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He whirled around； a shadow blocked the doorway； moving toward him。 He took a step backward； lifting an arm to ward it off； his teeth bared and eyes widened。
The shadow stood motionless； looking at the two of them。 〃What the hell are you doing here； David？〃 Kip asked。 〃And who's she？〃 He didn't wait for a reply； but raised his voice。 〃e off that thing； miss； before you break your neck！〃
〃Who are you giving orders to？〃 she asked indignantly。
〃I'm the constable of Coquina； and I'm ordering you off that boat！〃 He glanced at Moore。 〃Who is she？〃
〃Dr。 Thornton。 She came from Kingston to examine the submarine。〃
〃Is that so？〃 Kip watched as she made her way across the gangplank and approached him。 〃What were you trying to do；〃 he asked her； 〃go down in that bastard by yourself？〃
〃That's exactly right；〃 Jana said； her guard up。
〃Wrong。 This shelter and that boat are off…limits to everyone without my express permission； and so far I haven't given it to you。〃 He pressed the back of his hand against his face。 〃It smells of rot in here； let's get out into the sun。〃
When they had left the shelter Kip closed the door and looked for some way to lock it； he found a thin metal rod in the debris of the yard and jammed it through the door's hasp as a temporary solution。
〃I have a letter from the Jamaica Historic Foundation in my bag；〃 Jana said curtly。 〃If you like I'll get it for you and then we can。。。〃
〃No；〃 Kip said。 〃Never mind any letters。〃 He was aware of the woman's growing anger。 〃How did you get to Coquina？〃
〃My airplane。〃
〃I see。〃 He glanced over at Moore； then back to the woman。 〃Well。。。 Dr。 Thornton； is it？ I'm afraid you made a long trip for nothing。 First thing Monday morning two trawlers are going to tow the submarine out to deep water。 A couple of welders are going to cut holes into it； and it's going back down where it came from。〃
〃Wait a minute；〃 Jana said； her face flushing。 〃I don't know why you think you can make this decision； but I'm not going to let you do it！〃
〃I'm sorry。 The plans have been made。〃
〃Then unmake them； damn it！〃 she said； stepping defiantly toward him。 Kip stood where he was； but he could feel the heat of her anger。 〃You don't seem to realize what that boat is！ It's a Nazi U…boat in almost perfect condition after forty years or so at the bottom of the Caribbean。 We have to know how it stayed that way； what made it cork； and what boat it was。 I can have a salvage team down here within three days！ You can't sink it！〃
〃It's a rotting old hulk；〃 Kip said。
〃No！ It's in remarkable condition； not much deteriorated from the day it went down！ And I'll wager the interior is in excellent condition as well； including the engine room！ My God； the boat's a naval historian's dream。 It's almost certain I can guarantee interest from the British Museum if I can just examine the inside！〃
〃You ever heard the story of Pandora's Box？〃 Kip asked her； the question startled her。 〃Let's just say there's plenty you don't know about the submarine。 All manner of hell's been raised here because of it。 No； I'm not going to wait any three days。 I wouldn't wait three damned hours if I didn't have to！〃 He reached over and pulled at the metal rod to make certain the door was shut securely。 Moore realized he had locked the door as if to keep something in instead of out。 Kip turned to him and said； 〃I was driving past on my way back from Caribville and I saw your truck parked here。 I didn't think you would've e back here alone。。。〃
〃You're a madman！〃 Jana said suddenly。 〃That's a scientific find you want to destroy！〃
〃I've had enough arguing； miss；〃 Kip told her； looking her straight in the eye。 〃I've had my say； and that's how things stand。 If you want to file a protest with your Foundation when you get back to Kingston； that's fine with me too。 Let them get in touch with me； and I'll tell them the same thing。 The U…boat's going back into the ocean。 David； I'll see you later。 Dr。 Thornton； have a good trip。〃 He nodded toward her and walked back to his jeep。 He started the engine and roared off； leaving them standing together at the side of the shelter。
〃What's wrong with that man？〃 Jana asked。 〃Is he out of his mind？〃
〃No；〃 Moore said。 〃No； he's not。〃 It was getting late； the shadows were thicker； a blue…black mist stretching across the yard。 Soon night would cover the island； and Moore realized there was no place on earth he would rather avoid than this boatyard； with the U…boat lying only behind the thickness of a wooden wall after darkness fell。 〃It's too late for you to make Kingston before dark；〃 he told Jana。 〃If you'd like I'll give you a room up at the hotel。〃
〃I appreciate that；〃 she said； 〃but I've no intention of leaving until I've talked some sense into that idiot。〃
〃Suit yourself；〃 Moore said； motioning toward the truck。
Driving into the village； Kip knew there was something terribly wrong； he saw the empty streets； the shuttered windows； the voodoo talismans scrawled on stucco and clapboard。 Anger surged within him； and he felt a confusion he couldn't begin to define。 One of the symbols； chalked against a sea…green door； held his attention； started the slow stirring of memories…sluggish； nebulous…at the back of his brain。 It was the crude drawing of a huge hand； from top to bottom of the door； the fingers spread as if to ward off the invisible。 Kip pulled the jeep to the side of the road and stared at it； unable to tear his gaze away。
He was a child again； a boy of thirteen； sitting at a low table eating from a bowl of corn mush and ham bits。 He ate slowly； though it was his first meal in over a day。 Across the plank…walled room； a few half…charred logs burned erratically in a stone fireplace。 On the floor was woven sea…grass； well…worn； the window shutters were closed tight and the only light came from several oil lamps placed around the room。 The dim half…glow illuminated the straw tribal masks on the walls； their features cunning and wolfish： heavy…browed seashell eyes gleaming。 He thought they were staring directly at him； and that sometimes their features changed to look almost human； but grotesque and freakish。
A man sat in a rocking chair before the fire。 He stared into the flames； rattling a jar of dog's teeth distractedly。 After a while he took one of the teeth out and tossed it in； then bent forward as if he saw something there。 He leaned back； the runners making a soft； catlike murmur on the grass mat。 From one corner there was a low rustle； the man turned his head and the boy caught a firelight profile of slitted eyes in an aged； weather…lined face。 On a bed of sea…grass across the room there was a large green iguana almost two feet long； a metal collar clamped about its neck secured the reptile to a line tied around an overhead beam with enough slack so that the lizard could move about in the room。 Its pale red eyes stared at Kip； the white flesh under the jaw and belly undulating as it breathed。 It came forward a few feet； crunching on the grass； stopped； flesh quivering along its spine； slender tail sweeping across the floor。 Its head moved jerkily； eyes fixed on Kip。
〃F