells in shades of browns and amber. "And just for good measure —" he selected a starfish pin cut from shimmering mother-of-pearl and handed it to her. While he paid for the purchases she slipped over her head the bead necklace that blended so well with the natural linen of the short shift she was wearing.

"Selani said her sister lives in a but right at the end of the village," she told David as they strolled over the short grass in the direction of a line of thatched bures.

It was dark inside the hut and for a moment Robyn had difficulty in focusing her gaze Then, moving over the mat on the earthen floor, she caught sight of a smiling big-framed Fijian woman and two small, wide-eyed boys. An open fire glowed at one end of the hut and nearby were cooking pots, a scoured and spotless frying pan.

The children ran at once to their mother, burying their faces in her voluminous long cotton skirt, and miraculously David produced from a shirt pocket a small bag of sweets.

"Hello, little one!" Bending down to the child, Robyn cradled the dark-eyed toddler in her arms. Lustrous eyes gazed back at her and the small boy gave her a shy smile. Looking up at that moment, Robyn surprised an unexpected expression of tenderness — there was no mistaking it — in David's eyes, and suddenly self-conscious she put the child down and rose to her feet.

She turned to the big Fijian woman. "You wouldn't mind if I made a picture of your little boys? Just a quick one. They're such lovely children."

"Not mind, but keeping them both still," she burst into a fit of giggles that reminded Robyn of Selani. Then, scooping up both children, she seated herself and settled the boys on her capacious lap.

Robyn took up her sketchpad. "It's just an impression really," she murmured to David as he stood watching her flying pencil. "I can fill in the details later." Soon on the blank paper faces began to emerge. The sweet-faced young Fijian

mother; two small brown native boys, wide-eyed with wonder and mercifully too spellbound by the novelty of what was happening to attempt to scamper away.

She had almost completed the swift outlines when a tall good-looking young Fijian man appeared in the opening. Soon he was chatting with the others, explaining to the strangers something of native customs and the way of life in his own village.

"What is the big but used for?" Robyn enquired, putting away her sketchpad. "The one all by itself in the village? Does anyone live there?"

"That's the meeting house," the Fijian man informed her. "Once every month we have a meeting there. Everyone from the village comes. We talk, fix up any troubles —"

"Don't tell me," Robyn teased, "that you have problems here in this island paradise?"

"Not many. Just sometimes the boys of the tribe, they think they grown-up, can do as they like. They want to leave the tribal grounds and go to live in the town. Some of them give cheek, but that soon settled —"

Robyn smiled towards David. "They've managed to solve the generation gap problem!" Turning to the Fijian man, she asked, "How on earth do you do it?"

"No problem. Chief of the tribe, he gets out the big stick. He wallop boy good. After that, no more trouble!"

Robyn laughed, "I can imagine!"

Presently, after promising Selani's sister that she would return in a week or two with a sketch of the children, Robyn preceded David through the opening of the thatched hut.

Outside the sky was a moist inky blue and a sudden gust of wind sent a coconut tumbling from a nearby palm. They had gone only a short distance when lightning zig-zagged around them. Almost immediately rain pelted down on their faces. The sea was dark green scattered with a myriad dancing drops and the path streamed with water. "Come on, run for it!" Plucking an umbrella-like pandanus leaf from a nearby bush, David held it over Robyn's head as they hurried

towards the nearest hut. His arm was still around her as laughing and breathless, they fell in at the opening and stood peering around the empty dwelling. A fire still glowed in the grate on the floor, so evidently the owners weren't far distant.

Robyn drew herself free, but she was still very much aware of his nearness. "How long ... will it last ... the rain, do you think?"

He brushed the drops of moisture from her hair. The look in his eyes as they rested on her said quite plainly : Quite a while, I hope. Aloud he murmured reassuringly, "Not long. These tropical downpours soon rain themselves out. Why, Robyn? Don't you like being here?"

"It's awfully hot," she said breathlessly, "what with the fire ... and everything."

"Why don't you come right out with it," for a moment the lazy tones deceived her, "admit you don't like being shut up with the enemy?"

"But you're not ... my enemy." Her voice was very low.

"Good! That's a start anyway. I told you it was start-again time! Robyn —" The intensity of his gaze ... magnetism ... electricity ... drew her towards him and once again she felt his mouth on hers. This time his kiss wasn't gentle, only ... deeply satisfying, wildly exciting.

At last she came back to the present. "David —"

"That's better," his voice was tender. "I've wanted —" He stopped short as a fuzzy dark head appeared in the opening and a small Fijian boy peered towards them. "There's a man looking for you. Here he comes now, in the car."

"Thanks, son." They moved towards the opening, but the

child had already sped away in the direction of a nearby hut. Robyn took a deep breath. "It's Johnny! He's come looking for me !"

"What of it? Relax, honey, he's not going to worry me any."

"I know, but —"

A car door slammed outside and the next minute Johnny entered the hut. Robyn glanced up to meet his brooding gaze.

Angrily he dashed the raindrops from his face and she realised that her apprehensions were well justified. He looked furious, his grey eyes stormy, his mouth tightly set.

"Hello." Her smile wavered, but she kept it plastered to her features. "Were you looking for me?"

"I was," he said sulkily, ignoring the other man. "Eve told me you'd gone over to Selani's sister's place to sketch the kids. We thought you'd be drenched. If I'd known you weren't alone, I wouldn't have bothered."

"If I'd known you were coming back today, I wouldn't have come here at all." She hated herself for the conciliatory note in her voice.

"Well, you'd better jump into the car now," he said ungraciously. "Coming, Kinnear?"

"No, thanks. The rain's almost over and I could do with a stroll."

