The Reef (41 page)

Manolin nodded. He placed his hands behind him on the sand, stretched his legs out. He turned to face the doctor, said, ‘You think they’re bolting the thing with the eye, don’t you?’

Forb smiled. ‘What else could it be?’

Manolin nodded again, both eyebrows raised. ‘It’s possible. Okay, now let’s assume it
was
an eye, and it
was
connected to something. That’s pretty damn big, isn’t it?’

‘The reef grew on top of it. The coral imprisoned it, using the thing as an artificial reef itself.’ ‘It’s all logical, I guess. Coral could do that. But it’s a bit fantastical, don’t you think?’

‘One thing I’ve learned from this island, and all my life studies, Manolin, is that the natural world is more bizarre than anything our minds can produce.’

Manolin stared out to sea. He listened to the dying fire, to the sounds of the surf. Night birds were still loud in the forest, using their shift to make all manner of disturbance.

‘Manolin.’

‘Yeah?’

‘The navy won’t come, will it?’

Manolin could see the concern in the doctor’s expression. It must pain the man to think that another government would come to corrupt and destroy his paradise. ‘I honestly don’t know. One of those two would have to get back to the mainland first. You’re worried about that, aren’t you?’

‘Of course. It’s my home. It’s home to a lot of us, and it’s unspoiled. You know what armies are like. I don’t want to lose all the cures we have here. I don’t want to lose all my work.’

‘I’ll make sure you won’t,’ Manolin said.

‘I hope not.’

Each man reflected for a moment in companionable silence.

‘I don’t want to lose Myranda, either,’ Forb said.

‘How d’you mean?’ Manolin looked at Forb, whose face was pale.

‘I don’t want anyone to claim her. I don’t want that.’ He ran his hand over his bald head.

‘You don’t mean
me,
do you?’ Manolin said.

‘No.’ He smiled. ‘Not directly.’

‘You’re mysterious at times.’

‘Mysterious, I like that. I’d prefer mystical. The mystical is that which cannot be explained.’

Manolin inhaled the fresh scented air. ‘Like all of us then.’

Forb smiled. ‘Yes, like all of us. I guess every man and woman is mystical. I like your attitude to science. You’re definitely not part of the old thinking.’

Manolin shrugged. ‘It’s a way of life for me. For all this crew.’

‘Good, good.’

They were silent again. The island did that to people-it made their conversations not as important somehow. Manolin looked at the sky and saw the intensity of the stars. He looked along the beach, and a figure was walking along it, away from the village. Then into the forest.

‘Manolin, you hurt Yana, didn’t you?’

‘I’m sorry-?’

Forb held up his hand. ‘Look it’s okay, I’m not going to lecture. Have you treated any other women like that?’

‘What? No. Look, what happened with me and Yana was a brief moment. I lost my mind, we both did. I would never do anything intentionally. I know how much it hurts. I don’t think I can be disrespectful to a partner ever. I’d been going through a very difficult time.’

‘Your ex?’

Manolin nodded.

Forb said, ‘Sometimes that can make you vengeful though. The human mind is more complex. It can make you want to hurt every lover you come across now.’

Manolin sighed. ‘I don’t want that. I wouldn’t like that. I’d end up like Santiago. Anyway, as stupid and predictable as it sounds, it was Yana that went after me. I was tipsy, to say the least-not that I’m saying I don’t like her; she’s very pretty-but I was emotional, and in no sound state of mind. She seduced me. Believe it if you will.’

‘Yana? And I can see Becq wants you, too.’

‘Okay, maybe I was a little spiteful for the whole Yana thing. But nothing bad came from that, did it? Nothing bad happened. Jefry and her have always been at each other’s throats. And Becq? Well, I guess I didn’t realise she liked me. Anyway, she’s not my sort of girl.’

‘Not your type?’

‘No, just not strong enough. Becq would probably always give in to me too easily; always ask what I wanted to do for a day out. My ex was always in control of things, and I liked it. I guess one reason I stuck by her all that time is that I liked the buzz I got when we argued and made up.’

