31

“I wouldn’t recommend sunbathing under that tree,” said Connor as Chloe and Emily laid their towels on the pristine beach.

“Why not?” said Emily, the corner of her lips curling up into a tease. “Worried about dropbears?”

“Not this time,” Connor replied with a glance up into the canopy. “Coconuts.”

As if to prove his point, a large brown husk fell from a nearby palm and plopped heavily into the sand. Brad had warned Connor about the danger, recounting a story of an old rock star who’d had his skull cracked open by one.

Emily and Chloe quickly retrieved their towels.

“So where do you suggest?” asked Chloe.

“Try this one,” said Ling, patting the trunk of a tall tree with thick waxy-green leaves. “It’s a takamaka—no danger of falling nuts here.”

Upon the instruction of Mr. Sterling, Captain Locke had sailed the Orchid around the southern tip of Mahé Island to Anse Takamaka, a secluded beach named after the abundance of the tree species. The idyllic horseshoe bay was like a scene straight out of Robinson Crusoe, pure white sand fringed with palms and crystal-blue waves rippling along the shoreline.

Chloe repositioned her towel, lay down and stretched herself out in the sun. “Now, this is the life,” she said, taking out a glossy magazine, sunscreen, headphones and her smartphone from her beach bag.

Joining her sister, Emily had an equal array of light entertainment, but ignored it in favor of watching the white-tailed birds and multicolored butterflies flitting among the lush vegetation surrounding them. The beach was utterly unspoiled by human habitation. Mr. Sterling and Ms. Ryder were relaxing on beach chairs brought over on the tender. Sophie and another stewardess were serving them drinks and ensuring their every need was met. The girls had decided they wanted to be farther down the beach, away from the doting couple, and Mr. Sterling hadn’t objected as long as Connor and Ling accompanied them.

Connor and Ling put down their go-bags and prepared for a day of sunbathing. As Ling got out her towel, she gave Connor a sly grin and whispered, “This is going to be a breeze if all we have to worry about are coconuts!”

Looking up and down the deserted beach, Connor couldn’t help but agree. There was no one who could hassle the girls, and there were no apparent threats: just glorious sun, sand and sea. The recipe for a perfect vacation.

Connor riffled through his go-bag for sunscreen and the paperback book he’d bought at the airport, then sat down and did another visual sweep of the area. The coast was utterly clear. No other boats, aside from the Orchid anchored beyond the bay.

“You can take first watch,” said Ling, lying back on her towel and closing her eyes.

But no sooner had Ling gotten comfortable than Chloe said, “Ling, get me a drink.”

Ling sat back up, a flicker of irritation passing across her face before asking, “What would you like?”

Chloe waved a hand in the direction of the tender. “Chef should have packed a pitcher of fresh lemonade.”

“Ooh, that sounds good,” said Emily. “Can I have one too?”

“Of course,” said Ling, getting to her feet. “I’ll bring the whole pitcher.” She strode over to where Sophie was talking with Brad and Dan near the moored tender.

While Ling was busy collecting the drinks, Emily turned to Connor. “Would you mind blowing up my floating mattress for me, please? I’d like to go lounge in the water.”

“Sure,” said Connor, delving into his go-bag and retrieving the inflatable silver mattress he’d been given earlier. Putting the valve to his lips, he began the slow process of blowing it up.

Ling returned with a tray of four iced lemonades and the pitcher. Chloe downed hers in one gulp, asked for another, then plugged in her earphones and lay facedown on her towel. Once Emily got her drink, Ling offered a glass to Connor, who was still puffing away.

“Thanks,” he gasped, taking a large gulp of lemonade, its ice-cold zest refreshing him. After a dozen more lungfuls of air, the mattress was fully inflated.

“Here you go,” said Connor.

“Great,” said Emily, taking the inflatable mattress and trotting down to the shoreline.

While Emily paddled in the shallows and her sister lay sprawled in the sun, Connor and Ling were left to their own devices. With nothing to do, Ling stretched out on her towel and sunbathed too. Seeing Emily happily floating on the water, Connor picked up his book and began to read.

After a while, Brad strolled over. “I’m just taking Mr. Sterling and Ms. Ryder back to the boat. I’ll return to collect the girls for lunch. All good here?”

Connor nodded. Chloe was laid out, eyes closed and humming to a song on her headphones, while Emily still lay on her mattress, bobbing gently on the waves.

“Well, don’t work too hard!” warned Brad with a playful wink.

Connor heard the tender depart, then settled back into his book.

He’d read only a couple of chapters when Ling sat up and nudged him.

“Do you think Emily’s all right?”

Connor looked up. Emily was flat out on her mattress, almost a hundred feet from the shore. Last time he’d looked, she had been only some thirty feet away.

Putting aside his book, Connor jogged down to the waterline. “Emily,” he called.

But she didn’t respond. By the looks of it, she’d fallen asleep. With a growing sense of panic, Connor realized her inflatable mattress was caught in a current and she was drifting fast out to sea.