It was very quiet when they reached the small collection of houses because people were sleeping off the midday meal. They were shown the plantation of taro and pineapples and the few cocoa plants which had survived for several generations. Fono shrugged uninterestedly when Peter asked him if they grew enough cocoa for export. He didn’t think so. By this time the children had lost interest in the strange couple and must have joined their parents on their sleeping mats. Fono gave Min and Peter two pineapples and drinking coconuts and before they said goodbye, Peter broached the idea of meeting in town.
Min was reluctant to be a witness to these negotiations which for her were delicate, so she walked off on her own to allow Peter free rein. She was ignorant of the protocols of man to man mating rituals she was thinking to herself and in fact they did not interest her. This was the significant area where she and Peter parted company. Her experience in the relationship game was limited and her belief was stranded somewhere between the nuns’ naïve counsels about keeping yourself pure for the good Catholic boy who would offer you a lifetime guarantee of married virtue and her innate rebellion. She felt as if she was floundering in uncharted waters.
When Peter caught her up on the overgrown track he told her that Fono sometimes worked in the big hotel in the town so they could go there for a meal one night soon in case he was there. It had not been possible to pin him down to times as they didn’t seem to mean much to him.
‘There’s more to communication than mere words and it can be misleading when you think you’ve said one thing but it has been interpreted differently by the listener.’ No, she was sorry, but she couldn’t think of any examples off hand.
‘Perhaps long-term appointments which we take for granted are not part of the culture, especially in the villages further away from town commerce.’
Nothing more was said about Peter’s new acquaintance. When they got back to their little encampment their things were as they had left them and the tide was out.
‘I’m starving,’ said Min, ‘so let’s carve up the pineapple.’ They sat under the mangroves and let the juice pour down their arms and over their knees in a state of happy abandon. This was a bonus and proof that going with the flow had its rewards. It was a longer walk out beyond the warm shallow water to have a last dip and wash the sugary juice off with the brine. Peter was in an exultant mood and he dived under the water to grab Min’s legs and then give her a hug as they surfaced together.
‘You are right - this is a blissful spot and I’ve had a perfect day. Perhaps we’ll come again.’
Min was glad that she had not let her inflexible will win the day.
Chapter 41
Just as Michael was tucking his airline ticket into his wallet he heard a “Yoohoo” from the other side of the road. Looking up, he saw Dinah with a young girl who had the longest blond pigtails that he’d ever seen. He waved and crossed the street to catch up on the latest news and Dinah introduced her niece from Queensland.
‘Lucky - this is Tasha.’
The girl looked confused as she held out her hand.
‘My real name’s Michael,’ he smiled at Dinah who queried him with surprise.
‘I’m planning a holiday in New Zealand and I don’t think an Australian called Lucky would go down terribly well there,’ he replied by way of a simple explanation.
‘Are you going with Min?’
Michael explained the genesis of his trip and heard that Dinah’s sister, brother-in-law and niece were staying for a few weeks before the worst of the wet season set in.
‘How about coming out to a barbie tomorrow evening to meet some fellow countrymen?’
Dinah drew a map on the back of Michael’s airline folder without the benefit of street names.
‘You just follow the lines I’ve drawn and you won’t go wrong.’
The first of the rains came the next day and Michael rang to see if the barbecue was off. There was a generous carport beside the house so no change, he was told.
While he was driving along the last straight stretch of road, the rain which had been pounding the island all day became an almost solid sheet of water blinding his view. He was about to stop when he felt the car take a sideways plunge and his upper body slid into the passenger seat. Once the shock moment passed he began to curse loudly in a useless defence against the pounding rain and his awkward position. For a few more moments he lamely accepted the impossible and then told himself that he must do something. He remembered that there was an old plastic coat in the glove box and if he could manoeuvre himself out of the car somehow, he could struggle through the watery curtain to find help. This felt like a shipwreck in the middle of the ocean.
He finally levered himself back into the driver’s seat and tried to open the door. The dual forces of gravity and rain proved too much at first so he slumped back again into the hopelessness he’d felt minutes before. It was a burst of anger which enabled him to open the door and to scramble through to find the road some feet away. The door slammed heavily and he put on the poncho and began to walk into what felt like the heart of darkness. The only sounds were the rain hitting the protective plastic and his gasps for breath. It was an eternity of pointless trudging and he began to laugh. He was King Lear in a Russian film he had once seen and he started to shout ecstatically and hopelessly.
Into this scenario came two points of distorted light and his first thought was that he might be run down by a vehicle. What should he do - step aside or stand in the road? As the machine came closer and he realised that its speed was restricted by the conditions, he bellowed and went towards the centre of the road waving his arms in a moving X formation. As Robert described later for the amusement of his guests, there was this sudden disturbance of the relentless sheets of rain in his field of reduced vision. He stopped and a semi-wild figure looked through his window mutely.
Michael climbed into the pickup like an exhausted swimmer and massaged his lips before saying a word.
‘You’re not on your way to a barbecue by any chance?’ Robert’s dry question made Michael snigger limply.
‘How did you guess?’ he croaked out of his rain-battered mouth. Robert asked where the car was and whether Michael had his keys.
