Part 6 (2/2)
That was true enough, Rick thought Besides, he had the ih they followed Western custoard of tiel doesn't arrive, one of us will have to drive the truck to Baguio,” he said ”I had hoped he would take the truck, then we three could fly”
Scotty asked, with deceptive casualness, ”Tony, what do you think of Dr
Okola?”
Tony answered proentleman besides Why?”
”Do you trust hier here, Scotty Okola's name has been known to y We have many mutual friends, and he has been very helpful and courteous since this project was first proposed Yes, I trust hi the services of this Angel purely on his say-so We'll have to trust Angel We have no choice”
”True I'm prepared to trust hireement ”I'll take him on faith, too” He had learned not to be overtrustful in far places areed with Tony's estimate of Okola The man, he believed, was just what he seeentleht,” Scotty said ”I'll go along Okola seemed like a real _compadre_ But how about Lazada? Do you trust him?”
Tony considered He finished his papaya, then tackled a o salad, an unusual but delicious breakfast dish ”I don't _dis_trust hiative, but the best I can do He's not the type of individual who appeals to me very much, but without further evidence I'd hesitate to mark him untrustworthy”
”I have a hunch,” Rick said ”My hunch says that Mr Lazada is crooked as a helical coil I wouldn't trust hireed ”I would have said he's no straighter than the cutting edge of a saw And he's just about that sharp, too Trouble with you is, Tony, you're too civilized You always see the best in everything, including people”
”Don't you?” Tony asked mildly
The boys chuckled Of course they did, and Tony knew it But on an expedition like this, their suspicions came to the fore and they automatically distrusted everyone Lack of distrust had caused them much trouble on other expeditions, and had co them their lives
The headwaiter approached ”There is a man to see Dr Briotti Shall I have him wait?”
”Thathim here”
The three watched with interest as the headwaiter went to the door and returned leading a short, dark lance the Filipino seemed quite short, as soeyes saw the breadth of his shoulders And he saw that the man wasn't really very short; he only seemed to be because of his extraordinary shoulder width
The man was dressed simply but neatly in typical Filipino style hite trousers and a white shi+rt The shi+rt had no tail, but was cut square at the bottom like a sport shi+rt The collar was sport-shi+rt style, too, worn open, and disclosed a htly ”Dr Briotti?”
”I am Briotti” He indicated the boys ”Mr Brant and Mr Scott And you?”
”I ael Manotok, at your service Dr Okola said that you needed a driver, guide, and general handyman He said that he had recommended me”
”Yes Please sit down Will you have breakfast?”