A Hero for Leanda

Ionides’ shack, a blotch of white among the palms, would help to guide him in.
    “All right,” he said, as he rejoined the others. “Malindi it is!”

    All that remained now was to make the final preparations for the voyage, and Conway and Leanda threw themselves with zest into the task. Thalia’s inventory of spares and equipment was already so comprehensive that Conway had only to check through it and make sure there were no gaps. But there were large quantities of tinned provisions to be ordered and stowed—sufficient to give an ample margin of safety for three. Day by day Thalia sank lower in the water, and still there were things to be remembered. It was Leanda who pointed out that Kastella might well join them with no more than the clothes he was wearing, and that he would need all sorts of things for the journey back. She made a list—“comforts for Our Leader,” Conway called them, with an irreverent chuckle. They covered everything, from razor and toothbrush to a broad-brimmed hat, and Conway did that part of the shopping, ostensibly for himself. For the first time in his sailing career, too, he equipped himself with tropical evening clothes, matching Leanda’s smart dresses, so that they would be able to take part, if necessary, in Heureuse’s social life. He also bought a varied pile of books, to replace those he had lost in Tara , and a double-barreled, twelve-bore shotgun, also a replacement. “I was once attacked by a spearfish,” he told Leanda, “a horrible brute nearly ten feet long, with a three-foot spear that would have gone through Tara ’s hull like butter! I’ve always carried a shotgun since then.” Leanda looked at him a little disbelievingly, but she let it pass.
    There were other things to do besides getting supplies aboard. With a slight feeling of regret, Conway had Thalia’s white hull repainted a deep turquoise, explaining to the boat yard that he couldn’t stand the glare. As soon as the paint was dry he began to take Leanda out and give her sailing lessons. She showed no special aptitude but she was very determined and it wasn’t long before he felt that he could safely leave her at the tiller in good weather. Ashore, they both behaved as though they were about to set out on an exciting holiday trip. The act was necessary, for by now there was a good deal of local interest in their plans. Ionides had already introduced them to the Yacht Club, of which he was an honorary member—it would be thought very odd, he said , if they didn’t mix with the local enthusiasts. There were one or two anxious moments,' as members politely probed Conway’s sailing background and he had to invent imaginary cruises and give the name of an imaginary club in Belfast and appear competent without being in any way unique. Ionides stood watchfully by, ready to intervene if things became too difficult, but the danger passed and the visitors were soon accepted with friendship and encouragement and much good advice. Their story was accepted, too—that they were bound for the Seychelles , and hoped to come back via Mauritius . No one seemed to find the project unreasonable in a ship like Thalia. After a few convivial drinking sessions, Conway was able to plead pressure of preparations and stay away from the club.
    In just over a fortnight they were ready. On the last night but two they moved from the hotel into the yacht, so that Leanda could get used to life aboard ship while conditions were still comfortable, and any gaps in their arrangements could be detected in time. Up to the very last moment there were things to do, and things to buy. Conway came back from his final round of purchases with a large brown paper parcel—a gift, he said, for Leanda. She opened it wonderingly—and out fell a mat, with the word “Welcome” on it. “For your hero!” Conway said.
    On the last day they saw the emigration people and the customs and got clearance for the Seychelles without difficulty. Afterward there was final business to do with Ionides. He brought greetings and good wishes from Metaxas, received that day by code, and the news that a further thousand pounds had been paid into Conway ’s account. The two men completed some rather technical financial arrangements, devised by Metaxas, which would seem to show that Ionides had made a genuine sale of Thalia to Conway , and at a good profit, if anyone should ever get around to questioning him. They also rehearsed once more the plans for