Pearls
about women. The big Jamaican had never had any trouble getting them; it was getting rid of them that was hard. During lay-up time Wes fell in love at least once a week.
    But the skip had it bad. They had been at sea nearly three weeks and he had hardly spoken except to give orders to the crew. They were on good shell and had brought up nearly show three tonnes, but if he was pleased, he had not let his face or demeanour know about it. He had even gone off his food. Jay-sus!
    Wes went back to his work. He would talk to him later.
    They worked until the sun dipped below the horizon and Wes began to stage the diver. He didn't understand quite how it worked but the experience with Tanaka had show him that the skip's strange ritual must have some magic in it.
    Cameron did not appear on deck for dinner, so Wes took two plates of curry and went down the scuttle to his cabin. Cameron was lying on his bunk, staring at nothing.
    'I bring you some chow, skip.'
    'I'm nae hungry.'
    'Got to eat, skip. You is gettin' to look like a shadow, mebbe someone put ju-ju on you.'
    'No, ju-ju , Wes. I'm my own bad luck.'
    Wes put down the plates of stew and sat himself down on the end of the bunk. 'What is it, skip? That one white woman, I reckon.'
    Cameron did not answer. He sat up, took a tin of cigarettes from his shirt and lit one. 'We're sailing back tae Broome, Wes. First light.'
    'But skip, we got a month's stores in the hold. We on good shell hyar. Why we go back to port now?'
    'I cannae sleep no more, Wes, I cannae think. I've unfinished business to attend in Broome and I'll nae rest until it's done.'
    'I doan understand, skip.'
    'I'm a bloody fool, Wes. I never thought of myself as a very good man, but I nae saw myself as a bad one, either. But I cannae stop thinking about what I've done.'
    'What really happened that day between you and Flynn outside the Regret, skip?'
    He sat up. 'I dinnae want to talk about it. I've a quick tongue and a foul temper and I've humiliated the only decent person in that whole stinking town.'
    'What you plannin' to do, skip?'
    'I plan to try and undo the harm I've done, Wes. I have to. I love the girl more than I've ever loved anything and that just makes me all the more the fool.' He ran his hand through his thick black curls. 'Christ!'
    Wes scratched his head. 'I doan see you got no problem, then. You jes' say you is sorry, and you marry her.'
    'Aye, maybe. But I dinnae know if that will be enough, Wes. Not now.'
    'Sure, skip. If a woman love you, she forgive you anythin'. God make 'em that way, otherwise there be no man got no woman at all.'
    'You dinnae know Kate Flynn.' He stood up. 'First light we sail, Wes. It will be the hardest thing I've ever done, but I have to get back there and undo this, Wes. I have to.'
     
     

Chapter 15
     
    A horned moon. The night was chill, and the heady aromas of the garden were muted by the cooler weather and the long weeks without rain. Kate put a hand to her belly and closed her eyes. The fleets would still be away at sea when the baby came.
    Flynn came out onto the veranda, looking solemn and drawn. 'He's here to see you now.'
    He said it as if he was a priest informing a prisoner that the executioner was ready. She took a deep breath. 'Well, don't keep the gentleman waiting, father.'
    George Niland looked resplendent in his whites. He took off his solar topee and gave a small bow. The victor could afford to be gracious.
    Flynn excused himself and went back inside.
    'Good evening, Kate,' George said. He lit a cigarette, without asking her permission.
    'Hello George.'
    'I hear you've not been well.'
    'Morning sickness, George. Please let's not play games. You know very well I am shamed and in disgrace. I can handle that, but I will not be patronised.'
    George shrugged. 'I see you've lost none of your spirit.'
    'Losing my pride is enough, don't you think?'
    'I should have warned you about him. Cameron has always been the same. Even in the Navy ...'
    'I don't want to

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