I sighed. Pat Harris was dead right. Katherine didn't know about Halstead's bad reputation in the trade. The advertising boys had got it down pat -- even her best friend wouldn't tell her! I debated for a moment whether or not to tell her all about Pat Harris's investigations, but to tell a woman that her husband was a liar and a faker was certainly not the best way of making friends and influencing people. She would be come more than annoyed and would probably tell Halstead -- and what Halstead would do in his present frame of mind might be highly dangerous.
I said. 'Now, look, Katherine: if Paul has an obsession it has nothing to do with Fallon. I think Fallon is eminently fair, and will give Paul all the credit that's, coming to him That's just my own personal opinion, mind you.'
'You don't know what that man has done to Paul,' she said sombrely.
'Maybe he had it coming to him,' I said brutally. 'He doesn't make it easy for anyone working with him. I'm not too happy about his attitude to me, and if he keeps it up he's going to get a thick ear.'
That's an unfair thing to say,' she burst out.
'What the hell's unfair about it? You asked to come on this jaunt on the grounds that you could control him. Well, you just do that, or I'll do a bit of controlling in my own way.'
She scrambled to her feet. 'You're against him, too. You're siding with Fallon.'
'I'm not siding with anyone,' I said tiredly. 'I'm just sick to death of seeing a piece of scientific research being treated as though it were a competitive sporting event -- or a war. And I might tell you that that attitude is one sided -- it doesn't come from Fallon.'
'It doesn't have to,' she said viciously. 'He's on top.'
'On top of what, for God's sake? Both Fallon and Paul arc here doing a job of work, and why Paul doesn't get on with it and await the outcome is beyond me.'
'Because Fallon will . . .' She stopped. 'Oh, what's the use of talking? You wouldn't understand.'
'That's right,' I said sarcastically. 'I'm so dumb and stupid I can't put two and two together. Don't be so bloody patronizing.'
It's said that some women appear more beautiful when angry, but for my money it's a myth probably bruited about by constitutionally angry women. Katherine was in a rage and she looked ugly. With one quick movement she brought up her hand and slapped me -- hard. She must have played a lot of tennis in her time because that forehand swing of hers really jolted me.
I just looked at her. 'Of course that solves a lot of problems.' I said quietly, 'Katherine, I admire loyalty in a wife, but you're not just loyal -- you've been brainwashed.'
There was a sudden throb in the air and then a roar as the helicopter appeared over the trees and passed overhead. I looked up and saw Paul Halstead's head twist around to watch us.
Seven.
Every three days a big Helicopter came in from Camp One bringing drums of fuel for the diesel generators and cylinders of gas for the camp kitchen as and when necessary. It also brought in the mail which had been flown from Mexico City by Fallen's jet, so I could keep in touch with England. Mount wrote to me telling me that probate was going through without much difficulty, and Jack Edgecombe had taken fire at last and was enthusiastic about the new plan for the farm. He was going ahead in spite of acid comments from the locals and was sure we were on to a good thing.
Reading those letters from Devon while in that stinking hot clearing in the middle of Quintana Roo made me homesick and I debated once again whether or not to quit. This business had got nothing to do with me and I was feeling more on the outside than ever because there was a distinct coolness now between Katherine and myself.
On the day of the quarrel there had been raised voices from the Halsteads' hut quite late into the night and, when Katherine .appeared next morning, she wore a shirt with a high collar. It wasn't quite high enough to hide the bruise on the side of her throat and I felt an odd tension in the pit of my stomach. But how a man and his wife conducted their marriage had nothing to do with me, so I left it at that. Katherine, for her part, pointedly ignored me, but Halstead didn't change at all -- he just went on his usual bastardly way.
I was just on the point of quitting when Fallon showed me a letter from Pat Harris who had news of Gatt. 'Jack is making the rounds of Yucatan,' he wrote. He has been to Merida, Valladolid and Vigio Chico, and is now in Felipe Carillo Puerto. He seems to be looking for something or someone -- my guess is someone, because he's talking to some of the weirdest characters. Since Jack prefers to spend his vacations in Miami and Las Vegas I think this is a business trip -- but it sure is funny business. It's not like him to sweat when there is no need, so whatever he is doing must be important.'
