‘About being blind?’

‘Yes. Never mind that now. Let’s have something to eat.’

She made sandwiches and coffee and they picnicked in the bedroom.

‘It upsets you when I make jokes about being blind, doesn’t it?’ she mused, munching.

‘It confuses me. It’s like invading sacred ground.’

‘It’s not sacred to me. Anyway, it’s my ground and I’ll invade it if I want to. And if I can, you can. So hush!’

They had laughed, and loved again, laughed again and loved again. That was how it had been in the beginning.

And even then the first danger signs had been there, but they’d both been too much in love to heed them. If only…

‘Time to come in,’ came the voice over the radio.

‘Just a few more minutes,’ Celia begged.

‘Your air will be running out soon. Did you find any pirate treasure?’

‘Not this time, but I always live in hope,’ she said, determinedly cheerful.

It was time to go back and face the world. Fiona was close by, calling her, and together they made their way to the boat, where hands came down to welcome them aboard.

‘How was it?’ Ken asked.

‘Wonderful!’ Celia exclaimed. ‘The most glorious feeling-being weightless, and so free-such freedom-as though the rest of the world didn’t exist.’

‘Is that your idea of freedom?’ Fiona asked. ‘Escaping the rest of the world?’

‘Escaping the world’s prejudices, yes,’ Celia murmured thoughtfully.

‘Ah,’ Ken said in a significant voice. ‘I’m afraid that the world has followed you here. I’ve just heard on the radio that when we get back to land you’ll find Francesco waiting for you.’

‘How did he find me here? I just said I was going. I didn’t say where.’

‘I guess he’s got a very good surveillance team working on it,’ Ken suggested lightly.

He meant it as a joke, but Celia’s face tightened and her voice was hard as she said, ‘Evidently.’