He knew how he felt about her, but did she feel the same? She was waiting at the back of the house, looking out to sea, with a drink in her hand. She smiled at him, put down her drink and let him come to her. They kissed for a long minute. 'You're late,' she said. 'This is not the easiest place to find,' Gray said. 'Even when you have directions.' 'I know,' she said. 'That's the idea. It's beautiful, though, isn't it?' 'It is. You are too.' 'Let's go for a walk,' she said. He changed into a pair of shorts and they walked together on the beach, hand in hand. 'You left early,' she said. 'I got tired of it. I've written a story a day since the big one, and they kept wanting more. I was working eighteen hours a day. Yesterday I said goodbye.' 'I haven't seen a paper for days,' she said. 'Coal's finished. The President will be OK. I don't think he did anything really bad; he's just stupid. He won't get re-elected, though. You read about Wakefield?' 'Yes, that was in the last paper I saw.' 'They've got Schwabe. They want Velmano too, but he's disappeared. Of course Mattiece is in deep trouble, and they're after four of his men too.' They walked in silence along the beach. She put her arm round his waist and he pulled her closer. 'I've missed you,' she said softly. He breathed deeply, but said nothing. 'How long will you stay?' she asked. 'I don't know. A couple of weeks. Maybe a year. It depends on you.' 'Let's take it a month at a time. OK, Gray?' 'Perfect.'