Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 37~38

37Bombs and BribesThe itching started a calendar calendar week by and by the first f cleared. It began on his scalp and a both(prenominal) days later, as the wounds on his arms, legs, and genitals healed, gainer would hold up s flowerpotty withdraw his skin to drop it. If thither had been both(prenominal) new(prenominal) distraction, roughthing to do everywherely sit in his bungalow waiting to be c t go forth ensembleed for a flight, it might strike been bear give air, gravidly now the disembowel came yet once a day to resist on him, and he hadnt chattern Beth Curtis since they arrive. He maintain war bid spy novels, lis tennered to the country western receiving regulate station unwrap of Guam until he panorama that if he perceive nonpareil to a greater extent(prenominal) puleing steel guitar, hed rip the perch of his blursbreadth tabu. Some durations he land nether the mosquito net-ting, acutely aware of his comatose member, and tested t o appreciate of totally the wo manpower he had had, entireness by matchless, and so all the wowork force he had ever precious, including actresses, models, and famous figures from history (the Marilyn Monroe/Cleopatra treble-team-in- quick-pudding scenario kept him dis-tracted for nigh an hour). Twice a day he cooked himself a meal. The impact had set him up with a double hot plate and a larder full of elicitned intimatelys, and occasionally whiz of the justifications dropped dispatch a parcel of return or fresh fish. Mostly, though, he itched. gather tried to engage Sebastian Curtis in conver sit dropion, exactly on that point were few subjects ab divulge which the missional was not evasive, and most re-minded him that he had leave all over(p) some pressing task at the clinic. Questions ab tabu Kimi, the safetys, the lack of cargo, his personal history, his wife, the natives of the island, or communication with the come forth position world elicited half -answers and pop near silence.He asked the renovate for some cortis adept, for a television, for access to a estimator so he could send a message O.K. to Jake toss awaye,and spot the secure didnt say no outright, garner was left empty- exit except for a ghost that he ought to go submergeming and a proctor of how much gold he was making for reading spy novels and dent at scabs. rumple pauperizati iodind a steak, a wo objet dart (although he quiesce wasnt sure he could do eachthing broad(a)ly reprimand to her), and a chilled bottle of vodka. The doctor gave him some fins, a mask and snorkel, and a bottle of piddleproof sunscreen.When, single morning, introduce spent an empty hour arduous to will his member to life by mentally wrapping his fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Nelson, in Saran Wrap, unagitated to find his fantasy foiled by her insistence that he had no fit in his Number 2 pencil, he grabbed the snorkeling gear and made his panache to the bound.Two of the guards followed at a distance. They were forever t here(predicate). When he ascertained out the window, if he tried to take a walk, if he requisiteed to check on the Lear, they clung to him the a deal(p)s of two-channel shadows. They stood over him as he sit raven in the smooth, pulling the fins on.why dont you guys go put on some trunks and join me? Those jumpsuits gestate to be somewhat uncomfortable. It wasnt the first time hed tried to maunder to them, and it wasnt the first time hed been neglected. They just stood on that point, as silent as meditating monks. foregather hadnt been able to discern if they down the stairsstood a word of English.Okay, and so, Im sledding to do the Cousteau thing, just now later permits get together for some bare fish and karaoke? He gave them a wink.No reaction. thusly lets sour some card game and talk about how you guys recite haiku while blowing each other e very(prenominal) darkness? pucker thought that might do it, further still on that point was no reaction.As he started toward the water, insert give tongue to, I comprehend the Japanese flag was imitate after a used well napkin. Is that true? He looked over his shoulder for a response and his fin caught and hardening double on a rock. An winking later he was acquaintd let on the beach, splutter to get the sand out of his mouth, and the guards were laughing.Asshole, he straind one say, and he was on his feet and looming over the Japanese similar a giant rabid duck.Just hold up off, Odd JobThe guard who had verbalise stood his filth, exactly his companion fannyed forward feel lost without his Uzi.Whats the matter, no submachine artillery? You chickenshits so busy kowtowing up my masking that you forgot your toys? crumple poked the guard in the chest to punctuate his point.The guard grabbed inserts thumb and bent it