|
"DANNY" |
| Copyright Francis Blow, 1980. |
| CHAPTER 6 |
| Danny vaulted out of bed, almost fell with pain, then hurried into the lounge room, from where Karin's screams had come. |
| Karin was huddled under a sheet, whimpering. The floor glinted with hundreds of shards of glass from the windows. |
| Rocks lay amongst the glass. |
| Danny picked his way carefully to Karin and touched her shoulder. "It's me. It's Danny. Are you hurt?" |
| Before she could answer, there were more windows broken, then a door slammed and shouting, followed by a man's scream of pain. |
| Danny stayed with Karin, holding her as his mother had done earlier, and stroking her hair. He did not dare leave her, in case she stepped on the glass that littered the floor; some dangerous slivers even lay on the lounge. |
| The light came on and Granny told them not to move while she fetched a broom. |
| In the light, Danny saw blood on the sheet, so he lifted the cloth and saw a two centimetre needle of glass sticking out of Karin's nightie, on her shoulder. He gently drew the splinter of glass out, yet Karin took no notice. When he moved the reddened nylon aside, he saw the wound was small, so he said nothing about it to Karin. For an infinite moment, Danny watched Karin's blood slowly ooze onto her shoulder, and he felt afraid for her. "You're all right, Karin. Everything's all right." |
| Granny and Mrs. Nock began to clean up, and Danny asked them what had happened. |
| "Mr. Kind and his brother threw stones at the house. Your father caught one of them and a neighbour called the police." His mother replied. "Karin, are you hurt?" |
| "She's got a small cut, but the bleeding's almost stopped." |
| Karin found her handkerchief under her pillow and blew her nose. "I'm all right. Really. I was so frightened! I'm sorry I screamed, but I didn't know what was happening." |
| Granny went to make tea while they waited for the police. There were a lot of people moving in and out of the house within minutes. Karin's uncle was taken away by ambulance, because he had a broken arm. When the police left, everything was quiet once more. |
| Danny made Karin swap beds again, then waited until all the women were gone before he joined his father in the kitchen. "I'm not going back to sleep, Dad, in case her father comes back." |
| "I don't think he will, son. I'm staying up anyway, since I've got to go to work soon, but I wouldn't mind some company." |
| "What happened to Karin's uncle? How did his arm get broken?" |
| "He had a rock in his hand when I found him. He didn't want to let go." His face was grim. |
| "Oh. I thought you hated fighting?" Danny had never known his father to hurt anyone. |
| "I do. Son, when you become a grown up and got a wife and kids of your own, you'll understand that a man sometimes needs to do the things he hates, to help keep his family safe." |
| "Like being poor to pay doctors' bills." Danny observed. |
| The two of them were quiet for some minutes, then Danny's father went to make coffee. |
| "What's going to happen to Karin, Dad?" |
| "I don't know. If she has other family, I guess she'll live with them until her mother's trial." |
| "Can she stay with us?" |
| "I know that you like her." Mr. Nock frowned in deep thought. "Soon she will want to start going out with boys her own age, or older, and that will hurt you... It's all right to be friends, but the closer you are to each other, the more painful it will be when one of you decides to go a separate way. Karin is a young lady and probably smarter than I'll ever be. She's a year ahead of you at school, and that makes a big difference... When you're fifteen she will probably have a steady boyfriend. Maybe she'll be at Uni... Danny, I do want you to be her friend, but don't try to make it more than that." |
| Danny stared into his cup of coffee and wondered how much his father had guessed about his mixed feelings for Karin. "Sometimes, Dad, I think I want to marry her when we're older. Sometimes I want to hold her and... kiss her. Is that wrong?" |
| "No, not wrong. Love is never wrong, as long as it's not twisted to something else." Mr. Nock sighed and sipped his coffee, frowning. "Son, tell me something. Do you want to have sex with her?" |
| Danny was too shocked to answer, he just stared at his father in utter horror, and blushed bright crimson. |
| "I bet I'm right. Don't do it. Don't ever even try to kiss her the way grown ups kiss, because you'll probably lose her as a friend. Worse than that, you'll never respect yourself again." |
