Read Online Winter of the Passion Flower (The de Vargas Family) by Annie Seaton - Free Book Online Page A

reassured her intruders had not breached the plantation.
    She reached for her water bottle, taking a
large drink of the cold liquid.
    “Ensure that you drink regularly as we
work. The heat of the jungle will sap your energy and we must finish quickly.
There is a waterfall on the other side of the plantation where we can replenish
our bottles.”
    Zane’s gaze held hers as he tipped the
bottle to his mouth. Indigo looked steadily back at him, fascinated by the
muscles in his strong throat working as he drank deeply.
    “When we have picked the flowers, how will
we carry them back? We left the bags at the beginning of the track.” Zane’s
brow wrinkled in a frown.
    Indigo looked away from him, wanting to
touch him, yet angry at herself.
    “We only need gather the stamens. We will have
to forgo gathering the whole bloom this trip. The stamen will suffice but it is
critical that we keep them in the light,” she replied tersely. “Don’t worry. I
have it under control”
    “I’m sure you do,” he replied with a smile.
    “It will be a long morning. We must risk
harvesting in the heat so we can see what we are doing. We have to return to
the Artemis before the time window closes.” Indigo was worried and she
stared off into the distance as she did the calculations. “If we miss the
departure, it may be days before the window is available again. If only we
could contact Mr. Grimoult, he could start working on another departure point.”
    Zane smiled at her, lifting his wrist as he
tapped his chronometer. “I can contact Mr. Grimoult.”
    “What?” she asked not understanding what he
said.
    He nodded and repeated his words. “I can
speak to Mr. Grimoult.”
    Indigo watched in disbelief as Zane flipped
open the small cog on the side of the timepiece. A small rectangular platform
rose from its center, doubling in size as it opened. A tiny brass handle joined
a long shaft that ran the length of the rectangle, with a circular brass knob
that made a clicking sound when depressed.
    “Have you heard of Morse code?” Zane tapped
the small contraption with the tip of his finger.
    “Yes, it is a new navigational aid using a
unique sequence of dots and dashes. But I thought it was done with light?” she
questioned.
    “That’s correct. However, it also uses
sound as a signal. When we were in the navy, Mr. Grimoult experimented with me
and we managed to shrink the transmitters and insert them in our chronometers.
We achieved a small measure of success and we were able to transmit and receive
over long distances. I noticed Mr. Grimoult still wears his.”
    Indigo frowned. “But will there be interference
from the technology of this time?”
    “One way to find out. I will send a message
to him now.”
    She watched him, her body tense, as he
tapped a series of dots and dashes using the small platform. Zane sat silently,
not taking his eyes from the chronometer, waiting for a return signal. Parrots
screeched around them, swooping in and out of the treetops as the chronometer
remained silent. After ten minutes, he shrugged.
    “I hoped we would have success.” He was
obviously disappointed. “Come on, let’s get started.”
    Indigo put her hand on his wrist. “It is a
fascinating instrument. Thank you for trying.”
    There was a loud click and the small cogs
on the side of the chronometer began to spin slowly, followed by a series of
softer clicks. Zane put the timepiece close to his ear, listening intently.
When the movement stopped, he grabbed Indigo, picked her up whirling her
around.
    “Are you out of your mind?” she said
coldly. “I told you quite clearly not to touch me unless I invite you to.” Her
heart raced and she frowned at him.
    “Sorry, Madame,” Zane said, grinning at
her. “It was my way of telling you that Mr. Grimoult has received our
transmission. Full steam ahead, when you are ready, if you pardon the pun.”
    A quick circuit of the jungle perimeter
around the plantation confirmed Indigo’s