Tom Brewster arose. His talk was short, direct, and crisply delivered. He received an ovation when he concluded.
Biff looked at Likake and winked. The two boys slipped away from the table unnoticed.
Outside the hotel, Biff asked, “Which way?”
“The Poinciana’s just a short walk from here. We’ll go in the back way—through the garden.”
“You’re sure it’s all right? This bellboy is a good friend of yours?” Biff inquired.
“Sure. I know Hale real well. His brother, Kioni, and I go to Kamehameha School. That’s a school only for boys and girls of Hawaiian ancestry. We’re almost like blood brothers.”
The night was moonlit. Palm leaves rustled under a gentle breeze. The steady murmur of the surf was clear in the night air.
Biff and Likake reached the garden of the Royal Poinciana.
“Hale told me he would fix it so the deck door of Dr. Weber’s room would be open. Come on,” Li said.
The boys walked boldly through the hotel’s garden. Biff knew better than to try to hide their presence. To do so would attract attention, and that was just what he didn’t want to do.