Bahama Crisis

The biggest barring Alaska and I could not see the Cunninghams finding us in a hurry. The thought that chilled me was that Robinson had made no attempt at disguise. True, his face was not memorable in the normal way, but I would certainly remember it from now on, and so would Debbie. The rationale behind that sent a grue up my spine the only way he could prevent future identification was by killing us. We were never intended to be released.

It was cold comfort to know that the Cunninghams were roused and that sooner or later, with the backing of the Cunningham Corporation, Robinson would eventually be run down and due vengeance taken. Debbie and I would know nothing of that.

Debbie said, "I'm sorry about the way I behaved."

"Skip it," I said.

"It doesn't matter now."

"But you could be a son of a bitch at times a real cold bastard.

Sometimes you'd act as though I wasn't there at all I began to think I was the invisible woman. "

"There was no one else," I said.

"There never was."

"No one human."

"Nor a ghost, Debbie," I said.

"I accepted Julie's death a long time ago."

"I didn't mean that I meant your goddamn job." She looked up.

"But I ought to have known because I'm a Cunningham." She smiled slightly. "

"For men must work and women must weep." And the Cunningham men do work I thought it might be different with you. "

"And the sooner it's over, the sooner to sleep." I completed the quotation, but only in my mind; it was too damned apposite to say aloud.

"Why should it have been different? The Cunningham men haven't taken out a patent on hard work. But maybe I did go at it too hard."

"No," she said thoughtfully.

"You did what you had to, as all men do.

The pity is that I didn't see it. Looking back, I know there's a lot I didn't see. Myself, for one thing. My God, you married an empty-headed ninny. "

That was a statement it would be politic not to answer. I said, "You had your problems."

"And piled them on your back. I swear to God, Tom, that things will be different. I'll make an effort to change if you will. We've both, in our own ways, been damned fools."

I managed a smile. The likelihood that we would have a future together was minima' "It's a bargain," I said.

She held out her hand and drew me down to her.

"So seal it." I put my hands on her and discovered that, indeed, she wore nothing beneath the shift. She said softly, "It won't hurt him."

So we made love, and it was not just having sex. There is quite a difference.

'53 Robinson gave us about three hours together. It was difficult to judge time because neither of us had a watch and all I could do was to estimate the hour by the angle of the sun. I think we had three hours before there was a rattle at the door and the Texan came in, gun first.

He stepped sideways, as before, and Robinson came in with another man who could have been the Texan's brother and possibly was. He was armed with a pistol. Robinson surveyed us and said benignly, "So nice to see young people getting together again. I hope you have acquainted your husband with the issue at hand, Mrs. Mangan."

"She doesn't know what the hell you want," I said.

"And neither do I. This is bloody ridiculous."

"Well, we'll talk about that later," he said.

"I'm afraid I must part you lovebirds. Come along, Mrs. Mangan."

Debbie looked appealingly at me, but I shook my head gently.

"You'd better go." I could see the man's finger tightening on the trigger of the shotgun.

And so she was taken from me and escorted from the room by the man with the pistol.

"We won't starve you," said Robinson.

"That should be an earnest of my good intentions should you doubt them."

He stood aside and a woman came in with a tray which she exchanged for the breakfast tray. She was a worn woman with sagging breasts and hands gnarled and twisted with rheumatics. I pointed to the pitcher and basin on the other side of the room.

"What about some fresh water?"

"I see no reason why not. What about it, Leroy?"

The Texan said, "Belle, git th' water."

She took the pitcher and basin outside, and I had a couple more names, for what they were worth. Robinson looked at the tray from which steam rose gently.

"Not the best of cuisine, I'm afraid, but edible… edible. And it's very much a case of fingers being made before forks. I think you'll need the water."

I said, "What about coming to the point?"

He wagged a finger at me.

"Later… I said later. There is something which I must think over rather carefully. There's really plenty of time, my dear chap."

Belle came back, put the basin on the table and stood the pitcher in it. When she left Robinson said, "Bon appetite and backed out, followed by Leroy.

The meal was fish or, rather, wet cotton wadding mixed with spiky bones. I ate with my fingers and the flesh tasted of mud. When I had eaten rather less than my fill, but could stomach no more, I walked over to the water pitcher and was about to pour water into the basin to wash my slimy hands when I stopped and looked at it thoughtfully.