Dead Man's Island——3、The Photograph

I worked in the gareden for the first two days.The weather was hot and sunny.I liked working with Mr Duncan,and he was pleased with my work.
'You're a good gardener,'he said.
'I've always liked gardening,'I said.'But I'm studying at college to be a farmer.'
Sometimes I saw Greta Ross.
'She likes to be alone,'I thought.Once or twice I saw Greta go out with her painting things.She went up on the hills or down to the beach.
Mr Duncan took me to the farm and I met Dan and Stella Parks.They were very friendly.
'You can work on the farm for the next three days,'said Day Parks.'Mr Duncan says you're a good gardener.Are you a good farmer,too?'
I smiled at him.'I am,'I said.
He smiled back.
So I worked on the farm with Mr and Mrs Parks.They were nice people.I helped with the cows and the chicken,and went up on the hills with Mr Parks and his dog to look after the sheep.
One afternoon I went out riding.Somke was a big,lazy,friendly horse.I enjoyed riding and Smoke knew his way around the island very well.I learned new places to go to.
I rode along the cliff top and then in between some tress.When we came out of the trees,I saw the house from the other side.I tried to find the window of my room.Which one was it?
Suddenly,I saw a face at one of the windwos.The face was looking at me.It was there for just a second or two,then it moved away quickly.
'Who was that?'I thought.'Was it Mr Ross?And which room was it?'
I didn't see my mother very much that first week.She worked all day and in the evenings.She wrote letters to South American,Japan,Canada and Australia.Sometimes,she worked after I was in bed.
'Mr Ross works hard,'she told me.'He invests money in many companies and countries.But it's not his money.'
'It's not?'I was surprised by this.
'No,it's his wife's money.And she bought the island.It's her island,her house,her farm.Everything belongs to her.'
'How strange!But why does Mr Ross always look sad?And why does he never leave the island?'I asked.
'I don't konw,'said my mother.'He says he likes it here and likes working on his farm.It's strange,I know.'
Sometimes,when I finished work,I walked along the beaches or the cliffs.Or I went swimming in the sea.I liked swimming.Greta Ross often came to the beach to swim,but Mr Ross never came.
'Stay away from the rocks,Carol,'Greta Ross told me.'They're very dangerous.'
'I will,'I said.
Sometimes I took my camera to the beach and took photographs of some of the boats that went by.I took photographs of the birds on the cliffs.
There were other smal islands near our island,and boats with tourists stopped at them.But no boats stopped at our island.They kept away from the dangerous rocks.Tony was right.The island did not have visitors.
One day,I was walking back to the house,and had my camera with me.I stopped and looked at the big house.Mr Duncan was working in the garedn in front of ot.At first,he didn't see me.
'I'm going to take a photograph of the house,'I thought.'The sun is in just the right place,and it will make a good picture.'
I looked at the building through my camera,and took the photograph.Mr Ross was coming out of a door.He was in my picture,too,and he looked angry.
'That's all right,'I thought.'It's still a good photograph.'
But Mr Duncan was running across the grass.He came quickly up to me and said.'Give me your camera.'He looked very worried.
'What's wrong?'I asked in surprise.I gave him the camera.
'Never take photographs of Mr Ross,'he said.And then he opened the back of my camera and took out the film.
'Hey!What are you doing?'I said.'You'll spoil my film!'
But he didn't stop.'Sorry,'he said,and he put the film into his pocket.'But no pictures of Mr Ross.He doesn't like people to take pictures of him.'
Mr Ross was watching us.He saw the camera and he saw Mr Duncan take out the file,but he said nothing.Then he turned and went back into the hosue.
Later,I told my mother about Mr Duncan and the camera.'He spoiled my file,'I said.
'I don't understand,'she said.'Why did he do that?'
'I don't know,'I said.'but there's something strange about Mr Ross.'
About a week later,I finished work early one day and came back to the house.My mother was working in her small room,next to Mr Ross's office.Mrs Duncan was in the kitchen.Greta Ross was painting in her room upstairs.
I went to my room and began reading a book.I was sitting beside the windwo.After half an hour,I got tired of reading.I looked out at the rain,and the grey sea and rocks between the trees.
'My book isn't very interesting,'I thougth.
I got up and went out of my room.I walked along the passage and turned a corne.Then I sawy the door at the end of the passage.There was a large plant pot outside the door.
'Where dogs that door go?'I thought.'I haven't seen it before.'I remembered the face at the window in my first week on the island.'Perhaps it's the door to that room,'I thougth.
I walked along to the door and turned the handle.The door didn't move.It was locked.
'What are you doing?'said a voice behind me.
I turned round quickly and saw Greta Ross.She looked angry.
'That room is private,'she said.
'I'm sorry,'I said.'I didn't-'
'Stay awa from there,'she told me.
I told my mother about the locked door.
'What's behind it?'I said.'Is it a secret?'
'I don't knwo,'said my mother.'It doesn't matter.Mr Ross can have locked rooms if he wants them.'
'I think he does have secrets,'I said.'There's something strange about him.There's something strange about his island.Somebody isn't telling us something.Something important.
My mother laughed.'Stop playing detective,Carol,'she said.