The Reef (29 page)

‘Not tonight, Santiago, not tonight. It’s going to be far too rough without any extra troubles.’ Forb turned to where the upper beach bordered the forest. ‘Ah, Mr Calyban and Mr Soul. How honoured we are to have you join us. And what the devil have you been up to these past couple of days?’

Calyban and Soul stepped out of the darkness of the forest. They were carrying fedoras, and put them on whilst approaching. Their blue shirts rippled in the escalating breeze and the palm trees were fizzing behind them.

‘We’ve been here and there,’ Soul said. ‘Watching what’s being going on.’

Forb said, ‘I trust you’ve been making use of our fine facilities?’

Calyban laughed. ‘Chance would be a fine thing.’

‘So, what
have
you two been doing?’ Santiago asked. ‘Two men spending all that time in a hut together. Alone. Must be ... intimate, no?’

‘Mr DeBrelt. Kindly refrain from such accusations. I would’ve assumed someone such as you would’ve been above that. Someone who postures as a gentleman.’

‘Indeed,’ Santiago said.

‘Well,’ Soul said, turning to Calyban, ‘he’s a Collectivist, after all. A rather rum lot.’

Santiago tried not to fall for their bait, but felt such disdain at their presence, at their language. He strolled up to them, said, ‘You two’d better watch your backs. You’re a long way from home. Anything could happen.’

‘Tut tut, Mr DeBrelt. Should anything happen to us, the navy would be here within weeks. They’d scour the seas for you. They’d hunt you down.’

Santiago looked between them. ‘Just what
are
you doing here?’ ‘Keeping an eye on things,’ Calyban said. ‘Someone needs to by the looks of it.’ Santiago said, ‘We’re doing pretty well without government shits

interfering.’

‘Yes, one dead already,’ Calyban said. ‘Impressive.’

Santiago reflected on this for a moment, considered their words carefully. They were a secretive lot, as were all agents for Mayor Gio, so you had to examine each hint, each expression. ‘How
exactly
are the navy going to know you’re gone?’

‘That’s for us to know, Mr DeBrelt,’ Soul said.

Forb walked up behind Santiago, placed a hand on his arm. ‘The navy must never come here, Santiago. Never. Let them be.’ ‘Our host is right, DeBrelt, let us be,’ Calyban said. ‘There’s plenty of fish in the village, if you’re hungry,’ Forb said.

‘Go help yourselves. You’ll need feeding before the weather turns sour.’ He tilted his head up at the grey sky as the government agents walked behind the doctor’s hut, to the village as Myranda stepped out with a basket of fruit.

‘Ah, splendid,’ Manolin said.

Myranda smiled at him. Santiago noted that they held each other in their eyes for a moment. ‘Very sweet of you, Myranda,’ Manolin said. ‘Thanks, Manolin,’ she said. She turned to offer the fruit to the

others. She was wearing a bikini top and a pair of baggy trousers, which he assumed were Forb’s, as they were tied tightly with vine, bunching over at the top. Manolin glanced to Forb, who had a strange smile. Santiago suspected that the young man was being obvious about his attraction, but somehow the doctor did not mind. Perversely, he seemed to encourage it.

He turned to the sea. Nearing dusk and under a grey sky, had lost some of its colour. It was rough. White tips of waves gathered in large numbers. The wind was strong and you could see the huts in the lagoon swaying. Birds were returning to the island in great numbers. It was cooler than before.

‘It’s not going to be a quiet one,’ Forb said. ‘Still no sign of Jefry?’

No one said anything.

‘Right, I’ll go look for him. I’ll leave you in Myranda’s capable hands.’ Buttoning his white shirt, Forb marched barefoot along the

beach, hopped up onto the grassy bank that bordered the forest, then into the darkness.

Forb jogged through vines, ferns, over boulders, fallen branches. He wanted to get to the volcano before it was dark. Although he knew the paths well, he was well aware how dangerous they could be. You had to respect nature. You had to play by its rules.

He headed up the slope. The forest was pungent as plants opened to breath in the cooler evening air. This far in you could hear the sea, so sounds were travelling further noticeably. He knew the storm was on its way.

