Baixe This Rough Magic e outras Notas de estudo em PDF para Engenharia Aeroespacial, somente na Docsity! This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart 2 1 The magic island `And if it's a boy,' Phyllida said cheerfully, `we'll call him Prospero.' I laughed. `Poor child! But why Prospero? Oh, of course, because of Prospero in The Tempest. Corfu was Shakespeare's magic island in The Tempest, wasn't it?' `Yes. We've already got one character from the play here − Miranda. And her brother's called Spiro, which sounds a bit like Prospero, doesn't it? Miranda and Spiro are twins.' My sister smiled at me, and reached for the coffee pot. `More coffee, Lucy?' she asked. We were having breakfast outside in the sun, on the terrace of my sister's house on the beautiful island of Corfu, which lies off the west coast of Greece. Below the terrace, wooded cliffs fell steeply to a small, sheltered bay, where the sea lay calm and still. From where we sat, we could not see the bay, as it was hidden by the trees. But we had a wonderful view out across the sea, and to the north we could just see the snow−topped mountains of Albania in the distance. My sister Phyllida is three years older than I am, and when she was twenty she married a Roman banker, Leonardo Forli. The Forli family had owned land on Corfu for many years and Leo's great−grandfather had built an enormous house, the Castello dei Fiori, in the woods above the bay. Later, Leo's father had built two smaller, more modern houses on the cliffs on the north and south sides of the bay. The house on the northern side was called the Villa Forli, and it was used by Phyllida and Leo. The house on the southern side was called the Villa Rotha, and it stood above the big boat−house which Leo's great−grandfather had built. This villa was rented by an Englishman, Godfrey Manning, who had been there since the previous autumn. He was writing a book, Phyllida had told me, and was taking a lot of photographs for it. The three houses were connected with the main road by the private road up to the Castello, and connected to each other by various paths through the woods and down to the bay. That spring Phyllida was expecting her third child and the heat in Rome was too much for her. Therefore, Leo had persuaded her to go to Corfu, and to leave the other two children, who were at school, in the care of their grandmother in Rome. Leo, of course, was working, but he was going to visit Corfu at weekends whenever he could. Phyllida had asked me to go and stay with her, and her invitation had come just at the right time. I'm an actress and the play I was in, my first in London, had closed after only two months. I was feeling very miserable. It had been a bad winter, and I was tired, depressed, and seriously wondering − at the age of twenty−five − if I should look for a different job. So it was wonderful to find myself on this magic island, with the sun shining brightly. It was far away from the cold of an English April. I sat back in my chair, drank my coffee, and enjoyed the peace and beauty as I looked out towards the distant snows of Albania. `Well, Corfu is certainly a magic island for me,' I said dreamily. `Who are these Shakespearean twins of yours, anyway?' `Oh, they're Maria's children. Maria's the woman who works for us here. Miranda helps her mother here, and Spiro works for Godfrey Manning at the Villa Rotha. Maria and the twins live in the village.' But I could see that Phyllida had something else that she wanted to tell me. 5 `I certainly saw a dolphin,' he admitted, `but I didn't see you until you shouted and jumped out from the trees. But you must have made a mistake. I heard nothing. Anyway, why would anybody want to shoot a dolphin?' `I'm asking you,' I said. For a moment I thought I had said too much. He frowned angrily, and as we stared at each other in silence, I noticed him properly for the first time. I saw a strongly built man of about thirty, carelessly dressed, with dark hair and eyes. His appearance suggested an aggressive character, I thought, but there was also something sensitive about the mouth. However, at the moment the aggressiveness was much more noticeable. `Well,' he said sharply, `I'm afraid you'll have to take my word for it. I did not shoot at the dolphin. And now, please excuse me. Would you please−' `Go back the way I came? All right. I'm sorry. Perhaps I was wrong about you, but I wasn't wrong about the shooting. If it wasn't you, do you know who it was?' `No.' `Not the gardener?' `No.' `Or Mr Manning?' `No. He's been taking photographs of the dolphin for weeks. He and the Greek boy, Spiro, tamed it.' `Oh. It wouldn't be him, then. Well, we'll just have to try and stop the person who's doing it, won't we?' He said quickly, `We?' `Yes. I'm Lucy Waring, Phyllida Forli's sister. Are you staying with Sir Julian?' `I'm his son. So you're Miss Waring. I hadn't realized you were here already.' He hesitated. `Is Leo Forli at home now?' `No,' I said shortly, and turned to go. `I'm sorry if I was a little rude,' he apologized. `We've had so many people here lately, and my father . . . he's been ill and he came here to get better. He needs peace. And I'm a musician. I need quiet to work.' `Well,' I said, `I'm sorry if I've stopped you from working. I'll go now and let you get on with it. Goodbye, Mr Gale.' He left, and soon I heard voices, and then music. I could be sure that I was already forgotten. 6 3 A death `When I had taken a shower and dressed, I felt calmer and I was ready to tell Phyllida all about the dolphin and the disagreeable Mr Gale. I went out onto the terrace, but she wasn't there. Miranda and her mother weren't there either. Then I heard the door from the kitchen open, and my sister came into the living−room. `Lucy? Is that you?' she called. `I'm out here,' I replied, and I went towards the french windows, which led into the living−room. One look at her face made me forget everything. `Phyl! What's the matter? You look terrible!' `Something awful has happened. Poor Maria's boy has been drowned, Spiro, the boy I told you about at breakfast.' `Phyl! How terrible! But − how? When?' `Last night. He was out with Godfrey on the boat − you know, Godfrey Manning − and there was an accident. Spiro fell over the side of the boat and was drowned. Godfrey's come over to tell us, and I've just told Maria and Miranda. I've sent them home now.' She put a hand to her head. `Lucy, it was so awful! Godfrey's still here. Come and meet him.' We went through into the living−room. At the far end there was a man with his back to us. He was pouring himself a drink. When we came in, he turned. He was tall and toughly built, with brown hair made lighter by the sun, a narrow, clever face and tired grey eyes. He was probably about thirty−five years of age. Phyllida introduced us, but he was really more interested in her than in me. `You've told them?' he said. `Was it very bad?' `Worse than bad.' `Of course. Look, Phyl, do you think I should go and talk to them now?' `No. Wait. Just at the moment I don't think Maria can believe that Spiro's dead.' Phyllida looked up at him. `Godfrey,' she said, `I suppose there's no doubt, is there? He really is dead?' `Well, that's it, you see. That's why I didn't come here immediately. I've been phoning. I was trying to discover if his body had been found. But I'm sure he can't be alive. I saw him go over the side.' `What happened?' I asked. `Do you know,' said Godfrey, `I'm still not really sure. I'm beginning to wonder just how much I really do remember. I'm sorry.' `Perhaps you don't want to talk about it. I shouldn't have asked,' I said. `It's all right. I've already talked to the police and I've told Phyl about it. The worst thing is that I'll have to talk to the boy's mother.' He looked at me directly for the first time. `You hadn't met Spiro?' he asked. `I only arrived last night, but Phyl told me about him.' 7 Godfrey continued, `I came here last year, and he's worked for me since then. He was a clever mechanic. He knew everything about boats. You know I'm writing a book and I need a lot of photographs for it? Well, Spiro helped me with those, too. In fact, I used him in some of them.' He paused for a moment and then the tired grey eyes came back to me. `I'd been taking some photographs at night, and I wanted to get some of the sun when it rose over the mountains with the snow still on them. Spiro and I took my boat out last night. There was some wind, but nothing to