The chandler was only too happy to rent them a sail loft. Nobody was using it anyway, and there was gear at hand to furnish it, albeit as a somewhat nautical as well as oversized bed chamber.
Gaston watched as Captain Gringo enclosed a den-like pile of tarps and wool blankets in a corner, complete with ship’s lantern and clamshell ashtrays on a seaman’s chest. The chandler had had no trouble replacing the hat and linen jacket he’d lost in the blasted room over the cantina, but Captain Gringo wasn’t happy with the new gunbelt and antiquated single action .38 he’d found downstairs. The old thumb buster had been packed in tallow to keep it from rusting, but it had seen some service in its time and the bore was worn.
As he dry fired and loaded it after setting up his new flop, Gaston said, “I noticed how skillfully you avoided telling that big Dutchwoman where you might be found tonight.”
Captain Gringo shot Gaston a dirty look and asked, “Were you peeking, you dirty old goat?”
“Mais non, I was listening. I thought it prudent to position myself between you two and the lady’s husband. Madame finds it amusing to live dangerously. But I was proud of you, my old and rare. She got nothing from you but your youthful energy.”
“Do you think she was trying to pump me for information?”
“No matter. Your survival instincts have developed since we first met. The only question is whether she wanted to know where you would be sleeping tonight in order to sleep with you, or to try and blow you through the roof again.”
Captain Gringo nodded but said, “She could have been in on the attempt last night. On the other hand, someone may have been after both of us. I’ve been thinking about that rock that rolled down the mountain at us the other day.”
“Ah? You suspect it may not have been a natural phenomenon? The earth out on this point trembles two or three times a day. The natives tell me Monte Purgatorio has been restless for some time.”
“I noticed. But it sure was funny how that big boulder acted like it was aimed at us. The base of the volcano is miles around. There’s a lot of other places for a volcanic bomb to roll.”
Gaston frowned and said, “True, but we know her husband did not have time to run up into the smoke and pry a boulder loose. Who else would have the motive? Another lover who takes his jealousy tres serious?”
“No. That rock rolled down on us before Ernestine got around to telling me she liked me. I think that just may let old Jan off the hook. I mean, as the guy behind the attempt, if it was one.”
“He may have been annoyed at her before we arrived, non? Remember the whip marks on her heroic derriere?”
“That’s my point. If he’s been able to get his jollies by slapping her around in private, he’d hardly go public if he wanted to get rid of her. Their house is right above a cliff. A guy who wanted to kill his wife would have done it by now.”
“True. Perhaps a disgruntled employee?”
“Maybe. She seems easier on their help than he does, though. A guard or mine worker with a grudge against management would be smarter to start with the boss if he was out to kill anybody.”
Gaston shrugged and said, “You may be building a plot in thin air. An active volcano tends to throw things, and things thrown have to go somewhere”
“Monte Purgatorio didn’t throw high explosives into that other room. But you’re right. It’s a waste of time to try and figure it out at this late date.”
He gave the corner nest a last once-over and said, “Let’s go. I have to gather our guys together and make some plans. We’d better pick up some chart paper and colored crayons downstairs, first.”
“You intend to make a map, my old and rare? I can get you a chart already drawn of Punta Purgatorio, if that is what you wish.”
Captain Gringo nodded and said, “That’s even better. But we’ll still need the crayons. I’ll use blue for our positions, red for the enemy, and maybe purple for people I’m not sure about.”
-Gaston frowned and said, “I am familiar with battle plans. But it comes as news to me that we are about to have a battle. When is all this fatiguing heroism to take place?”
“As soon as the U.S.S. Denver drops anchor out there. Come on, I’ll explain it as we go.”