Indonesian Gold (36 page)

‘Stop it!'
Angela
whispered, pretending to dig her nails into Nani's wrist, while her eyes remained transfixed on
the speaker.

‘Oh my God!'
Nani
slipped into one of her usual routines, grossly exaggerating the situation.
‘He smiled at
you!'

‘Nani!'
Angela shushed,
her voice sufficiently loud to cause a number of other attendees to turn their way.
‘Now see
what you've done!'
Angela applied pressure to Nani's wrist, Nani's eyes opening wide in
astonishment.

‘You're hurting me, Gela!'
she pulled away, miffed, rubbing her wrist.

‘Then behave yourself.'
Angela slipped down into her seat to conceal her embarrassment.

‘…and, in conclusion, on behalf of the Bandung
Institute of Technology, I wish to thank my dear friend and colleague, Mister Stewart Campbell,
for his closing statements tonight.'
Again, the hall erupted, a
number of male graduates towards the back whistling their appreciation. The delegates and guests
were then invited to an adjoining hall where soft drinks and
makanan kecil
were served,
the exodus immediate as the throng headed for food.

Overhead fans turned lazily, gently moving rising warm air
around the building as white-jacketed waiters drifted amongst the guests, offering chicken, beef
and goat
sates
to the eager crowd.

‘Come on, Gela,'
Nani
urged,
‘Let's get some food!'
and dragged Angela directly to where Stewart Campbell was
engaged in discussion with the Dean, Stewart immediately breaking off their conversation, struck
by the approaching graduates dressed in traditional costume. His eyes fell upon Angela, her
breathtaking beauty a picture that would remain with him forever.

Angela's classical features were accentuated by her rich,
black hair, combed back and rolled into a bun, then held in place with gold, filigree pins. She
wore
kain kebaya;
the colorful, hand-woven Dayak sarong wound tightly around her waist
covering all but her high heels – the matching, fine lace, long-sleeved blouse tailored to follow
the lines of her graceful figure as she stood,
selendang
over one shoulder, facing the
Dean.

It was Nani who spoke first.
‘Maaf, Professor
,' she
apologized,
‘but Angela and I were wondering if Tuan Campbell is returning to Jakarta
tonight?'

Angela broke loose from her friend's grasp, embarrassed by
Nani's shameless behavior. She stole a glance at Campbell, the defiance in her eyes triggering a
memory.

‘Angela Dau, isn't it?'
he asked, recovering his composure.
‘We had a brief encounter during my last
visit.'

‘Yes, Mister Campbell,'
Angela stepped to one side permitting a waiter to advance.

‘The Dean tells me that you graduated with distinction.
Congratulations.'

Angela, surprised that her name had been raised in
conversation, asked,
‘And how is that of interest to you?'

Stewart wiped peanut sauce from the side of his mouth.
‘Your name came up.'
He caught the Professor's eye then continued.
‘The Dean was most
complimentary in his remarks.'

Before Angela could continue, her friend jumped in.
‘My
name is Nani, Mister Campbell,'
she smiled sweetly,
‘I graduated with
Angela.'

‘Then I should congratulate you as well. Did you also take
environmental studies?'

‘Yes, but I did not do as well as Angela,'
Nani revealed.

‘Don't believe what she says, Stewart,'
the Dean warned light-heartedly,
‘these two topped their class, and are
like inseparable twins.'

Stewart raised the glass of sickly, oversweet soft drink
he had been juggling in his hands.
‘I wish you both success with your careers.And,no, I am not
returning to Jakarta until Monday.'

Nani was quick to take advantage of the opportunity.
‘We are having a party later,'
and before Angela could prevent her best friend from making
a complete fool of herself, Nani asked,
‘and we would like to invite you to
come.'

Aware that he had been staring at Angela, Stewart turned
to the Dean for support.
‘And is the Dean also going to attend?'

‘Of course, Bapak Utomo is invited,'
Angela intervened.
‘Will you come, Pak ‘Tomo?'

Professor Hadi Utomo laughed generously
.‘I don't think
so, ladies, but thank you.'

‘
And Mister Stewart?
' Nani persisted.

Stewart caught a wisp of a smile cross Angela Dau's lips,
now totally captivated by her beauty. ‘
I'd be delighted
,' he agreed, as other members of
the Faculty joined their group. ‘
Ah, I see that our handsome guest has captured the two
prettiest girls on campus
!' the senior lecturer placed his hand on Stewart's
shoulder.

Angela peered across the gathering and waved.

‘
Mister Stewart is coming to our party
,' Nani
bragged, Angela taking her arm to lead her away. ‘
Wait, Gela
,' she propped, frowning at
her friend. ‘
Where are we going to meet?
'

‘
Where is the party being held?
' the Dean asked,
‘
I could drop you off if you wish, Stewart?
'

‘No, no, that won't be necessary, Pak ‘Tomo
,' Nani insisted, then addressed Stewart Campbell.
‘We can meet you and
show you the way if you like?'

‘Well, if it's not too far out of your way.What time
should I be ready?'

‘How about eight o'clock – that will give you time to
finish up here. Where are you staying?'

‘
Savoy Hoyman,
' Stewart replied.
‘Is that okay
if we meet there?'

‘
Wonderful!
' Nani responded enthusiastically,
resisting Angela's impatient tug. ‘
We'll pick you up at eight
.'