worry about. The sea wasn't really rough. I was below in the cabin, working on my camera, and suddenly the engine stopped. I went up on deck to see what had happened. Spiro was hanging over the side at the back of the boat. He was trying to find out what was wrong. I think I called to him to be careful, but just then the wind caught the boat and it swung over violently. Spiro was holding the rail, but it was wet and slippery and he lost his hold on it. He tried to catch it again, but missed and went over the side. By the time I reached the back of the boat, I couldn't even see him. He had disappeared.' `He couldn't swim?' I asked. `Oh, yes. But it was very dark and the boat was drifting fast. The wind was stronger by then, you see. I shouted again and again, but there was no reply . . . In the end I managed to start the engine, and I searched for Spiro for two hours, but it was no good. I couldn't find him.' `You did all you could,' said Phyllida sadly. `Yes, but because I didn't find his body, perhaps his mother will hope that he'll come back. If he got as far as Albania, she could wait for years to discover what happened.' `Just as she did with his father,' I added. He stared at me. `His father! I forgot that! Poor woman! And it's worse because Spiro wasn't expecting to go out with me last night. I only asked him at the last minute.' Phyllida looked thoughtful. `Look, Godfrey,' she said, `when you go home, you'd better take these photographs with you. It wouldn't be very good for Maria to see them now. `Oh, yes. Of course.' He picked them up and, for a moment, he looked unsure of himself. Something made me say, `Are those the photographs for your book?' `Yes. Would you like to see them?' he asked. There were several photographs of Spiro and the dolphin, and a wonderful one of them together. It was so good that I said, `If I hadn't seen the dolphin myself, I wouldn't believe that this was real.' Godfrey was interested. `You say you've seen the dolphin?' he asked. So I told them both about my morning adventure and about my meeting with Mr Gale's son. `Max Gale!' Phyllida cried. `Lucy, you're not trying to tell me that Max Gale was running about in the woods with a gun, are you? Don't be silly!' `Well, he did say it wasn't him,' I said. `Anyway, he hadn't got the gun any longer, so I couldn't prove it. But I didn't believe him, and he was very rude.' `Yes, but it couldn't have been him,' Phyllida said. `Probably not,' agreed Godfrey. 10 `Yes.' I decided to talk about something else. `Do you ever go out shooting, Adoni?' I asked. He laughed. `No, Miss Waring. I didn't shoot at your dolphin. No Greek would do so. Ah, here we are. Thank you very much. I'll take Miranda to her mother. Then I've promised to go to the Castello. Max wants to go out this afternoon. Perhaps I'll see you at the Castello soon?' `I don't think so,' I replied. I watched Adoni take the silent Miranda through her mother's door, and I thought that it would be nice to have someone to take care of me like that. As I drove away, I realized that if Max Gale was going to be out, at least I could have my afternoon swim in peace. I went down to the bay after tea, when it was not so hot, and afterwards I began to climb slowly up the path to the villa. Suddenly I heard a bird cry out in terror. As I ran up the path, the two parent birds met me, screaming loudly. I rushed forward and I saw a beautiful white cat, which was about to attack a baby bird. I did the only thing possible, and dived onto the cat, took him gently by the body and held him. He tried hard to get free, but he didn't scratch or bite. I picked him up and began to carry him away from the birds. He seemed to like this and he started to purr. But he was very heavy, and finally I had to put him down. He looked up at me and then moved away and disappeared. I followed him out of the shadow of the trees and found myself in bright sunlight, in the middle of a lovely, wild garden. All around me were roses − sweet−smelling roses of every colour, all in full flower. I stood still in delight. It was a beautiful, magical place. Then I remembered that Leo's grandfather had planted these roses when he lived in the Castello. Without thinking, I stretched out my hand and began to pick some of them. The white cat reappeared and sat on the top of a bank, watching me. Suddenly I heard a beautiful voice coming from just above me. I'd heard this voice many times before, in dark London theatres. It was Sir Julian Gale. The rose garden, I now realized in alarm, was at the foot of the terrace of the Castello and Sir Julian was standing there, looking down at me through some bushes. I tried to explain about the cat, but he saw the roses in my arms. `Ah,' he said, smiling pleasantly, `you've been stealing my roses, I see.' `Oh, I never thought . . . I'm terribly sorry,' I said uncomfortably. `Well, now you must pay a forfeit. You must come up and talk to me,' ordered Sir Julian cheerfully. I hesitated, but it would have been rude to refuse. Slowly I went up the half−hidden steps and came out onto the terrace. `Come in, Miss Lucy Waring. You see, I know who you are. And here's my son. But, of course, you've already met.' Max Gale was sitting in the shade, at a large table which was covered with papers. He didn't seem very pleased when we disturbed him, but Sir Julian insisted that I must stay for a drink. I asked for an orange juice, and received an unexpected, warm smile from Max Gale. 11 Sir Julian was not handsome, but he was a fine, big man with thick, grey hair. His eyes were tired, but he behaved quite naturally, except when he took his orange juice from Max. His hand shook quite badly. Sir Julian and I talked for a long time − about the world of the theatre, the latest stories, and finally about myself. I talked, and he was a sympathetic listener. He seemed to enjoy our conversation, and I didn't notice the shadows of the Castello moving towards us. Suddenly I realized that Max Gale was sitting behind us, listening. I felt that I had to say something to him before I left and I asked him if he had seen the procession that morning. We went on to discuss the possibility that Corfu was Shakespeare's magic island in The Tempest. Sir Julian repeated what Phyllida had told me − that Max was writing the music for a film of The Tempest. When at last I rose to leave, Sir Julian begged me to visit him again. He came with me to the edge of the rose garden and pointed to the path through the woods. A few minutes later I heard the sound of a piano. Max Gale was working again. The woods were dark and quiet, and as I went down the path I was thinking about Sir Julian. Suddenly I saw someone coming up the path from the bay. He was coming straight towards me, breathing heavily. He seemed to be trying not to make a noise. I stepped back behind the trees, and waited. He was Greek, someone I hadn't seen before, a young man. He stopped, took out a cigarette, but then decided not to light it. When he turned to go, I saw his face quite clearly. There was a look of excitement on it which made me afraid. Carefully, he continued on his way, up the path to the Castello. The wind suddenly blew through the trees, and the air was cool. I stood quite still until I could no longer hear the sound of the Greek's footsteps. 5 The body on the beach I didn't tell my sister about my visit to the Gales, even when we passed the path to the Castello on our way to the bay the next morning. Before we went into the water, Phyllida took off her ring, with its huge diamond, and put it into a little plastic beach bag. Then we went out into the blue−green water to swim. I looked for the dolphin, but he didn't come into the bay that day. After a time we went back to the beach, and we lay there in the sun, talking lazily. Soon Phyllida fell asleep and I went back into the water. Up on the terrace of the Castello I could see Sir Julian, and he waved to me. I waved back, but I was annoyed when I saw someone else watching me from one of the first−floor windows. Because I was angry I swam over to the rocks where Max Gale couldn't see me and came out of the water near the path which led to Godfrey Manning's villa. Carefully, I made my way along between the pools until I came to one which was bigger than the others. The dark green water was deep, and the blue−black shadows were alive with the movements of tiny fish. I stared down into the water. 