Island of the Sequined Love Nun

dark."
    "And?"
    "We come home. Those guys from New Guinea pretty lucky no one know how to navigate in the dark."
    "No palu?" Tuck asked, using the native word for "navigator."
    "Japanese kill them. No palu left, except maybe one."
    "That's why you didn't turn Kimi over to the Sorcerer?"
    Malink nodded and trouble crossed his brow. "I am thinking, if Vincent send you, how come the Sorcerer not know you here? And how you not know Santa Claus?"
    Tuck noticed that the men had stopped painting their rifles and talking among themselves to listen to his answer. There was pressure here, beyond whether he'd be able to drink or not. He told them what they needed to hear. "Vincent called me from the land of armored possums to come to the island of the Shark People. I am a flyer, as Vincent was a flyer. He does not tell me everything, and he does not tell the Sorcerer everything. Vincent is sometimes mysterious, but we must trust his judgment."
    Malink smiled. "Let us drink to this flyer. Then we go to sleep." To Tuck, Malink said: "Tomorrow is the hunt."

53 – How the Shark People Got
    Their Name
    When the pounding came at his door just after dawn, Tuck prepared himself mentally to meet the smiling face of Sebastian Curtis, who would be overly cheerful at the prospect of trouncing the pilot at another round of gravel golf, but when he opened the door, there was Beth Curtis wearing a long-sleeved white cotton dress and a huge sun hat with a brim that fell over her face like a lampshade.
    Tuck had on hand-me-down boxer shorts that showed more of his morning bulge than he was comfortable with. Strange, a month ago he was ready to sell his soul for this physiological phenomenon, and today it was an embarrassment.
    "Good morning," he said. "I was expecting the doc."
    "Oh, did you two have plans?"
    "No, I just… never mind. Would you like to come in for some coffee?" He gestured to the small kitchen nook.
    "Why don't you make yourself a cup and bring it with you? I have something to show you."
    "Sure. Just give me a second."
    She waited by the door while he threw a pot of water on the stove, dressed quickly and combed his hair, then poured the water over some coffee grounds and stirred in some powdered milk. "I'm ready. What's up?"
    "I want to show you something on the other side of the island."
    "Outside of the compound?"
    "Near the village. I think you'll enjoy it."
    Tuck walked with her out into the morning sun, nursing his coffee as they went. There were no guards in sight anywhere. The wide gate to the runway was open.
    "Where's the ninjas?"
    "You call them that too? That's funny." She laughed, but because he couldn't see her face under the hat, he couldn't tell if there was any sincerity in it.
    She put her hand on his arm and let him lead her across the runway like a Victorian lady under escort.
    "Do you ever miss your family?" she asked as they walked.
    Tuck was taken by surprise. "My family? No. We parted on less than favorable terms. I fell out of contact with them long before I came out here."
    "I'm sorry. Really. Is it difficult for you?"
    Tuck thought she might be joking. "My mother and my uncle are my only real family. They married after my father was killed. I wasn't pleased."
    "You're kidding. I thought they only did that in West Virginia. Aren't you from California?"
    "She married my father's brother, not her brother. Still, I don't miss them."
    "What about your friends?"
    Tuck thought for a second. Things had changed for him since he'd last seen Jake Skye. In a way he'd taken on some responsibility. He was acting on his own, without a net. He wished that he could tell Jake about it. "Yeah, I miss my friends sometimes."
    "Me too, Tucker. I'd like to be your friend."
    "You have Sebastian."
    "Yes, I do, don't I."
    They walked in silence until they entered the village, which was deserted except for a few dogs and too many roosters. "Where is everybody?" Tuck reminded himself not to let it appear that any of this was familiar to him. "Is this where the natives live?"
    "They're all at the beach. Today is the day of the hunt."
    "The hunt?"
    "You'll see. It's a surprise."
    As they passed the bachelors' house, Tuck peeked through the door. He could see someone sleeping inside. Beth led the way to the beach and Tucker looked back. Sepie stood in the doorway wearing only a bandage around her ribs. She waved and Tuck risked a quick smile and turned away. They were going to give him away. One hint of recognition and he was