Delta-Victor (11 page)

Jim corrected Lou. “Not all the time. We have three types of weather. It's either raining, about to rain, or just finished raining.”

“And in the summer, we have warm rain.” Staci added.

“You are blessed it rains so much,” Mafuso said as he appeared from nowhere. He was good at the silent approach. He seemed to know when she wasn't eating and would show up, giving her no choice in the matter. He sat, Tayba at his side. “Some years the rains do not come.”

“Then what happens?” Staci asked.

“Crops fail, animals die. Things are hard when the rains do not come. This year they will come. I can smell them.”

Staci sniffed. “Can't smell anything except dinner.”

The others laughed.

“You will see. The rains will come in the morning.” Mafuso looked over at Lou. “Is your meal all right?”

Lou had barely touched it. “It's fine.”

“Good. Then eat.”

She picked up the meat and took a bite. It threatened to choke her, but somehow she plastered a smile on her face and joined in, despite the fact her heart was breaking.

Kelmac stood and raised his hands.

At once everyone fell silent.

Ailsa quietly translated.

“Tonight we feast in the honor of Mafuso, whose heroic deeds brought us the food of the elders. We celebrate him and give him great praise for his deeds.”

A cheer went up.

Kelmac continued. “We also announce his joining to Tayba, daughter of Lotho and Sivelle. The ceremony will be in five days.”

Another cheer went up.

Tayba blushed and hid behind Mafuso. As normal conversation resumed, she said, “You will be staying for the wedding?”

Jim glanced at Lou. “We really ought to be heading off now Lou's better. We can't stay here forever.”

“Five days won't hurt,” Ailsa said. “It would be nice to stay for the wedding. Please?”

“Lou?”

“You know my feelings on going home, Jim. Besides, it's rude to refuse an invite from the bride. We'd love to stay. Thank you.”

“I guess that's settled, then. Thank you.”

The next morning was wet. They awoke to the steady drumming of rain on the roof.

Staci looked outside. “Stair rods,” she pronounced.

“What are stair rods?” Keika asked.

“Bannisters that go up a flight of stairs,” Jim tried to explain, not very successfully.

So Lou tried instead. “Cats and dogs,” she said helpfully. “Torrents. Chucking it down. Couldn't be wetter if it tried. Lovely weather for ducks.”

Keika looked outside. “Ah, much rain.”

13

January 6
th
, midday-ish, day 49, Lou scribbling.

I'm a fool. But you knew that, right? I give my heart in the most stupid places. I mean, I'm just a stupid kid. Why would he want me? Why would either of them…or anyone come to that…want me? And if you notice I'm writing this backwards, that's because Jim can't read mirror writing. At least, not without the aid of a mirror. And there isn't one here.

Which means for now, at least, I can pour out my heart and no one will know. Because I have no one to talk to. I'm alone in a crowd of people, and I always will be. Anyway, the wedding is two days away and Jim is planning on leaving as soon as it's over. Not that he's put as much in here, but I know him and the way he keeps looking at the others when everyone's sleeping. He wants Staci home and safe. And so do I…but I'm not going.

Once we find this base, I'll write a proper explanation, but for now, that stays between me, myself, and I. OK, back to normal writing now, else Jim will complain too much.

And yes, it's still raining. Life doesn't stop though. The hunting and gathering continues as normal, along with the construction of the new home for Mafuso and Tayba. The women meet daily in Kelmac's home, making wedding garments for Tayba. Each day as the rains fall, the house grows bigger and the wedding dress nears completion.

Jim's addition. Will deal with Lou and her illegible entries later on.

I sought out Kelmac an hour or so ago. He was sitting in the small chapel they have here. I assume a missionary built it at some point in the past, which is probably where some of them learnt their English from.

“Kelmac?”

The chieftain turned and smiled. “Hello, Jim.”

“I was wondering if I may speak with you.”

“Of course. Please, sit.”

