The river lord

by Kay Thorpe

  `It hasn't broken yet. Neither am I infallible.'

  `Oh?' She met his eyes, emboldened by the presence of others. 'You surprise me.'

  `We may as well get under cover before the rain does come,' Mark Colby put in hastily. 'Are you coming down, Greg?'

  `If necessary.' He gave Keely one last calculated look and

  moved to kick the tarpaulin further under the deck coaming. 'You go ahead.'

  Thunder roared again even as they went below, and next moment the heavens opened to blot out all sight of the river beyond the outer rank of trees with one solid sheet of water, the sheer force of it alone enough to terrify. Despite the protection afforded by the massed foliage above there seemed scarcely less savagery in the pounding of the rain against the Dorita's hull. Kneeling on one of the berths to peer out through a port, Keely saw the dirty brown water churned to a sudden swirling foam, felt the swing astern to the pull of a current hitherto barely noticeable. The stench of sodden vegetation filtered through even down here to the cabin, pungent yet curiously satisfying, like newly turned earth.

  `It's a bit awe-inspiring, isn't it?' she said to Mark Colby, who had come to sit beside her. 'The elements unleashed ! No wonder the ancients used to regard storms as the wrath of God

  `The most likely source of wrath round here will be Greg if you don't stop needling him,' Mark commented dryly. `What are you trying to get him to do ... throw you overboard? It went against the grain with him to have to bring you along in the first place. The least you could do is keep out of his hair.'

  She keep out of his hairit might have been funny if it hadn't been so ironic. She gave him an oblique glance which took in the enigmatic expression and wondered suddenly just how much he had guessed of the situation between her and Greg. Not the whole of it, for certain, or he would hardly be speaking this way, yet it was obvious that he recognised the tension. It was the opportune moment for her to press charges against the man they were speaking of, and yet she couldn't somehow bring herself to do it. Involving the Colbys in any way would mean the end of the

  whole expedition, the blighting of all Sir Mark's hopes of proving the legend. No, she had to handle Greg herself, and in such a way that neither of the Colbys would notice anything amiss—at least until it was too late to turn back.

  `I'm sorry,' she said on as light a note as she could manage. 'I suppose it's his resentment that makes me want to get at him somehow. I'll try not to do it in future. I realise how much you think of him.'

  `I don't think you do.' It was said quietly but with subtle emphasis. 'His father was a great and trusted friend of mine for many years. Greg has a lot of his qualities even if he does prefer to hide them. He lives the way he does for reasons I consider inadequate, but that doesn't make him any less of a friend. I'd trust him with my life. I've done exactly that on more than one occasion.'

  Keely could imagine. She would even, she thought dryly, trust him with her own. But there was a side to Greg Stirling which Sir Mark did not know; the side he seemed to keep especially for the women who might enter his sphere of existence. It brought new pressure to bear on her curiosity concerning his past, a stirring of some emotion she could not quite put a name to but which left a disturbing little ache in the region of her chest.

  The storm lasted a little over an hour, although the rain gradually abated to a steady downpour after the first onslaught. Keely spent most of the time playing gin rummy with Jason, aware that she was waiting all the time for the bang of the hatch cover announcing Greg's descent to the cabin, and conscious of an odd deflation when he failed to put in an appearance.

  The starting up of the engines drew the three of them back on deck, to find Greg at the helm, shirt and trousers soaked and already steaming in the heat as they broke through the overhang of branches into bright new sunlight. The river was swollen and running with a deep fast swell at

  its centre. Greg kept the boat well in to the edge, taking advantage of the added depth afforded by the flood waters, seemingly unperturbed as yet by the rate of rise.

  `Could do with somebody up front to help keep a look-out for debris,' he said. He shouted an order in Portuguese to the two hands, who took up boathooks and went for'ard, then glanced at Jason. 'Your eyes should be sharp enough to spot what they miss.'

  `I'll go too,' Keely offered, and made to follow him.

  `You'll stay back here.' The tone was short. 'If you want to make yourself useful try getting me a beer out of the cooler. What about you, Mark?'