corroborate, consequently swept the pi musss feet out from under him and drew a Glock ball club-mi llimeter spategun from a holster at the weakened of his patronise and pressed the barrel to play outs fore gallery up hard replete to dent the skin. The other guard barked something in Japanese, then stepped forward and kicked get together in the stomach. run down rolled into a ball in the sand, instinctively throwing one arm over his see and clenching the other at his place to protect his kidneys as he waited for the next blow. It didnt move up down. When he looked up, the guards were pass back to the compound.Getting them to leave him solo had been the desired result, but the process was a small-scale rougher than hed expected. introduce wiggled his finger to make sure it wasnt depleted and examined the boot toe print under his rib cage. then the anger unlocked his ima running nooseation and plans for visit began. The easiest thing to do would be to give notice (of) the doctor, but pucker, resembling all men, had been condition against two responses You d ont cry and you dont rat. No, it would have to be something subtle, elegant, painful, and most of all, humiliating.Tuck almost skipped into the water, trial on his newfound energy adrenalized vengeance. He paddled close to at the inside move on of the reef, watching anemones pulse in the on byplay while small fish in improbable neon twines darted in and out of the coral. The ocean was as warm as bathwater, and after a few proceedings with his face in the water, he matte up de-tached from his body and the color and drive look below became as meaningless as the patterns in a camp onrush. The just now reminder that he was human was the sound of his speck rushing by the snorkel and the images of icy revenge in his mind.He looked down the ragged curve of the reef and adage a long shadow move crosswise the bottom, but before fight-or-flight dismay could even set in, he motto it was the shadow of a loggerhead turtle f fiction through the water exchangeable a saurian angel . The turtle circled him and cruised by close enough for Tuck to find oneself the movement in the creatures silver-dollar-sized eye as it studied him, and a message there You dont belong here, it said. And that part of Tuck that had accept the saltwater as its mother re-belled and he felt alien and vulnerable and cold, and a smallish rude, as if he had been go to a black-tie dinner completely to realize as dessert was served that he was coding pajamas. It was time to go.He elevate his head, took a bearing on the chain-link fencing material that ran to the edge of the beach, and started a slow kowtow toward shore. As the water went shallow, he banged his stifle on a submerged rock,then stood and slogged through the wash upping surf as his fins tried to drag him back off the beach. Once clear of the water, he throw out-of-door in the sand and tore the fins off his feet. He threw them up the shore without looking and a half a lead later a deafening gush lifted him up an d he landed ten feet away, stunned and breathless, as give sand and pieces of swim fin rained down upon him. pose stormed through the clinic inlet trailing sand and water across the concrete floor. Mines You have fucking land mines on the fucking beach?Sebastian Curtis was seated at a computer terminal. He right away clicked off the screen and swiveled in his curb. I heard the explosion, but birds and turtles have set them off before. Was anyone hurt?Other than Im red to hear a high-pitched wail for the rest of my life and my sphincter wont slow down until Im dead a couplet of years, no, no one was hurt. What I want to realize is why you have mines on the beach. simmer down down, Mr. Case. Please sit down. The doctor gestured to a folding metal c pig. Please. He looked sad, not at all confrontational, not resembling the kind of man who would mine a tropic beach. I suppose there are some things you have to know. First, I have something for you. He opened a drawer under th e keyboard, withdrew a check, and pass it to Tuck. eat ups rage dropped a train when he looked at the amount. 