12 The body was lying half in, half out of the shadow. I hadn't seen it at first because the bright sun was shining straight into my eyes. I felt sick with shock, but, of course, I had to look again. I knelt down, shading my eyes with my hand, and stared into the water. `Spiro!' I thought, but then the water was disturbed by the wind and the dead man's face moved. I knew him! It wasn't Spiro. It was the man I had seen the night before, the man who was going up to the Castello! The sunlight was hot on my closed eyes. `Phyllida!' I thought. `Phyllida mustn't see this.' I opened my eyes and hoped that I had been wrong, that there was no dead man. But he was still there. With difficulty, I got up and made my way over to the rocks near the path to Godfrey Manning's villa. Suddenly I heard a noise. It was the sound of the boat−house door closing. I looked up. Godfrey Manning was coming down the path towards me. `Lucy! Is something wrong? Are you ill?' he cried. I couldn't speak. I pointed to the pool. `Come and sit down,' he said. I sat down on a rock, with my head in my hands, and then I heard Godfrey go over to the pool. There was silence for a few moments. I looked up. Godfrey was standing still, looking down. I could see that he was shocked. He, too, must have thought that it would be Spiro. `Do you know who it is?' I asked. I thought that he hesitated, but then he replied, `Yes. His name's Yanni Zoulas. He's from the village.' After a moment he added, `He was a fisherman, but also a smuggler, I think. He made a lot of trips to Albania. I only hope the police don't find out about that, because I'm afraid that Spiro might have been involved with him in some way.' `Smuggling!' I stared at him. `Are you saying this wasn't an accident . . . that you think Yanni Zoulas was murdered?' My voice was rather shaky. `Good heavens, no!' he replied quickly. `Nothing like that. It must have been an accident.' `Has he got a family?' I asked. `Yes. A wife − they live with his parents. They're going to miss him − and the smuggling. That's how they lived so well . . . Anyway, we'd better go back to my villa and phone the police. Are you all right? Can you move now?' `Yes, but my clothes are in the bay. Phyl's there, too. She was asleep when I left her.' I had just finished speaking when Phyllida herself appeared. We tried to pretend that there was nothing wrong because we didn't want to upset her, but Phyllida is not a fool. `Something's wrong! What is it?' she cried. `We'd better tell her,' I said to Godfrey. `She'll find out in the end.' Godfrey began to explain what had happened. Suddenly he stopped speaking. A shadow fell across me, and then, from behind me, Max Gale's voice said, `Is anything the matter?' 15 7 A suspect He was very strong. I fought hard, but I couldn't do anything, although I must have hurt his hand because he took it away. `Keep quiet, will you!' he ordered in English, and then he pushed my face hard against the front of his jacket. I stopped fighting, and he loosened his fierce hold on me. I pulled my head free. If I screamed, they would hear me in the Castello. They could be down here in a few seconds . . . surely . . . even Max Gale− `Where have you been?' demanded the man. I stared at him. `You?' I said. `Have you been up at the Castello?' `I have not, and if I had−' `Then you've been to the beach. Why?' `I went down to get Phyl's ring, if you must know. She left it on the beach this morning. There! You see?' I held out my hand with the diamond ring on my finger. `And now, Mr Gale, what exactly do you think you're doing? You hurt me!' `I'm sorry. I thought you were going to scream.' `Of course I was. And why shouldn't I? What have you been doing − that's so secret?' `Fishing.' `Oh . . . but you were up there at the Castello half an hour ago.' `What do you mean? You said you hadn't been to the Castello.' `I could hear you from the beach. You were playing the piano and then talking to your father.' He was silent for a moment, and then he said slowly, `I think you heard a working tape. You see, my father isn't there. He's spending the night with a friend. And I've been out fishing with Adoni.' `Then why did you attack me?' `You rushed out onto the path in front of me.' `Oh, yes. And yet you still held on to me when you knew who I was. Or didn't you want me to see the others?' `The others?' `The men who went past when you were holding me.' `That was Adoni.' `Well, you needn't worry,' I said. `I'm not going to tell anyone about you. But I know all about it. I don't care what you do, but I do care about Miranda and her mother, and your father, and Adoni.' He had listened in silence but now he said very quietly, `What are you talking about?' `I suppose poor Yanni didn't do the job last night, so you've been to Albania to do it yourself, haven't you?' 16 `Where did you get these strange ideas from?' `Godfrey Manning told me this morning.' `What?' His voice was hard and sharp. I backed away from him, but he quickly took hold of my arm. `Manning! He told you?' `Let me go, please,' I cried. He dropped my arm, but said, `What did Manning tell you?' `About Yanni? That he was a smuggler, that he probably had a contact, that he hoped the police wouldn't find out because Spiro was in it, too.' `When did he tell you this?' `This morning, in the bay, before you came down.' `Then you weren't up at Manning's house just now?' `No, of course I wasn't! At this time of night?' `Of course. I'm sorry. And did Manning tell you that I was Yanni's smuggling contact?' `No. I decided that myself. I saw Yanni going up to the Castello last night. Anyway, you knew that Yanni was going to go out last night because you weren't surprised when you heard he'd been drowned.' `You noticed that, did you?' `Yes, but you were shocked.' There was a pause, and then he said slowly, `But you didn't tell the police any of this.' He turned to me. `My dear, I can't explain, but I must beg you to keep quiet. It's very important. No one must know that I've been out tonight.' `Don't worry. I won't tell anyone,' I promised. He looked at me. `Because of Maria and Miranda,' I added quickly, `and your father.' There was another short pause. Then he said, `I'll take you home now. These woods are dark and you were frightened, weren't you?' `Frightened? No. Of course not.' `Then why were you running back like that?' `Because I−' I stopped. The dolphin! I had forgotten the dolphin! `It was late,' I said. `I'm all right, really. Good night.' But he came after me. `I want to be sure that you get home safely. Anyway, my boat's on your side of the bay. I'd like to move it nearer.' I was afraid, and he knew it. `What's the matter?' he asked. `Did you meet someone in the bay?' `No.' `Then why don't you want me to go down there?' I said nothing. If I spoke, I would start to cry. `Look,' he said, `I have to know. Some day I'll tell you why. Something did happen down there, didn't it?' 17 `It's the dolphin,' I said weakly. He stared at me. `And you still think I want to shoot it? Look, tell me what happened.' When I had finished explaining, he took hold of my arm again. `Listen,' he said urgently, `there's a rope in my boat. I'll go and get it. I'll be quick. Go back to your dolphin and wait for me. Don't worry. We'll save him − but please be very quiet.' Before I could reply, he had gone. 8 The rescue There was no time to think. I obeyed him, and ran back down to the bay. The dolphin wasn't moving, but he was alive and the dark eye watched me. I continued to fetch water to pour over him. Max Gale came quickly. His little motor−boat slid quietly into the bay, with its engine switched off. He brought the boat in and stepped out, carrying a rope. We tied this round the dolphin and tried to pull him down to the sea. We tried several times − and each time we failed. `Could we use the boat − tie the rope to it and let the boat pull him out . . . with the engine?' I asked Max desperately. Max didn't answer immediately and I said, `It's all right. I understand. You don't want any noise. I'm sorry. I'll stay here all night and keep him wet, and−' `We'll use the boat,' said Max. He tied one end of the rope to the boat. The other end was round the dolphin's tail. The engine started with a noise that seemed to fill the night, but the dolphin was not afraid. I stayed with him to make sure he remained the right way up. When he began to slide backwards into the water, I followed him until I was up to my neck in water. `Oh, Max!' I cried. `He's so quiet. I think . . . Max, I think he's dead. Oh, Max . . .' `It's all right, my dear. I'll come. Hold him. We'll float him first.' `Now!' I called when we reached the deep water, and Max switched off the engine quickly. He came round to me. `Is he dead?' he asked. `I don't know, I don't know,' I replied. `I'll hold him up while you cut the rope.' `Turn his head towards the sea first,' said Max. He took his knife and bent down to cut the rope. It was difficult and at that moment the dolphin came to life. `He's all right!' I cried, and suddenly the dolphin pulled out of my arms and swam straight out towards the open sea. Max disappeared under the water and for a moment I thought the dolphin had taken Max with him. For a few seconds the water covered me, too, but when I surfaced again, Max was there by me, holding the cut rope. I caught his arm. `Oh, Max, look! There he goes! He's gone! Oh, wasn't it wonderful?' 