Manhunt. Volume 9, Number 2, April 1961

“No. He upset the dinghy trying to get it through the surf. Then he tried to swim out.”

He winced as she dabbed at the wound. “Tried?”

She nodded, wrapping the bandage around his shoulder. “The sharks must have been waiting around the launch. He only screamed once.”

She finished and sat back on her heels, looking at him. “I’m afraid the launch is gone anyway.”

“Gone?” He struggled up on one elbow. He saw the launch squatting low in the water two hundred yards offshore. Foam swirled over her decks and around the cabin. He reconstructed the chain of events: The tide had changed and she’d dragged her anchor. The current had carried her onto a submerged reef. Now she looked as though she was there to stay.

“The dinghy was washed ashore,” said Norma. “I’ll row out and get your clothes.”

“No. Leave them.” Johnny leaned back and closed his eyes. Cantino’s men would come looking. They’d find the launch wrecked with his and Albert’s gear aboard, and they’d think both had been lost. He couldn’t have planned it better. He felt a wild hope his luck had turned.

He opened his eyes. “Would you still settle for a year?”

“Yes.” She said it quickly. “Or a month, if that’s all we get.”

He smiled. “We may have longer than that. There’s a larger island about six miles west of here. A few shacks. Cows on the hills. Could you row us there?”

“Yes.” Her eyes glistened and the tears made small paths in the grime on her face. “Oh yes, Johnny!”

Buzzard, Brother, Blood by Lewis Banci

Jack, dangerous? Of course not! After all, he was her favorite brother.

* * *

January 20th, my room.

I have decided not to put Dear Diary any more, because there’s not enough lines anyway and putting Dear Diary only takes an extra line. It is not worth the trouble. As always, it was a lovely birthday yesterday (my 8th!) with lovely presents from everyone. Mama gave me a new party dress, and Papa gave me white and yellow shoes to go with it, and Teddy gave me a set of pencils (but I bet Mama got them) and Patsy gave me two coloring books and Henry gave me a dolly with red hair that comes out all over everything. Jack as usual gave me a diary, which is this very one I am writing in. Poor Jack wanted to play with the dolly of course, but Papa wouldn’t let him and shouted very hard. I wonder if Jack will ever be too old to cry. 17 seems to me quite old enough already. Henry is only 14, and he never cries, but Patsy is 11 and Teddy is 4 and they cry lots.

I try not to, to make up for Jack. Anyway, the other thing I want to say is it’s starting to snow now. Papa has gone to town. I’m not supposed to know why he went, but I heard him and Mama talking about it. He went to arrange for Jack to get put away. Papa said it’s for everyone’s good and Mama cried a lot but then agreed yes he could get dangerous. I think it means Jack will go away soon and I don’t like that because Jack is my favorite brother no matter how much he cries. Maybe I should tell him where Papa went and why. I hope it snows lots.

January 21st, my room.

Two things. First, Papa is not back yet and the snow is still coming down! It was just like night all day long. Jack says it will be over the roof soon if it does not let up soon. I hope he is right because we have a three story house and I love snow. The second thing is that Mama fired Mrs. Wagner and will have to do the cooking herself now. Henry says the prospect does not appeal, and Jack laughed and told him to be nice. This is one of Jack’s good days, which is not so unusual as Henry claims. Henry also claims that’s why Mama fired Mrs. Wagner, because she was talking about Jack and said he is dumb like a fox on his bad days. Henry even says Mrs. Wagner said Jack chopped Scooper up but Papa said poor Scooper got hit by a car when he was chasing a cat and Papa ought to know. Jack keeps pestering Papa and Mama for another dog, but they are not agreeing to anything. Even if I thought it was true about Jack and Scooper, Jack would still be my favorite brother, because I’m his favorite sister. And a diary is my favorite present. I hope Papa isn’t going to have Jack sent away. He’s so nice, on his good days.

Jan. 22nd, the dining room.

Along with not putting Dear Diary any more, I have decided to put Jan. instead of January. Which will not save space since you have to use a whole line for the day anyway, but it is easier and means the same thing, so where is the difference? It is not snowing quite so hard any more, but it is still snowing some. Mama says Papa must be stranded in town and will have to stay at the hotel, and Henry said why couldn’t he call up, so Mama said the phone lines are probably down. If the light lines go down too, then we’ll have to use candles. I hope so.

Jan. 23rd, my room.