‘Somewhere back there in a ditch and no, I haven’t.’
When they arrived at the house Robert pointed to the rain-swept carport and told Michael he’d come on a wild goose chase. Dinah was concerned at the sight of their bedraggled guest and asked Phil her brother-in-law, if he had a spare pair of trousers. Dry clothes and a shower restored Michael to his urbane self so he could meet Linda and Phil on equal terms. Robert however, did not want to lose a chance to describe the meeting in the pitch dark on what he hoped was the road.
‘It’s hard enough to find your way through the labyrinth of signless roads but on a night like this it’s a wonder we met at all.’ Michael, in the back of his mind was wondering how he would get home and how he would rescue the car but he made no mention of these practicalities. The conversation veered in another direction entirely as they sat around the table of food and local beer.
‘Linda and Phil are trying to persuade me and Robert to move to Queensland and set up a business there. Tourism is booming apparently.’
‘What sort of business - anything in particular?’
‘Perhaps a scuba diving thingy. It’s really popular with the Japanese.’
‘I’m more of a bushman myself,’ said Robert, stubbing out a cigarette on a plate.
Michael expressed surprise. ‘I didn’t know you smoked Rob.’ Dinah rolled her eyes.
‘Only when I’m under stress,’ he replied and Michael wondered if he was joking. Perhaps he was not keen on living in Queensland in spite of its top rating by its inhabitants.
Tasha spoke up suddenly to say that it had stopped raining. Had anyone noticed? There was even a watery moon making brief appearances through scudding clouds. Michael wanted to try and pull his car out of the ditch if the weather stayed clear so Robert
who had a rope in his pickup, offered to give it a try. He would drive Michael home if necessary. It was then that the latter had an idea.
‘Look - I’m off to New Zealand in a day or two. Perhaps you three would like to mind my house and you could use the car once it’s in an upright position.’
The suggestion was enthusiastically received all round and Robert, Phil, Michael and Tasha who was aware of a lot of dishes to be washed, went off to find the car and inspect the damage.
‘Now for a nice therapeutic pile of dishes,’ laughed Linda as she turned on the tap and swished the detergent fiercely.
‘We’re a most efficient dish-washing team - you might recall?’ said Dinah as she put her arms around her sister from behind.
The offer of separate accommodation had come at an opportune moment because Robert was feeling the pressure of moving to Australia rather overwhelming.
‘Your old man’s a taciturn sort of bloke I must say.’
‘We’re a good team all the same,’ admitted Dinah defensively, as she kept up the pace with the drying.
Chapter 42
Since Min had been taken up with her visitor and the car business, she had not seen Polly to hear all about the village weekend. She was also interested in introducing her to Peter.
They arranged to meet at the market one afternoon when they were doing their shopping. Polly was surprised and rather envious to learn that Min had bought a car inducing another bout of misgivings in that sensitive soul.
‘Are you allowed to take rides with friends?’ asked Min with false humility.
‘You bet. Anyway, I’m not going to enquire so feel free to take us wherever you want.’
Peter looked around at the crowd of buyers and sellers and commented on the fact that a group of elderly men were sitting in a circle at one end of the market for no apparent reason. Compared with all the hurly-burly around about, they were singularly unanimated.
‘If you look carefully,’ said Polly confidentially, ‘you’ll see a kava bowl in the middle of the group and they’re slowly advancing towards nirvana.’ Peter said he was keen to do the same and how could he get an invitation.
‘What’s the news of Jim’s mother?’ said Min, ignoring his question.
‘She’s responded to the treatment and he plans to come back soon after Christmas.’
When Min told Peter about Polly’s language interest and her weekend immersion in her teacher’s village, he turned away from his study of the kava circle to ply her with questions about it. Polly told him that she had stayed with the pastor in a two-storeyed house which she had suggested was “bit of a copout” but was as much as she could manage the first time.
‘I really admire people who sleep in a village fale on mats with other people. Next time perhaps…’
‘And Eturasi’s brother - what’s he like?’
Polly blushed slightly, highlighting her trademark freckles and later, Peter asked Min if she’d noticed. She admitted that she had but it was probably the direct way that she had asked the question.
‘I bet you a tin of fish that there’s something going on there.’
When Polly and Min had done their shopping and Peter had hovered near the kava circle which reminded him of a pub back home where beer and cigarettes were agents of mateship, they invited Polly to the big hotel for a drink. The first person they saw was Dinah who was ordering drinks from the cheerful barman. She was wearing a lei of frangipani around her neck and the perfume was so heady that Peter asked her where he could get some for his friends. Dinah led them over to meet her relations and pointed out the little girls who were selling them. There was only one left after that and they put it around Peter’s neck. He gave them all his change and they ran off excitedly. The perfume was overpowering.
‘Is there any news of Michael?’
‘He rang on his second night away to ask about the car but nothing since,’ said Linda, who went on to recount the story of his horror drive in the rain. She said that the car had not been damaged but was seriously wedged in the mud and had to be towed out. Dinah explained to her sister that Peter was the person who had arranged Michael’s accommodation in New Zealand.