Jim sat beside him. “We have been here some time. Not that we don't like being with you all, but we should leave. Try and get to the American base and send a message home.”

“I have been there once, many years ago. There is no one there now.”

“I was hoping to find a radio. So someone can come and get us.”

“If there is not, you may return here. You are always welcome to make your home here.”

“Thank you. I shall remember that.” Jim bowed and took his leave. He hoped that wouldn't be necessary.

Lou had closed herself off completely. She wasn't eating, and wasn't letting Mafuso treat her leg anymore. When Jim had tried talking to her, she was the proverbial brick wall and just blanked him. About the only thing he could do was pray.

Pray they'd find the base.

Pray that there was a radio there and they could call for help.

And pray that help would come before it was too late.

~*~

Lou tried to explain the concept of honeymoons to Tayba, Aryna, and Keika as they prepared the midday meal. Marriage was taken very seriously here. One woman bound to one man for life—no exceptions. Literally until death do them part. Like the relationship her parents had had, right up until her father had been killed. Then one was just alone.

Like she was and always would be. But that didn't mean that Tayba should miss out on what normally happened. At least in the western world.

“It's a two week holiday immediately after the reception, uh wedding feast. The groom keeps the destination a secret from the bride, but it's usually somewhere exotic.”

“Exotic?” Tayba asked.

Lou grinned. “Hot and sunny and not in England. It's their chance to be alone and get to know each other properly without the distraction of work and friends and family. But before that and the wedding, there's the hen night.”

“The what?”

“The hen night. It's a party for the bride and her female friends before the wedding. The groom and his male friends have one on the same night. That's called a stag night.”

Aryna looked up from her work. “What happens?”

“It's just a party. All the women bring presents for the bride, usually little things for the house. Or chocolate. Then they eat, drink, and play silly games. The men usually get drunk and tie the groom to a lamp post fifty miles from home.”

They didn't understand that, so she had to explain more.

Shocked silence met her.

“It doesn't happen very often though. It's just a last fling with your mates before you commit yourself to someone for life.”

“It sounds lovely,” Keika said. “When does it usually happen?”

“Traditionally it's the night before the wedding, but most people have it a few days before.”

Tayba looked at Aryna. “Please speak to Kelmac. We do not have much time. Perhaps tonight?”

“I will speak with him now.” She went in search of her husband. She was gone only a few minutes before retuning. “He agrees. We may have them tonight.”

Plans swiftly got underway.

Lou and Jim, being the token British man, found themselves expected to organize the parties.

It didn't take long before an irate Jim sought her out. “I don't know what to do,” Jim grumbled. “I've never been to one. Trust you to come up with the idea.”

“We were just talking. And I haven't been to one either.” Lou scowled. Why was this her fault? “The important thing is they enjoy it.”

“Can't we do a joint one?”

“No. You come up with your own ideas.”

Jim glared at her. “But it wasn't my idea, was it? It was yours. And I've got three hours to plan and get my work done at the same time.”

“Jim, it's the least we can do for them. They have fed and clothed and housed us. What little they had left after the fire, they willingly shared with us. Besides if you are leaving after the wedding, it's a good a way as any to say goodbye.”

“Aren't you coming with us?”

“Yeah, of course I am,” Lou answered quickly. “The others might not want to leave, though.”

Jim scowled. “You know very well the only stumbling block to going home is you.”

“Yeah, well, I have an appointment with Mafuso and a party to plan. You go plan yours and worry about going home in a couple of days' time.” She swung away on the crutches, whistling to Deefer.

~*~

It was worrisome to Jim that she continued to use the crutches, despite Mafuso's best efforts to convince her that she no longer needed them. Her leg seemed to hurt continuously, although she told him constantly it was fine, and that it didn't bother her anymore. Yet she remained on the crutches.

Mafuso had checked her over. “It does not hurt? Your wounds are healing.”

She shook her head. “You did a good job. Thank you. I'll miss not seeing you every day. You said yourself it's healed, so I needn't waste your time.”

