Читать книгу The Dark River онлайн

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"I had the devil of a time getting back," McLeod remarked.

"I was surprised to see you," said Hardie. "I thought you'd stop at Vaihiva for a day or two."

"I took my time, returning. It was dark before I knew it and I got tangled up in a lot of coral shoals."

"Did you find what's-her-name--Mauri?"

"Yes."

"Was she glad to see you?"

"I don't know. I thought so, at first. In fact, I'm sure she was. Then--well, she seemed to cool off. I'd a feeling, at the end, that she was wishing me away as hard as she could."

"That's odd. Anyway, she showed you about?"

"In a reluctant sort of way. I had to ask to see my people's graves. And there, Alan, she burst out crying, with such genuine sorrow that I was touched by it. A few minutes later she said good-bye to me, very hastily, and left me standing by that little pier on the riverbank. I was more than surprised. There was nothing to do, then, but come back. I'm certain she was glad to see the last of me."

"Nonsense, Mac. We don't know these people, that's all. They're very emotional, so I've always heard. You probably upset her, coming so unexpectedly after all these years."