  'Sounds a very good idea,' agreed the older man with marked enthusiasm. His eyes found Keely's and he smiled. `If you don't mind.'

  She went below and found the beer, selected enough glasses for all the men from a large if unmatched collection, and on impulse added one for herself. Mark had moved aft when she came on deck again. She took him a bottle and a glass and left him to pour his own while she went back to see to the others. Greg was too busy watching the river ahead to pay much attention to what she was doing, but his expression needed no interpretation when she finally put the glass in front of him.

  `Never met the woman yet who could pour beer,' he said disgustedly. 'That's two-thirds head in there !'

  `I'm not here for the beer,' she quipped. 'In future you can pour your own !'

  His grin was fleeting but genuine. 'Resilient female, aren't you? Maybe you should change your name to Kelly.'

  `If I had that much weight,' she retorted, `I'd use it ! I daresay you find most women more compliant.'

  `I daresay you're right.' His glance held a taunt. 'Anyone ever tell you opposition can be a stimulant) I'm going to enjoy hauling you down off that soapbox.'

  `You can try,' she carne back recklessly. 'Am I allowed to

  take the others a drink?'

  `They're busy. Put it back in the cooler for now. They can have it later.' There was a sudden return to brusqueness in his manner. 'If you want company go and talk to Mark. He has time for distractions.'

  Keely went below smarting and stayed there after she had replaced the cans in the cooler. The man was insufferable ! He couldn't even be civil for five consecutive minutes. Opposition a stimulant indeed ! Was she supposed to simply accept the situation on his terms without putting up any kind of a fight? That was fatalism, and she refused to consider anything as inevitable. If Greg attempted to come near again tonight he was going to find her ready and waiting in every sense but the one he sought.

  The afternoon wore on in a haze of heat barely alleviated at all by the storm. Once there was a heart-stopping boom as some object drove hard against the starboard bow, followed by a horrible scraping sound as it traversed the length of the hull. Greg shouted something short and sharp, the words indistinguishable down there in the cabin but the meaning clear enough. Keely caught a glimpse of the semi-submerged log from one of the ports, and shuddered to think what it would have meant had it smashed a hole below the water line. The river was running so fast and deep they could easily have been swamped before they reached the bank, and even if they had reached it in time there was absolutely nowhere available to put in for repairs. For the first time she began to understand a little of the dangers facing any expedition out here in the wilderness. And this was only the second day. Where they were going few craft had ventured before, and even Greg's only the once. It was a chastening thought.

  They stopped for the night before the light faded entirely, tying up to the river bank at a spot where the encroaching trees stood back enough to provide a small cleared space. A fire was quickly made and allowed to burn down to glowing embers while the huge fish Jason had caught earlier was gutted and scaled. Wrapped in several large leaves not unlike docks, this was placed on hot stones set within the embers themselves and left to bake.

  The Dorita's water tank had been filled with sterilised water only that morning at Paul's, so for now they were amply supplied. Later, when it became necessary to take water from the river itself, they would use chlorine to destroy the parasites, or boil it when
possible.

  Relaxing after a delicious and filling meal before retiring on board for the night, Keely could almost imagine herself back on that Outward Bound course several years before— except that the Scottish Highlands' reserve of livestock had been nothing like this ! She saw Greg watching her in the glowing firelight and made a supreme effort to stop herself from scratching the madly itching bites. His seeming immunity was maddening. If only once, just once, something would happen that he was unable to cope with.

  `You're taking your Paludrine, I hope,' he said now. `Malaria is no joke.'

  `Of course.' She tried hard to keep her voice level. 'It was instilled into me before I came out here how important it was. I've over half a tin left. Enough for another month.'

  `Let's hope you don't need them all.' He was leaning on one elbow, body stretched parallel with the fire, eyes glinting in the dancing light. 'Ever thought about what we'll do if we get stuck up here in the rains? You wouldn't like having to spend several weeks in an Indian village, I suppose?'

