Flight to the Lonesome Place Read Online Free PDF

He had had a week’s engagement once in San Juan, and he had never wanted to return. But there was no way out of it now.
    All at once he asked, “If the Señora were going to take you to Santo Domingo, I should think she’d go by plane. It would be a lot easier. This is so roundabout.”
    â€œOh, she’d never fly. She has a thing about planes. And her home is only a day’s trip by boat from Mayagüez. Anyway, she wants to stop and see Bernardo first. After that—”
    â€œWhat are you going to do?”
    She shook her head. “I—I don’t know yet. Except that I’m not going home with the Señora. I—I’ll run away first. But what about you? What will you do when we reach San Juan?”
    Before he could answer, there was a light knock at the door, and a soft voice said, “Little lady? Are you there?”
    Ana María Rosalita got up quickly and went to the door. “Is that you, Josip?”
    â€œYes, little lady. I saw that your light was still on, and I wondered if you needed anything before I go off duty.”
    â€œNo, Josip. I’m quite all right. But thank you just the same.”
    â€œWell, the breakfast gong will sound at seven. The dining salon is directly below on the next deck. Good night, little lady.”
    â€œGood night, Josip.”
    She came back, frowning, and whispered, “That was Josip Broz, the cabin steward. You’re going to have to be very careful about him. He’s nosy.”
    Ronnie had already come to that conclusion. A person would have to be outside, on deck, to notice if the stateroom light was still on. He glanced quickly at the curtains, wondering how much Josip might have seen and heard. Well, he would face Josip tomorrow, and the captain too. Maybe something could be worked out. In the meantime …
    â€œLook,” he whispered. “It’s awfully late. Maybe we’d better get some sleep while we can. It’ll take us four or five days to reach San Juan. That will give us plenty of time to think about things and decide what to do. Do you know if the next stateroom is empty?”
    â€œI—I think so. If it’s empty, the key will be in the lock. But—but you’re not going until you tell me why you ran away. What happened? I couldn’t possibly sleep until I know.”
    â€œOkay.” He went to the door and listened a moment, then slipped to one of the portholes and carefully parted the curtains. The boat deck appeared empty now. Satisfied, he came back and began to tell her about Gus.
    As he talked, a lump rose in his throat. He and Gus had been worlds apart, and the danger he was in now was certainly his manager’s fault. But Gus, besides making him famous, had always treated him well. And at the last, Gus had died trying to warn him in time to escape.
    When he finished, Ana María Rosalita sat looking at him like a startled little owl, her dark, saucer eyes turned liquid with sympathy.
    â€œOh!” she whispered finally. “Oh! And those men, do you think they’ll ever be able to trace you here?”
    â€œSure they can, if they go about it right.” He picked up his bag and jacket and turned to the door. “But I’m not going to worry about it now. And don’t you worry about the Señora.”
    â€œI won’t. I feel better about everything, just talking to you. Good night, Boy Blue.”
    â€œGood night, camarada .”
    She liked being called that, for her face, which had looked so pinched, suddenly lighted up with a happy smile as he slipped out into the corridor. Well, from now on, she really was a comrade, a partner, for they were certainly in the same boat together, and in more ways than one. Nor did he have any doubt that soon they would be needing each other’s help.
    The next stateroom, which had a key in the door, was almost exactly like the one he had left. Inside, he put the key in his pocket, bolted the