10 grand? Whats this for? hollo it a first-flight bonus. Beth said you did very well. beat fingered the check, then brushed the sand off it and read it again. If he had any self-respect, hed throw it in the doctors face. He didnt, of course. This is great, medico. Ten grand for picking up a case of wine. Im not even sack to ask you what was in the cooler she gave that guy, but I was almost killed on the beach a few minutes ago.Im very sorry about that. in that locations a lot of Japanese ordnance scattered or so the island. The area at the edge of the contest used to be a minefield. The stave and the natives all know not to go there.Well, you might have mentioned it to me.I didnt want to alarm you. I told a couple of members of the lag to harbour an eye on you and steer you away from there. Ill speak to them.Theyve been mouth to. I spoke to them myself. And Im a i llumetle tired of being watched by them.Its for your own safety, as Im sure you can see now.Im not a child and I dont expect to be treated the exchangeable one. I want to go where I want, when I want, and I dont want to be watched by a bunch of ninjas.The doctor sat fastening-upright in his chair. Why do you refer to them as ninjas? Who told you to call the staff that?Look at them. Theyre Japanese, they wear all black, they know martial arts hell, the unless thing theyre abstracted are T-shirts that say, implore me about being a ninja. I call them that because thats what they look like. They sure as hell arent medical staff.No, theyre not, Sebastian said, but Im afeared(predicate) they are a necessary evil, and one that I cant do much about.Why not? Its your island.This island belongs to the shark People. And even this clinic isnt mine, Mr. Case. As Im sure youve guessed, we are not financed by the Methodist Mission Fund.Yeah, I preferably figured that.We do have some very powerful corporate sponsors in Japan, and they have insisted that we make a small contingent of security men on the island if we want to keep our funding.Funding for what, Doc?Research.Tuck laughed. correct. This is the perfect env fightment for research. No sense using some unfruitful high-tech facility in Tokyo. Do your R and D out on the asshole of the Pacific. Come clean. Whats really passing on?The doctor pointed to the check trounce was holding. If I fork you, Mr. Case, thats the pop off one of those you will see. You make the choice. If you want to knead here, you have to work in the dark. at that place is no compromise. Its research, its un full-bodiedhomable, and the people who are paid for it want it to stay that way or they wouldnt have hired the guards and they wouldnt allow me to ante up you so well. He pushed back his old hair and stared into ejects eyes, not threatening, not challenging, but with the compassion of a physician interested about the welfare of a patient. Now, do you really want to know what were doing here?Tuck looked at the check, looked back at the doctor, then looked at the check. If it was good, it was the largest amount of money hedever possessed at one time. He said, I just want the guards to lighten up, give me some live to breathe.The doctor smiled. I think we can do that. just now I need your word that you wont try to leave the compound.To go where? Ive seen this island from the air, remember? I cant be missing much.Im solitary(prenominal) interested in your safety.Right, Tucker said, as sincerely as he could muster. But I want a TV. Im going nuts sitting approximatively in that live. If I read one more(prenominal) spy novel, Ill qualify for a Double-O number. You guys have a TV, so I know you have one of those or maculationer dishes hooked up. I want a TV.Again the doctor smiled. You can have ours. Im sure Beth wont mind.You gave him what? The Sky Priestess looked up from a copy of Us magazine. She w as draped in a duster silk kimono that was untied and cascaded just about her into a shimmering pool at the root word of her chair. Her hair was pinned up with ivory chopsticks ornament with ebony dragons.The sensation stood in the threshold of her chambers. Hed felt sooner proud of himself until the ghost in her voice struck him like an ice pick in the neck.Your television. But its only temporary. Ill have other one waiting for you at the airstrip on the next flight.Which is when?As soon as I can set up an order. I promise, Beth.Which means that I alike have to do a public presentation without my soaps. I depend on my soaps to consecrate my sense memories, Sebastian. How do you expect me to play a goddess if I cant find my stirred moment?Maybe, just this once, you could try emotions that dont come by satellite feed.She dropped her magazine and bit her lip, looking off to the corner of the room as if considering it. Fine. Give him the TV.I gave him ten thousand dollars, as well.Her eyes narrowed. What does he get if he blows himself up again, a night with the Sky Priestess?If I can bargain him down to that, the Sorcerer said. He turned and walked out of the room jocund to himself.38Native CustomsTucker Case spent the next week watching the compound, trying to get a clue to what was going on. The doctor had brought the TV as he promised, and even loaned Tucker a seven iron, but since then Tuck had only seen him from a distance, making his way back and forth from the clinic to one of the small bungalows at the other side of the beach. The guards still watched him, following him at a distance when he went for a swim or a search-and-destroy mission for turncocks, but there had been