20 `Max,' I said, hesitating, `I don't think your father told his visitor anything. I think that was why he kept repeating those words from The Tempest − to stop him from saying anything else.' Max smiled at me gratefully. `Perhaps you're right,' he said. Then he began to talk to me about his father. `He isn't an alcoholic, you know,' he explained. `He just drank from time to time to forget. Four years ago my mother and sister were killed in a car accident. My sister was driving and she lived just long enough to know what had happened. Unfortunately, I was in America at the time. I was ill in hospital, and I couldn't get back to be with him and help him through it. It nearly killed him. And that was when he started drinking. It was two months before I got home. He didn't drink all the time – only when everything became too much for him. In the end he had a nervous breakdown. He's better now − or we thought he was. He wants to go back to the theatre, you know, but he won't do it until he's sure that he's all right. And now . . . don't blame him, Lucy.' `How could I blame him? I love him!' He smiled. `Lucy Waring's generous heart. Love given away freely to actors, dolphins . . .' He was suddenly serious. `Any chance for a musician?' I was silent, and he looked away, into the fire. `Sorry. That was rather a sudden question. Forget it.' But he had asked the question because he wanted the answer. I found my voice again. `If you'd asked me that three hours ago, I'd have said that I didn't even like you. And now, when . . . when you look at me, my legs go weak. It's never happened to me before . . . and . . . and I'd do anything for you−' It was an even better kiss this time − the same feeling, but now we were warm and dry. `And now,' said Max, a little later, `I'll try to explain to you what this is all about. I'll make it as short as I can. It all starts with Yanni Zoulas−' `It's true, then? He was a smuggler?' `Yes. Yanni carried all kinds of things to Albania. He had a contact there, a man called Milo. And there were people over here who gave him things to take − but not me. You know that Albania is a communist country and Russia was ready to help Albania at first. But things didn't go well. There were problems between Albania and Russia, so Albania turned to China for help. Now Albania is closed, except to China, and no one can get in or out.' `Like Spiro's father?' `Yes. During the last world war my father and Spiro's father were good friends. My father is the twins' godfather and a godfather is very important here. When Spiro's father disappeared, my father looked after the family. That's why, when Spiro fell off the boat, Maria came to my father. She couldn't believe that Spiro was dead and she wanted my father to find out what had really happened to him, and to bring him back. Obviously, my father couldn't do this himself, so I decided to do it for him. The police knew all about it. They were very helpful and gave me all the information they could. We expected that someone would find Spiro's body in Albania. And then, on Saturday night, when he went on his usual smuggling trip, Yanni had news of Spiro. On Sunday he came to tell us about it.' I sat up in my chair. `News of Spiro? Good news?' 21 `Yes. Spiro is alive. He was found on the beach in Albania by some ordinary people who didn't bother to tell the Albanian police. His leg was broken, but he was alive. Obviously, we had to get him out of the country, and Yanni arranged to get him tonight. He came here to ask me to go with him.' I stood up. `You went with Adoni, didn't you? That's what you were doing. You've brought Spiro home?' Max smiled. `Yes, we did. He's here now, and he's alive and well.' `Oh, this is wonderful!' I cried. `Everyone will be so happy when they know−' But Max said seriously, `I'm afraid they mustn't know. When the time comes, we'll say that he was found on an island, but don't you see? Spiro's still in danger. Not from Albania, but from someone here. Don't forget that Yanni is dead.' I was afraid. `But we know what happened to Spiro,' I said. `He fell off Godfrey Manning's boat . . .' `Lucy,' Max said slowly, `Godfrey Manning pushed Spiro off the boat, and left him in the sea to drown.' `Max!' I stared at him. `I can't believe that. It isn't possible!' `Spiro has no reason to lie. Remember, I've talked to Spiro, and that's what he says. And Yanni had told us not to tell Godfrey Manning about Spiro.' `You mean that Godfrey Manning tried to kill Spiro and . . . and that he did kill Yanni? He's a murderer?' `Well, we're certain about Spiro, but guessing about Yanni. We must talk to Spiro again now. We have to find out why Godfrey Manning was ready to kill two people. And I need your help. I've got to take the boy to Athens tomorrow morning, to the hospital and then to the police. When he's talked to the police, he'll be able to come home. Well, shall we go and see him?' `Where is he?' He laughed. `Below us. He's downstairs in the cellar. Adoni is guarding him.' 10 Spiro I followed Max down to the cellar. The air was fresh and clean and Max explained that there was a natural cave further along. Suddenly Max stopped, put up his hand to the wall and pulled something. A hole appeared in the wall and Max led me through it. There was a passage which was cut through the rocks. We went down a few more steps. Then, in the light of Max's torch, I saw a face and a gun. `Adoni? It's Max. I've brought Miss Lucy. Is he all right?' `He's fine now. He's awake.' 22 We went into a large cave. Spiro was lying on a very comfortable bed, a warm orange light shone from a lamp, and there was a homely smell of coffee and cigarettes. Spiro looked surprised when he saw me, but Max said, `This is Mrs Forli's sister. She's my friend and yours. She's going to help us, and she wants to hear your story.' Max pulled forward a box so that I could sit down. `Now,' he said to Spiro, `if you feel better, try to tell us exactly what happened.' The boy began to speak slowly. He said that there had been nothing unusual about the trip that night, only that the radio had said that the weather might be bad. He had told Godfrey this, but Godfrey had replied sharply that it would be all right. They had left just before midnight. The night was black, and Godfrey had stayed in the cabin. He had said that he was working on his camera. `He seemed normal?' Max asked. Spiro frowned. `Well, he seemed quiet, and perhaps a bit sharp with me, but I thought he was still angry with me. Earlier that day I'd gone into the boat−house to service the engine, without asking him first.' `Go on,' said Max. `You were out at sea and the night was black . . .' `I thought we were about half−way across towards Albania,' Spiro continued. `The weather was getting worse, but Mr Manning didn't want to stop and shelter by the islands. We went on until we were about four kilometres out. He came out of the cabin then, and he sent me in to make some coffee. The camera was there on the table, but the light in the cabin was very bad, and he couldn't have seen well enough to work on the camera. Afterwards, I thought this was strange. It was also strange that we went out to take photographs on such a dark night. And what happened next was even more strange. The engine stopped, but I knew there was nothing wrong with it. I had serviced it myself that morning! But it stopped, and Mr Manning called to me. He was in the back of the boat, and he had hold of the tiller. "I think there's something caught in one of the propellers," he said, and he asked me to look at it. He told me to be careful because the sea was getting