and the surface was more unevenly rippled, the gills were more grey than brown, and when the surface was disturbed the liquid exuded was colourless.
He drove back to the house and handed the esclatasangs to Dolores. He watched her take them out of the plastic bag and visually check each one, even though she must have had every confidence in his ability to distinguish what was safe from what was deadly. No Mallorquin, certainly no adult Mallorquin, could or would ever accidentally cook a poisonous Uargsomi.
Caroline turned off the front road on to the western arm of the harbour and drove past the landing-stage for the Parelona ferries and the restaurant to the boatyard. She parked by the main gates, which were roughly opposite the point at which the harbour arm began to curve, and climbed out, becoming aware of the continuous slap-slap of halyards against masts, a sound peculiar to any mooring.
She went through into the yard and saw Anson on the hard, painting anti-fouling paint on to the keel of a yacht in a cradle. She threaded her way past piles of chocks, old oil drums, and tackle. He climbed down off the wooden box on which he’d been standing. ‘What’s brought you here at this time of day, Carrie? Nothing wrong, I hope?’
‘Nothing. Just a piece of news for you.’ She managed to sound casual.
He relaxed and then, perversely, perhaps because he had instinctively braced himself for bad news, said rather shortly: ‘Couldn’t it have waited? I’ve got to get this job finished today.’
‘Stop behaving like a grumpy bear and take enough time off to come and have a coffee with me. I’ll bet you haven’t had a break all day?’
He hesitated a moment, then jumped down. ‘OK. But I can’t be long.’
She laughed. ‘No one’s ever going to accuse you of being obsequiously polite.’
In the past, he had found the world too hard a place for him ever to be bothered with politenesses, but when he was with her he often cursed himself for his seeming crudity which came from embarrassment as much as ignorance or lack of experience.
They left the boatyard and walked past the yachts, each one of which he studied with a professionally critical eye, to the road and then down to the bar overlooking the square. It was almost empty and the barman greeted them warmly and asked Caroline, in Spanish, how she was. Anson said she was fine and ordered two coffees, then led her over to one of the tables. He was suspicious of any man who smiled at her.
He brought out a pack of Ducados cigarettes and offered one. ‘What’s the news that simply couldn’t wait?’
She stared at his strong face, which could look almost harsh at times, and she wondered how she was going to persuade him to forgo his pride. ‘Teddy, before I tell you, will you promise me something?’
‘What?’
‘First promise.’
‘All right. Now what have I promised?’
‘That you won’t get angry with me.’
He smiled. ‘OK. But I can belt you one without getting angry.’
She laughed, because despite his hard, quick temper it was impossible to imagine that he would ever hit her. ‘I just couldn’t stop thinking how awful it was that you’d been offered the chance of a lifetime and yet you couldn’t grab it with both hands on your own and wouldn’t accept any help.’
‘I’ve tried to explain why . . .’
‘Don’t worry, I got the message,’ she said, with light mockery. ‘You are a man of inflexible principles and concrete will-power . . . With emphasis on the concrete.’
‘What’s made you so chirpy?’
‘Teddy . . . I think I’ve done it!’
‘Done what, for Pete’s sake?’
‘Persuaded Mabel to lend you the money so that you can become a partner. Think what it means! That new sign will go up outside the yard. Mena and Anson. And in a couple of years’ time you’ll be building the future winner of the America’s Cup.’
He said nothing.
‘I’m so excited I feel as if I’d just won the lottery.’
‘I thought
He drove back to the house and handed the esclatasangs to Dolores. He watched her take them out of the plastic bag and visually check each one, even though she must have had every confidence in his ability to distinguish what was safe from what was deadly. No Mallorquin, certainly no adult Mallorquin, could or would ever accidentally cook a poisonous Uargsomi.
Caroline turned off the front road on to the western arm of the harbour and drove past the landing-stage for the Parelona ferries and the restaurant to the boatyard. She parked by the main gates, which were roughly opposite the point at which the harbour arm began to curve, and climbed out, becoming aware of the continuous slap-slap of halyards against masts, a sound peculiar to any mooring.
She went through into the yard and saw Anson on the hard, painting anti-fouling paint on to the keel of a yacht in a cradle. She threaded her way past piles of chocks, old oil drums, and tackle. He climbed down off the wooden box on which he’d been standing. ‘What’s brought you here at this time of day, Carrie? Nothing wrong, I hope?’
‘Nothing. Just a piece of news for you.’ She managed to sound casual.
He relaxed and then, perversely, perhaps because he had instinctively braced himself for bad news, said rather shortly: ‘Couldn’t it have waited? I’ve got to get this job finished today.’
‘Stop behaving like a grumpy bear and take enough time off to come and have a coffee with me. I’ll bet you haven’t had a break all day?’
He hesitated a moment, then jumped down. ‘OK. But I can’t be long.’
She laughed. ‘No one’s ever going to accuse you of being obsequiously polite.’
In the past, he had found the world too hard a place for him ever to be bothered with politenesses, but when he was with her he often cursed himself for his seeming crudity which came from embarrassment as much as ignorance or lack of experience.
They left the boatyard and walked past the yachts, each one of which he studied with a professionally critical eye, to the road and then down to the bar overlooking the square. It was almost empty and the barman greeted them warmly and asked Caroline, in Spanish, how she was. Anson said she was fine and ordered two coffees, then led her over to one of the tables. He was suspicious of any man who smiled at her.
He brought out a pack of Ducados cigarettes and offered one. ‘What’s the news that simply couldn’t wait?’
She stared at his strong face, which could look almost harsh at times, and she wondered how she was going to persuade him to forgo his pride. ‘Teddy, before I tell you, will you promise me something?’
‘What?’
‘First promise.’
‘All right. Now what have I promised?’
‘That you won’t get angry with me.’
He smiled. ‘OK. But I can belt you one without getting angry.’
She laughed, because despite his hard, quick temper it was impossible to imagine that he would ever hit her. ‘I just couldn’t stop thinking how awful it was that you’d been offered the chance of a lifetime and yet you couldn’t grab it with both hands on your own and wouldn’t accept any help.’
‘I’ve tried to explain why . . .’
‘Don’t worry, I got the message,’ she said, with light mockery. ‘You are a man of inflexible principles and concrete will-power . . . With emphasis on the concrete.’
‘What’s made you so chirpy?’
‘Teddy . . . I think I’ve done it!’
‘Done what, for Pete’s sake?’
‘Persuaded Mabel to lend you the money so that you can become a partner. Think what it means! That new sign will go up outside the yard. Mena and Anson. And in a couple of years’ time you’ll be building the future winner of the America’s Cup.’
He said nothing.
‘I’m so excited I feel as if I’d just won the lottery.’
‘I thought
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