James Chase: There’s a Hippie on the Highway

‘You really mean you’re going to Sheldon with Nina?’

‘Yes... don’t shout.’

‘I warned you!’ Randy began to shake. ‘Solo will find out and he’ll kill you, Harry! Listen to me! I like you. You saved my life! I owe you something! Don’t go to Sheldon with Nina!’

‘I’m going.’

‘You want to tangle with Solo for God’s sake? He’ll kill you, Harry! He’s mean. It won’t be a fair fight. I know Solo!’

Harry shoved Randy aside, opened the door and stepped out into the darkness. He paused.

‘Get out, Randy, Don’t worry about me.’

Thinking about all this, Harry glanced at his watch. It was time to leave. He knelt by his bed, levered up the floorboard and took from the hole Baldy’s automatic and the box of cartridges. He put them in a beach bag, put in his swim trunks and two packs of cigarettes and then left the cabin.

He wondered if Randy had gone. He looked at Randy’s cabin, seeing the drawn curtains. He didn’t want to be involved with Randy any longer. He had warned him. If he hadn’t gone then it was Randy’s funeral.

He walked quickly down to the boathouse which was screened by shrubs and palm trees.

Nina was there, waiting.

Solo’s boat was a twenty-four footer with a cabin aft and powered by twin screws. As soon as Nina saw him coming across the sand, she waved, then swung the engine. As he came aboard, the launch moved from its moorings and began to bounce and bump over the waves as it headed out to sea.

Nina was wearing a bikini. She smiled at him as he joined her in the cockpit.

‘Did you have coffee, Harry?’

‘Sure.’

She again smiled at him.

‘You will love Sheldon. You and I and the birds!’ She caught hold of his hand. ‘I’ve been waiting... waiting... I thought today would never come!’

Harry felt the power of the engines as the boat cut through the sea. He looked towards the cabin.

‘Some boat,’ he said.

‘It’s good enough,’ Nina looked sharply at him as he began to climb out of the cockpit. ‘Where are you going?’

‘Taking a look.’

He moved along the deck until he reached the cabin which was big enough to take four berths. Curtains were drawn across the portholes and when he tried the door, he found it was locked. He frowned, stared at the door for some moments, then returned to the cockpit.

‘The cabin’s all locked.’

‘I know. Dad keeps stuff in there. It’s always locked. I never use it.’

‘What sort of stuff?’

‘I don’t know... stuff.’ She smiled, but he saw her eyes had turned hard.

He sat on the bench seat beside her.

‘Tell me about Sheldon. Do you go there often?’

‘About once a month.’

‘I heard someone talking about the island. He said something about the Funnel. Does that mean anything to you?’ Harry was being very casual.

‘It is a funnel between the rocks. The tide is very tricky around the island. Once every three months the tide drops and you can get through the funnel... a passage that leads to a marvelous grotto. The walls are phosphorescent. I’ve been in there twice. You have to be very careful. The tide can change and then you could be trapped in there for three months!’

Harry lit a cigarette. He was remembering the note he had found in Baldy’s suitcase.

The Funnel Sheldon. It. 07.45. May 27 .

‘When the tide is right, can a boat this size get into the grotto?’

‘Yes. I’ve been in it in this boat. I don’t stay long. Just in and out.’

‘You mean the tide can change that fast?’

‘That’s right. It’s been known to change in an hour. The sea comes in fast. That’s why tourists never visit the grotto.’

‘So we can’t visit it today.’

‘Not by boat.’ She regarded him. ‘Do you want to see it?’

‘Sure... when is the tide due to change?’

‘Another week... it won’t be next Sunday... probably on Wednesday when we’ll be working. But if you really want to see it, we can swim in.’

‘We can?’

She nodded.

‘Have you ever done it?’

‘Oh, no. I couldn’t do it on my own. It’s tricky.’ She put her warm hand on his arm. ‘But with you, I’d be all right. You’re a top class swimmer. Olympic standard.’

‘I can swim. What’s so tricky about it?’

‘There’s a long swim under water and the current is fierce.’ She paused, then went on, ‘There are two aqualungs in that locker.’ She pointed. ‘We could make it if you’d help me.’

Harry looked thoughtful.

‘No... better not. Maybe I’ll go on my own, but not with you. I don’t want an accident.’

She made an impatient movement.

‘I want to go! I’m a good swimmer, Harry... honest! If we clipped a cord to each other and I got into trouble, you could help me.’

‘You mean it’s that tough?’

‘For heaven’s sake! I thought you were a top swimmer!’

‘I can swim.’ He thought for a moment while she watched him. ‘Well, okay, we can’t come to much grief if we use aqualungs.’ He shifted along the bench seat to the locker she had indicated, opened it and took out the aqualung equipment.

‘Do you want some coffee now, Harry?’

‘Sure.’

He checked the equipment, satisfied himself both lungs were in good order, then turning, accepted the plastic cup of coffee she held out to him.

‘There’s a length of nylon cord somewhere in the locker,’ Nina said, ‘and a couple of belts.’

Harry finished his coffee, turned and hunted in the deep locker. There was a lot of junk wedged in at the back. From this junk he pulled out a plastic bag. Through the plastic he could see a pair of anti-glare driving goggles, a black cotton shirt and a woman’s white headscarf.

His broad back was turned to Nina so she couldn’t see what he was doing.

‘Have you found it Harry?’

He pushed the plastic bag back among the junk. Then he saw the coil of nylon rope His face expressionless, he turned, holding up the coil.

‘This it?’

‘Yes. You take the wheel. I’ll find the belts.’

‘It’s okay... I’ve got them.’ He pulled two belts fitted with metal loops from the junk.

He was seeing the woman with the Mustang, hidden behind anti-glare goggles, concealing her hair with a white headscarf, tucked into a black cotton shirt. He shut the locker door, turned and lit a cigarette.

He remembered what Joe, the barman, had said: You have no friends here, Mr. Harry except me and Randy. No friends... I mean that and there’s trouble coming for you .

‘What’s the matter, Harry?’ Nina asked sharply.

‘Nothing.’ He looked at her. ‘Why should there be?’

‘You looked far away.’

‘I guess I’m a faraway type.’

‘What were you thinking about just now?’

Harry drew on his cigarette and released the smoke down his nostrils.

‘Do you share your thoughts with anyone, Nina?’

She frowned.

‘Sometimes.’

‘But not often?’

‘I guess not.’

‘Then we’re alike’ He finished his coffee. ‘Want a cigarette?’

‘No, thank you.’ She looked at him, hesitated, then went on, ‘You were thinking of something, weren’t you, Harry?’

Over the horizon Harry could see the outline of a small island.

‘Is that Sheldon?’ he asked, pointing.

‘That’s it.’

‘Is it a good time to go to the Funnel right away?’

‘Yes... it’s better early... there’s less swell. You really want to see the grotto, don’t you?’

‘Sure. We have plenty of time for other things.’ He looked at her and smiled. ‘When do you think we should get back?’

‘Before dark. I’ve brought plenty of food.’