rough and the boat was moving about quite a lot. Suddenly the boat swung violently − I thought Mr Manning had turned her across the wind too quickly. But I was holding on to the rail, and I was all right. Then something hit me on the head, from behind. I knew I was going to fall and I put up my arm to save myself. Just then the boat swung round again, and something hit me across the hand. I let go, and fell into the water. When I surfaced, the boat was still quite near. I shouted, not very loudly, but I'm sure he heard me. Then he shone his torch on me. He saw me! I still didn't know that he'd hit me. I thought it was an accident.' The injured boy paused, and moved his broken leg in the bed. Then he went on. `The boat was moving slowly nearer. I called out to Mr Manning, and I began to swim towards him. I saw the starting−handle in his hand, but I thought nothing of it. When I reached the boat, he bent over the side and hit me again. However, because the boat was moving about so much, he only got my arm. He had to hold on to the rail himself, so he couldn't point the torch very well. Then the torch went out and he couldn't see me. At the same time a big wave came, and it carried me away from the boat. This time, of course, I kept quiet. I saw the light go on again, and then the engine started. For a short time he searched for me, but then he turned the boat away and left me there, in the sea.' There was silence in the cellar. Max's face was cold and hard. 25 `No. I'll just rest today, and go to the beach later,' I said. `OK,' replied my sister, and she went to answer the telephone. After an early lunch, I told Miranda that I was going down to the bay, and I went to get my swimming things. I wasn't going there, of course, in case Godfrey saw me, but I was hoping to see Adoni in the garden of the Castello to find out if Max and Spiro had got away safely. But when I came out of my room, Miranda was waiting for me. Adoni had sent a message to say that all was well. `Did he tell you about the dolphin?' I asked Miranda. `Yes,' she replied. `That's all right, then. Thanks, Miranda,' I said, and left the house. I went towards the woods, and when I got there, I left the path and climbed higher. I sat down in the shade and tried to read my book, but I couldn't. From where I sat I couldn't see the Castello, but I could see the roof of the Villa Rotha. I could also see the Villa Forli in the distance below me. And then I saw what I had expected to see. Godfrey was coming along the path. He didn't go down to the bay, but he stood there looking out towards the sea. He seemed to be looking for someone on the beach or out at sea. He looked towards the Forli house, and, for a moment, I thought he was going to make his way towards it. But he turned and went back along the path. Soon afterwards I saw his boat slide quietly out of the Castello boat−house where he kept it. Godfrey was at the tiller, and I watched the boat until it disappeared from my view, in the direction of Corfu town. Max phoned me later. `Did you get the message from Adoni?' he asked. `Yes, thank you. He said that all was well. How are you getting on?' `Well, I'm afraid the police are not very happy about doing anything. They want proof. They don't seem to believe that Manning tried to kill Spiro. They think it was an accident − and Yanni's death, too,' Max explained. `Well, what about the boy?' I asked. `Can you bring him home?' `The hospital says I can, but is it safe? I'm seeing the police again tonight − and there's tomorrow. We can try again then. I hope to be back at a quarter past five.' `That's all right. Nobody will meet you. I'll make sure of that.' `Good, but take care of yourself.' His voice was anxious. `And you,' I replied. After I put the phone down, I sat there for some time, looking out at the stars in the evening sky. I felt calm and determined. And when the telephone rang again, I didn't even jump. I picked it up. `Yes? Oh, hello., Godfrey. Yes, it's Lucy . . .' The next day Godfrey called for me immediately after lunch. He had asked me to have lunch with him, but I knew he only wanted information from me, so I refused. I didn't want to spend too long with him. However, I said that I would love to go for a drive with him in the afternoon. I added that I would like to visit Palaiokastritsa, a famous and beautiful place on the western coast. Godfrey sounded quite happy with this idea. 26 When we left, we saw Maria outside the villa, and Godfrey waved to her and smiled. She smiled back. Had he really tried to kill her son? I found it difficult to believe now, in the light of day. It was a very pretty road. I watched the scenery and talked to Godfrey about anything I could think of. But suddenly, I noticed that we had driven past the sign which said `Palaiokastritsa'. I told Godfrey this, and he replied, `Oh, yes, I'm sorry. We'll go there one day when I haven't got to be back early.' `Have you got to be back early?' I enquired. `Well, yes. I'm afraid I have. I'm going out to dinner with friends tonight,' he said. `Where are we going, then?' I said. `To the Achilleion. It's a villa which was built for the Empress of Austria.' `Oh, that's a wonderful idea!' I replied enthusiastically. It was a disastrous idea, because, to get there, we had to go through Corfu town − quite close to the harbour − and to come back, we would have to use the same road as Max. I had to make sure that we were not on that road at about half past five. I looked at Godfrey Manning again. He was so calm, and handsome and normal. Then suddenly he said, `Now, what happened the night before last at the Castello? Did you see Sir Julian?' `Well, yes, I did,' I said. `He was tired,' I added. `You mean he was drunk,' said Godfrey. `How do you know that?' I asked. `Come on, Lucy. They knew I was with him, didn't they? How could I stop him drinking if he wanted to?' He gave a little smile, but there was something about his mouth that was both cruel and frightening. Suddenly I knew. Of course he was a murderer. I no longer had any doubts. `Well, Mr Gale isn't very pleased with you,' I said. `I suppose not,' Godfrey Manning replied. `Where is he today?' `Oh, Athens, I think. But tell me what happened with you and Sir Julian,' I continued quickly. `Nothing, really. The old man needed someone to take him home, and I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to find out what I could about Spiro. Everybody on this island tells the Gales everything – but Spiro's death involves me, too,' he said. `And did Sir Julian have any news?' I asked. `No. Did the Gales say anything to you when you were at the Castello?' `Nothing.' `Did they say anything about Yanni Zoulas?' `Yanni? . . . Oh, the fisherman who was drowned . . . No, why?' `Oh, I was just curious.' `Well, if there is any news about Spiro, Maria will tell my sister, and we'll tell you,' I said. 27 We drove on for a time in silence. It was obvious that Godfrey wanted to know if anyone suspected that the two deaths were not accidents. Perhaps he still had some `business' to finish. Well, he'd learn nothing from me. Soon we arrived at the Achilleion. `Well, here we are,' said Godfrey, and we stopped outside the palace. I made him look at everything, inside and in the gardens, and from time to time I studied the little guide book I had brought with me. I had to keep him there as long as I could. But at half past four we had seen everything, and Godfrey asked me if I would like to go to Corfu town, where we could get a cup of tea. `Oh, no,' I said quickly. `Isn't there anywhere to have tea in the other direction? The coast that way looks so beautiful.' We had tea in a little hotel on the beach, and I pretended to be very interested in everything around me. I told him how much I enjoyed watching the boats on the sea, and we stayed there quite a long time. Suddenly Godfrey said, `Oh, look! There's the ferry.' `Ferry?' I replied. `What ferry?' With some difficulty, I managed to keep my voice calm and unworried. `The boat that goes between Corfu and the mainland,' he answered. `It'll be in Corfu in about twenty minutes. Well, shall we go?' `I'd like to go upstairs first, please,' I said. The owner of the hotel led me to a bathroom, where I feverishly studied my guide book. Ah, yes − the place where Menecrates was buried. I would ask Godfrey to take me there. It was on the way back. He did take me there, and it was a wonderful idea because nobody knew where it was. We asked everybody