But when a man in shorts came down the path that ran from the radio shack to the beach, it was the Lieutenant. He was very brown and cheerful and he had not cut his hair in three months and he called out, “How was your trip?”
“Good,” said Thomas Hudson. “Will you come aboard for a beer?”
“Later,” the Lieutenant said. “They brought your ice and supplies and some beer two days ago. We buried the ice. The other things are at the house.”
“What news do you have?”
“The aviation were supposed to have sunk a submarine off Guinchos ten days ago. But that was before you left.”
“Yes,” Thomas Hudson said. “That was two weeks ago. Is that the same one?”
“Yes.”
“Any other news?”
“Another submarine was supposed to have shot down a blimp off Cayo Sal day before yesterday.”
“Is that confirmed?”
“We heard so. Then there was your pig.”
“Yes?”
“The same day of the blimp they brought a pig for you with your supplies and he swam out to sea the next morning and was drowned. We had fed him, too.”
The Lieutenant laughed. He had a very cheerful brown face and he was not stupid. He was acting because it amused him. He had orders to do anything he could for Hudson and to ask him nothing. Thomas Hudson had orders to use any facilities the station could give and tell nothing to anyone.
“Any more news?” he asked. “Have you seen any Bahaman sponging or turtle boats?”
“What would they be doing here when they have all the turtle and sponge over there? But there were two Bahaman turtle boats came by here this week. They turned off the point and tacked to come in. But they ran for Cayo Cruz instead.”
“I wonder what they were doing here?”
“I don’t know. You cruise those waters for scientific purposes. Why should turtle boats leave the best turtling grounds to come here?”
“How many men could you see?”
“We could only see the men at the tiller. The boats had palm branches spread over the deck. They were built up like a shack. It could be to give shade for the turtles.”
“Were the helmsmen white or black?”
“White and sunburned.”
“Could you make out any numbers or names on the boats?”
“No. They were too far away. I put the key in a state of defense that night and the next day and night and there was nothing.”
“When did they go by?”
“The day before your ice and groceries and your suicidal pig arrived. Eleven days after the sub was reported sunk by your aviation. Three days before you arrived here. Are they friends of yours?”
“You signalled them, of course?”
“Naturally. And I have heard nothing.”
“Can you send three messages for me?”
“Of course. Send them in as soon as they are ready.”
“I will start to load gas and ice and put the supplies aboard. Was there anything in them you can use?”
“I don’t know. There is a list. I signed for it but I could not read it in English.”
“Didn’t they send any chickens or turkeys?”
“Yes,” the Lieutenant said. “I was saving them for a surprise.”
“We’ll split them,” Thomas Hudson said. “We’ll split the beer, too.”
“Let my people help you load the gas and ice.”
“Good. Thank you very much. I would like to be gone in two hours.”
“I understand. Our relief has been put off another month.”
“Again?”
“Again.”
“How do your people take it?”
“They’re all here on a disciplinary basis.”
“Thank you very much for your help. The whole world of science is grateful.”
“Guantánamo, too?”
“Guantánamo, the Athens of science.”
“I think they may have holed up somewhere.”
“So do I,” said Thomas Hudson.
“The shelters were of coconut palm and they were still green.”
“Tell me anything else.”
“I don’t know anything else. Send in the messages. I don’t want to come on board to take up any of your time or be a nuisance.”
“If anything perishable comes out while I am gone, use it before it spoils.”
“Thank you. I’m sorry your pig committed such suicide.”
“Thank you,” said Thomas Hudson. “We all have our small problems.”
“I’ll tell the men not to come on board but only to help load at the stern and help alongside.”
“Thank you,” Thomas Hudson said. “Can you remember anything more about the turtle boats?”
“They were typical. One was almost exactly the same as the other. They looked as though they had been built by the same builder. They turned the point of the reef and made to tack in here. Then they ran before the wind for Cayo Cruz.”
“Inside the reef?”
“Inside until they were out of sight.”
“And the sub off Cayo Sal?”
“Stayed on the surface and shot it out with the blimp.”
“I’d stay in a state of defense if I were you.”
“I am,” the Lieutenant said. “That’s why you haven’t seen anybody.”
“I saw the birds moving.”
“The poor birds,” the Lieutenant said.