| "Dad I wasn't! Really, I don't even think those things!" |
| "You're lying to yourself, not to me, Danny. I was your age once, you know. I talked to other boys, grew up and learned. Not even many adults can handle their feelings, let alone kids. In ten years you might just get a basic understanding of how men and women behave. Maybe." |
| They drained their coffee cups and together watched the colours of dawn. |
| "You are thirteen years old. Sorry. Thirteen and a half. I want you to do all the things other thirteen year old do. Enjoy yourself in the next few years of your childhood, because once you're an adult, you stay an adult until you die." |
| "It takes so long to grow up and learn about things, Dad." |
| "Long?" His father sighed. "How many years before you think you'll be grown up?" |
| "About five or six, I guess." |
| "Five years. What were you doing five years ago? Never mind, it was a dumb question, and I'm a dumb old man of nearly forty. That must seem pretty old to you, but to me it feels like yesterday that I went out with my first girlfriend on a real date. I was Karin's age, I think." |
| They talked about many things before Mr. Nock had to leave for work. None of the other subjects were as important to either of them as the first topic had been, but talking like that, man to man, was a special experience. |
| Danny watched his father ride out onto the street, then he locked the door and found a hammer, in case Mr. Kind climbed in through one of the broken windows. |
| He looked first into Granny's room, where she snored softly. In the master bedroom, his mother slept peacefully, her beautiful face serene on the pillow. When he went to his own room, though, Karin was curled up into a ball, the bedclothes tangled around her; she grumbled something in her sleep and pulled the sheet further up around her face. |
| Danny wanted to stroke her hair and back to take away her tension and fear, but he knew she would wake. He left her sleeping, and maintained his lonely vigil through the house, until Granny woke. |
| "You've been up half the night. What were you doing?" |
| "Talking to Dad, mostly. He's the best father in the world." |
| "I'm really glad you think so. Have you had any breakfast?" |
| "Yes, thanks, but I might have something else a little later. I'm going to take Karin fishing this morning, and no one's going to bother us." |
| "What a marvelous idea. We could all do with a little extra protein to put some meat on our bones." |
| Danny left her making her own breakfast, and slipped into his room quietly, to find his cut-off jeans and an old T-shirt, then he went to sort out the gear they would need for the day's fishing. |
| Two reels of line, hooks and sinkers, a bucket and small spade, inner tube, net and two old hats. Somehow he made the whole lot fit on his bike, with room for two to ride, then he went back inside to read his boating books, until his mother woke up. He took a tray of breakfast things in and gave her a kiss good morning. |
| "Thank you, darling. My, you're not even limping. This looks yummy." |
| "We had some honey left, and I thought you might like it on your toast." |
| "It's lovely. Is Karin awake?" |
| Danny shook his head. "She was very scared, and I don't think she slept well." |
| "Poor thing. She's had a terrible life." The woman sighed. "What are your plans for today?" |
| Danny told her what he intended, then went to check on Karin, once more. |
| When he stuck his head around the bedroom door, Karin smiled at him and stretched; a lazy yawn escaped her, and she snuggled back under the covers. "Good morning, Dan." |
| "Hi. Hang on a second." He said, and returned to the kitchen to fetch her tea and toast. |
| "How are you this morning?" He asked, as he placed her cup and plate on the bedside table. |
| "Exhausted. Why are you so cheery?" |
| "I'm happy to see you." He replied, realising that, despite her worn out appearance, she still made him light hearted. |
| She smiled back at him. "Thanks for breakfast. What a night!" |
| "How's your shoulder? Where the glass cut you." |
| "Feels okay." She tried to twist around to see her shoulder, but the sore spot was too far back. "I guess I'll live." |
| Danny sat on the bed next to her and watched her closely. "Have you got any other relatives?" |
| "There's an aunt in Sydney. You're thinking I'll have to stay with her? I suppose I'm going to have to. Damn, I wish Mum hadn't gotten involved with all that stuff!" |