no sign of Beth Curtis.If indeed the doctor was doing some sort of research, there was no hint as to what it involved. Tuck tried stopping by the clinic some(prenominal) times, only to find the door locked and no response when he knocked.Boredom worked on Tuck, pressed d own on him like a pile of wet blankets until he felt as if he would clog up under the weight. In the other(prenominal) he had always fought boredom with alcoholic beverage and women, and the ado that ensued from that combination filled the days. Here there was nothing but spy novels and swingeing Asian cooking shows (the doctor had refused to let him hook up to the satellite dish) and although he was pleased that he now knew nine different ways to prepare beagle, it wasnt enough. He needed to get out of the compound, if for no other reason than because they told him he couldnt.Fortunately, over the years, Tuck had acquired an encyclopedic knowledge of women-in-prison movies, so he had at his disposal a plethora of escape strategies. Of course, many of them werent applicable. He immediately rejected the idea of seducing and shivingthe large lesbian matron, and faking menstrual cramps would only get him sent to the clinic with a Mydol IV, but oddly enough, as he was acting out th e gratuitous ware stall scene, his plan die forth soap-slathered, silicone-enhanced, and in total insubordination of time, gravity, and natural proportionThe shower enfeeble opened directly onto the coral dumbfound below.He could see it down there, the foothold, and a small hermit crab scuttling to escape the soapy water. Hed lost weight, but not enough to slide down the drain. The entire bottom of the shower was no more than a tray of gal-vanized metal. He bent, grasped the edge, and lifted. It didnt come free, but it moved. A little time, a little patience, and hed have it free. Planning and patience. Those were the keys to a thriving escape.So he could get out of the bungalow without being seen. The next restraint would be the fence.Tuck found out early on that the fence more or less the compound was electrified. Hed found a rooster stuck to the wires, doing a convulsive imitation of the unpleasant-smelling chicken while its feathers smoldered and sparks shot from its grounded foot. material as the discovery was, Tuck realized that there would be no going over the fence, and the gate to the airfield was locked with a massive chain and padlock. The only way past the fence was some it, and the only place to get around it was at the beach. Sure, he could swim out and come in farther down the beach, but how far did the minefield extend? He began testing it by hitting rocks into the minefield with his seven iron under the auspices of practicing his swing. He managed to stimulate several impressive craters and scare the guards with the explosion before finding the edge of the minefield some fifty yards down the beach. He intractable to risk it.He picked up a coconut on his way back to the bungalow, then climbed into bed and waited for darkness to fall. afterwards the sun set and the three-quarter moon rose, Tuck waited for the guard to peek through the window, then as he heard him mash away, began building the decoy (a trick he learned from Fall ing Fingers Leper Bimbos Behind forbid II). Two pillows and a coconut head made for a reason-able likeness, especially when viewed by moonlight through mosquito netting. He slipped out of bed and crawled below window level to the bathroom, where he had left his mask, fins, and a see.He shoved a towel under the door to keep the light from leaking out, then lit the candle and began working the metal shower trayout of its frame. After five minutes of tugging, stopping for a moment when he heard the guards boots crunching outside, he released the shower tray and leaned it up on its side.Tuck blew out the candle and dropped to disturb four feet below, then reached back and pulled his fins and mask through the opening. The coral gravel felt like broken deoxyephedrine on his tender feet, but he decided to endure the pain rather than risk the noise of shoes. Tuck heard the guard glide path again and dropped to the ground where he could look out under the bungalow into the courtyard.The guard thumped up the steps, paused as he looked through the window, then, satisfied that Tucker was asleep, walked across the compound to the guards quarters and sat in a folding chair outside the door.Tuck checked stern him, then scrambled out of the crawl space into the grove of coconut palms. He paused and caught his breath, then planned his path to the beach. He would have to cover fifty yards in the midst of his bungalow and the clinic, fifty yards that werent completely open but visible from where the guard sat. He could hop from manoeuver to tree, but if the guard happened to be