Calypso Magic (Magic Trilogy 2)

They made their way inland and soon found a tangle of growth that kept the most of the rain from them.

"At least we won't freeze to death," Diana said as she eased herself down. She hated the wet clothes, the clammy feeling. Lyon came down beside her, leaning his back against what Diana called a manchineel tree. "Just don't touch the leaves, Lyon. They cause blistering."

"I'm surprised you told me."

"If you did rub the leaves, I would just have to listen to your complaints. Besides, you wouldn't be able to help me."

"Such warmth and caring," he said, and sighed. The branches and leaves were so thick overhead that only an occasional raindrop came through. "This is most bizarre. Alone with you of all people on a desert island"

"You are most lucky that it isn't a desert island! So far I have seen abundant coconut palms and some sugar-apple trees. We won't starve. Furthermore, Lyon, if you weren't with me, I wouldn't place your chances for survival very high."

Surprisingly, he agreed. "I wish now that I had read Robinson Crusoe after the precocious age of eight. I don't remember a thing."

"It will be all right," she said firmly. "Rafael will escape the French, what with the storm. He will come back for us in no time at all."

"If for no other reason than to have you grateful to him to get you in his bed."

She sucked in her breath. "Unlike you, my lord, Rafael is a gentleman."

He laughed and raindrops fell on their faces from the disturbed leaves above their heads.

"Let's try to get some sleep. I hope there are no creatures about to nibble on us?"

"Do you hear that chirping sound? That's a coqui. A tree frog. He doesn't do nibbling. There is nothing awful to frighten you, I promise."

"You sound like my old nanny telling me that there were no monsters in the night to eat little boys. Good night. I need my strength to accept your directions on survival."

He thought she muttered a curse, but he couldn't make it out. He grinned, thinking yet again that never in his wildest dreams had he pictured himself in such a strange situation.

"Beware the iguana, Lyon."

He started. "What the hell is that?"

"Iguanas look like monsters, but they're more afraid of you than the other way around. There aren't many of them around now."

"Now that you've provided fodder for my dreams, I'll thank you to keep your mouth closed."

He awoke once during the long night, found Diana snuggled against him, and smiled. He pulled her close. Before he found sleep again, he was very aware of every foreign sound, aware of the dense growth all around them.

This is not at all the place for an English earl, he thought.

16

Base and squalid things have no appeal for men of noble virtue.

—SENECA

"My God! What the hell is that?"

Lyon was eye to eye with a ferret-sized creature. It was repulsive, and to wake up so, it was a shock.

Diana jerked awake, felt Lyon as tense as a bowstring, and laughed when she saw what had startled him.

"It's only a mongoose," she said, still laughing, buffeting him on his shoulder. She watched the mongoose scurry away. "He was imported by early settlers to keep down the rats who destroyed the sugarcane. He's not so popular anymore as he's too prolific and eats everything in sight."

"Thank you," he said politely. "I don't believe how green everything is. I feel like I've been grown over during the night with green."

"Could be with the heavy rain." She sat up beside him. "Well, my front is dry but my back feels dreadful." She stretched. "Once in the sun, though, we'll be dry within thirty minutes."