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ers sadly sweet。 A little farther on Kip saw a face drawn in ashes on a tree trunk； the eyes were wide and staring； the mouth open； showing rows of teeth。 A warning； Kip thought。 It was a sign to keep the curious out； and perhaps more than an obvious reference to the Carib's heritage of cannibalism。 As he passed the symbol he heard someone running in the jungle； bare feet crushing leaves。 The sound quickly faded away； and Kip knew he'd been seen。
The jungle had been cleared less than a hundred yards ahead； he could see the Carib village； which consisted of a score of shantylike； unpainted clapboard dwellings； battered from years of hard weather and sun。 A rundown store with tin placards advertising COCA…COLA and PRINCE ALBERT TOBACCO stood at the center of the village； its shingled roof half…collapsed and in some spots bared down to the wood。 Just beyond the village； on Carib Point overlooking the blue sheen of the Caribbean； was a useless squat tower； now decayed； green vines covered its base and all the glass on its lamp deck had been long broken。 Strung between the houses were lines of drying； tattered clothes； and here and there were small square plots of scraggly corn and beans。
A naked child sat on the ground sailing a piece of wood whittled into a boat in a brackish…looking puddle； and he looked up with surprised eyes as Kip entered Caribville。 A group of other children had already seen him and had run away； followed by their short…haired yellow dog； who stopped to snarl and bark at the constable。 Some men had gathered in front of the store； their eyes sharp and bright； their features appearing more chiseled and harder than those of the Coquina villagers； their plexions a tawny gold。 An attractive woman with long black hair who had been carrying a basket balanced on her head stopped in her tracks when she saw Kip； when she had regained her posure she continued on； moving away toward one of the houses。 People peered at him from screened doors and windows as he walked deeper into Caribville。 He sensed their hostility。 They had never accepted him as the authority； as law on the island； and they disliked anyone whose ancestry was tied with the British。
The men at the front of the store began to separate as Kip reached them； and they were gone before he could speak to them。 Kip stood at the doorway； his gaze sweeping across the village。 A single road headed downhill to a semicircle of beach below。 At the Carib harbor； there was a wharf where a few rusty old trawlers lay moored。 Kip could see some of the men working on their boats。 Farther along the beach stood a huge concrete hulk； just the steel framework and walls of a building。 At one time； a British firm had tried to build a hotel and marina there but the project had fallen through。 Now it stood as a silent sentinel of progress thwarted： the jungle had grown back around it； and spiders and lizards had claimed the building as a shelter from the heat。
〃What do you want？〃 someone asked； in a heavily accented voice that mixed English and Spanish。
Kip looked around。 A heavyset man in a T…shirt stood behind the screen door； his hands on his hips。 His hair was cropped very short； but his glossy； black sideburns had been allowed to grow wild and full。 His eyes were small burning embers under thick black brows； and they regarded the constable with a mixture of curiosity and disdain。
〃I want to see the Chief Father；〃 Kip told him。
The Carib was silent for a few seconds； sizing the other man up。 〃And why？〃 he asked。
〃Official police business。〃
〃Is that so？ Well； then； you can talk to me； I'm Cheyne's brother…in…law。〃
Kip shook his head。 〃That won't do。 Is Cheyne here or not？〃
〃He ain't；〃 the man said。 〃He's took his boat out this morning。〃
Kip didn't believe the man。 When he looked to one side he saw two other Carib men； both burly and tough…looking； leaning against the remnants of a brick wall； watching him。 One pretended to pare his nails with a knife blade。 〃It's Cheyne I want to see；〃 Kip said； gazing at the men。 〃There's been trouble over in Coquina village。 A man's dead； and I want to know。。。〃
〃We heard about that；〃 the man said。 〃All about it。 So you e up here to ask questions about us； thinking mebbe we had something to do with it？ Go away； constable。 You ain't wele here。〃
〃Thanks for your help；〃 Kip told him acidly； watching the other two out of the corner of his eye。 〃I know where Cheyne lives； I'll find him myself。〃 As he walked away； he heard the man call out； 〃Better watch your step around here； constable！ This ain't no fuckin' pastel pink Coquina village you in now！〃 There was laughter； and someone cursed and spat； but Kip paid them no attention。 He reached a house farther down the row of decrepit shacks； and knocked on the door frame。 Waited； knocked again。 The door opened a few inches and a smooth…skinned； pretty woman peered out at him cautiously。
〃I'm looking for him；〃 Kip said。
She shook her head； spoke a few words in the brisk native dialect。 〃Gone；〃 she said。 〃He gone。〃 She pointed toward the ocean。
〃When is he ing back？〃
The woman shrugged； not understanding。 In the dim confines of the house a baby began crying； and Kip heard an aged voice call out。 The woman looked over her shoulder； nodding； and then closed the door in the constable's face。
Damn！ he thought angrily。 Cheyne was the only one who'd talk to him； and he was a hard man to track down； the other Caribs would just as soon spit as look at him。 Kip left the house； walking back past the store to his jeep； ignoring the stares of the men and their curses flung at his back。 Deep within him he knew the Caribs had had nothing to do with Turk's murder。 He was desperately trying to convince himself that the answer was logical； something he could put his finger on； but the more he brooded over it the more the answer seemed to elude him。 It led him into a place of darkness； a cramped passage moving him inexorably toward a closed iron hatch。
THAT WAS NOT REAL！ he told himself for the thousandth time； trying to make the thought convincing。 That was not； could never be； real！ Of course； it was his job to be concerned。 He was responsible for the Coquina villagers and the Caribs as well； even though those people looked to their Chief Father as the ultimate authority。
As he reached the jeep Kip realized the birds were silent； the myriad noises now were strangely and disturbingly absent。 The breeze swept in； rattling foliage and sending the mist through the trees with questioning fingers。 Silence swelled in the sun…ribbed shadows； louder than the screeching of the birds。 It was an oppressive quiet； and Kip wondered what had caused it。
He started the engine and began to thread his way along the road； away from the red points of eyes that had been watching。
And hungering。
Thirteen
THE SINGLE…ENGINE PLANE circled a few times above the island's interior and then dropped smoothly down into the trees。 Moore had seen it and； out of curiosity； he drove his pickup truck along a road into jungle； across open flats and through areas black with thicket； trees； and vines shutting off the sunlight。 The r