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The meal proceeded with an undercurrent of tension. Both James and Green tried
to lighten the mood with cheerful conversation, but to little effect. After a
while, they, too, lapsed into silence. The girl had succeeded in setting the
tone for the evening. She sat sullen and quiet as she wolfed down her food.
Rick observed this with discomfort increased by the knowledge that he was
expected to placate this girl.
His continued employment clearly depended on his success. He had no idea how
he would manage.
CON LAY ON
her bed in her darkening room, still wearing the dress her father had forced
her to wear.
I should go swimming in this damn thing, she thought, then wear it to dinner.
Yet the idea of swimming brought up memories of the cold, deadly eye. Despite
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the warmth of the evening air, she shivered.
Thirteen more days of this place! How will I ever make it?
The guide s voice came from outside the drawn curtain. Constance?
Go away.
I can t.
I m not dressed, so don t come in.
I ll wait here.
I m not coming out.
I ll still wait.
Con lay on her bed and waited to hear retreating footsteps. She heard the wind
in the leaves and the
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distant surf, but nothing else. Minutes passed without a sound from him.
Are you still there?
Yes.
What do you want?
Just to talk.
There s nothing to talk about. Now go away.
I can t.
You re a real pest, do you know that?
I m sorry, I don t mean to be.
Well, I m not coming out. You can stay there all night.
That s okay, I brought a blanket.
Con could hear the soft sounds of a blanket being unrolled.
He s bluffing, she thought. She found herself straining to hear him. His
silence made her all the more aware of his presence. Ten, maybe twenty minutes
passed, it was hard to tell.
What are you doing out there?
Watching the stars come out. Even in the desert, they were never as clear as
this. I can t make out any constellations, though. The sky s all different.
Con didn t answer, resolved to ignore him. She found that she couldn t. It
both irritated her that he was there and piqued her curiosity. After another
ten minutes of silence, she changed into her tee shirt and shorts and drew
aside the curtain. The guide was lying on a blanket, gazing at the stars.
How can the sky be different? asked Con testily.
Rick sat up and flashed her a smile. I m glad you asked.
Con looked up at the stars. There are so many! she exclaimed, amazed despite
herself. Then she hardened her tone. Why are you bothering me?
I just need to talk.
About what?
Rick sighed. I shouldn t have walked away this morning. I feel like a jerk.
I forgive you. Now will you go away?
I was almost killed as a kid. It shakes you up bad. The world becomes a
different, a scarier place.
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It does, agreed Con in a small voice.
I had to talk to someone about it before it got better. I pulled you from the
sea this morning, I d like to help you the rest of the way.
Con slumped down on the stone step of her quarters. Rick moved to sit on the
step a few feet away. I
can t talk about it, she mumbled. It s too . . . too . . . Con sniffled.
It s all right, said Rick gently. You can cry. It was a terrible
experience.
Con seemed about to melt into tears when she abruptly stiffened and glared at
Rick accusingly. You were watching me!
No . . .
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honest!
said Rick. James sent me to check on you. You were already in the water
when I
spotted you.
God! I m so embarrassed.
Don t be. I ve seen lots of women undressed, lied Rick. I mean . . .
everyone bathes in the river on fossil digs. You get used to it.
Con found herself wanting to believe him. You must think I m a real pain.
Not at all. You were just enjoying yourself. I feel I let you down.
You saved me! I should have thanked you instead of . . .of . . .
Don t worry about it. You were in shock. I only hope this place isn t ruined
for you.
I m afraid it is. I just want to go home.
Could you give it . . . give me
. . . another chance? pleaded Rick. There s something I want to show you.
What?
It s on the beach. This time, I promise it ll be safe.
Con sensed Rick s desire to make things good after the morning s disaster. He
seemed so disarmingly earnest and humble, she couldn t remain mad at him.
Please, Constance.
All right, she said. If you re sure it s safe.
Guaranteed, Rick said buoyantly.
Call me Con. That s what my friends do.
Rick led Con along a path to the beach. A nearly full moon was rising, and the
way was easy to see.
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When they reached the cliff over the beach, the moon had cleared the horizon.
Con gazed at the moonlight sparkling on the sea and felt the return of the
wonder she had experienced at the beginning of the day.
The moon s so big, she said.
It s closer to the Earth than it is in our time.
Is that what you wanted to show me?
No, there s something else. We ll need to climb down to the beach.
They climbed down and sat on the sand away from the surf. The sand was still
warm, and the air was mild. Everything was peaceful.
Nobody has experienced the world like this for thousands of years, said Rick
in a hushed voice. They watched the waves for a while; then, Rick pointed to
the surf. Here they come.
Con started as she saw something moving in the water. Rick gently touched her
shoulder, and in a calm voice said, It s okay. The mother sea turtles are
coming to lay their eggs.
As if by some secret signal, the surf became filled with dark, flat domes,
moving like living stones through the foam. Soon pale, dark-eyed heads and
long, curved front flippers became visible. Con watched in fascination as the
turtles struggled up onto the beach. Their shells were about two feet long and
leathery-appearing. Despite their ungainly motion on the land, the creatures
streamlined forms gave them a certain grace.
Will we scare them away if we move? asked Con.
They ll ignore us, assured Rick.
Con got up and approached a turtle. The animal kept up her relentless struggle
against the sand even when Con touched her. She found something noble in the
creature s dedication to bring its young into the world. Soon, she was
surrounded by turtles. This is so incredible! she exclaimed. Nothing seems
to stop them.
Sea turtles survived into the beginning of our century, said Rick with a
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| Cytat |
Dobre pomysły nie mają przeszłości, mają tylko przyszłość. Robert Mallet
De minimis - o najmniejszych rzeczach.
Dobroć jest ważniejsza niż mądrość, a uznanie tej prawdy to pierwszy krok do mądrości. Theodore Isaac Rubin
Dobro to tylko to, co szlachetne, zło to tylko to, co haniebne.
Dla człowieka nie tylko świat otaczający jest zagadką; jest on nią sam dla siebie. I z obu tajemnic bardziej dręczącą wydaje się ta druga. Antoni Kępiński (1918-1972)
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