| "Things can only get better now." Danny tried to reassure her. "Do you feel up to taking a heavy bike for a few kilometres? We're going fishing." |
| "Unreal! What do I need?" |
| "Just a swimsuit and a towel. You've got sun cream?" |
| "In my bag. We can go as soon as I'm ready, okay?" |
| Karin hurried through her breakfast, grabbed her toothbrush and swimming costume, and dashed into the bathroom. On returning to the bedroom, she pulled on shorts and a T-shirt, then picked up her shoulder bag. When she saw Danny still sitting on the bed, she demanded. "Aren't you coming?" |
| He laughed. "You aren't excited, by any chance?" |
| She took his arm and led him outside, where she was confronted by the sight of Danny's bike. "We'll look like a couple of refugees with that lot! All set, then?" |
| They climbed onto the overladen machine, and Danny told her which way to go. After a wobbly start, Karin told him that the pedalling was not as hard as she expected, but, even so, her legs were aching by the time they got to the water. |
| Danny unpacked the bike, before he took off his shirt and shoes. "We only need the inner tube for now. I'll tow you across on the tube." |
| "Sounds good to me. Hang on and I'll block-out your back." Karin offered. |
| Danny submitted to having her rub sun cream into his shoulders and back; Karin's brisk hands made his hair tingle, and he was not sure if it was a good or bad feeling. |
| "My turn." Karin said. |
| As she turned around, Danny almost dropped the plastic bottle she had put into his hand. He started with her shoulders and arms, then worked down her back between the blue straps of the one piece costume; by the time he reached the waistband, Danny felt every pore in his neck and face prickling. |
| "Hey!" Karin exclaimed, breaking into his thoughts. "I know this place. I was fishing from over there only a little while ago... That must have been you we saw mucking around." |
| "That's right. I recognised you that day, and that's when I realised you three were behind the stealing. Your uncle nearly hit me with a rock as you were leaving." |
| "He's a creep, and I hate him." Her eyes narrowed for a moment, then widened as she grinned at Danny. "Let's go!" |
| In seconds, Danny was in the water with the inner tube, and a moment later, Karin was next to him. She surfaced, gasping. |
| "It's freezing!" |
| "Nah. You're just hot from riding. Hop onto the tube and I'll swim us over." |
| Danny tied the tow rope around his waist, while Karin slid onto the float, and he began swimming. Though he was still stiff and sore, he was able to swim well enough. Karin helped by paddling with her hands. |
| Danny took his bearings from the landmarks he had memorised, then stopped and stood on the hidden mud bar. "We're here. All out, all change!" |
| "It's so shallow! You'd never know it was here in the middle. How did you find it?" |
| "Ages ago, I saw a boat run aground here at low tide. Hop off and I'll show you what to do." He told her. "Squish your toes around in the mud until you feel a roundish lump. That's a mussel. Keep your foot on it till you reach down with your hand to pick it up. If you've got flexible toes, like me, you can pick the mussels up with your feet. Like this, see?" |
| He lifted up his foot, which was streaked gray with mud; between his toes was a large shell. |
| "Yuck! How gross." Karin pulled a face, then slid into the water and began searching the bottom just as Danny showed her. At first she had a little trouble finding and then picking up the mussels, but she was soon bringing up almost as many as Danny. They quickly collected a good catch, and Karin decided it was time to play; she hooked her foot behind Danny's ankle and tipped him over. Moments later, they were splashing and wrestling, their laughter carrying over the water, though there was no one else to hear. |
| Finally, exhausted, they climbed up onto the inner tube, which was only just afloat with their weight. The sun was starting to heat up the morning and the whole world had gone quiet for them. |
| They stared at the clouds, each of them conscious of how their side touched the other's. Neither one of them moved to break the contact. |
| "It's like we're alone in the whole universe." Karin said in a quiet, awe filled voice. "I wish this could last forever." |
| "And I wish I was a year older." |
| "Oh?" She turned her face to look into his eyes from a few centimetres away. |
| "Do you have a boyfriend?" Danny asked with his voice suddenly hoarse. |