Forb laughed. ‘You want that? You want that spice every day and night for the rest of your life? That’lI drive you crazy. It’ll make you an angry man.’

Manolin dragged his knees up to his chest, folded his arms around them.

Forb said, ‘You can’t want that, truly.’

‘No offence, Forb, but what’re you getting at?’ Manolin looked over at Forb. The doctor’s face began to show pain. ‘It’s not easy-this,’ Forb said. ‘What?’ ‘All the stuff I’ve been on about... Myranda likes you. Look this isn’t easy.’

‘What isn’t?’ Manolin said.

‘Do you have any idea how difficult it is for me to find a partner for Myranda when I’m dead?’

‘Dead? Hey, come on now.’

‘Yes, fucking dead. Dead. Dead. I’ve no idea how long I have left-two months, two years. It’s not hard to work out what’s wrong with me, is it?’ He slapped his head. ‘Didn’t cut it this way.’

‘All right, I’m sorry. You ... may last a while.’ Manolin was uncertain as to what was really wrong with the doctor, and couldn’t work out the correct way in which to approach the matter.

‘Manolin,I can see that you’re both attracted to each other. I want all you guys to stay here for months yet. I want you all to stay, because my plants are wearing off quick.’

‘Plants?’ ‘Yes, the stuff the ichthyocentaur give me to walk straight and keep me on my feet. My medication.’

‘Oh,’ Manolin said, suddenly realising what was going on. He realised that Forb
needed
the ichthyocentaurs,
needed
their medicinal skills. ‘Oh I see now. Look, Forb, I’m not sure how long we’re staying. We can only hang around until we have to go back. It’s up to Santiago, and if Calyban and Soul persist then we could go soon.’

‘I understand. I can’t ask you all to stay.’ ‘I’m flattered, Forb, really. I’m not sure I’m a good man for the job, though.’ He began to laugh in a self-depreciating way.

Forb said, ‘You remind me of me, when I was a bit younger. The same attitudes and whatnot. You’ve got a good mind, and you’re respectful of nature. You’d enjoy things here.’

‘I’m sure I would, really. But, Forb, why do you have to find someone for Myranda? Is there a need?’

Forb glanced at the moon. ‘Well, put it this way: if you knew you were dying, wouldn’t you want to make sure that the things you loved were looked after?’

Manolin nodded. ‘Of course.’

‘Well, it’s like that. I’ve been used to this condition for years, and I’m putting off the inevitable. And I can see you’re attracted to each other, which when you’re in my position, doesn’t so much bother you, but it’s ... a relief. But one that’s a real painful thing to come to terms with. Hell, I can’t explain it. I guess in the knowledge of death you become less attached to things, at a superficial level at least.’

‘I reckon I follow, if I can’t completely understand. I’d be seething if I knew someone liked my wife-not that I do, you see-but if someone was like that to mine.’ His mind fell back to Escha. He remembered the arguments and her temper. He remembered the nights where she would talk to a guy the other side of a bar, and she’d stand in shadows so that he couldn’t see her face. He would never get his own back-he didn’t have the confidence. He remembered the waiting for her to return and the emotions that it forced him to feel.

‘Manolin.’

‘Sorry, I was miles away.’

‘I said it’s all right.’

‘What is?’

‘That I can see chemistry between you and Myranda.’

‘You know, I’m not sure I could give up a life at home. There’s so much there-my research for one. I’d love to publish a lot of my findings. I’ve got to face my ex-wife at some point, too.’

‘I understand,’ Forb said, the disappointment clear in his voice.

Manolin thought about the doctor’s words. Was this an invitation to leave everything he knew behind, to start all over again in paradise? ‘Hey, I’d better be getting some sleep. I’m pretty shattered after all that. We’ll talk more, if you’d like?’

‘Sure, why not.’

Santiago waded through the dark forest, stepping over ferns, pushing vines aside. He was heading for the hut in which Calyban and Soul were staying. His shirt ripped as he caught it on a branch, but he tugged it then turned to walk straight on, following a trail he that he could just about see in this light. The tops of the palms swayed in the wind, and when he glanced to his left, he could see the moon through the foliage, low in the sky.