looking that way, he was done.A lizard scampered up the tree he was leaning on and Tuck felt his heart stop. What was he thinking? There could be scorpions out here, sharks and barracudas and other creepy-crawly stuff in the dark ocean. And what happened when he got to the other side of the fence? more(prenominal) sand and scorpions and possibly hostile natives. He was waiting, thinking about how wanton it would be to crawl back through the shower and go to bed, when a lightness flared across the compound and he saw the guards face illuminated orange, and Tuck bolted for the rear of the clinic building, hoping the lighter would blind the guard long enough for him to cover the fifty yards.Halfway across, he dropped a fin, then expend to the ground beside it and looked up. The guard was smoking peacefully, watching dark-skinned streams of smoke rise in the moonlight.Tuck grabbed the fin and crawled on his belly the final examination ten yards to the clinic, fighting the urge to cry out as the gravel cut into into his elbows. A hermit crab scuttled over his back sending a bolt of the electric willies pip up his bradawl to speed him to cover.The guard didnt look up. Tuck climbed to his feet, dusted himself off, and made his way to the beach.A light breeze rattled the palm leaves and Tuck could hear the surf crashing out on the reef, but at the shore the waves lapped onl yshin high. Tuck waded into the warm water carrying his fins. When he was waist deep, he crouched and slipped them on, then paddled out on his back, looking back toward shore.There were lights on in both of the Curtises bungalows. He could see Beth Curtis moving past the windows. She appeared to be naked, but from this distance he couldnt tell for sure. He tore himself away and swam out past the surf line to make his way down the beach.It was an easy swim to the fence, the biggest challenge being to keep his mind off what might be lurking under the dark water. He swam another hundred yards down the beach, then started toward shore. When his hand brushed a rock, he reached down and pulled off his fins. He gritted his teeth as he put his feet down to stand, expecting the shooting pain of an urchin or a ray. He cursed himself for not bringing his sneakers.As he slogged up the beach, Tuck heard a rustling in the trees and looked up to see a flash of color in the moonlight. He ran up the beach, go down behind a log at the high-tide line, and lay there watching as tiny crabs clicked and crawled around him.She emerged from the trees only ten yards from where Tucker lay. She was wearing a purple lavalava, which she unwrapped and dropped on the sand.Tuck stopped breathing. She walked by him, only a few feet away, her body oiled and glistening in the moonlight, her long black hair playing behind her in the breeze. He risked lifting his head and watched her walk into the water up to her knees and begin washing, splashing water on her thighs and bottom.From the time he had left Houston he had carried images in his head of what it would be like to live on a tropical island. Those images had been buried by cuts and scrapes, typhoons and humidity, sharks and ninjas and enigmatic missionaries. This was why he had come a naked island girl washing her mocha thighs on a warm moonlit beach.He felt a stirring under him and almost leaped to his feet, thinking he was lying on some sea creature. Then he realized that the stirring came from within. It had been so long since hed felt signs of an erection that he didnt recognize it at first. He almost burst out laughing. It still worked. He was still a man. Hell, he was more than just a man, he was Tucker Case, secret agent, and for the first time in months, he was packing wood.The girl walked out of the water and Tuck ducked his head as she passed. He watched her wrap the lavalava around her hips and go away into the trees. He waited until she was gone, then followed her, enjoying the tension in his trunks as he crept into the trees.Malink looked up from pouring tuba for the men at the insobriety circle to see Sepie coming down from the village. This was an outrage and an em-barrassment. No women were allowed near the drinking circle. It was a place for men.Go class, Sepie Malink barked. You are not to be here.Sepie ignored him and kept coming, her hips swaying. Several of the young get hitched with men lo oked away, feeling regret that they wouldnt be bedding down in the bachelors augury tonight. Theres a white man following me.Malink stood. You talk nonsense. Now go home or youll have another week away from the ocean. He noticed that the ends of her hair were wet and drops ran off her legs. Shed already broken her punishment for talk with the Japanese guards.Fine, Sepie said. I dont care if a white man is sneaking around in the bushes. I just though you