"She—vanished," Parker said. "Yammer was going to stick her into a hospital, use something that he called 'shock' on her, maybe operate. She ran away."
"Did you try to find her, Beel?"
"For asking that question, Mercedes, I ought to choke you!" Parker said hotly. "I hunted high and low. All we knew for certain was that her plane was missing. I think she decided she would simply fly out to the sea she loved, and never come back." Again his voice sank to a whisper as he visualized Effra of the Green Eyes flying out over this wilderness of waters.
"I am sorry, Beel," Mercedes said gently. "Will you remember one thing, Beel?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"You saved my life back there. I will not forget it. If the time ever comes, I will pay my debt."
"Thank you," Parker said. "But there is no debt."
"You think this island we are hunting might be the same island your girl claimed she found?" Retch spoke from the front end of the boat.
"And if it is the same island?" Mercedes said.
Anger came boiling up in Parker. "If it is that island, and if I ever get back to Los Angeles, I am going to hunt up a psychiatrist by the name of Yammer and take care of him!" Parker dug the water savagely. Gradually, his anger subsided. "Where did you run into the rumor about this island?"