"The man is a moron, and a mean-spirited one at that. It galled me considerably to be even courteous to him, and I found it likewise galling to watch ...ou exert your charm on such a one as that."She laughed. "Really, darling, the world is absolutely chock-a-block with fools and scoundrels. The trick is just not to share that with them. As it is, he'll stay happily on board the Gardener and spend his time dreaming up all sorts of scenarios in which he rides bravely to our rescue to save us from. ?”I closed my eyes for a second. “A hint of bitters.”With no warning, I downed the shot, and she immediately downed hers, although that was no comfort at all. She would go wherever I did. We stared intently into each other’s eyes, nose to nose, for a long minute, the hair on my spine crackling electrically.It seemed to take an eternity before she slid into my arms, kissing me with a devilish fire. We broke apart, breathing heavily.She pushed me back onto the bed and forked one long leg across. The young mums with their alco pops were wailing on a little karaoke machine in the corner looking for someone, anyone, to buy them their next drink. The old boys, with their pint of bitter playing dominoes were in the usual spot near the window, concentrating as if it was the most serious challenge of their lives. There would have been more exciting atmosphere at a wake.Heading straight for the fruit machines he knew if Ray had come out of hiding then that's where he would be. Gambling was in. “So how did we find the crystals?” he asked to change the topic.Bette had given this some thought after she found them. “Many people believe the original settlers hoarded their treasures. Fire Mountain was one of the first settlements and the odd cache of crystals and magical items have been found over the years between there and the coast where Avilla is.”“There was an eruption not long after the people came here and many fled this region and moved to the coast and then to the other islands..