After a while scrambling through the undergrowth, he came across the path that he thought Jefry, Yana and Santiago would have taken earlier. It took large strides to pull himself out into the clearing, but he wasn’t out of breath. To his right he could see the sea through an area where the forest was cut away. It was grey, and cumulus had massed, false cirrus were forming below, tiny wisps of white under a dark thunderhead. It was some way away yet, but the winds had risen since he had been running. To his left the slope lead up to the rim of the volcano, about a short run away. The ground, littered with lichens, would be slippery later, but at least it was soft underfoot. There was no sign of Jefry. Forb thought that he would have intercepted him on the way back, but it was possible he was back at the village already.

He jogged up the slope to the volcano at an angle. When he was higher than the forest canopy, the wind rattled him, but he had a perfect panorama of Arya. He stopped for a moment to watch the tide foam with energy. At that point, he wondered if there would be any end to the ichthyocentaur killings. Their survival was essential. Forb looked up to the volcano but there was still no sign of anyone.

It was some time until he reached the summit of the dormant volcano. As scrambled up the last few feet, his hands clawing the moss, he could see a figure crouched over the rim some way away, silhouetted against the clouds behind. Forb walked along the crest, which was a couple hundred feet across, glancing down into the darkness below, treading carefully one side of the plants and shrubs that lined the edge. A stumble to his left and he would be dead.

The figure was Jefry, and his face was over the edge of the volcano. Forb paused, watched, wondered what the rumel was doing. Jefry’s tail was curved around a rock behind, and he was swaying to and fro, as if to suggest suicide yet uncertainty.

Forb walked forwards, next to the chasm. ‘Jefry,’ he called out above the noise of the wind. ‘Jefry, are you all right?’

The rumel turned to face the doctor. The distress in his face was too apparent. ‘I suppose y’all know now, don’t you?’ Jefry said. ‘Eh? About my slut of a wife?’

‘I’m sorry,’ Forb said. ‘I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘Don’t fuck with me,
Doctor-if
you are a doctor at all.’

‘Well, as a matter of fact I am, of archaeology and zoology. Botany, too, but that’s besides the point. Look, Jefry, are you quite all right? I’m not sure I follow what’s going on.’

‘It’s clear when I’m not wanted. It’s clear I’m no fucking good for anyone. My closest friend has been killed. All within a day.’

Forb could see his body shake as he sobbed. Jefry stood up, and placed his feet at the edge. His muscles in his legs were quivering with nervousness. That made Forb think he was likely to jump. You could feel the wind channelling across the edge of the volcano, a sudden and saddening groan, and it came at you from different directions. ‘Jefry, please. Will talking about it help?’

‘Not going to do any good,’ he said. ‘Might as well go.’ ‘No you won’t. Not now, not ever.’ Forb was angry. ‘Don’t be so damn stupid.’ Why should someone give up something so precious as

life.

Jefry turned to face him. ‘Why should you care about me? I’ve only known you a couple days.’ ‘No one should kill themselves,’ Forb said. ‘A man should never kill himself.’

‘I’m not a man anymore. Slut’s just proved that.’

‘This is one afternoon’s thoughts, Jefry. You’ll think differently in the morning, believe me.’ The rumel shrugged, looked down at the fall. ‘Couldn’t give a fuck.’ ‘Yes you bloody well could. Look, I do give a fuck about this, Jefry. Please, don’t do anything stupid-’

‘And why should I listen to a jumped-up shit who’s got everything? A gorgeous and loyal wife, a beautiful home. Not a care in the fucking world. Just why would you bother about me?’

‘Because I’m dying.’ Forb said the words with precision, exasperation. There was silence before he continued. ‘Because I’m dying. I have cancer, and I’m dying quicker each day.’ He ran his palm over his head.

Jefry turned his body to face him. He looked shocked, curious, his grin had changed to a sneer. Tears were streaming down his face, although you wouldn’t have guessed that by his calm voice.

‘That’s right,’ Forb said. ‘That’s why I’m here on Arya. That’s why I’m so interested in the ichthyocentaurs.’ Jefry did not show any emotion now except discomfort. ‘I don’t

follow.’

‘I have cancer, Jefry. In my head is a tumour, and it’s killing me.’

‘You’re only saying this to stop me.’

