Retch shrugged. "It was just one of those things you hear." He studied the landscape. "We should spot a boat soon."
"We are not exactly on the well-traveled ocean lanes," Parker pointed out. "Does it happen that there are any other little things about this island that you forgot to tell me when you chartered my ship to fly you down here?"
Retch flushed. "Such as—"
"Such as how it happened that my 'copter threw a vane just after we sighted the place?"
Retch did not answer.
"Seemed as though somebody shot at us."
"Oh hell no! The loss of the vane was accidental."
"Accidents like that can happen but they usually don't. I checked the ship before we took off." Parker turned silent. There was no proof that the wrecking of the 'copter had been anything but an accident. "What do you expect to find on this island?"
"I told you—"
"Just before the 'copter started down, Miss Valdar was yakking about how we were all going to be rich," Parker interrupted.