Pearls Read Online Free Page A

grunted and turned his head away; at the same time he brought his knee up into Flynn's groin. Flynn grunted in pain and rolled away.
    Cameron struggled to his feet, panting. 'Get up, Flynn.'
    Flynn struggled to his knees, one hand cupping his crotch. 'That was below the belt. Let's keep it a fair fight.' He hooked his fingers around the edge of one of the tables and pulled himself to his feet, his back to Cameron. His fist closed around a billiard ball. He span around and threw it at Cameron's head.
    Cameron saw it coming and ducked his head; he heard a muffled scream of pain as the ball took one of the spectators between the eyes. The man hit the floor, out cold.
    Flynn had grabbed another ball and was winding up for another throw; Cameron launched himself forwards. His fist caught Flynn on the point of the chin and the Irishman fell backwards, his head striking the carved leg of the other billiards table. Cameron bent down, grabbed Flynn by the hair and pulled him half upright. His fist came from somewhere near his right knee and smashed into Flynn's midriff.
    The Irishman gasped and curled into a ball at his feet. 'Where's my pearl?' Cameron hissed in his ear.
    Flynn's arms flapped in a spastic attempt to push Cameron away. There was dark blood in his hair and his mouth open and closed soundlessly like a beached fish as he tried to get his breath.
    Cameron frisked his clothes. 'Where is it, Flynn? Tell me, or by God I'll beat it out of you!'
    The big man Flynn had called Joe took a step forward. 'Best let him go now, mate.' He was holding the broken billiards cue in his right hand and tapping it on the palm of his left hand. Several Malays and Manilamen were ranged behind him - some of Flynn's crew, no doubt - and Cameron saw the glint of a knife.
    The only sound was Flynn snuffling and spitting blood.
    Cameron considered. Even with Wes backing him, they had no chance against this mob. He bent his mouth to Flynn's ear. 'The pearl's mine and I swear to you I will have it back - or you'll pay, Mister Flynn. You'll regret the day you ever crossed Cameron McKenzie!'
    The crowd parted to let him pass and he stalked out into the bright sun.
     
    ***
     
    Cameron sat in his cabin on the China Cloud , a bottle of square-face on the table in front of him. He took out a tin of cigarettes and lit one.
    There was an ashtray on the table in front of him - it was a pearl shell, and on the shell was a pearl 'blister'. The blister had been formed by a parasite boring into the shell; in defence the oyster had tried to cover the wound with nacre. Water pressure had caused a bubble to form and this in turn had filled with mud. These blisters were sold for a cheap price in Broome, and were used to make things like hatpins. But this one was the first pearl Cameron had ever found and so he had decided to keep it as a souvenir.
    Now he turned it in his hand, staring at the illusory pearl, thinking of the real one that Flynn had stolen from him at Barred Creek.
    Wes watched him gloomily. 'Maybe he tell you true. Maybe you drop this one pearl, skip. You was powerful drunk.'
    'I was nae drunk,' Cameron said softly, 'I've nae been that drunk in my whole life, and never will be. I was drugged, I know it!'
    Wes knew better than to argue. 'Maybe.'
    'I have to get it back.'
    'If he steal yo' pearl,' Wes said, and he lingered on the word 'if', 'if he steal it, maybe he sell this one pearl already. A man doan keep no snide too long. Plenty dangerous.'
    'Aye, perhaps.'
    Curry-Curry's face appeared at the scuttle. 'Somebody come, tuan .'
    Cameron heard footsteps on deck. 'Find out who it is, Wes.'
    'Aye, skip.'
    A few minutes later a pair of spotless white canvas shoes was followed down the scuttle by an impeccably ironed white linen suit - although the cuffs were already stained by the red dust - and this vision of sartorial elegance was finally crowned by a splendid white solar topee.
    Cameron stared at this apparition a moment and then his face creased