  `There's no real danger of that or we wouldn't be here at all,' she returned swiftly. 'You're not going to risk your boat to that extent ... or your skin either.'

  'I don't plan to risk anybody's skin if I can help it. I'm talking about eventualities.'

  `I was under the impression you catered for all those.'

  `I can be taken unawares.' His voice was deceptively lazy. `Not often, I agree, but it's happened. The point I'm trying to make is that it's going to be every hand needed if the worst comes to the worst. No passengers. Think you can cope with a man's work if necessary?'

  `I can certainly try.' She gave him a bland little smile. `Brains often take precedence over brawn.'

  `They'll have every chance.' He was smiling too, but not in any way that warmed her. 'Time we thought about turning in, considering.'

  `I'm not ready for bed yet.' It was Jason who spoke, tone short and faintly resentful. 'Neither, I'm sure, is Keely?' His glance her way held an appeal. 'Fancy a game of gin rummy?'

  Greg looked from one to the other of them with derisory amusement. 'Sure,' he said. 'Why not? Shouldn't tax either of you overmuch. Gives me a chance to discuss a few things with Mark.'

  Apart from letting Jason down, there was nothing for it but for Keely to accompany him on board. Greg's satire stuck in her craw. There had been no need for that crack, dismissing them both like a couple of children. Of course he would find Jason's invitation amusing. It would no doubt never cross his mind to invite any woman to a game of cards !

  `I'm sorry, Keely,' Jason offered a little sheepishly when they reached the cabin. 'I must have sounded a bit of an idiot back there, only I felt I had to make some kind of stand. Greg is far too fond of taking charge, and Mark lets him get away with it.'

  `I think your uncle simply recognises his better knowledge of the terrain,' she said, taking the card pack from the locker. 'So far as getting us where we want to be is concerned he is in charge.' She gave him a smile as he stood

  there chewing his lip and frowning. 'On the other hand, I think you were quite right to make a stand. It's barely eight-thirty.'

  `And we've been up since the early hours.' He shrugged suddenly and grinned, looking more himself again. `I'll admit I'm shattered myself. How about you?'

  `Very close to it.' Keely grinned back. 'I don't think I could even find the mental ability to tell one number from another at the moment. Shall I make us a drink instead?'

  `Good idea. I saw some whisky in one of these lockers yesterday.'

  `I was talking more in terms of cocoa. Whisky would put me out like a light, I'm not even all that keen on the taste. You go ahead, though.'

  He did so, with a faint air of defiance in the way he uncorked the bottle. 'I suppose I should ask first, but there's plenty here. Anyway, he's probably got a whole store of the stuff hidden away somewhere.'

  Keely had an idea that Greg probably preferred beer, but she made no comment. She warmed some made-up milk for a drink for herself, coming back to the main cabin with the mug in her hand to find Jason sitting morosely on one of the berths with an empty glass in front of him.

  `I wouldn't have too much of that,' she said mildly as he reached for the bottle again. 'You'll have a terrible head in the morning.'

  The eyes focussing on her were already a little blurred. `Don't preach,' he said. 'I don't need a mother figure.'

  `Sorry.' She was nonplussed by the change in his manner. Aggression seemed totally alien to Jason Colby. She watched him pour another over-generous measure of whisky and wished she had insisted on them both having a hot drink. Half of this was bravado, a kicking over the traces for the sake of showing Greg where he got off. Jason was immature in many ways, she realised. She should have seen it

  before. Not that it would have helped her in this venture at all if he had been more sensibly adult. He'd probably have turned her plan down flat.

  Which on reflection gave rise to some doubt as to her own adult sense, if she were honest about it. What she had done had been showing off in exactly the same way Jason was doing now; reacting to authoritarianism like any rebellious child. And yet had she not acted that way she wouldn't be here now, would she? And nothing was going to make her regret this trip. Not Greg, not the privations ... nothing ! One way or another she would cope with anything that happened. She had beaten him once, she could do it again should the occasion arise. The memory .of his arms about her the previous night was quickly squashed. He'd taken her by surprise, that was all; he wouldn't get her to respond to him that way again.

