Dudes Down Under (25 page)

“
Well, Bec. It’s been a big day. I might hit the sack. Would ya like me to walk ya back to your bungalow?”

“
What for, mate? I know where I left it.”

“
You are weird. Ya know that, doncha?”

“
Must be the company I’m keepin’.”

“
I’ll get ya for that one.”

“
I look forward to it.”

Skeet looked at the pretty woman in front of him and decided to behave himself. Rebecca was not a one-night sorta lady. He wasn’t sure about how he felt about anything right now. He’d spent so long thinkin’ he was in love with Lucy, it came as a shock when he didn’t feel devastated that she and Charlie were attracted to each other. He finally figured that he wasn’t in love at all, just seriously in like. It felt better. Much better.

“
Was your Rebecca going pink in the face?”

“
Hard to tell. She’s so suntanned!”

“
Maybe they only turn that color in the daytime. How come they turn pink like that when we can’t turn pink? Doesn’t seem fair to me. We could wear so many other colors with a pink complexion. Red is not as good. I look terrible when I get sunburned.”

“
You get sunburned? I don’t.”

“
Wow, lucky you. Does your Rebecca do anything special before you go in the sun?

“
No, I don’t think so. I get a coating of sunscreen after I get out of the pool and I have to wear my hat and a nice frilly t-shirt if I’m outside. That’s about it.”

“
Does your sunscreen make you slippery?”

“
No.”

“
Oh, mine does. I slip and slide all over the place when Skeet puts it on me. It’s kinda fun, though.”

“
What’s it called?”

“
Coconut oil.”

“
I’ve never seen a sunburned coconut, so it’s probably good stuff.”

“
Yeah, must be. But then I’ve never seen a slippery coconut either.”

“
Life is sooo mysterious.”

“
That’s deep.”

“
Yeah.”

Chapter 29

Ed Guest enjoyed talking to Max the bartender in the Swamp. Max had been around and there wasn’t much he hadn’t seen or done. He had a point to make about almost any topic and Ed found him interesting. Besides, not too many of the other guests wanted to get up close and personal. He was used to being around people that agreed with everything he said. These actor-types didn’t need to suck up. They had money of their own. The staff of
Dudes
had to be polite, yet they sure didn’t hold back from voicing their opinions about anything. He decided that he rather liked it. It was refreshing to hear someone disagree with him, for a while anyway.

He was developing the habit of going for a long solitary walk each morning. He couldn’t do this back in New York. He had to shake his head in dismay at the very thought of walking anytime in Central Park without four bodyguards to keep him safe.

The exercise was doing him good. The place was perfect for just relaxing and thinking clearly. It was the first time in many years that he’d the chance to think about anything not associated with business.

After the walk he had a swim and headed down to the small restaurant at the Swamp for breakfast. Max was used to seeing him and had a copy of the New York Times and a hot strong coffee brewing for him. They were in the routine of having a coffee and Danish together, and chatting about the world in general. Ed Guest found it pleasant. He wondered if there was a way he could do this back home. Probably not. Well, he’d make the most of his stay. Today was perfect for exploring.

*  *  *

Skeet had completed his shift, and he and Rebecca were heading off on a drive around the island.

They had driven only a couple of hundred yards when the bleating sound of a siren caused Skeet to slam on the brake. “Oh, shit! We gotta head back to
Dudes
, Bec, and fast.”

“
What the hell is that thing?”

“
Warning siren. Could be cyclone or bloody tsunami. C’mon, gotta run.” They pulled up outside
Dudes
main entrance where staff members were already taking up their pre-arranged warden positions. “Good, people, stay where you are for the moment. Max, you and five of the boys do a bungalow-by-bungalow door knock. Make it quick. I’ll go check what the hell is going on.”

Lucy came screeching up in a buggy, half-dressed and uncaring that she was. “Skeet, what’s the deal?”

“
Just checking, Lucy. The boys are rounding up all the guests, just in case.” They both raced inside to the weather room. The red light above the computer screen was flashing. Lucy checked the radar screen. “Holy shit, I only checked the forecasts last night. Where in the hell did this bastard sneak in from?” Lucy and Skeet both looked at the screen. A large mass of swirling cloud had formed, still a long way off, but heading in their direction, and fast.

“
Pressure is dropping rapidly, Lucy.”

“
Okay, get on the public address system, Skeet. Keep it as calm as you can but I want everyone rounded up and in the ballroom in half an hour.”

The results of the door knock were good. It was still early in the day and many of the guests were just waking.

Skeet switched on the P.A system and took a deep calming breath. “Okay, everyone, and good morning. That annoying sound is our early warning radar alarm. Because it is early warning, we have plenty of time to prepare. We need your cooperation. Please do not stop to collect valuables. The automatic shutters will drop and seal the bungalows if the storm should hit. I want all of you to make your way now to the ballroom. We’ll have a chat, drinks and food laid on. Ten minutes, people. Don’t make me have to send Cyril to fetch ya.”

“
Skeet, you are a genius, my friend. That should keep ‘em calm but not comatose. I’ve been onto the weather boys on the mainland. It’s not looking good for us here, buddy. Evacuation is not on option at this point. The wind is already picking up too high for the choppers and the catamarans could get caught. Just as well we had the contingency plans all ready. So much for everybody moaning about all the drills. Get the choppers and the boats moved into the hangers for me, Skeet, would you? If this hits, we are going to need a way off the island afterwards.”

“
Ya got that right, Lucy. Rebecca and I will do a room-by-room head count of the staff, and then I’ll take care of the equipment. Don’t worry, Lucy. We got it covered, mate.”

