Milton stood on the deck, leaning on the railings and watching what was happening on the deck below. It was just after midnight and the ship was off the coast of Coron, one of the small islands that made up the Calamian Group in the Philippines. It had taken the freighter three days to travel to the Calamians from Bali. Milton and Sakura had spent most of that time in their cabin, venturing out only to eat and to exercise. Milton had found that the gangway around the perimeter of the ship was more than long enough to serve as a running route and had managed to run for five miles every day.

“Monsieur Blair.”

Milton turned. The crewman who had assisted them—Claude—had joined him at the rail.

“Good evening,” Milton said.

“How have you enjoyed the voyage so far?”

“I’ve enjoyed it very much.”

“It is surprisingly comfortable, non?”

“It is.”

“And your companion?”

There might have been a salacious edge to the comment, but Milton let it pass unremarked. “She’s fine, too. Thank you.”

“You said you wanted to see me?”

“Yes,” he said. “I do. I was hoping you might be able to help.”

Claude spread his arms. “Of course. What do you need?”

“We arrive in Manila later today?”

“Around lunchtime,” he said. “It depends on the harbourmaster, but it will be around then, give or take. We’ll wait at anchor until they’re ready for us.”

“Would it be possible for us to get to shore ahead of the ship?”

“Why?”

“I don’t know how much you’ve been told, but we’re trying to stay off the radar.”

“I had gathered as much. Not many people choose to travel this way unless they have a reason for it.”

“Exactly,” Milton said. “I’m worried that we’re being followed, and I’m worried that the people who are following us will have realised that there is a chance we might try to disembark when we dock.”

“I see,” Claude said. “And you’d like to do it more discreetly?”

“Is that possible?”

“I should think so,” Claude said. “The port here is a little tricky to navigate, so they’ll send over a pilot when we arrive. I could probably arrange for the two of you to go back with it. It’ll cost, though. The crew will have to be paid to look the other way.”

“I have another couple of thousand dollars in cash, but that’s it.”

“That might be enough. I can ask.”

“Thank you,” Milton said.

68

It was five o’clock in the morning and Sakura was still a little drowsy from being woken so early.

“Is this really necessary?”

Milton finished packing their suitcase and struggled to close the lid. “Sorry. It is.”