‘So you are responsible for our good luck in having a house - and a car!’ Linda smiled wide-eyed at Peter. ‘Let me buy you a drink.’
Polly and Dinah swapped village stories to the amusement of the others but Dinah had the same reaction as Min.
‘A house - and a flushing loo I presume!!’ She shook her head and Polly said ‘OK, OK - you win the hardship crown.’ And Dinah bowed her head in acknowledgement.
Dinah asked what Min and Polly were doing for Christmas which would be hot and sticky with no sign of the man in the red suit she hoped.
‘It’s bad enough in Australia seeing all that tacky false snow and papier mâché reindeer. I certainly hope there’s nothing of that ilk here.’
Polly said she’d miss the traditional Christmas which they celebrated with every known trimming at home. And Jim would still be away; it was beginning to sound like a non-event.
Dinah said that they turned on some special entertainment at the hotel so how about they book in now for whatever was on offer. There was general agreement although Peter thought he’d be leaving before Christmas.
‘Have you got your ticket?’ asked Dinah, ‘because the planes will all be booked up by now probably. Half the country travels overseas to spend Christmas with their rellies.’
‘It looks as if you might have to stay Pete.’ Min tried to look sad. ‘And the fares have probably gone up by now - life’s one big disappointment.’ She waited for him to react but he just outstared her and the others looked confused. The others were trying to interpret the subtext.
Dinah went to reception and booked a table and when they left, Peter, Polly and Min hired some swimming gear and repaired to the pool. They didn’t notice the dark flocculent clouds ready to dump their summer payload because they were indulging in adolescent hi-jinks. Polly asked Peter if he’d heard about Min’s impromptu dance routine and she suggested that Min give them a demonstration. Feeling mellow, Min obliged and stood beside the pool and went through her paces. Just then, there was a hiss of lightning followed by an explosion and the sky poured forth. She flopped into the water and Polly and Peter rushed to grab her and to bounce up and down hysterically with their leis swinging, while they were bombarded by the ferocious elements trying to force them to behave sensibly and run for cover.
Everyone else had long since fled the impending storm leaving the lunatic trio (folie à trois, as Min called it later) to vent their pent-up energy in the privacy of the tumult. Rationality slowly returned and they ran to the bar where a few bemused patrons were still holding out against the noise of cascading rain. In their bedraggled state they sped to the hotel exit wearing the hired costumes and leis and climbed into the car with breathless relief.
‘Come round later if you feel like it,’ shouted Polly as she struggled out with her basket. But once they were home and dry Peter and Min fell into an exhausted sleep accompanied by the continued drumming of the rain.
Chapter 43
The rain was an insistent presence and the dampness in clothes and books increased the weightiness of everything. The heavy pungency sapped energy and slowed the pace of life further. The slow gait of the locals was an adaptive feature which conserved energy to a degree, while the visitors who arrived from cooler climates coiled up and ready to spring, were stopped in their tracks by the heavy humid air.
When Michael arrived back from a New Zealand summer with its often crisp evenings after warm dry days, he felt as if he were entering a sauna full of bodies.
The airport terminal building was packed with expectant relatives there to greet those who were coming home for Christmas. Dinah’s blond head was freakishly placed among them and could be seen from the enclosed customs area where imported household appliances were being given the once-over. Michael was hoping that his single jar of honey wo
uld pass scrutiny.
‘How was your time among the kiwis - riotous?’ Dinah gave him a quick embrace.
‘Interesting and different I have to say.’
As the luggage train trundled into the concourse Dinah asked which television set was his. He smiled and picked off his modest suitcase and described the carrousel at the other end of the journey as a conveyor belt of oven packs. The airline carried an unofficial import-export cargo for the comfort of locals wherever they happened to live.
Robert was waiting in the shade of a tree not far from the car and handed the keys to Michael who asked how it had performed since the night in the ditch. He commented on its clean condition after the state he had left it in.
There was a pleasant note on the table in his house, which was much more spruce than he had left it, with money in an envelope which Dinah said was for electricity usage.
‘Let’s splash out on a meal down town - the food on the plane left a lot to be desired - and I have a couple of bottles of wine which I got from a vineyard near where I was staying.’
Over the meal Michael described the house he’d stayed in which was within the roar of the Tasman Sea.
‘There was a huge fireplace in the main room which would have been great in winter but the days were warm and I retired early in the evening to read. There was an oldish television set but I didn’t bother turning it on. I’ve got used to living without it here anyway.’
Dinah wanted to know if the house was clean and if there were creepy crawlies to deal with and shuddered when Michael said there had been a visitation by rodents at some stage.
‘According to some rules on the kitchen wall there was everything needed in the cleaning line but things had to be replaced. I gave the benches a scrub down and found clean bed linen in a cupboard. Obviously the place was used a lot and the owners are going there straight after Christmas. The beach is wonderful and there’s good fishing. Have you been to that part of New Zealand Robert?’
‘When I was a kid. Did you manage to swim?’ Robert grinned. He expected to hear that the cool temperature was too daunting after the blood heat in the tropics.
‘Y’know - there’s something to be said for that bracing coolness. It tones up the skin and you feel great afterwards.’