Читать книгу The Dark River онлайн

46 страница из 94

"No. 'Sir' me, if you like. It's a good old fashion, though it seems to be falling into disuse among young men in these days. I'm glad to see that it hasn't with you two. What's this about the hell hole of creation, Alan?"

Hardie grinned. "I like to get George's back up. It's not a bad little hole, but I've seen more than enough half-castes. I want to look at a few real Tahitians, if there are any left."

"They're still to be found," Tyson replied, "and Tautira is as good a place as any to find them."

"How do you feel about the natives, sir? You must know them well after all these years."

Tyson wrinkled his nose in an odd grimace. "They belong to the human race, Alan. Yes, I do know them well, and I endure them well. That's about as far as I care to go in the way of praise." His eyes twinkled. "Don't take that too seriously," he added. "The truth is I'm rather fond of Polynesians. I'm preparing, already, to defend them against your father."

"You can count on my support," McLeod said.

"Do you think he'll like it here?"