we met, and they all sent us to the wrong place. Godfrey thought I just didn't want to leave him! When we finally found it, it was after six o'clock. `Would you like to come and have a drink with me before I take you home?' Godfrey asked. `That would be lovely,' I said. 12 A discovery It was quite dark when Godfrey drove me back to the Villa Forli. Phyl was out, but she had left me a note. She said that Leo was coming to Corfu with the children for two weeks, so she had gone to Corfu town to do some shopping. I read the note, and just then Miranda came in and said that Phyllida had phoned. She had met some friends in town and she was having dinner with them at the Corfu Palace Hotel. Miranda had also heard from Adoni that Max would be late and would not be on the ferry which arrived at a quarter past five. 30 `Yes . . . Look! Up there!' Miranda was pointing to the top of the cliff. A light had gone on in the Villa Rotha. `I wish I could get into that boat−house,' I said. `I think Mr Manning's put the things from the cave in there. He said he was going out, but perhaps that wasn't true . . . Perhaps he's going out with the boat later. And then it'll be too late. Anyway, the boat−house is locked.' `I know where the spare key is,' said Miranda. `Spiro showed me.' Just then the lights in the villa went out, and I heard the sound of Godfrey's car. Then I saw its lights disappear into the distance, and it was dark again. I pushed my hand down into the pocket of my coat and felt the hardness of Leo's gun. I didn't want to go near Godfrey Manning's boat−house − but I had to. `Come on,' I said to Miranda, and we ran down the path. `When we've got the key,' I said, `you must go straight back to the Castello. Then you'll see them as soon as they get home. But try to telephone Adoni first . . . Do you know where he could be?' `Yes. There are two bars where he sometimes eats.' We had reached the boat−house and Miranda ran to find the spare key. She pushed it into my hand. `What shall I tell Adoni?' she asked. `Just say he must come straight back here. Miss Lucy says it's urgent. Then wait for him. Lock the door and don't let anyone else in, except Max or the police. If I'm not back when Adoni comes, tell him everything and say that I'm down here. All right?' `Yes,' Miranda answered immediately. She turned and ran quickly up the path. I looked up at the dark Villa Rotha and then, with a trembling hand, I put the key in the lock. The door opened and I went inside. All round the boat−house there was a kind of narrow wooden platform. There was nowhere to hide except on the boat itself. At the back of the boat−house there was a window, and from this I could just see part of the Villa Rotha. If Godfrey did come back, I would see the lights and know that he was there. I stepped onto the boat and tried the cabin door. It wasn't locked. I looked through the window to make sure that I was still safe, and then I went into the cabin. I shone my torch round it and then I began my search. I looked everywhere − in every cupboard, corner, and container; under the beds, in the little kitchen. I found nothing. There were two doors in the floor, one under the table and one at the front of the boat. I pulled them both open and looked below − but there was nothing. Quickly I ran back to look through the boat−house window at the Villa Rotha again. It was still in darkness. I could search for a little longer. I started on the deck, and I searched every possible hiding−place − and still I found nothing. I had looked everywhere that I could think of and I stood on the deck, wondering where to look next. Suddenly I saw the answer − a trail of wet drops across the deck, drops of water from a wet packet. Of course! I followed them back into the cabin and over to the table. On the table there was still a wet square where he had put the packet down. There were no more drops of water, because Godfrey must have opened the door under the table. But I had looked there already, and found nothing. 31 Once again I pulled open the door and looked down into the square hole. I knelt down, switched on the torch and stared down into the water lying in the bottom of the boat. Nothing. I lay down and put my head through the hole − and they were there! They were on a special shelf under the floorboards and just above the water. They were some way back from the opening and you had to lie down to see them. I ran back to the window. The Villa Rotha was still in darkness. In two minutes I had one of the packets in my hand. It was wrapped in plastic and it was difficult to see what was inside − a picture, some words. Somewhere something banged. I jumped in terror and dropped the torch. I picked it up quickly and swung round to look. There was nothing − only darkness. `It must have been the wind,' I thought. The door banged again. I'd had enough. Holding the packet carefully, I climbed out of the boat. At that moment I saw a movement on the path outside the window. It was only a shadow − but it was him, and he was coming towards the boat−house fast. I had to hide the packet! He'd already murdered one person and tried to kill another because of it. There was only one place − down the side of the boat. Wildly, I tried to push it down into the water, but the boat was too close to the platform and the packet wouldn't go down. I tried again, and this time I heard the packet fall into the water. At the same time Leo's gun slid from the pocket of my coat, and followed the packet into the water. I heard Godfrey's key in the door. I had to hide. But where? The only place was in the cabin. Quickly and silently, I slipped back into the cabin and ran over to the bed. I lay down and pulled up all the blankets over me. I lay still − and hoped that he wouldn't come into the cabin. I could feel him moving about the boat. The wind was stronger now and the boat was rocking more. I heard the sound of metal and I could smell the sea air − and suddenly I realized what he'd done. He had taken the boat out of the boat−house and we were out at sea. I couldn't move. I tried to think. Max and Adoni would come home, they would find that the boat had gone, and they would guess that I was on it. I hoped that Godfrey wouldn't discover the packet had gone, because then he would search the boat and he would find me. I must stay where I was. Perhaps the wind would keep Godfrey on deck. Perhaps he wouldn't come down to the cabin at all. Just three minutes later, he opened the cabin door. 14 The moment of truth I heard the door close again. Then I heard the sound of a match and I smelt the smoke of a cigarette which had just been lit. This must be why he had come in. Now he would go away again. 32 But he didn't. I could feel that he was standing very near me. He stayed there for a few seconds, but to me it seemed to be much longer. Then he left. It was very hot under the blankets, but I waited for a few moments until I was sure he had gone, and then very slowly and carefully, I began to push back the blankets. I had to find a weapon. I moved the blankets again − and then I froze with horror. My foot, in its bright yellow shoe, was not hidden. Godfrey Manning must have seen it, and now he would do − what? I soon had my answer because I heard him switch on the engine and the boat stopped rocking. He had turned the boat into the wind and had not taken in the sail. He wouldn't need to stay on deck to look after the boat now. He was already coming towards the cabin door. I jumped off the bed, dropped my wet coat and put my dress straight. When Godfrey Manning entered the cabin, I was looking for the matches to light the lamp. I called to him cheerfully over my shoulder. `Hello. I hope you don't mind a stowaway?' I lit the lamp, and Manning said, `I'm delighted, of course. How did you know I'd decided to come out in the boat?' `Oh, I didn't. I just hoped that you would.' His voice and manner were as pleasant as usual. I noticed that there was a mirror on a cupboard door, and I pretended to tidy my hair. `What made you come down to the boat−house?' he asked. `Well, I wanted a walk after supper, and − have you got a comb, Godfrey? My hair looks awful.' He said nothing, but he took a comb from his pocket and gave it to me. His eyes were as hard as stones. `Well, I went down to the beach,' I continued. `I was looking for the dolphin. Anyway, I went to look, but it wasn't there. I walked along the path a bit, and then I heard you over at the boat−house, so I hurried. I