Robert Doesn't Want to Play the Hero

The gratitude that Astra had been feeling after Robert's monkeys had rescued her from the slavers promptly evaporated. How could anybody, even Billingsley, be so selfish? It occurred to her that it was probably his fault that the slavers were on the island. They might well have been intending to sail past, but Robert's palace would have been visible from many miles away and alerted them to the fact that there should be rich pickings to be had.

"Fred and Alexis will surely need our help," she persisted. "The monkeys are our only hope of defeating the slavers, and I imagine that the creatures won't come unless you lead them."

"But it could be dangerous," Robert protested, reminding Astra that his cowardice rivalled his selfishness.

She had had enough. "Then you can stay here and f**k yourself, since I won't be here with you to assist with that. I am going to try and save my brother - sister, I mean - and Fred. I know they think that you're God, thanks to those wishes of yours, but they don't deserve to be taken as slaves."

With that, she strode towards the head of the staircase. She knew that without the help of the monkeys she had no real hope of success, but she could not in honour do anything else.

1. Reluctantly, Robert let her go. He would miss her.
2. Extremely reluctantly, Robert followed her, bringing the monkeys with him.
3. Robert didn't want to risk himself but he also didn't want to lose Astra. An unexpected blow to the head from behind knocked her out. Robert dragged her into her own bedroom, being the nearest, onto the bed, and found some sheets with which to bind her.

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