It’s my business.” “It’s a terrible business,” she said. “Somebody has to do it.” “And you like it, don’t you?” “Not really.” She smiled. “Liar. But I’m fond of you, Sam.” “That remains to be seen,” he said. The pall of smoke that hung over the city and the riverbanks and the eastern jungle was dissipated finally by the heat of the afternoon sun. It did not take long for Colonel Lepaka to appear after Durell had pulled the bugs out of the room. Durell ordered coffee and a luncheon of fish and coconut salad and a fresh bottle of bourbon, and he made -the girl eat, although she protested she was not hungry. When she began on the fish, however, he noticed that she cleaned up her plate and licked her fingers afterward. It was a touching, childlike gesture. He showered while she finished eating, and afterward she sent down for some bandages and applied antiseptic to the various cuts and abrasions he had acquired during the struggle on the drilling platform.