hoped you were going out.' `You heard me at the boat−house?' `Yes. I heard the door.' `When was this?' `Oh, I'm not sure. About half an hour ago, I think. I was going to call to you, but you were hurrying, so−' `You saw me?' He was right behind me now, so I turned quickly, gave him back his comb, and sat down. `Yes, I did,' I replied. `You were coming out of the boat− house and then you rushed up the path to the house.' He realized that I hadn't seen him coming from the cave with the packets, and his small frown disappeared. `And then?' he said. I smiled at him brightly. `I was going to call you then, but I knew from the clothes you were wearing that you must be going out in the boat. I decided to wait until you came back and ask you then.' 35 `I don't think so, but there was a chance he'd seen a sample in my wallet.' `And you killed him − just on a chance!' I said fiercely. `How do people get to be like you? You're a traitor and a murderer. You don't care how many people you destroy. Why do you do it? You don't need the money. It isn't for political reasons. Is it because cheap little criminals like you can't get excitement any other way?' `Exactly that,' he replied, but I felt a movement of anger through his body. `And now what are you going to do?' I asked. `Throw me into the sea?' `When I do,' he said, `you'll be glad to go.' And then he stood up. He swung round towards me and his hands reached for my throat. Wildly I felt for the torch, and found it. The boat gave a violent movement, his foot slipped and his hands missed. I was up against the side of the boat and this time his hands caught my throat. His fingers held it tightly. I pulled my left hand free and hit him in the face with the torch. I didn't hit him very hard, and he still had his hands round my throat, but he had to step back. I kicked the tiller hard with my left foot and the boat turned round with the speed of a bullet. The boom swung towards his head with great force. But he saw it coming. He bent down and caught it on his arm, and the violent movement of the boat threw his body against mine. The boat swung again, and together we slid across the deck. At first I thought that Manning was dead, but then his head moved, and I saw his face, half−covered with blood. He was trying to get his gun. I managed to pull down the metal flare and I began to move towards him. I raised the flare. It was too late. The gun was in his hand. He lifted it and fired. I bent down and jumped over the side of the boat into the sea. I was coughing, swallowing salt water and gasping, but I fought the cold, black sea, and finally I surfaced. Everything around me was black, and I went down again. The cold water closed over me, and this brought me back to consciousness. Godfrey Manning had missed me when he fired, but I realized that he would search for me to make sure that I was dead. Just then a wave caught me and lifted me. I saw Manning's boat. It was going round in circles, searching for me. I knew that Manning would continue to look until he found me. Then, not far away, I saw the light of another boat − the boat we had seen earlier. It was coming nearer to see what the strange light was in its fishing waters. Manning turned his boat away and the sound of its engine was soon lost in the distance. Then I shouted. My cry for help was too weak. There was no reply. Suddenly I realized that I was being carried towards the shores of Corfu. When I jumped from the boat, we were not as near to Albania as when Manning threw Spiro over the side. I remembered that Yanni's body had been carried back to the Villa Rotha. Saint Spiridion was taking care of me. But twenty minutes later I knew that I couldn't do it. The sea was pulling me down, the waves were driving into my eyes, my mouth. I couldn't breathe, or see . . . I was drowning . . . 36 Suddenly, someone very strong seemed to lift me, and half throw me through the waters. Gasping and coughing, I came up out of the blackness, and was thrown forward again. Then a huge wave took me forwards, and rolled me up the beach. I dug my fingers into the sand to stop the sea pulling me back, and looked round to see who myrescuer was. I saw his shining black body rise from the waves and then he turned on his tail and was gone. I fell unconscious on the sand, just above the edge of the sea. 15 Back from the dead When I opened my eyes, I saw a light shining above me. It was a lamp in the window of a little house near the top of the cliffs. I was lucky because there was a path going up towards it. Somehow I managed to reach the path and I started to pull myself up it, in the direction of the light. I found myself in a narrow valley with the lights of the little houses shining through the trees. I stopped for a moment to rest, and then I moved forwards again. A moment later I tripped and fell. I cried out and immediately a dog began to bark. The door of one of the little houses opened and a stream of light fell across the grass. A man stood at the door and stared out into the darkness. `Please,' I gasped in English, `please − help me' I went forward with my arms stretched out in front of me, and fell, unconscious, at the feet of the man who had opened the door. He called his wife and I was lifted and carried into the house. Then the old man left the room and his wife took off my clothes and put them to dry by the fire. Gently, she wrapped me in a blanket, made me sit by the fire and gave me a bowl of hot soup. When the man came back, they tried to ask me questions, but I couldn't understand their language. `English,' I said. `I'm English.' Two more men came into the room, their sons, and one of them spoke German. My German was very bad, but I managed to tell them I was from the Castello dei Fiori and that I wanted to get back there. No one in the little village had a car, of course. `Telephone?' I asked. There was a telephone in the village, and the men went out again while I got dressed. The old lady would not let me put on my own wet clothes, but proudly brought out the beautiful national dress of Corfu, which she made me put on. There were now sixteen men waiting outside to help me. They took me up to the village shop where the telephone was. They woke up the shopkeeper, who was delighted to help. However, when I rang the Castello there was no reply. I hesitated, and then decided to try the Villa Forli. Phyllida answered immediately. `Lucy! Where are you?' 37 `I'm all right, Phyl. Don't worry. But please do as I ask. It's very important. Ring Godfrey. If he answers, tell him I'm not home yet, and ask if I'm with him. Say that you're worried. Please, Phyllida. Do it. Don't ask any questions. I must know if he's home. When you've done it, ring me back here.' I gave her the number. `However did you get there?' she asked. `Did Godfrey−' `I'll explain when I get back, but he did leave me to get home alone. I don't like him, Phyl.' `Do you want me to come for you?' she asked. `Perhaps,' I said. `But call me back when you've phoned Godfrey.' `All right,' she said. `I'll call you again in a minute.' By now there were twenty−three men in the village shop − and they were all smiling. One of them spoke to me in German again. `Come,' he said. Outside, in front of the shop, there was a motor−cycle. A young man was sitting on it proudly. `He comes from the next village,' said the man who spoke German. `He's been to visit his uncle. He'll take you home.' I felt tears in my eyes.' You're all so kind,' I managed to say. `Thank you.' It was all I could say in their language, but it seemed to be enough. The air was filled with the warmth of their kindness. Just then the telephone rang, and I ran back to answer it. `Lucy? He isn't there. Do you want me to come for you?' Phyllida asked. `No, thanks, Phyl. I have a friend who's going to bring me home. But don't say anything to anyone.' When we reached the Castello, I tried to thank the young man. He replied with a few words which clearly meant that it was a pleasure to help me. Just before he left, I put out my hand and touched his. `Your name?' I said in Greek. `Spiridion,' he answered. And the next second he had gone. There was no light in the Castello, and the house looked huge in the darkness. But I could see a light coming from the Villa Rotha. I moved quietly through the woods, towards the light, and I almost fell over Godfrey's car. It was hidden under the trees. Manning had put the car there so that people would think he had gone out in it. In front of the villa there were two more cars − Max's car and one I didn't recognize. `Perhaps it's the police,' I thought. I made my way onto the terrace and moved slowly towards the french windows. The curtains were not properly closed, so, from where I was standing, I could see into the room. There was a hole in the glass where someone had broken into the house, so I could hear what the people in the room were saying. The first person I saw was Godfrey. He was sitting by the window, near a big wooden desk. He looked very calm, and he had a glass of whisky in his hand. I was delighted to see that there was a very bad bruise on one side of his face. It was covered with dried blood and his mouth seemed to hurt when he drank. 