"DUEL IN THE DEEP" "Look, this is a very rare one." "You bring me luck." "Thank you." "I've been looking for one for a year." "And now I find this perfect specimen." "What a break." "I was starting to doubt it really existed." "What do you want with a snail?" "A snail." "This is a perfect and very rare specimen." "And I mean really rare." "Even experts doubt its existence." "What's so special about this snail?" "It's not that different from its cousin in Curaçao." "But it differs enough to be called a subspecies." "Who are you anyway?" "I've never seen you here before." "I'm on holiday here." "I'm Lucas Achterberg." "You?" "Sylvia Sommer." "So you collect snails?" "Do I collect snails?" "You could put it like that." "I study malacology." "Malewhat?" "Malacology." "The science of molluscs." "Land snails are my specialisation." "I'm in Bonaire to write a thesis." "A thesis about snails?" "About how snails adjust." "But never mind about that." "It's only of interest to experts." "She's talking to someone." "Damn." "Shall I hit her on the head?" "No, we'll do this in a decent way." "Exactly, when she's not looking." "No, not now." "We'll wait." "We have all day." "You must have noticed there are lots of land snails in Bonaire." "There are thirty different types here." "Some biologists claim there are 40." "They're just bragging." "Aren't you afraid of snakes?" "There was a boa constrictor in Bonaire once." "It belonged to an American tourist." "Other than that, there are no snakes here." "There are lizards and iguanas." "Big ones." "What did you say your name was?" "Sylvia Sommer." "That rings a bell but I don't know why." "Sylvia Sommer... sounds familiar." "And you look familiar as well." "You didn't find anything else?" "No." "Sylvia Sommer..." "Do you do anything?" "Why?" "Wait a moment." "You make music." "You were in the newspaper." "What was it about?" "It's a bit cold here." "You walked away from a concert." "Wasn't that it?" "Something like that." "Wow, a celebrity in Bonaire." "Why didn't the paper mention that you were coming?" "They'd want to interview you." "I'm glad they didn't." "Don't you like interviews?" "What do you do exactly?" "I sing in a band." "But don't mention to anybody that I'm here." "It would ruin my holiday." "My lips are sealed." "Are you enjoying yourself here?" "Yes, but I've only been here for two days." "So you must have some time." "Lots of time." "Look what's happening, Laro." "What do we do now?" "We wait, Chepito." "Wait patiently." "What a scary place." "Yes, the neighbours won't bother you here." "Imagine having to live here." "Yes, imagine." "It must be empty." "No, it's not." "Does someone really live here?" "Yes." "Who?" "Me." "And I like it." "I like a bit of room." "Are you coming in or what?" "Can I drive?" "Why?" "So you can think better." "Sometimes you have a good idea, you know?" "What do you do exactly?" "I compare snails on the islands." "There are always small differences." "When the difference is clear, you can say you've found a separate subspecies." "And then what?" "Then I report it." "And then other malacologists will prove that I was wrong." "And that keeps us busy for years." "I'm writing a thesis about snails." "And do you teach in the Netherlands?" "Yes, biology." "This is like a long holiday." "Do you want coffee?" "Please." "I've been here for a year." "You must know everybody." "There are 8,000 people here." "Just the Dutch." "Yes, I know the Dutch." "Why?" "Do you know Rob Van De Berg?" "El Loco." "Of course I know him." "We often meet in the kunuku." "What do you think?" "Is he crazy?" "Crazy isn't a very scientific term." "What do you mean?" "Deranged?" "Eccentric?" "You know what I mean." "He's not crazy." "But he might become it." "He's trying hard." "How?" "He's very unhappy." "Don't ask me why." "And he drinks a lot." "And he lives alone in the kunuku." "So do you." "But I drink coffee and I live in a real house." "And I have my work." "So there's no comparison." "Why did you ask?" "No reason." "That flower?" "No." "Let me think." "That rock?" "It's not red, is it?" "It is a bit." "Red, Chepito." "You don't know, do you?" "Yes, wait." "Look, red." "Quiet." "I'll go to Rincon with you." "You don't have to." "I have to get groceries anyway." "Shall we sit there?" "Would you like a drink?" "Coca cola." "How are you?" "Hi." "I'm lucky today." "I found a special snail and a beautiful girl." "What's going on?" "No idea." "Why are they acting so strange?" "Let's get out of here." "I don't know." "It wasn't that bad, was it?" "I agree it was strange." "But when something's mysterious, it's only because we don't understand it." "It's no reason to panic." "Easy for you to say." "They're not staring at you." "I'm just trying to help you." "No one acts strange towards you." "It's got something to do with how you look or