Moondrift [antikvár]

CHAPTER ONE The island lay almost immediately below the pláne now, one of a group of smaller islands that depended on the larger islands for most of their supplies. It grew coconut palms and banana plants and pineapples, and a small amount of sugár cane3 but mostly it relied on tourism for its survival, which at times had not been easy. Shaped like an avocado, it lay drowsing beneath the heat of a Caribbean afternoon, and Rhys felt his nerves tightening as the Cessna banked to make its landing. He had not wanted to come back. Indeed, s there were times when he had sworn he would never come back. But it was ten years now, ten years and he had finally got the island out of his blood. He had had to come back to complete the catharsis. 'Is that Eleutha, Daddy?' The girl beside him leaned towards the window excitedly, gazing down at the oblong curve of sand that fringed the west coast of the island. The hotel was situated along that strip of beach, Rhys remembered unwillingly, its low-walled terrace overlooking the lagoon confined by the reef. "Yes, that's Eleutha/ he answered now, giving her a brief smile. 'We'll be landing in a couple of minutes. You'd better get your things together.5 Tve only got my bag and my jacket/ she exclaimed, looking down at her bare legs with somé satisfaction. 'Look, Fm getting brown already. I expect to have a really super tan when we get back to London.' Rhys regarded her with affection. 'You're not