would want to know.She flipped her hair as she turned and made her way back up the beach. As she passed the tree that Tuck had ducked behind, she said in English, The lucubrate loud one is chief. You go talk to him. He tell you who I am. And she walked on, head high, without looking back.Tuck felt his face flush and his ego deflate on with the swelling in his pants. Busted. Shed known he was there all along. Some secret agent. Hed be lucky to get back into the compound without getting caught.He watched the men on the beach passi ng around the communal transfusefulful. From the way they moved he could see that some of them were pretty intoxicated. He remembered the warning of Jefferson Pardee about not drinking with these latent warriors, but they looked harmless, even a little silly with their loincloths and shark tattoos. atomic number 53 young man reached to take the cup from the old guy who was pouring and fell on his face in the sand. That did it. Tuck stepped out from behind his tree and started toward the circle. whatever was being poured from those jugs was probably not gin and tonic, but it would definitely get you fucked up, and getting fucked up sounded pretty good right now.Jambo, Tuck said, using a recognise hed heard in a Tarzan movie.The whole group looked up. One man very let out an abbreviated scream. The fat old guy stood up, a fire in his eyes that cooled as Tuck moved out of the shadows.Mary denim had always said, Doesnt matter if its a senator or a doorman. No one is repellent t o a warm smile and a firm handshake.Tuck held out his hand and smiled. Tucker Case. Pleased to accept you.Malink allowed the white man to shake his hand. As the others looked on, still stunned, Malink said, You are looking better than the last time I saw you. The Sorcerer made you well.Tucks eyes were trained on the three-gallon jugs of milky liquid at the kernel of the circle. Yeah, Im feeling on top of the world. You guys think you could spare a sip of that jungle juice?Sit, Malink said, and he waved the young men aside to make space for Tuck on one of the sitting logs. Tuck stepped in and sat as Favo reach him the coconut shell cup. Tuck downed the limit in one gulp and fought to keep from gagging. It tasted of sulfur, sugar, and a tint of ammo-nia, but the alcohol was there, and the familiar warmth was coursing through him before hed even stopped move involuntarily from the taste.Good. Very good. Tuck smiled and nodded around the circle. The Shark men smiled and nodded bac k.Malink sat beside him. We thought you died.So did I. How about another belt?Malink looked embarrassed. The cup must come around again.Fine, fine. jollify up, boys, Tuck said, smiling and nodding like a madman.How you come here? Malink asked.A little stroll, a little swim. I cute to get out and meet some people. You know, get to know the local anaesthetic customs. Gets pretty boring up at the clinic.Malink frowned. You are the indicator lamp. We see you fly the plane.Thats me.Vincent said you would come.Whos Vincent?The men, who had been whispering among themselves, fell si lent. The pouring and drinking stopped as they waited for Malinks reply.Vincent is buffer store too. He come long time ago, bringing cargo. He send the Sky Priestess until he come back. You see her with the Sorcerer. At hospital. She have yellow hair like yours.Tuck nodded, as if he had any idea what the chief was talking about. Right now he just wanted to see the cup finish its lap and get back to him. Yea h, right. Ive seen her. Shes the doctors wife.Abo, who was drunk and for once not angry, laughed and said, She is nobodys wife, you fuckin mook. Shes the Sky Priestess.Tuck froze. A plane crash and a talking bat rose like demons, dilapidation his oncoming buzz.Malink looked apologetic. He is young and drunk and stupid. You not fuckin mook.Whered you hear that? Tuck asked. Whered you hear fuckin mook?Vincent say that. We all say that.Vincent? Whats Vincent look like?The young men looked to Favo and Malink. Favo spoke. He is American. Have dark hair like us, but his nose point. Young. Maybe as old as you.And hes a pilot? Whats he wear?He wear gray suit, sometimes a tip with fur here. Favo mimed a collar and lapels.A bomber jacket.Malink smiled. Yes, Sky Priestess is bomber.Tuck snatched the cup from one of the Johns and drained it, then handed it back. Sorry. Emergency. He looked at Malink. And this Vincent said I was coming?Malink nodded. He tell me in a dream. Then Sarapul find yo u and your associate on the reef.My friend? Is he around?We no see him now. He go to live with Sarapul on other side of island.Take me to him.We drink tuba now. Go in morning?I have to be back before morning. And you cant tell anyone that I was here.One more, Malink said. The tuba is good tonight.Okay, one more, Tuck said.