Part 5 (2/2)
”When do you have to leave?” Rick asked
”Three this afternoon I have an evening ht toain If I do, it will be only for a day”
”Okay,” Rick said reluctantly ”We'll settle in, but on't move in
We'll sleep on the boat No need to use up your linens and stuff e have sleeping bags if the weather is cold and cotton blankets when it's warrinned ”I'll bet it is If I know you two, you eat out of cans and never use a dish if you can help it Your idea of washi+ng a coffee cup is to hold it under running water or to dip it in the bay Wait until your o a drastic change”
”Don't rub it in,” Scotty said ruefully ”No about showing us over this estate of yours?”
Steve was pleased by the request He obviously was proud of his creekside home, and with reason There were fifty acres of land, mostly oak forest, with a private access road Electric power caenerator in case of failure, and his own artesian well He explained:
”The house has been completely remodeled, but it's really quite old
When it was built, there was only a wagon track In those days, the rivers and creeks were the highways, and the people traveled by boat
You'll see oldon the rivers here The back doors face the roads Water transport was the reason The landed gentry had barges rowed by slaves The poor folks rowed their own Of course, there were plenty of sailing craft, too There still are”
The creek in front of the house proved deep enough for swi, and the three went for a dip Rick tasted the water It was salty, but not like the ocean The backwaters of the bay were brackish, with low-salt content
In the afternoon, the boys--soot into what they referred to as ”shore-going clothes” These consisted of slacks, sport shi+rts, light casual jackets, and loafers Steve had a bag packed They got into his car, a late-e
The plane, a s froton, it was nearly the dinner hour
”Eat out?” Rick suggested
”Absolutely More crab cakes?”
Rick shook his head ”Crab ifor the bay area The folks eat well How about soain ”Baked in a crab shell Lots of mayonnaise, paprika, and butter I'll have a hearts of ro Maybe tarragon vinegar A few French fries, too But first, a couple of dozen steamed clams What do they call 'em here? Manos, pronounced Man! Oh!”
”Just tell ed ”Say no more”
”How about that place we passed just before we got to Cae? The one built like a Colonial mansion”
”The Bay Gour”
Rick put the convertible in gear and hway ”We're on our own,” he said ”It's up to us to entertain ourselves But food isn't enough Man cannot live by bread alone, the Scriptures say”
”I knew it” Scotty sluhed ”Since man cannot live by bread alone, his life s!”
Rick sarees”