“
I’ll do the guests. I’ll meet you back in here in thirty minutes. Okay?”

“
Gotcha, Lucy. C’mon, Bec. I need ya to go up and fetch Cyril and Sadie down to the big indoor pen, love. Can ya manage both of ‘em?”

“
Of course I can, ya big lug. Easy-peezy. See ya in ten minutes.” Rebecca headed rapidly up to Cyril’s apartment.

Many of the guests were now making their way into the main foyer. Lucy went to the P.A. system.

“
Thanks, folks. Appreciate your cooperation. We have a large low pressure system forming off the coast. It may change direction at any time. So, just for my own peace of mind, I would like you all to gather in the ballroom. Please come and see me first so I can be sure where everyone is located. The bar is open and I will be talking to all of you in a few minutes’ time. One thing, I don’t want anyone getting too worried. We have taken steps to combat just this sort of situation in the unlikely event that it should arise. Nobody is in any danger of being hurt, okay? So if you just check in with me and then go inside, the band is setting up and the booze is on the house. Thanks for being such good sports.”

“
Good girl, Lucy. That should keep ‘em calm,” Didi said as she stood there in her pajamas.

“
Teddy Bear print jammies? Didi, you little softie.” Lucy gave her a reassuring grin.

“
Lucy, do you want me down in the first aid room?” asked Doc.

“
Yes, please, mate. Do you have any of the nursing staff located yet?”

“
Yeah, not a worry, Luce. Two of the nursing girls came straight to me as rehearsed. I have everything I need downstairs. Can even deliver a baby, if you like.” Doc grabbed her shoulder in a reassuring grip. “We’ll do fine, young-un. No probs.”

“
Thanks, Doc.”

Skeet came back in, writing notes as he walked. The worried frown on his face was not very pleasing. Lucy knew something was wrong. “Skeet, what the matter?”

“
Oh, nothing to worry about, Luce. It’s all good,” he responded without looking at her directly.

“
Bullshit. I know you too bloody well. What’s happening?”

“
Um, look, it’s no big deal, just one of the staff unnacounted for, is all.”

“
Oh hell, just what we needed. Who is missing?”

“
Hmm?”

“
Skeet. What? Who isn’t here?”

“
Young Ginny, mate. It’s her day off. Now don’t chuck a wobbly on me. I’ll ask around and see if anyone knows what she had planned for today, okay?”

“
Oh God, not Ginny. Shit a brick. Not Ginny.”

“
Lucy, she was born and raised around these parts, mate. She’ll know what not to do. Hold tight ‘til I ask around. How about the guest list? All accounted for?”

Lucy made a hurried check of the names she had marked off. Yep, everyone. Oh-oh, no, not quite everyone had checked in. Ed Guest was not amongst them.

“
Oh, for Christ’s sake, that bloody man. Probably figures he can buy off the storm.” Lucy was flippant yet Skeet knew different. This wasn’t good.

Skeet headed to the P.A. system, “Hey folks, thanks for joining in our little storm party. Have any of you sighted Ed Guest this morning? Or do you know where he might be?” The others looked around at each other and all shook their heads. No one had a clue.

“
Okay, next question. Has anyone spotted our little Ginny? Or does anyone know where she may have headed today?”

Lana Peters called out, “Skeet, yeah. Little Ginny girlfriend said she was gonna go round the other side of the island, just for a sneak peak, 'cause she’d never been.”

“
Oh, bloody hell. Damned good reason no one is allowed around there. Oh, never mind, I’ll go get her. Thanks, Lana.”

“
Can we help out, Skeet?” This question came from Tristan, Charlie and Jack.

“
Hey, guys, appreciate it a lot, but looking around for one missing guest named Guest and our sweet Ginny is bad enough. No offense, fellas, but have any of you had cyclone experience?’

“
CYCLONE? Nobody said a thing about it being more than a large storm.”

“
Jesus, Tony, keep your damned voice down, man. You want people to panic?” said Tristan Pittman.

“
Oops, sorry. Didn’t think.”

“
My fault,” said Skeet. “Please forget I said the C word, okay? For the moment it is a category 4 storm. If they up the ante on that, then we will all have to know about it, all right, guys?”

They all nodded their agreement.

*  *  *

Ginny stretched and smiled happily to herself. It was no wonder Lucy and the owner had wanted to keep this side of the island out of bounds. The waterfall alone was worth the drive. The rainforest surrounding it was pristine and untouched. It was utterly beautiful.

Ginny checked around for signs of crocodiles and reasoned that the water was flowing too quickly for them to be too close. She dove in and swam to the far side, marveling at the coldness of the water and the crystal clarity of its depth. She swam over and under the waterfall laughing out loud at the sensation of the water pouring over her hair and shoulders. She dove under and came up again, stunned to find herself on the other side of the wall of water. The ledge it flowed from must peek out and the remainder of the rock face was accessible behind it. Ginny looked up into the rainbow the water formed and spotted an opening about ten feet up on the rock face. She moved gently through the water looking for a foothold. She had explored these types of location all her life, one of the many joys of being born and raised in and around the northern reaches of the country.

She spied a reasonable way up and clambered like a sure-footed mountain goat, pulling herself up the final couple of feet and hauling her frame onto the ledge. The cave was quite deep, yet narrow at the opening. It travelled back around fifteen feet or so, ending in another smaller opening too narrow for her to access. Oh, this was just wonderful. Ginny stopped and listened with her head on one side. What was that sound? She recognized it finally as bats. She had never in her young life heard a colony that large. They were kicking up one hell of a ruckus, unusual for this time of day. They should be sleeping. The thought entered her head and left just as quickly.