Page 185 of Storm over the Caribbean
“Unlikely.”
“Hey! Don’t crush my hopes and dreams!”
He didn’t deign to dignify that with a response, so we spent the rest of the journey in silence. It didn’t take long for our dinghy to reach the shore. With a grinding sound, the prow met the sand, and Mr Ambrose leapt onto land. Reaching out, he extended his hand to me.
“Oh?” I cocked an eyebrow. “What if your crew sees us holding hands?”
“Then,” Mr Ambrose said in a completely neutral, not at all teasing voice, “my crew will think Freddy the Fatty is too voluminous to get out of a boat alone.”
“You…!”
Needless to say, I got out of the boatveryquickly, nearly as quickly as I aimed a kick at Mr Ambrose’s shin. Unfortunately, he moved out of the way in a blink and, a moment later, was already halfway across the beach.
Drat!
Just you wait until I get my hands on you, Mr Rikkard Ambrose!
“You…are…going to…pay…for…this!” I panted, trying as hard as I could to catch up with him and failing. “Just as soon…as I catch up…with you!”
“Some exercise is quite healthy for pregnant women, I’ve heard.”
“And getting hard kicks in the bollocks can be quite healthy for men, I’ve heard,” I told him sweetly.
In answer came a moment of silence. Then…
“Let’s forget about the subject of health for the moment and take care of the matter at hand.” He held out his hand. “Agreed?”
I grinned and shook his hand. Yay! Victory!
“Agreed, Captain Rockface, Sir.”
And, together, we set out up the path towards Hamilton. And if our hands stayed intertwined, that surely was pure coincidence, right?
By the time the sun had risen to its zenith, we reached the outskirts of Hamilton and stepped into town, heading straight to the square where the bank was to be found. As we reached the front door, he cast a glance my way. “Follow my lead.”
Then, without another word, he flung open the door and strode inside. The bank was much busier than last time. Judging by the calendar on the wall, it was the end of the week, and all sorts of people had come to deposit their week’s wages. Seems like we would have to wait in line for a while.
…
Hah! Yeah, right!
Mr Rikkard Ambrose strode straight past the queue, completely ignoring the scandalized looks and exclamations from the other customers. Rapping on the hardwood counter, he fixed his gaze on the frozen clerk.
“I’m here for the package.”
“Ah, um…yes, of course, Sir! The package! One moment, please!”
I would never have thought a bank clerk could move that fast without a gun pointed at his head. In a jiffy, he was back, carrying a thin folder held together by string. My eyes landed on the package with ravenous intensity, and I could hardly keep myself from snatching it.
Wait just a bit. Just a bit longer.
“Here you go, Sir!” Without daring to waste another instant, the clerk handed over the folder. “Here you go!”
Mr Ambrose gave a curt nod. Then, without another word, he turned and strode back towards the exit.
“Well?” I hissed the moment he reached my side. “Open it!”
“Not now.” He gave a minute shake of the head. “Later, on the ship.”