"Suit yourself. Coming, Rob?"

She hesitated, said tentatively to David, "You don't —mind?"

His grin was as lazy as ever. "Why should I? After bending over the old drawing boards a lot of the time a good tramp is just what I like — Oh, Johnny, you'll find the plans for the alterations on a desk in my room. Run your eye over them when you get back, will you? I'd like to have your say-so before I give the builders the green light to go ahead."

The young face hardened. "Do as you please. It's over to you now."

"Okay, then," David said in his pleasant unshakeable tone. "So long as you're around when the place is fixed up into working order and you're back in business. I'll get the workmen started next week. After that a month should do it. Just wanted to make sure you approved —"

"Why ask me? Go right ahead ! So far as I'm concerned I don't care what you do, so long as you restrict your activities to the house !" His significant glance swept to Robyn and she felt hot with embarrassment.

How could Johnny behave like this, even though he had

some provocation, goodness knows ! For a man of his independent nature, it must be galling to be forced to account to someone else for your movements in your own home. Only Johnny wasn't behaving as though the old Islander were his home — her swift thoughts chased one another through her mind. He acted as though the guesthouse was the last place he wanted to be in, especially if the architect were to be there as well!

Sick with humiliation, she didn't glance towards David but made her way out into the teeming rain. She splashed through a puddle and seated herself in the car beside Johnny. They shot forward in a shower of spray, past the small pond with its pink and white waterlilies floating on the surface, that was rapidly filling. But she was aware only of Johnny's thunderous face. She wanted to ask him where he had been lately and why he hadn't contracted her, but something in his set look deterred her. A few short weeks ago she wouldn't have hesitated, yet now... Surely she wasn't afraid of Johnny, her brother, even in his dark moods.

"I thought you had more sense," he burst out, "traipsing all over the place with him!"

"It was only a walk," she pointed out mildly.

"I wouldn't trust Kinnear anywhere!"

"Anyway," she asked, "where were you all week? I was worried about you at first, until Eve told me you often took off for days at a time without letting anyone know."

It was the wrong thing to say, she realised almost at once. He flung her a scowling glance. "Now you're trying to tie me down — Sorry, Sis," the endearing lopsided smile lightened the young face, "you'll have to get used to my wandering ways. I never thought you'd take it to heart . I would have sent you a message, but I was away on a cruise boat and we didn't touch any port for a week." Somehow she felt it was a lie, but it wasn't worth arguing about.

As suddenly as it had come, the brief tropical storm was over. Birds began singing on bedraggled branches and over the mountains the sky was a drenched blue. The humid atmosphere had lightened and palms and jungle growth glittered with raindrops. Now David would be able to make his way back to the guest house.

Aloud she said, "You were pretty awful to David just now."

"I can be a lot worse than that, as he'll soon find out if I have to put up with much more of his interference. Not that it's likely. After today I won't be around much at the Islander."

With a sinking heart she glanced towards his stormy face. "You mean —"

"It all depends how things turn out. I'll tell you one thing, though, Rob. When I do come back here, it will be on my own terms, not his!"

"I don't know what you mean." Suddenly her feelings got the better of her. "Don't you care about all the money we owe —"

He threw her a wry sideways glance. "You'd be surprised, Sis. Actually at the moment it's about the only thing in the world I do care about! You'll just have to take my word for it, believe me, when I say I'll settle the score with Kinnear, right to the last cent, but it's got to be in my own way!"

"But you won't tell me how —"

"You'll know before very long, one way or the other."

"I wish you wouldn't be so mysterious. What can I tell Pam? She's rung up twice while you've been away, once on long-distance from Australia, wanting to know when you'd be back."

His face hardened. "So what? Just tell her that I don't know. It all depends on what I'm doing and where I happen to be."

They had reached the grounds of the guesthouse and he pulled up with a jerk at the foot of the steps. As she got out of the car he revved the engine. "'Bye!" A defiant wave of his hand and the small old car was speeding down the driveway.

As she watched the vehicle vanish around a bend screened by thickly-growing banana palms, Robyn was conscious of mixed feelings. She was struck by a niggling feeling of disloyalty. Going over to the enemy camp — was that the way it would look to Johnny? Was it because he had come across her and David together today that her brother wasn't staying on at the Islander? All the same, he needn't have behaved quite so unpleasantly towards David. I'll see him and apologise for what Johnny said today, she promised herself. The minute David gets back to the house I'll find him and tell him that Johnny didn't mean what he said. It's just his way.

She had showered and changed into dry shirt and shorts and was moving out to the verandah to wait for him when David came striding along the passage. "Oh, Robyn, I was just coming to look for you —" Who would dream from his cheerful, offhanded manner that such a short time ago he and she — She brought up her random thoughts with a jerk.

"I'm off now," he was saying. "Be back some time when things start moving down here."

"David She took a step towards him, then hesitated.

"What is it?"

"Just —" At that moment a group of fishermen pushed past them in the narrow corridor. There was no opportunity for private conversation, no chance to say "I'm sorry". She turned away. "It doesn't matter."

"Tell me when I come back. 'Bye." He was gone, taking the steps two at a time, swinging around on the grass below to send her a friendly wave, just as though she hadn't allowed her brother to be so insulting to him. Was it for her sake that David put up with such a lot from Johnny? She couldn't think of another reason, yet she couldn't really accept that one! The turning car blurred out of focus as the foolish tears misted her eyes. How could a kiss make all that difference, leave her with this aching sense of regret? If Johnny hadn't come seeking her, if she hadn't agreed to return with him in his car, would David be leaving here so soon, so uncaringly? Suddenly the time when the builders would move in to begin renovations on the motel seemed an awfully long period ahead!