The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-12-15
Chapter 20
soNYA's WELCOME

r soNYA's WELCOME
THE next morning Curt and
! Smash started north once more
In the plane.
On that long trip up across the
latitudes, Baldwin's suggestion in
the car the night before haunted
him like a nightmare. He fought
against It but stray thoughts kept
getting past his guard.
There was Sonya's passionate de-
termination to go into the Lilluars.
Her secrecy. Her mention, once, of
a weekend trip to juneau. LeNoir's
order that she must not be harmed.
The woman's description OF the tall
Russian who'd been so frequent a
caller at the volkov home. -.
In the hush Of twilight they
sailed over a spearhead range and
saw the Iskitimwah lake nesting in
its mountain cradle. They cut off
ignition. made long fourteen-mile
glide, and drifted down upon the
water.
Curtis canoe was. there near the
cabin, where he had left it. He
fioated the craft, shook hands with
Smash, gave him final instructions,
and set out down the Iskitimwah.
It was a little before midnight
when he threaded the river delta
and pointed his canoe out across
the lake toward camp. After three
days Of freedom from ambushes
and ramhorn bows. he was op-
pressed by the feeling of danger
closing around him again. With
Siam-Klale's main band whipping
south and LeNoir probably suspect
Ing who Paul and he really were,
something drastic was bound to
happen, and quickly too.
The island doomed up ahead,
dark. and silent. Everything seemed
peaceful there. Presently he dis
tinguished the outlines of the two
tents. Thank God. nothing had gone
very wrong while he'd been away!
From the upper tip of the island
q hawk-owls cluck challenged him,
so sharp and peremptory that he
had to smile. Trust Paul to spot any
canoe approaching that island!
He answered back. landed at the
lower end. beached his canoe and
hurried up to camp. Beside the
boulder "fort" Francois and Jocku
were rolled up In their elder pokes,
sleeping soundly while Paul stood
guard. On spruce mattress under
his tent fly Ralph was tossing rest
lessly in a dream. The Indian. Tenn
Og. was not around.
Beyond the tents Sonya was sit
ting on a canoe near the water edge,
looking out toward the willow
island.
She sprang up from the canoe and
whirled around.
"Oh-ooi Curt! It's you! | wasn't
expecting Curt. where have you
been all these days7 Why did you
leave US that night?s
"Tve been prospecting creek
that old John told me about" he
lied. Everything went all right
here. didn't it?''
yes. but You were gone so long
and Paul wouldn't tell me a thing,
and I'll worried about YOU"
IN THE ghostly light her face was
1 white and ethereal as she con-
fronted him. and her bosom still
was heaving from the start he'd
given her. She appeared so afraid
and alone that all the stern things
he meant to tell her dropped away,
as once before in the canoe at Rus.
sian Lake.
II worried about you too. dear.
Are You glad I'm back?"
lawfully gladl Paul Is depend
able. but he,s-he's not you"
Her fingers frightened upon his as
though asking him not to go away
again. Impulsiyely Curt swept her
into his arms.
"Sonya"-his hand caressed her
hair. he was fiittingiy conscious Of
that small automatic beneath her
blouse as he held her close to him
you seemed so glad-when you
saw me. Can't I hope you do care
IA little Bit. sweetheart
Sonya did not look up or answer
his question. For q few moments
she lay in his arms. not resisting.
with the yelyety softness Of her
cheek against his own.
"Sonya. listen" he urged. not
knowing how to Interpret her pas
siveness. Il know IT'S wrong 10 force
myself on you when ron feel under
obligations. but ] can't 90 on not
knowlng-s
She stopped him. Don't say that.
dear: you'd never take advantage
OF obligations But even a. she said
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