act." "I look and act normal, but the moment I come in... you saw for yourself." "Last night, in Kralendijk... this old lady started screaming when she saw me." "You're kidding." "Yes, really loud." "She ran off and crossed herself." "And the worst thing was..." "Are you laughing?" "Of course not." "Why would I be laughing?" "I call that laughing." "That lady was carrying a very ripe melon." "When she crossed herself, she dropped it." "It made a loud sound." "The whole street was..." "So you were just laughing at her." "But it's good to see you laugh." "You have to believe me, Lucas." "I'm not exaggerating." "People have been acting strange from the first day." "Not all of them." "Every now and then." "It was giving me shivers." "As if they found me creepy." "What's creepy about me?" "Nothing that I know of." "It wouldn't be so scary if I understood it." "There must be a logical explanation." "I don't mind helping you find out what it is." "There they are again." "I can see that for myself, Chepito." "Who do I follow?" "The girl, idiot." "What do we do now?" "Let me think." "Alright." "Bring her over here, Chepito." "They're only children..." "We have to be discrete." "Little children..." "They can talk too, asshole." "Yuck, what's that?" "An iguana." "A what?" "An iguana." "Did you catch it?" "Here?" "Didn't it run off?" "No." "Don't you find it scary?" "Won't it hurt you?" "Yes, it bites." "Bites?" "But you're not afraid to hold it." "Will you hold it too?" "What does an iguana eat?" "Leaves." "Does it like candy too?" "No." "Do you?" "Yes." "What is she doing?" "Asking the children something, I guess." "But you said she'd come to us and we'd give her a ride." "Why doesn't she do that?" "Shut up, idiot." "I wouldn't do that." "Better sit somewhere else." "Get up, right now." "Why?" "Do as I say." "Keep your hands off me." "Who do you think you are?" "I don't care, but that tree is venomous." "What?" "Venomous." "Formic acid." "Gives you blisters." "Oh, come on." "Try it if you don't believe me." "That's terrible." "Thanks for warning me." "Don't walk around alone if you don't know these things." "I'm lost." "I'm having car trouble." "Where is your car?" "That way." "Yuck!" "Took me half an hour to catch." "Why do you want it?" "For the chicken soup." "Are you coming?" "Start the engine." "Fantastic!" "How did you get the problem?" "I don't know." "It just didn't work." "I doubt that." "Were you driving when it started?" "No, I had gotten out to have a look around." "When I wanted to keep going..." "Why do you ask?" "Did you see anyone when you got out?" "No, just a few children." "They showed me one of those." "We talked and I gave them candy." "Why?" "Strange." "Thanks, do you want a ride?" "Are you sure you don't want a ride?" "What kind of candy was that?" "I don't want a ride." "Can I say something?" "No." "Go after her." "Relax, it's not my fault." "Stop your car." "Park your car." "I said stop!" "Chepito, force her to stop." "Park the car." "Stop." "There's no one outside." "Then we'll wait here." "Shall I get the suitcase?" "Alright, Chepito." "What do you want?" "You have to help me." "Want some soup?" "Sit down." "What is she saying, Laro?" "What does she want?" "Do you understand her, Laro?" "Of course." "Sit down." "They've kidnapped her." "They just kidnapped her." "In broad daylight." "Who did they kidnap?" "That singer, Sylvia Sommer." "Never heard of her." "You know her." "She mentioned you." "Did she?" "Yes." "She drives a beach car." "What did you say her name was?" "Sylvia Sommer." "Is that what she says?" "What do you mean?" "Sylvia Sommer... and a singer too." "Those two men pulled her out of the car." "I saw it happen." "Well, well." "And then what?" "They drove to a kunuku house, near here." "We have to help her." "Do you know those guys?" "No, I've never seen them before." "I don't think they're from the island." "What do you want from me?" "Against the evil eye." "Should I call the police?" "Not if no one can know she's on the island." "We have to do something." "What do those guys want?" "I don't know." "Maybe a ransom." "These things happen." "She's a celebrity after all." "Those guys come all the way from God knows where... to kidnap a Dutch singer here." "There must be something else behind it." "What?" "I'll call the police anyway." "Wait a moment." "With the two of us, we don't need the police." "What do you mean?" "You don't look like much, Professor." "Worry about yourself." "It's a miracle you can stand up." "Let's try." "Could be fun." "What if they left and took her?" "Then we'll have a hard time finding them." "But don't worry." "They stayed in the kunuku for a reason." "I bet they want to wait until dark." "They must have a boat somewhere." "So you think it's about a ransom?" "No, but kidnapping someone and holding them on the island is bigger