| Karin shifted her weight, unbalancing the float, so that they had to hold onto each other to keep from falling off. |
| "You make me feel weird, Dan... No, I haven't ever had a boyfriend, but now... " She kissed him quickly, impulsively. |
| Danny did not notice how her cheeks went pink, as he felt his neck grow hot. His hand was on her hip, as hers was resting on his waist. |
| He wanted to hug Karin against him. His body ached to be closer to hers. |
| An image of his father flashed into Danny's mind, with the words "Don't even kiss her the way grown ups kiss, because you'll lose her as a friend forever." |
| "We can't!" He groaned. "You could get pregnant." |
| Karin stared at him in amazement. "From kissing?" |
| "You know what I mean." Danny felt twisted inside, and could not see the hurt he had done to Karin with his impulsive words. |
| "I do know! What makes you think I would... go all the way with you? I'm not some cheap... Damn you, Dan Nock!" She was angry and blushing bright red, and before Danny could try to explain, she rolled off the float and struck out for the shore. |
| "Karin! I do love you, but I just want us to stay friends, not... not lovers." The last word was gasped out, too low for her to hear. Danny watched her white back and arms receding towards the shore. |
| He wondered if their friendship had been destroyed, or if there was something he could to do to mend the damage already done. |
| The minutes went by in a long silence. Danny could see Karin lying in the sun, all pale skin and a blue swimsuit. |
| No answers came to his questions, so he paddled back slowly, hoping he could think of something to say. There was an ache in his chest far worse than the pain that had returned to his injuries. |
| When the inner tube nudged solid ground, Danny stood up. His voice was broken as he spoke to Karin. "Hello. I'm searching for a friend of mine, who I think I lost." |
| The girl looked at him with reddened eyes, she had been crying. "I'm waiting for my best friend. His name is Dan, but he put a spear through my heart when I expected Qupid's arrow." |
| Danny swallowed past something that was blocking his throat. He had begun to see that Karin was as confused as he was. |
| "You're my very best mate, Karin. I don't want to lose you, just because I made a mistake. I guess you did only want a kiss, but I... I... Well, I was scared." He stared at the ground, then lifted his eyes to look at her. "Can we stay friends?" |
| "Of course, you silly idiot! Can't you see I'm scared to?" |
| She was smiling, though more tears ran down her cheeks. "I never kissed anyone like I kissed you, and when you pulled away... " |
| Danny knelt beside her when sobs made her hide her face against her knees, and he hugged her tightly. |
| "This is silly!" Karin's voice was muffled, then she raised her face, smiling crookedly. "When are we going fishing?" |
| "As soon as we put all this stuff away." He forced a grin. |
| When everything was packed onto the bike, they rode off, with Danny on the back again. His shorts and her swimsuit took little time to dry in the warm air that streamed past them. |
| Danny directed Karin to another mud bar, close to shore, where they could dig for bait in the exposed mud. They smeared each other with sun cream once more, but there were no more strange feelings to complicate things. Karin laughed when Danny stuck one of his weather-beaten hats on her head, matching his own. |
| It was slow, dirty work, with only a handful of yabbies and worms to show for all their back breaking effort. Despite that and the heat, they were happy to be working together. When they had had enough of getting bait, they took a brief swim to clean up, and Danny showed Karin how to get to a wharf where the leatherjackets schooled. |
| Karin watched Danny put the floating net into the water. "Is that to keep the mussels alive?" |
| "That's one reason, but having the mussels spreading their scent in the water should attract more fish, and whatever fish we do catch can go in there as well. Here's your line. I use a tiny, long shanked hook for the leatheries, with bits of yabbie or worm. Just enough for them to swallow. Like this." He showed her what he meant, and they settled down to a relaxing afternoon's fishing. |
| Hours passed quietly, with the occasional excitement of a fish being landed. In the main, the fish they caught were leatherjackets, but there was one bream and a flathead to add variety. |
