hisper
as he visualized Effra of the Green Eyes flying out over this wilderness
of waters.

"I am sorry, Beel," Mercedes said gently. "Will you remember one thing,
Beel?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"You saved my life back there. I will not forget it. If the time ever
comes, I will pay my debt."

"Thank you," Parker said. "But there is no debt."

"You think this island we are hunting might be the same island your girl
claimed she found?" Retch spoke from the front end of the boat.

"And if it is the same island?" Mercedes said.

Anger came boiling up in Parker. "If it is that island, and if I ever
get back to Los Angeles, I am going to hunt up a psychiatrist by the
name of Yammer and take care of him!" Parker dug the water savagely.
Gradually, his anger subsided. "Where did you run into the rumor about
this island?"

Retch shrugged. "It was just one of those things you hear." He studied
the landscape. "We should spot a boat soon."

"We are not exactly on the well-traveled ocean lanes," Parker pointed
out. "Does it happen that there are any other little things about this
island that you forgot to tell me when you chartered my ship to fly you
down here?"

Retch flushed. "Such as--"

"Such as how it happened that my 'copter threw a vane just after we
sighted the place?"

Retch did not answer.

"Seemed as though somebody shot at us."

"Oh hell no! The loss of the vane was accidental."

"Accidents like that can happen but they usually don't. I checked the
ship before we took off." Parker turned silent. There was no proof that
the wrecking of the 'copter had been anything but an accident. "What do
you expect to find on this island?"

"I told you--"

"Just before the 'copter started down, Miss Valdar was yakking about how
we were all going to be rich," Parker interrupted.

The glance Retch gave Mercedes had no love in it. "Sometimes she's got
her mouth open when she ought to have it shut."

* * * * *

Mercedes was silent. "I see," Parker said. "When you chartered my ship,
you told me you were a scientist and that you wanted to investigate
certain phenomena on this island. You said your investigation would take
only a few hours. I was to fly you here and wait for you. You said you
might want me to fly you back to the mainland, or might not, depending
on what you found here. Is this correct?"

"Certainly," Retch answered. "I'm sorry you lost your ship but the
insurance will