Part 22 (1/2)
”Rick and Scotty here,” Rick called ”Do you hear us?”
Tony Briotti's fa cliff hangers! What took you so long to get back? Zircon kept us posted, and orried sick We kept watching the village, expecting you to be hauled in as prisoners”
Rick explained about the unfavorable wind, and Scotty added, ”Besides, we took it easy crossing the volcano We hah places to make it easier e come back for you”
”You can't,” Tony said swiftly ”Boys, believe et aith it There's a lookout in position to see us at all times, and there's no way you can sneak up on him I've told Zircon this You must not try!”
”How is Dr Shannon?” Rick asked
”Fine We're all fine, although we could use a bath and soe the subject, Rick You et us out of here You'd end up in this prison, if not dead”
Rick could see that the conversation was leading nowhere, and he kne that the scientists were all right ”We're tired, Tony,” he said wearily ”It's been a rough night”
”All right, boys One of us will be awake at all times, so call us whenever you wish”
Zircon looked at them anxiously as they put the radio units away ”How about it? Is Tony right?”
”Right as radishes,” Rick assented ”The lookout is where we can't reach hiun, and the noise of a shot would defeat us I'ht I'm too tired”
”Below and into your bunks, both of you,” Zircon commanded ”Chahda and I will stand by until we're in safe waters, then we can all get some sleep”
Rick needed no second invitation He was asleep in five h the porthole woke him out of deep, dreamless slumber He stretched luxuriously A wash and a cold drink would be just right, he decided, and wondered how long he had been asleep His watch told hiot to his feet and saw that Scotty was out of his bunk, probably on deck Chahda was sleeping quietly, even though the swinging quiver Rick had placed on a hook near the bunk struck him in the elbow every time the boat rolled
Rick lifted the quiver down and started to hang it where Chahda wouldn't be bothered He paused, brows furrowed He had the answer to their problem in his hands An arroas silent
He shook his head and put the quiver away It would uard's head without warning He knew perfectly well he was incapable of killing a man in cold blood, no matter what the provocation It would be an easy shot, but one he would never make
Zircon and Scotty were relaxed on deck when Rick joined thereeted hiht answer?” Scotty asked
”Didn't dream at all,” he retorted ”I've had only one idea, and it won't do” He told thely ”I quite agree, Rick I couldn't do it either, even if I had the skill” He changed the subject ”I talked with Hohile you were sleeping He agrees with Tony We ive up,” Scotty pleaded ”We haven't explored every possible idea”
”True,” Zircon agreed ”Rick, you don't know all that Tony and Howard told us It see after all”
”What?”
”Yes Re Filipino boy fro naturalist He ran away from home to join Shannon and Briotti when he read of their expedition in the papers And how do you suppose he did it?”
The light dawned ”Of course! The young Moro guide!” Rick exclaiet it now The pirates weren't after our boys at all They were after the Torres kid Only to get hirab Briotti and Shannon, too!”
”Exactly right Tony and Howard didn't even knoho he was They hired hiobo village, they tried to defend the boy and got taken, too They were brought here in the rented sailboat, along with the Torres boy The sailboat was repainted and taken into Indonesia to be sold Now, Tony says, the pirates are getting restless If the ranso in a few days, they ood”
Rick sed hard There uard! He looked at Scotty ”Could you bean that lookout with a stone froe are wrong I ah”