| It was Karin who picked up the last piece of worm. "That's the end of the bait." She sighed as she lowered her hook into the water. |
| "Make sure you get a ten pounder, then, so it's not wasted." |
| "Go jump! Who caught the biggest fish today, Mr. Smarty?" |
| "The flattie doesn't count. You probably trained it... You've got a bite!" |
| "I know! It's big... Damn!" Her line snapped near the surface. |
| "Never mind. We've got a good haul in the net already. Tell you what. I want to exercise my legs. Let me pedal for awhile. Just as soon as we've cleaned these fish." |
| "Oh dear, what a terrible, terrible shame! There's only one knife. I guess I'll watch the expert do it." |
| Danny smirked at her, and in a shorter time than she thought possible, all the fish were cleaned, ready to go. |
| Danny managed to get them almost halfway home before he asked Karin to take over pedaling from him. He no longer felt obliged to prove how tough he was; each of them knew the strengths and weaknesses of the other, as well as their own. |
| "Hey Mum, Granny!" Danny called as they rode into the yard. "Have a look at how many fish we caught." |
| The catch was displayed and the anglers were congratulated. |
| "There's a good four meals in that lot." Granny declared. "A few vegies and a bit of batter will make a feast. What do you think about a seafood platter, Helen?" |
| "Good idea, but first I want these two into the shower. They both reek of the sea!" |
| Danny took a deep breath through his nose. "Smells better than perfume to me." |
| "Get along with you. Let Karin use the shower first. You can dig up the ripest carrots and onions." |
| Danny was depositing the freshly dug vegetables on the kitchen table when Karin appeared in a clean yellow dress. She asked him if she could borrow his bike for a short while. He agreed, without asking where she was going. He trusted her, though he worried about her safety. |
| Karin rode off towards Woy Woy, but when she was still not back an hour later, Danny was ready to call the police from the phone box, if it was working again. He was searching his room for money to make the call, when he heard Karin ride into the yard. He rushed outside to see her untying fishing rods and a bag from the bike. |
| "What's all this?" |
| "Presents. I don't think Mum or Dad will need the rods for a while. There's two estuary rods, a blackfish rod and a heavy boat rod. Here, you carry the bag into the kitchen." |
| Danny was taken by surprise by the weight of the bag. "What's in this? Bricks?" |
| "You'll see. Don't open it till I come inside. I'm going to put the rods away." |
| Dutifully, Danny did as she asked, and when she had joined him, Karin called Danny's mother and Granny into the kitchen. |
| "I remembered all the stuff we had at home that would go to waste, so I brought it. Meat, a chicken, bread, cheese, eggs." |
| She showed them each item as she pulled it out of the bag, and when she reached the final prize, held up a bottle of wine. "It's white, 'cos Mum always said you have white wine with fish. What do you think? Nice, huh?" |
| Karin's cheeks dimpled as she grinned at their astounded faces. |
| "You're a marvel, Karin." Mrs. Nock exclaimed. "Are you sure its okay?" |
| "Don't be silly." Granny declared. "It would be thrown out if it was left to go bad. Hmm. Some of this will have to be cooked right away, but we can have it cold tomorrow. What a beautiful piece of steak!" |
| While the two ladies discussed the best ways of preparing everything, Danny looked at Karin and gave her a slow wink. "Come on, let's sit outside in the garden where it's cooler." |
| With their heads pillowed on their arms, Danny and Karin stared at the sky, where cottony ships and faces, castles and dragons floated overhead. |
| "What are you two daydreaming about?" Danny's father called when he rode into the back yard. |
| "See that castle over there?" Danny pointed. |
| "The one with the three towers?" |
| "One day I'm going to live in one just like that, and have meat and milk and fresh apples every day." |
| "Can I live there too?" |
| "You bet, Dad." Danny gave his father a wide smile. "Go and see what we're having for dinner. Karin brought it." |
| "Okay. By the way, Karin, that detective friend of yours told me they nearly caught your father today, but all they got was his car." |
| Danny watched Karin, whose eyes followed Mr. Nock into the house. Excited voices could be heard through the kitchen window. |