By now Stewart was acutely embarrassed by the attention he
was receiving. ‘
Sure, that's fine. I'll wait for you in the lobby.
' And, as the two
started to move away, he added, ‘but no ‘
jam karet', okay?
' the reference to ‘rubber
time', a national characteristic, causing the others present, to laugh. Stewart continued to view
the pair as they moved through the hall, catching one final glimpse of Angela as she glanced back
before disappearing altogether, swallowed by the crowd.

 

* * * *

Stewart expected that Nani and Angela would be late. He
left a message with reception and wandered into the Garden Bar where he waited, listening to the
light entertainment, while nursing a vodka tonic. The atmosphere was light, Stewart's thoughts
transported back to how this scene might have been during colonial days, imagining Dutch
plantation owners sitting in these same cane chairs, pampered by white-clad servants, the air
filled with classical music and familiar tropical scents.

Halfway through his drink he looked up, and noticed
Angela's friend, Nani, standing alone, looking lost in the hotel surrounds. He rose, waved,
signaled the waiter for the check, and moved across to greet the young woman.

‘I'm sorry I'm late,'
Nani offered,
‘have you been waiting long?'

‘No,'
Stewart answered,
looking beyond the pretty girl, for Angela.
‘Are you alone?'

‘Yes,'
Nani explained,
‘Angela will meet us there.'
She waited while Stewart signed the bill, then turned to lead
the way out into the front courtyard where she had left her motorbike. Stewart took one look at
the machine and shook his head.

‘We'll go by taxi,'
he
said, waving at the horde of eager drivers, negotiating an hourly rate before shepherding Nani
into the car.

They drove through Bandung's congested boulevards and into
the poorly lit suburban streets, the driver following Nani's directions as she guided the taxi
into a maze of narrow lanes, finally coming to rest outside a whitewashed, two-story dwelling.
Even before alighting from the vehicle, Stewart could hear the distinctive sound of party revelry
emanating from the building. He instructed the driver to wait, then followed Nani inside, shaking
hands and smiling as he eased his way through the overcrowded room to where Angela Dau stood,
engrossed in conversation with a handsome, Javanese youth.

‘Quite a gathering, you have here,'
Stewart introduced himself to Angela's companion.

‘Well, for most of those present, it's a
celebration,'
the host explained,
‘graduation party...'
His voice trailed off as Nani took the young man by the arm and dragged him away, leaving Stewart
alone with Angela.

Dressed in jeans and high heels, with her jet-black hair
pinned to one side accentuating her aquiline features, Angela's natural beauty was breathtakingly
striking.

‘Nani wasn't certain that you would come,
Mister...'

Stewart Campbell cut her off, mid sentence.
‘It's
Stewart, Angela,'
he said,
‘you make me feel like an old man.'

Angela laughed, her hand gently touching his arm.
‘Stewart it is, then.Would you like something to drink?'

‘No, not just yet,'
he
glanced around to confirm that the party was dry, experience telling him that it would be most
unlikely to find alcohol on the premises. At best, he knew there might be a few bottles of rice
wine sitting forgotten, somewhere in the larder, but he was not anxious to drink anything that
sweet.

‘Will you be returning home, now that you've
graduated?'
he asked, maintaining the conversation.

‘Not immediately,'
Angela replied,
‘I will be spending a year in Jakarta, with the Office of State
Ministry of Environment.'

Stewart recalled that, as the problems of population and
the environment became more complex with Indonesia's rapid development and increasing prosperity,
this office had been created two years before, with Sarwono Kusumaatmadja as its first
Minister.

‘
Practical training?
'

‘Yes.'
Her expression
suddenly became serious.
‘The Ministry has established a number of organizations to handle
environmental management, and the Dean has arranged a position for me there.
'

‘
Then, no doubt we'll see more of each other in
Jakarta?
'

‘Are you a member of any of the organizations involved
with the Ministry?'
she asked, surprised.

‘Sure,'
Stewart
advised,
‘all foreign mining interests have to clear their projects through the appropriate
departments, before they can proceed on their Contracts of Work. From time to time, I've been
engaged to evaluate some of the submissions on behalf of the Ministry.'

Angela appeared impressed.
‘Have you done any work in
the Mahakam area?'

‘Yes,'
Stewart found it
necessary to bend down to speak as the noise level rose.
‘Why don't you come around to my
office when you move to Jakarta, and I'll show you what we've done, to date?'

‘Said the spider?'
she
teased.

Campbell
laughed.
‘No, the
invitation was sincere.'

‘Your Indonesian is really quite fluent,'
Angela commented, changing the subject,
‘did you learn to speak Bahasa
from a girlfriend?'
Stewart crumbled into laughter, unprepared for such
directness
.

‘No, Angela, believe it or not I actually took
lessons.'
But he could not resist adding,
‘Although, I have to
admit, there have been a number of friends who helped smooth the rough edges for
me.'

‘Well, they certainly did that,'
she acknowledged, a hint of seriousness in her voice,
‘I don't imagine
there would be too many foreigners who have made the effort that you have.'

Stewart enjoyed the compliment as he prided himself at the
level of fluency he had achieved.
‘Can you speak other languages?'
he asked.

Angela did not hesitate.
‘Well, apart from Bahasa
Indonesia I'm still fluent in my own dialect, Penehing Dayak. I have studied English here at the
Bandung Institute but it's difficult to find anyone to practise with.'