A Gift for a Lion Read Free Page A

admiringly as Joanna dropped into her chair. Then the conversation began again. How long were they staying in Calista? Only until tomorrow? But that was a tragedy, to think that the
signorina
would never dance in the
trattoria
again. Where were they going next?
    'Oh, that's easy,' Paul said. 'We decided that this afternoon, didn't we, Tony? We're going further down the coast to a little island called Saracina, and we'll tie up there for a night or two… What's wrong?'
    The taller of the two fishermen had seized his arm with an alarmed expression.
    'Not Saracina,' he said, shaking his head for greater emphasis. 'Not Saracina. Not good.'
    'What's wrong with the place?' Tony leaned forward. 'Surely it's inhabited.' He enunciated slowly and carefully, 'People—live—there.'
    Both men nodded vigorously. 'You keep away. Not good. Not want—visitors.'
    Joanna spoke coolly and incisively, her words aimed at Tony and Paul, who were exchanging concerned glances. 'Well, I'm afraid visitors are what they're going to get. It all sounds most intriguing, and I wouldn't dream of keeping away simply because the islanders want to remain exclusive.'
    The shorter fisherman, who had a moustache, broke in excitedly. 'We go there—fish—since two days. Men come in boats—with guns. You stay here. Not go to Saracina.'
    'Gunboats?' Tony muttered. 'Hell's teeth! Perhaps we should keep away at that.'
    'Oh, I don't want to go anywhere where there might be guns,' Mary said with a shudder.
    'I've never heard such nonsense,' Joanna exclaimed impatiently. 'Maybe the fishing's private or something, and they want to keep the boats away, but we don't want to fish. We just want to tie up in one of the bays and spend the night. There's no harm in that.'
    'Well, I think we should give it a miss,' Paul said, his voice stubborn.
    'Oh, for heaven's sake!' Joanna threw herself angrily back in her chair. 'We've made our plans. Are you going to change them just because of a little scaremongering by a couple of fishermen? They probably got chased for— poaching or something, and are just making this story up to cover themselves for running away. There's nothing on the charts about Saracina being prohibited to shipping. I insist that at least we go and see for ourselves.'
    Looking at Tony, she could see he was weakening, but Paul was made of sterner stuff.
    'Well, I came on this cruise for some sunshine and a few laughs and to help Tony sail the boat,' he said. 'We've had plenty of sun, I'll admit, but the laughs are getting thinner on the ground all the time. One thing I'm not prepared to do is take my future wife anywhere where there could be danger of any sort. That's final, and if Joanna still insists on going, Mary and I will find a boat to take us to the nearest large port and go home.'
    Biting her lip with vexation, Joanna saw that Tony and Mary were both staring at him in open admiration. The two fishermen sat uneasily silent, obviously aware that the previously relaxed group were now in conflict over what they had said.
    Joanna forced herself to smile. 'There's no need to go to those lengths,' she said. 'If you feel so strongly about it…'
    'I do,' Paul interrupted.
    'If you really do feel so strongly,' she repeated, raising her voice a fraction, 'then why not spend another day and night here? I'm sure while we're anchored in their harbour and coming ashore spending money, the locals will be only too delighted to invent further fairy tales to prevent us from moving on.'
    'Jo,' Tony murmured uncomfortably, 'keep your voice down, love. I'm sure some of these people can understand what we're saying. We've had a couple of very funny looks.' '
    Paul got up, scraping his chair. 'Come on, darling,' he said to Mary. 'Otherwise I might say something to Her Majesty that we might all regret.'
    Joanna had already realised she had gone too far, and had been all set to apologise. But Paul's words halted the apology on her lips. After all, she thought, seething, it was