40 to wait for the ferry. When we got to the Castello, Miranda was waiting for us. After a time she remembered, and told us about you.' `After a time?' `Well, there was Spiro, you see.' Adoni smiled. `Of course,' I said. `That would make her forget everything else.' `When she told us, Max and I ran down to the boat− house. I've never seen him like that before! We searched everywhere for you, and then we went up to the Villa Rotha. It was locked, so Max broke the window. When we couldn't find you, Max phoned Mr Papadopoulos at his home. He asked him to bring Miranda and Spiro from the Castello, too. Then Max and I went back to the boat−house to wait for Mr Manning.' `Yes?' I said. `Well, after some time he came and Max attacked him. "Where's my girl?" he cried. I think Max wanted to kill him. But the police came then. Miss Lucy, you said we could get Mr Manning. Is it true?' Quickly I told Adoni my story and what I knew about Godfrey. `The Athens police will have to do something about the forged money, of course,' I added. `But we must get the police to stop Manning from leaving.' `What about the proof?' asked Adoni. `You said you had proof.' `I've got a packet of the money,' I said. `I hid it in the water in the boat−house. Godfrey Manning must know now that I took it and he's probably guessed that I hid it there. I'll go inside now, but you go and get the proof. It's about half− way along on the left−hand side. Manning's a dangerous man. He'll probably try to kill me if he thinks I'm the only person who knows where the money is. Go now, Adoni.' `All right,' he said, `but be careful.' `Did you take Manning's gun from him?' I asked. `Yes, but the police took it from us.' `Right,' I said. `Let's go.' The only difference in the room was that the policeman had taken Adonis place by the door. By now Godfrey had told the police that he had been smuggling radios. `But can't all this wait until the morning?' Godfrey asked the Inspector. `If the girl really is missing, you should be looking for her. That's more important.' The Inspector and Max began to speak together, but suddenly Miranda cried out, `He knows where she is! He's killed her! He tried to kill my brother.' Godfrey banged his hand down on the desk. `For the last time, I tell you, I don't know where she is! I haven't seen her since I took her home at seven o'clock.' No actress ever had a better entrance line. I pulled the window open, and went into the room. 41 16 The last act For a moment no one moved. I was watching Godfrey. Max was about to rush forward, but Papadopoulos stopped him. I said, `I don't suppose you were expecting me, Godfrey.' He didn't speak, and there was no colour in his face. He stepped backwards, with his hand stretched out towards the desk. `Oh, Lucy, my dear,' said Max. The Inspector spoke. `It is Miss Waring, isn't it? I didn't know you for a moment, in those clothes. We have been wondering where you were.' I noticed that Petros, the policeman, had a gun. I replied, `Yes. I've been listening. I wanted to hear what Mr Manning would say, and I wanted to find out what had been happening since I left him an hour or so ago.' `We were right!' said Max. `An hour ago?' repeated the Inspector. `You were with Mr Manning in his boat an hour ago?' Petros had moved forward from the door, with his gun in his hand. Godfrey was supporting himself on the desk, and his face was still white. Max said, `Look at his face! He tried to kill you?' `Yes,' I said. `Max, please!' Papadopoulos warned. `Now then, Miss Waring, tell us your story, please.' `Yes, of course. But first there's something urgent I must tell you−' Suddenly the telephone rang, and the policeman with the gun made an automatic movement towards it. Godfrey moved like lightning. The hand which was supporting him on the desk moved lower, opened a drawer, raised a gun, and fired − all in a tenth of a second. Petros's gun answered, but it was too late. Manning's bullet hit Petros in the arm and knocked the gun from his hand. Petros's bullet went into the wall behind the desk, and Petros fell back against Max as Max rushed forward. In the same second Godfrey jumped towards the open window. I felt my arm caught in an iron hand, and Godfrey pulled my body back against him. I could feel his gun in my side. `Keep back!' he shouted. Max was half−way across the room, but he stopped immediately. Papadopoulos, who was rising from his chair, stayed where he was. Petros was by the wall, blood flowing through the fingers which held his wounded arm. `I'm leaving now,' said Manning, `and the girl is going with me. If you try to follow me, I'll kill her. Oh, no. I'm not taking her with me all the way. She's caused me enough trouble already! You can come down for her when you hear the boat leave − not before. Do you understand?' 42 He pulled me backwards towards the window. Max said desperately, `He won't leave her, Papadopoulos. He'll kill her.' Suddenly Godfrey noticed that Adoni wasn't in the room. `Where's the boy?' he said. Just then there was a movement outside, and Godfrey half swung me round. He pointed his gun into the darkness. `Adoni!' I thought. `And he's delivering the packet and himself to Manning!' The next second I knew I was wrong. There was a sound of glass, of someone pouring out something, and then of singing. `Hello, Manning,' said Sir Julian cheerfully. He had a glass of whisky in one hand and a bottle in the other. `I hope you don't mind. I served myself. The bottle was on the terrace. I saw the light, so I came over . . . I thought Max might be here . . . Why, Lucy, my dear . . .' He came forward, with a silly smile on his face, the smile of someone who had already drunk too much. `Get into the room,' ordered Manning. Sir Julian didn't seem to notice that there was anything wrong. I tried to speak and couldn't, and wondered why Max had said nothing. Then his father saw him. `Why, Max . . .' he paused. `The telephone's ringing,' he said. `I wonder who it is. It can't be me because I'm here.' `Get inside, you old fool!' said Godfrey, and he pulled on my arm. Sir Julian smiled stupidly, raised the bottle − and then threw it, as hard as he could, at the light. He missed, but only just. The bottle caught the side of the lamp, which began to swing wildly, making it very difficult to see properly. I saw the white plaster of Spiro's broken leg. He stretched it out fast and caught Godfrey's legs. Manning fired down and the plaster on the boy's leg flew into a thousand pieces. With a scream of pain, Spiro rolled over. Miranda threw herself on top of him. I don't know how it happened, but suddenly I was free. As I fell, Manning fired again. Then something hit me violently, knocking me to the floor. It was Max throwing himself towards Godfrey's gun hand with murder in his eyes. The two men fell out onto the terrace, fighting wildly. Papadopoulos ran out after them. Someone's arms closed round me, and held me tightly. Sir Julian! He smelt of whisky, but he certainly wasn't drunk. `Are you all right, dear child?' he said. I couldn't speak. I just held on to him, shaking. The two men were still fighting like madmen on the terrace. Papadopoulos stood there with his gun ready to fire, but it was impossible to tell which man was Max and which was Godfrey. They were hanging over the side of the low terrace wall now, and Spiro pulled himself across the floor and raised his gun. Sir Julian pushed his hand down. `No! Wait!' he said. And then Max hit Godfrey in the face with great force and Godfrey fell back against the wall. For a second the two men were separated. Spiro raised his gun and fired. The bullet hit the stone of the terrace wall, and Max, surprised, hesitated for a second. In that second Godfrey Manning rolled over the wall