nonsense." "They'll want to get off the island." "There's something mysterious about the girl, but she doesn't act mysteriously." "Those are the most mysterious ones." "What do you have to do with her anyway?" "Nothing." "She's not very special." "Very skinny and way too young." "That's not the point." "I only met her today." "Then why do you go out of your way for that little shrimp?" "Give me a break." "As long as you know I'm not a hero." "Because I don't have a crush on her." "Who says I do?" "I won." "That's what you think." "I won anyway." "No, you didn't." "Do you want a drink?" "We'd better walk from here." "Did you bring a knife or something?" "No, you?" "Always handy." "It's not my style." "I'm against weapons" "Good for you, but what if they're armed?" "Are you a karate champion?" "No, I'm against all violence." "How did you want to save the girl then?" "Without a weapon you're useless." "I'll use you as a shield." "Very good, Chepito." "There's nothing to hide behind." "Now what?" "You'll have to distract them." "Me?" "While I approach from the other side." "Do you have a better idea?" "No." "Ok." "I'll grab them from behind." "You distract them so they don't see me coming." "Can't we sneak up on them together?" "It's too open." "How do I distract them?" "Tell them about your snails." "Show them slides." "What if they really have weapons?" "I'll be an easy target." "Will you do it or not, Professor?" "Damn!" "Ok, we'll go back to the car and call the police." "I hardly know her but I have to risk my life for her." "That's life, Professor." "Come on." "I'll run and I'll count to twenty." "If you walk out on me, I'll be an easy prey." "Hello, guys!" "How are you?" "This is the milkman, this is the knife grinder!" "Hello, look this way!" "Can you help me?" "I got lost." "Can Sylvia Sommer come out?" "Lucas, here!" "Get rid of him." "Very well done!" "Have a sip." "Do you want a... sip too?" "More chicken soup?" "Yes, please." "Your name's Rob Van De Berg, isn't it?" "How do you know?" "Eddy told me." "How is Eddy?" "Why don't you ask him?" "You don't dive at all anymore, do you?" "No, that's finished." "That's history." "You can't be serious." "Never again?" "Never again." "Why not?" "I'm getting too old for it." "Yeah right, you're too old." "A tired old man of... how old are you?" "33." "So Eddy's 7 years younger." "He doesn't think about quitting yet." "Seven years can't make that much of a difference." "If you're healthy, that is." "Sorry, but you're healthy, aren't you?" "Yes, I am, thank you." "A bit more?" "I'm not used to all this attention." "I guess you weren't old when you came through the door this afternoon." "I was a bit angry then." "I'd like to see you really angry then." "It looked like a film." "Such a hero!" "You looked so fierce." "I was counting on Lucas." "He distracted them or I wouldn't have been able to do it." "Lucas was very brave too." "We all were." "I wasn't." "I was almost peeing myself." "I don't understand what they wanted from me." "They acted as if I was someone else." "But what it was about?" "No idea." "I still don't know." "Really?" "No, don't you believe me?" "So you have no idea what they wanted." "No!" "Do you know what they wanted?" "How could I know?" "Don't act so weird." "If you know more, tell me." "Who are you?" "I already told you." "I'm Sylvia Sommer and I have never been on this island before." "Why would I lie?" "So everybody's wrong?" "Yes." "You've lived here for so long." "If Sylvia had been to Bonaire before, wouldn't you have recognized her?" "Lucas, take her with you and put her on a plane." "Make sure she leaves." "You can't be serious." "Do you really think I'm someone else?" "That's crazy." "I know who I am." "I'm starting to think you're really crazy." "They call me El Loco, the village idiot, so don't pay any attention to me." "Make sure she leaves tomorrow." "The sooner the better." "He meant it, didn't he?" "Don't worry about it." "There must be a logical explanation." "Maybe." "He says these things for a reason." "That's what makes it so scary." "It's like a nightmare." "As if I don't know who I am." "Ridiculous." "You'd almost think I was the crazy one." "That would be something." "Have you ever suffered from amnesia?" "It's just a question." "You only have to answer yes or no." "I may have been a bit overworked, but I don't have a screw loose." "I came to Bonaire for peace and quiet and what do I get?" "Dramas." "Please take me back to Kralendijk and don't ask any more questions." "Not even if you mean well." "Thanks a lot for your help." "You're a nice guy." "But if you ever ask me that again, I'll scratch your eyes out." "Understood, Lucas?" "Ok." "The Rolls Royce is ready, lady." "I wanted to thank him and say goodbye." "That won't be possible." "El Loco has disappeared." "I hate that name." "Alma."