He advanced on the hut.

In the dark he stood for a moment, simply staring at it. He knew they were in there. His heart was beating fast and he did not know what to say to them, but he didn’t want them to drag his crew back. The agents had power back in the city, but not on this island. His chest felt cold as the wind came through the forest, and he shuddered. He put his hand in his pocket. The pistol was still there.

Santiago stepped towards the hut. When he was by the door he placed his ear against it. He could hear them speaking, but also crackling. He stood against the door for ten minutes. Then, the agents began to talk clearer, louder. Certain words were clear over the noise of static:

‘ .
. .sixteen degrees south... Vessels ... Emergency... Repeat... Underwater .
..
Immediate use of weapons .
. .’

Santiago took a step back and, with the ball of his foot, he kicked the door open. He stepped in to be confronted by Mr Soul, and he could see that Calyban was hunched over a device, which emitted the fizzing static sound. In his hands was an antenna, as well as something that was held close to his mouth.
It
was dark inside, and their faces were lit only by the moonlight that came through an opening.

Mr Soul said, ‘What’re you doing here, DeBrelt. Out-’

‘What’s that?’ Santiago pointed at the device, then reached into his pocket. ‘Nothing. Get out immediately,’ Calyban said. The device emitted a voice amidst the static:
‘Message not quite
clear... Please, repeat message ...’

Santiago said, ‘What the fuck? Who’s on the other end? Who?’

‘Santiago, get out now. This does not concern you. I’ll be forced to manually eject you-’ Calyban said. ‘The hell you will.’ Calyban hunched over the device. He was winding a handle on the side whilst speaking in a low tone. ‘Please send all Eschan naval-’ Santiago held out the pistol and fired at the device. He hit the box directly and a spark flew off followed by a trail of smoke. Soul turned back whilst Calyban shouted at Santiago, ‘You fucking bastard. Right-’

Santiago fired again, and the device split, small metal pieces shattering on the floor of the hut. ‘Communicate with navy will you? Not while I’m here. I knew you had a relic.’

‘Too late, Santiago. They’re on their way,’ Soul said.

‘No they’re not,’ Santiago said. ‘They didn’t get the message.’

‘Yes they did.’

Santiago raised the pistol and pointed it at Calyban’s face. He couldn’t take the risk. Something had to be done. Fear gripped him. Soul shuffled to the door and Santiago aimed the pistol at his head, then alternated between the two it as the agents edged around the hut.

‘Put it down, Santiago,’ Calyban said. ‘Come on, let’s not get like this .’ ‘Too late. You’ve already done too much. Tell me, did that message get through?’

Calyban shrugged.

‘Damn you, man.’

‘You ought not to kill us, Santiago,’ Soul said.

‘Shut up,’ Santiago said. ‘Shut up or I’ll fire again.’

‘He doesn’t have the guts and he’s not that stupid anyway,’ Calyban said to Soul across the hut. Santiago turned to Soul who was near the doorway. ‘Go on,’ Calyban said. ‘See what that’ll do. In a few weeks, every naval vessel on the open seas will centre on Arya. They all know we’re here.’

‘No. The message didn’t get through. I can tell you’re bluffing.’ Santiago smiled in an attempt that it would force them into making some verbal error that he could use, that he could learn from.

‘Try me,’ Calyban said. ‘Sooner or later they’re going to come and find that city and that beast. They’re going to destroy it, as soon as they find them. Those sirens are dangerous, Santiago. And that beast is a threat to the seas. Those creatures beneath are guilty of wrecking ships.
Our
Eschan ships.’

Santiago lowered the pistol. He ran his free hand through his hair and sighed. ‘All right, sit down then. Let’s talk this through sensibly, if we must.’ He indicated the floor with the pistol. ‘Go on.’

The two agents sat at each end of the hut, glancing hesitantly across at each other. Between them, Santiago was still standing. He paced up and down the hut, could hear his footsteps clearly. Calyban nodded Soul, who shuffled nearer the door, and Santiago noted this movement.