| "I like your dad a lot." Karin said. "I just hope they catch mine soon. Then maybe Mum will be let out soon... I wonder what he'll do now that he's got no van?" |
| "Hitch hike, or take a train. He might even steal a car." |
| They considered the possibilities in silence, until Karin sat up suddenly. "Damn! A boat! He'll steal a boat for sure. I know him, and it'll be the Spray Dancer." |
| "Of course! I'll go to the phone box and call the police. Detective Styles will want to know." |
| "Want me to go with you?" |
| "Okay. I'll just tell Dad." |
| It was a matter of seconds for Danny to rush inside and give a brief explanation to his father, then he was back with Karin. When the two of them were crowded into the recently repaired phone box, Danny dialed the police, but it was Karin who took the handset. |
| "Detective Styles, please. Tell him it's Karin Kind and Dan Nock... When will he be back? Oh. Could you leave him a very important message? Tell him we think my father will try and steal a yacht, the Spray Dancer, tonight... They saw him where? But that's... Okay. Thank you." |
| She hung up the receiver and turned to look at Danny. "He said that Dad was seen in Wyong, and that Detective Styles is up there now, looking for him." |
| "Do you think it's true?" |
| "I'm so sure! He's here, somewhere, and he will go after the Spray Dancer." |
| "Yeah." Danny frowned. "There must be something we can do. Let's go home and think about it." |
| Karin was so downcast that Danny took her hand. They walked back, not talking. |
| At home, they found the table covered with more food than it had ever held before, yet even that could not lift Danny out of the depression he shared with Karin. |
| Slowly, a plan took form in Danny's mind; he put it together as he ate, and even as he waited for his turn in the bathroom. His plan was completed while he brushed his teeth. |
| He waited anxiously for everyone to go to bed, and allowed an extra half hour for sleep to take his family. When the sounds of gentle snores were the only things he could hear, Danny went into where Karin was curled up under a sheet. |
| He touched her shoulder. "Karin... Wake up... Karin." |
| She grumbled and curled up into a tight ball, so Danny pulled the sheet off her and turned her onto her back. When even that failed to wake her, he tickled her feet. |
| "Don't." She complained, still more than half asleep. |
| "You've got to wake up! I'm going to the Spray Dancer to stop your father. Come on, wake up!" |
| He shook her shoulders until she opened bleary eyes. "You're crazy. How can we stop him?" |
| "I've got a plan. Get dressed." |
| While she shook the sleep from her eyes, Danny turned on the lamp and went through the clothes; their were jeans and a sloppy joe for Karin and a dark shirt for him. |
| "It's eleven thirty." Karin complained, peering at her watch. |
| "Don't forget sneakers." Danny said. "Do you want socks?" |
| She shook her head, and pulled her clothes on over her nightie. "How are you going to stop him?" Karin asked again. |
| "I'll tell you as we go. Do you want me to pedal?" |
| "I'll do it. Gets my blood going. Let's go." |
| While Karin wheeled the bike quietly to the road, Danny fetched a strong hand line, which he stuffed into his shirt. |
| As the girl cycled, he told her of his idea. At one stage she almost turned back, though Danny barely persuaded her to keep riding, until they had hidden the bike near the wharves. |
| The Spray Dancer rode peacefully at her moorings, and there was no one in sight. Neither Mr. Kind, nor any guard. |
| Silently working together, Danny and Karin took the fishing line Danny had brought, and ran it all over the boat, in loops big enough to snare a foot. Anyone stepping onto the deck would become hopelessly entangled as the loops tightened around legs and arms. |
| "Okay, that should do it." Danny decided. |
| They had been working backwards, towards the wharf, and still had plenty of line left over when they stepped ashore. Danny let the excess nylon fall into the water. It was almost impossible to see in the dark. |
| "Where will we hide?" Karin asked. "Do you think it'll take all night?" |
| "I guess he could turn up at any time. Let's hide on that cruiser. We can watch the yacht and the road, as well." |
| They boarded the other boat and made themselves comfortable on a narrow bunk near a window. Then they settled down to wait. |
| Nothing happened. |
| Karin's shoulder pressed more heavily against Danny's, and he realised she had fallen asleep. Her warmth against his side, and the gentle swaying of the boat soon had Danny in dreamland, too. |