He frowned, and then took her hand. “You are not wasting my time. Neither do you need the crutches to walk, you know that very well.”

“There is no way I can keep up with the others without them,” she insisted. “Or Deefer. And I can't stop taking him for walks and stuff. Even if it is just around the village.”

“But on those…” Mafuso paused. “You are a pretty girl, but how will you find a husband if you can't…” He broke off.

She pushed to her feet. “I know you mean well, but I'm fine like this, honestly. It's not like I'm ever planning to get married or anything. And speaking of weddings, I have to go plan this party for tonight. See you later.”

She headed outside and over to join the others.

Jim had no idea what to do for Lou at this point. And he had a stag party to plan before he could think how to solve any other problems.

~*~

Lou could hear Staci complaining from half way across the clearing. She stopped just short of the group to watch.

Keika had explained that the fabric had come from the missionaries, and more from when the air base was still occupied on the island. The tribe hoarded it, despite occasional ships that stopped in their little bay and brought modern goods.

Staci moaned loudly about the sewing in her hand. “This is more Lou's thing than mine. I don't know one end of a needle from the other.”

“Which is probably why you're here,” Ailsa told her. “It's about time you learned.”

Staci grumbled and managed to prick herself more than the fabric. Her stitches were large and uneven and she even managed to sew the fabric to her own dress. This may have been amusing or an accident, but her comments had been loud and long and this seemed another excuse to get out of it.

Ailsa unpicked the stitches and freed the fabric from Staci's skirt.

“Can I go now?” Staci said.

“No,” Keika told her. She took the fabric from Ailsa and gave it back to Staci. “You must learn and do your share of the work. Here, I will help you.”

Lou grinned.

As far as Staci was concerned, ‘help' usually meant someone else doing the tasks she didn't know how to do. She felt incapable of learning some things, and often confided to Lou that she hated disappointing people when she failed. The girl was in for a shock.

Keika showed her how to hold the fabric and needle correctly and how to do four tiny precise stitches. She then gave the fabric back to Staci. “You do it now.”

“But I thought....” Staci mumbled.

“I have my own to do. I will help if you get stuck. We have to work together here, or we do not survive.”

“If I must.” Staci stabbed the fabric with the needle and with considerable effort, managed to make her stitches smaller and more neat.

Finally the horn to signal stopping work sounded.

Staci sighed thankfully.

Jim came across on his way to the river to bathe. “Did you have a good day?”

“No. They put me on sewing. I hate sewing.”

Ailsa laughed. “What she means is she couldn't sew if her life depended on it.”

Staci glared at her, then grinned sheepishly and took off towards the hut they were staying in.

Jim made to go after her, but Ailsa stopped him. “Leave her. She's been complaining all day, but she did do the task, even though she didn't like it much.”

Lou turned away, not wanting to see another moment of closeness between someone she liked and the person they preferred over her. She headed after Staci. “Stace, wait up.”

Staci turned. “I hate sewing. I've done nothing but sewing for days—I know I've been complaining, but I don't do it very well and I don't like doing something I'm not good at.”

“Well, if you don't like it,” Lou interrupted, “then do something about it.”

“Like what? Jim keeps saying how we owe these people and need to do what we can to help.”

“You could tell him you want go home. He wants to head on to this base, try to radio back home for help. He's only staying out of a sense of duty, but his first duty is to you.”

“But going home would mean going to boarding school if they haven't found Mum and Dad.”

“At least you wouldn't have to sew all day long. You could see your friends, have someone else take care of you instead of having to do it all yourself. And my mum would have you for the holidays.”

“Jim takes care of me now.”

Lou sighed in exasperation. “Stace, Jim is only eighteen. He doesn't need this huge burden of responsibility. He feels totally responsible for stranding us here, even though it isn't all his fault. Besides, Jim wanted to join the military. He can't do that from here or if he's caring for you on a full time basis. Can he?”