Silver Linings

and you get politicians,” Rosey said in disgust. “There's always a few of'em, even on a nice peaceful island like Purgatory. Can't trust'em as far as you can throw'em. Nothin' but trouble.”
    There was a profound silence as everyone considered that unalterable fact of life.
    “Will you go back to Purgatory?” Mattie asked Rosey.
    “Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on what happens.”
    “Yeah,” said Gibbs. “Depends. Had a good setup on Purgatory, but I reckon we can find another patch o' ground, huh, Rosey?”
    “Yep. Always a good deal out there somewhere if you got the brains to look for it.”

    They arrived at Brimstone late in the day. Mattie gazed around with interest as she stepped off the boat. The village looked a lot like other backwater Pacific island communities with its pretty little harbor and a waterfront filled with taverns and small shops. The jungle rose behind the small town, looming over it like a giant green monster that threatened to absorb the small cluster of buildings in one gulp.
    Mattie realized she'd had enough of jungles.
    “Now what?” she asked, turning to Hugh, who was untying Gibbs. Rosey was securing the boat, his eyes already scanning the waterfront for the nearest tavern.
    “Now we say a fond farewell to our two cheerful guides. Then we hunt up a place to spend the night.”
    “We're going to be stuck here overnight?” Mattie looked askance at the buildings along the waterfront. There was nothing resembling a world-class luxury resort in sight.
    “Probably. Brimstone only has one flight out a day. Next one isn't until tomorrow sometime. No charter operation based here. Yet.” Hugh finished releasing Gibbs from his bonds and vaulted out onto the dock. “So long, gentlemen. Good luck and thanks for the use of the boat.”
    “Sure. See ya' around,” Rosey said cheerfully. He grinned at Mattie, his eyes crinkling. “Nice to have met you, ma'am, and we sure do thank you for convincing your man to take us off Purgatory with you.”
    “Fuckin' right,” Gibbs said with a toothless smile. “Thanks, ma'am. You all take care now, you hear?”
    “Come on, Mattie.” Hugh took her arm and propelled her forcefully along the dock.
    “Good-bye,” Mattie called over her shoulder. “And thanks.”
    “I'm glad to see the last of those two,” Hugh said as he tugged Mattie up the steps to the paved road that fronted the harbor.
    “What an odd pair. They seem like the best of friends, yet Gibbs was apparently planning to steal Rosey's boat and Rosey was waiting with a gun to stop him. What on earth do you suppose they'll do now?”
    “I don't know and I don't particularly care. But let's get one thing straight, babe. Next time we're in a situation like that, I don't want you trying to call the shots. You do as you're told and you don't stand around arguing with me. Clear?”
    “I knew you were just waiting until we were alone to start lecturing me.” She lifted her chin. “But I don't have to stand here and let you chew me out, Hugh Abbott. We are now back in civilization. Sort of. I can book my own flight off Brimstone and be back in Seattle in a day or two. And that's exactly what I'm going to do.”
    Hugh came to a halt and stood glowering down at her. “What the hell are you talking about? You think that now the excitement's over you can just casually go home?”
    “I don't see why not.”
    “You're supposed to be on vacation, damn it.”
    “I've got news for you, Hugh. I find life in Seattle far more restful and relaxing than life out here in the islands. Do you know that in all the years I've lived in a city I have never once walked into a house and found a man who had been shot to death? I have never had to crawl through horrid caves or spend a night in a cavern or steal a boat or point a gun at someone?”
    Hugh's expression softened in the warm sunlight. “Babe, about that bit with the gun back on Purgatory. You did a fine job of dealing with Gibbs. I was proud of you. I know you haven't had much experience with that sort of thing, but you were terrific. I mean, really terrific. And I also know what it was like for you to have to go through those caves, not once but twice. And I know stealing a boat was kind of a novelty for you.”
    “Kind of.”
    “Like I said, I was real proud of you, babe.”
    “You don't know what that means to me, Hugh.” She mocked him with a sugary smile.
    “Oh, hell, Mattie. You can't go home now. You've got to give me some