| At three o'clock, neither one of them saw the furtive figure which emerged from the shadows, and skulked towards the Spray Dancer. |
| Mr. Kind stared at the sleek yacht for a long time. |
| Danny had made the same mistake as Karin; for anyone to steal the Spray Dancer alone, there would be too much noise from the slow auxiliary motor, or even from the unfurling of the sails. |
| To escape, Mr. Kind needed something faster and more maneuverable. |
| The man's critical eye settled on the cruiser next to the Spray Dancer. It was the same one on which Danny and Karin were sleeping. |
| The man stepped onto the cruiser, which tilted beneath his weight. |
| The sudden motion woke Danny in time to see the hulking silhouette duck under the cabin roof. |
| Both of them froze for an instant, as they stared at each other. Then the man reached towards Danny. |
| Instinctively, Danny kicked out with both feet, catching Mr. Kind in the face. The force of the kick pushed Danny against Karin, who fell to the deck. |
| Mr. Kind's yell of pain made sure Karin was awake, and she screamed. Danny grabbed her and dragged her up and out of the cabin at a run. |
| They leaped to the wharf and almost made it away, but Mr. Kind sent them sprawling with a flying tackle. |
| Danny felt himself lifted by the collar, and was dragged towards Karin, who lay half stunned. Mr. Kind glared down at his daughter, then kicked her in the back. |
| Danny saw red. With every ounce of his strength he swung a fist at Mr. Kind's nose, which was still bleeding from where he had kicked the man. Danny felt and heard the nose break an instant before Mr. Kind screamed and let Danny go. |
| Karin lay moaning, obviously unable to escape. Danny knew he could not abandon her, yet Mr. Kind would not take long to overcome his pain. |
| Danny had to lure the enraged man away from her long enough for Karin to escape. |
| The Spray Dancer was close enough for Danny to take a desperate gamble. |
| Mr. Kind was getting over the shock of his broken nose and started to turn towards Danny. A well aimed kick by Danny to the man's knee helped slow him down a little more, allowing Danny to sprint towards the yacht. Danny jumped onto the wooden railing and threw himself at the boom. |
| The muscles he had developed in his arms from swimming and handstands gave Danny all the strength he needed to stay out of the man's reach when Mr. Kind jumped after him. |
| Where Danny's hands managed to grasp the ropes and canvas on the boom, the man missed and landed on the deck of the Spray Dancer. Mr. Kind took one step towards Danny, then another. |
| The man tripped. |
| Mr. Kind tried to stand, but he fell again and began rolling and thrashing about, all the while cursing Danny and Karin. |
| The loops of fishing line tightened around his limbs, getting him even more entangled as he struggled. |
| Danny made his way to where Karin lay and touched her back where her father's boot had struck her. Karin cried out as Danny's fingers probed the tender place; fortunately he could feel nothing broken, so he helped her to her feet. |
| "Can you help me get some of the anchor rope around him?" He asked. |
| Karin nodded, she was in too much pain to speak, and they went to her father. |
| It was difficult, yet the two of them managed to bind Mr. Kind's arms and legs with knots which would not come loose. The raging man threw himself about as the ropes were put around him, adding to Danny's bruises; Danny made sure he stayed between Karin and her father, until the job was done. |
| "I saw a phone box just up that way." Danny whispered to Karin. "I'm going to call the police, but if you think he's getting loose, run away as fast as you can." |
| Fortunately for Danny, the public phone was working, and he dialed 000 so the operator could put him through to the police. |
| As soon as he could, Danny returned to Karin, to make sure she was still all right. He looked at her ribs, where there was a reddened swelling on her back, but no blood. There was no other indication that she had broken ribs, yet he intended to get her to a hospital for X-rays. |
| "It hurts a lot, Dan." Karin sobbed. |
| "I'll get something cold to put on it." He offered, and went to soak his handkerchief in the water. He squeezed out the excess and pressed the damp cloth against the girl's back. |
| "This might make the swelling go down. Cold water worked for me... Look! Here come the police. It's all over!" |
