The powerboat was not designed to be rowed, and they made slow headway, but eventually they came within a hundred feet of a long dock where a big powerboat and a bigger sailboat were tied up. The dock was festooned with NO TRESPASSING signs. Enforcing their message was a security guard dressed in camouflage, who casually made his way to the end of the dock.

He flicked the cigarette he was smoking into the water and waved them away. When the boat kept coming, he cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, “Private property. You can't land here.”

Trout stood in the boat's stern and yelled back, “We're out of gas.”

“We can't help you. Private property.” He pointed to a NO TRESPASSING sign.

Gamay said, “Let me try, Mr. Budweiser man.”

“He's probably a Miller drinker,” Trout said. He stood aside to make room for Gamay. “Please don't use the hapless husband routine. I'm getting an inferiority complex.”

“Okay, I'll use the hapless wife instead.” Gamay spread her arms as if imploring the guard. “We don't know what to do. Our radio won't work.” She pointed to the gas pump on the dock. “We'll pay for fuel.”

The guard ran his eyes up and down Gamay's lithe body, then grinned and waved the Trouts up to the dock.

They rowed erratically up to the dock until they were close enough to see that the guard had a pistol holster attached to his belt on one side and a radio clipped to the other. Trout passed an empty fuel tank up to the unsmiling guard, who took it over to the pump and filled it while they remained in the boat. When he brought it back, Gamay thanked him and asked what she owed. The guard gave her a knowing grin and said, “Nothing.”

She gave the guard a thick envelope. “Then please give this to Mr. Margrave in exchange for our fuel.”

The guard looked at the envelope and said, “Wait here.” He walked out of earshot and spoke into his hand radio. Then he came back and said, “Come with me.”

He led them past a steep flight of wooden stairs to the foot of the bluff. He produced a small remote control from a pocket, clicked it once and a section of wall swung open to reveal an elevator. He told them to get in and followed them into the elevator. Keeping one hand on his holster, he watched them during the trip of several seconds. The elevator door opened in a circular room. One look around told the Trouts that they were inside the lighthouse.