The green-leafed stalks, taller than a man, spread out across the lowland plateau, following the shape of the coast as far as the eye could see. The sea was calm and quiet, that deep Caribbean blue that has to be seen to be believed. The sky was almost as resplendently colored as the sea, with a few puffy cotton clouds drifting near the horizon. In contrast to the blue of sea and sky, the sand on the narrow beach was white with a trace of pale gold, testimony to its coral reef origin, and the cane was at the height of its lush green and yellow hues. The door of the Jeep creaked faintly, perhaps protesting at the way it was forcefully thrust back as the driver climbed out. He was a tall man with a hard, lean build, burned bronze by the sun. His hair was black and thick, his brows heavy over brown eyes that caught the hint of color from the sand and reflected it in golden glints. It was clear that a narrowing of the lids, bringing the thick black lashes close together to soften the sun's glare, was habitual, for fans of fine lines were etched deeply at the corners of his eyes.
