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will she really go? She’ll attempt the first landing which happens to
be Deception Island by the way, ruin her designer boots, break a nail and get
back on board the Explorer with her
tail between her legs.”
    Taj had calmed down and was looking at
him with wonder. “Do you really think that’ll work?”
    Don didn’t meet his eyes, “Sure. Give
her what she wants and when she can’t handle it, she’ll back off.”
    “I suppose it’s worth a try,” Taj said
pensively.
    Don shrugged. “What have you got to
lose?”
    “True,” Taj thought for a moment. “And
if I push her really hard she’ll never be able to keep up.”
    “What do you mean?” Don looked worried.
    Taj said, “Well, I’m not going to make
it easy for her. That would be counter-productive. If she wants to see how I
work, then I’ll show her – no holds bars. This will be one excursion she’ll
never forget.”
    “Oh dear, I’ve created a monster,”
muttered Don uneasily.
    “No, it’s a brilliant idea,” Taj
acknowledged.   “But its very success
relies on me being a total bastard and pushing her to the limit.”
    “Well, she already thinks you’re a
bastard, so that won’t be very hard,” joked Don.
    Taj frowned. “Does she really? She told
you that?”
    Don shrugged. “Not in so many words, no.
But think about it. You said yourself you were rude to her on the plane, you
spoke to her briefly at the reception and then ignored her for the rest of it
and you’ve done your best to avoid her since we got on the Explorer . How do you think she feels?”
    Taj was scowling now. “You certainly
know how to make a guy feel good about himself.”
    Don chuckled. “She’s a nice girl, Taj.”
    Taj was shaking his head. “I know, and I
feel bad for ignoring her, but it can’t be helped. I’ve got too much at stake
here. This book is the culmination of two years work and I’ve got publishers
breathing down my neck. I can’t have an incompetent journalist getting in the
way of my deadline.”
    Don grinned at him. “Well if all goes
according to plan, you won’t have to.”
    Taj thought of Georgina’s beautifully
manicured fingernails and her perfectly styled hair and gave a grim smile.
“Hopefully I won’t have to push her at all. I doubt she’s even got a decent
pair of hiking boots. You should have seen the look she gave me when I
suggested she buy some before we left Chile.”
    Don started picking up his papers and
stacking them into a see-through folder. “Perhaps she took your advice?”
    “Perhaps, but it won’t do her any good.
With new boots she’ll have blisters before we even get half way up the caldera
at Deception.”
    Don looked dubious. “Are you going to
take her all the way up? It’s a decent hike that.”
    Taj shrugged, “No. You are. It’s where
the best views are anyway.”
    “Fair enough, what about inside?”
    “Inside the crater?   Definitely. If we’re lucky it’ll be a clear
day and the geysers will be steaming.”
    Don nodded, biting his lip. “It’s tough
terrain out there. Anyone would find it hard going.”
    “Precisely. And city-girl Georgina will
find it excruciating.”
    At Don’s worried look Taj asked, “You’re
not going soft on her are you buddy?” When the expedition leader didn’t
immediately reply he said, “You are too. I can’t believe it!”
    Don winced, “I can’t help it. I have a
thing for beautiful women.”
    “She’s not that beautiful,” Taj pointed
out. “She wears way too much make-up.”
    “I can’t believe you of all people are
saying this. She’s gorgeous!”
    “She’s a pampered princess,” Taj
scoffed. “Her father left her a ton of money, not to mention a Swiss chalet and
her fiancé probably owns half of London. You saw that rock on her finger. I’m
amazed she works at all.   A bit of
‘roughing it’ won’t do her any harm. It may even help to bring her down to
reality - let her see how the little people live.”
    Don stared at his