Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
“She is still in South Africa but will be flying out next month to join us; she's terrified
of long distance sailing,” she said, nodding slowly. “It was just my dad and I that sailed
across.”
“I'm impressed! You must be a good sailor; I can see that you're very strong.”
She blushed, following my gaze at her shoulders.
I swung below to retrieve our coffee.
“Did you also build your boat?” she asked, taking the mug I offered her. “My dad built his
and we all had to help, shoo what a job!”
“Yes, it was quite a big thing but worth it now,” I replied. She nodded in agreement, sipping
her coffee.
“So, where is your boyfriend?”
“I'm afraid he is dead; he was killed in a skirmish with the terrorists on the southwest Afric-
an border last year. He was in the army.”
“Oh, I'm sorry! I was in the army too and also up in that part of the world. It was very
dangerous and so unbearably hot.”
“He was my fiancé actually; it happened a year ago, and the sail across has helped me a lot
to get over the shock and pain.”
She laughed suddenly, as if to change the subject, and said, “I saw you this morning with
those rusty cans; we had the exact same problem when we arrived. My dad was so embar-
rassed; he was terrified that anyone would see!”
“I know; it was a very wrong thing to do, and I wish I could retrieve them. I guess it's too
late for that.”
“No, it's not. It's only about twenty feet in depth here, and the water is clear enough to see
the bottom. I'll bring my flippers and goggles later on, and we can go and dive them out if
you want?”
“Would you? I would be so relieved to be able to do that, Darleen.”
“So, where's your girlfriend? How come you are alone?”
“I don't have one at the moment. I did have a sweetheart from Cape Town with me up until
Martinique, but I fed her to the sharks one day because she was naughty, and now I am
alone!” She laughed easily with a hearty chuckle, and her eyes crinkled in merriment. She
looked very nice to me, and I ran an appraising eye over her tanned body again.