  `Jason, don't have any more,' she appealed when the glass was half empty again. `I'm sure it can't be good for you in this climate.'

  `Would you say that to Greg?' he demanded on a surly note, and answered his own question before she had the chance. 'No, you bet you wouldn't! You'd consider him capable of deciding his own capacity.' Instead of slurring his voice the alcohol seemed to have firmed it, making his enunciation very clear and precise. 'Well, let me tell you, I'm just as capable as he is ... and a darned sight more civilised ! What is it about that man that attracts a woman anyway? You don't like him, but I've seen the way you look at him !'

  `If you have, you've misunderstood the motives,' she said dryly. 'I wasn't comparing you with Greg, Jason. You couldn't be more different if you tried. I'm just worried about the way you're going to feel in the morning.'

  `I know.' He was suddenly repentant, pushing the glass to one side with a grimace of distaste. 'And I'm not acting very

  well.' A line creased the space between his brows as if to counteract an increasing ache. 'I think I'd better turn in before it catches up with me.'

  Keely rose with him, aware of his unsteadiness, shooting out an involuntary hand as he swayed against the edge of the table. Next moment he was clutching her to him, his face buried in her hair.

  `I've never known anyone like you before,' he groaned in her ear. 'Keely, you don't know what you're doing to me ! I've wanted to hold you like this since the first moment I saw you. Keely

  `You were right the first time,' drawled a mocking voice from above. 'It's time you turned in. Put her down and come on out.'

  Jason went first red and then white, letting go of Keely as though he had been stung. 'How long have you been there?' he demanded as Greg dropped down through the open hatch. 'You were spying on us !'

  `Spying?' Dark brows lifted to correspond with the tilt of his lips. 'On what? You should learn to handle your liquor, old son ... or should I say mine. Your hammock's hung and waiting. Can you make it that far without falling over board? The scaleys round here might welcome a midnight feast.'

  `Damn you!' muttered the younger man furiously, and took a wild swing which fell far short of its target and did nothing for his equilibrium. Clutching at the bulkhead to steady himself, he was obviously having difficulty in focussing properly. He was also starting to feel other effects from the whisky he had drunk, if the colour of his face was anything to go by; he looked
positively green. It was no surprise when he let go of the bulkhead beam and made a rush for the companionway. Greg stepped back to let him pass, watching with sardonic amusement as he vanished through the hatch into the open air.

  `That should teach him a thing or two,' he observed. Grey eyes came back to where Keely still stood. 'It should have taught you a couple of things too. Never trust a man in his cups. Alcohol releases the basest emotions.'

  `What do you use for an excuse?' Her voice was low and thick with dislike. 'That was totally unnecessary. You deliberately tried to make a fool of him !'

  `He was doing a pretty good job on his own. How would you have handled it ... rapped his knuckles and told him not to be a silly boy? Judging from the way that bottle's gone down he'll not remember too much about it in the morning anyway. I suppose he was looking for Dutch courage before he made a pass at you.'

  `Making a pass at me was probably the last thing he had in mind before he got to that bottle of yours,' she flashed back. 'Why don't you keep the darned stuff locked up !'

  `It never occurred to me that it might be necessary, though it might be worth considering in future if I want any left.'

  `I suppose you regard it as purely medicinal yourself.'

  `Don't be childish,' he said with maddening calm. 'I came down to show you how to fix the mosquito net over the berth. You won't get any sleep tonight without it.'

  She said bitingly, 'Are you sure that's all you came for?' and saw a faint grin touch his lips.

  `What else were you hoping for? Grappling with schoolgirls loses appeal after the first time. We'll let it ride for a while till you're ready to react with a bit more enthusiasm.'

  `The only reaction you're likely to get out of me,' she retorted blindly, 'is contempt!'

  `Not true.' He was unmoved. 'I could make you respond right now, but why bother?'

  Her face flamed. 'Get out !'

  `You seem to forget we're on my boat. I'll get out when I'm good and ready to go.' He hadn't raised his voice, but