Forb said, ‘D’you think I’m that fucking stupid? Go kill yourself then, rid me of your damn ignorance.’

Jefry stared at the doctor.

‘Think about it. I have cancer. I’ve tried everything. Why d’you think I’ve no hair? D’you think this is to enhance my cheekbones? I don’t think so. Had all sorts of chemical treatments back in Escha. All sorts of therapy. Everything failed. Myth had it that the ichthyocentaurs on this island had cures for everything. They can use plants to stop you dying. That’s why they live so long and never have diseases. I’ve catalogued all the plants they know of. Thousands. And only one of them’s any good for me. Extract from an orchid root. It’s kept me alive for longer than I should be here, but I’ve no idea how long I’ve got left and that’s why I sent for help: to investigate and stop them being wiped out. To preserve the race and preserve a cure for my ... illness.’

Jefry stepped away from the rim of the volcano. The wind was strong, ruffled his white hair. ‘I’d no idea. Really ... ‘

‘Yes, well now you know,’ Forb said, his anger fading. What he was angry with he didn’t know. ‘It’s all right. I’m pretty used to it by now. I’ve survived for this long. Who knows, there may be another plant that’ll reverse the tumour and my weakness, should I be lucky enough to find it.’

Jefry said, ‘Who else knows this?’

‘Just Myranda.’

Jefry nodded as Forb walked up to him. Jefry put his hand on the doctor’s shoulder.

Forb smiled, sighed. ‘Hang on to life, Jefry. Don’t throw it away so easily. We all have moments of weakness. Just think about it for more than an afternoon. You’d be surprised.’

Jefry nodded again. ‘Look, I don’t know what I’m thinking. I’ve had to try and come to terms with some real heavy shit.’

‘It’s easy to give up,’ Forb said. ‘Harder to face things.’

‘Tell me about it.’

‘You want to get back? There’s going to be a major storm tonight. It does help talking Jefry. No matter what it is. I should know.’ Jefry looked as thought couldn’t argue with a dying man.

They walked back along the rim of the volcano, down the slope. The breeze was strong on their faces so they had to walk with their heads down. Forb could feel the first drops of rain on his head shortly before they entered the forest. He turned every minute or so to check that Jefry was following.

It was quieter in the shelter of the palm forest.

‘So, what happened earlier then?’ Forb asked as they followed a well-worn path through fig re-growth. ‘Told you. Wife’s a slut.’ ‘Jef, you can tell me. I’ve seen a lot of things and I hardly know you enough to be judgemental. If anything I can give good advice.’

‘She’s pregnant.’

‘Pregnant?’ Forb asked.

‘Yes.’

‘And it’s not yours?’

‘No.’

‘I see.’

‘Exactly.’ Jefry shook his head.

‘Do you know whose it is?’

‘Yes.’

‘Who?’ Forb said.

‘Manolin.’

‘Manolin?’

‘Yep, Manolin,’ Jefry said. ‘Who’d’ve thought it, eh?’ He looked up at Forb, then down to the path.

Forb said, ‘Seems very unlike him.’ Forb had a lot of respect for the young man who’d come to his shores to help him. There was a bond between the two, one that formed over an interest that was common only between them.

‘Apparently not,’ Jefry said.

‘How do you feel?’

‘How d’you think?’ Jefry stifled a laugh.

‘Not good, I know. Sorry. I’ll rephrase that: what do you think you’ll do?’ ‘Can’t say,’ Jefry said. ‘You can never tell until you’re confronted with it. When I see them agai nI’II guess I’ll know.’

Forb said, ‘Do you want some more time alone?’

‘How can I? I’m stuck here with ‘em.’

‘I can take you to another hut in the forest,’ Forb said. ‘There’re loads of empty ones here and there. Part of the island’s history, and whatnot.’ ‘If you could, that’d help.’

‘Sure,’ Forb said. ‘If it’s any consolation, I don’t think anyone else knows.’

‘Wouldn’t matter if they did.’

‘Will you stick by Yana?’

‘Oh I don’t know, do I? I’ll need to think about it for a while.’ Jefry paused for a moment as they climbed over a trunk that had fallen across the path. ‘She’s always wanted a kid, you know?’