CHAPTER 35
As the ferry neared Away So Far Island, Louis went up to the bow. He saw the same fringe of dark green, broken by tall palms, and the jut of a weathered wooden dock. As they drew closer, he could see the dirt path that led up the gentle hill, and a moment later the white clapboard restaurant came into view. It looked exactly as it had on his first trip. But this time, it was different.
He was seeing things through new eyes, eyes that saw the dense mangroves with their claw-like branches, saw the thick tangle of brush, and saw —- for the first time —- how far out in the sound they were, how isolated the island really was.
“The boat is slowing,” Landeta said. “Are we pulling in?”
“Yeah.”
“What can you see?”
“Not much from here. Heavy mangroves, the restaurant, lots of brush,” Louis said. “There’s also a small skiff tied up at the dock.”
The ferry docked and Louis nudged Landeta to his feet. A dark-haired man on the dock roped the boat in and the motor died. Louis and Landeta waited while the tourists filed off.
Louis stepped off first, then extended a hand back to Landeta. But he ignored it, stepped over to the dock, and started away.
“When I need a Seeing Eye dog, I’ll be sure to call you,” he said to Louis.
Louis let it go, following Landeta up the dock.
“Enjoy your lunch on Away So Far Island,” the man said as Louis passed. “The ferry back leaves in two hours. Please be prompt.”
Louis and Landeta trailed the rest of the group up the path toward the restaurant.
“Did you see any other place a boat could pull into?” Landeta asked as they walked.
“No, it’s all mangroves. Why?”
“Just wondering,” Landeta said. He stopped walking, catching Louis’s arm. He looked off toward the side of the restaurant. “What’s over there?”
Louis started walking, angling away from the restaurant toward the water. “Nothing much, some more mangroves and a garbage bin. Wait a minute. I forgot that there’s a fence.”
Louis went to the gate. Unlike his first trip here, it was now padlocked. The fence was a good six feet high.
“Can you get a look over it?” Landeta asked.
Louis climbed atop the garbage bin. On the other side, he could see what looked like jungle—twisted vines, rotting stumps, fallen trees, and a glimpse of a narrow dark creek. He tried to remember what he had seen on his walk in from the other side of the island but could recall only brush and mangroves.
“Hey, you there!”
Louis turned to see the man from the dock coming toward them. The man stopped, his hands on his hips. “That’s private property.”
Louis jumped off the garbage bin, dusting his hands. “We were just looking for a nature trail or something. Thought we’d take a look around.”
The man pointed to the restaurant, up the hill. “You’d better get up to lunch. There’s no time for walking.”
Louis and Landeta headed back toward the restaurant. As they started up the wooden steps, Landeta caught his arm. “Did you see anything back there?”
“Not a thing. It’s all brush and trees.”
They were met at the door by the same young boy who looked up at them with long-lashed brown eyes. “How many?”
“Two.”
“Yes, sir.” The boy led them to the back of the restaurant, and laid the menus on the wooden table. “Can I get you a drink?”
“Water, please.”
Louis slid into the chair, watching the boy. “That was Roberto,” Louis said to Landeta. “The same kid Frank spoke to. You know, I didn’t see it the first time but the kid looks like Frank when he was younger, that same pale complexion, black wavy hair.”
Louis looked around. The bartender was a tall man, about forty, with a bush of black hair. Louis could see two other men in their twenties, both dressed in white T-shirts and long white aprons. Back in the kitchen, his face barely visible in the small window, he saw another man who looked to be in his mid-forties.
He leaned back toward Landeta. “They all look the same. Black hair, dark eyes.”
“What about the women?” Landeta asked.
“I don’t see any women.” Louis leaned over the table. “Come to think of it, I didn’t see any the first time either.”
“Where do you think they are?”
“They’re dead.”
“The boy came from somewhere, Kincaid. He wasn’t hatched.”
Louis could feel eyes on his back and he turned to see the two waiters staring at them. Roberto appeared with their water.
“You’re Roberto, right?” Louis asked.