The Reef (17 page)

‘I didn't come empty-handed.' Jennifer pulled a bottle of white wine from her small backpack. ‘And a jar of olives and a chunk of cheese courtesy of the resort kitchen.'

‘You'll always be welcome,' grinned Mac.

‘You do the honours, Mac, they're your mob,' said Gideon sitting back down.

Mac glanced around at people inside the bar, seated in chairs, several sitting on the ground. ‘We'll do it bit by bit. That way you'll be able to remember names more easily.'

Am I going to ever clap eyes on any of these people again? Where have they come from?

A pretty olive-skinned girl joined them and Jennifer recognised her as the girl in the bikini she'd seen several times with Mac heading for the beach. If she was Mac's girlfriend they seemed somewhat mismatched. Mac was in his late forties, lean and wiry with crinkly tracks on his face that showed he'd spent a lot of time in the sun. Behind his glasses his eyes were a keen blue that seemed very bright, or was it the intensity of his gaze? His greying hair, pulled back in a short pony tail, showed a high brow and an intelligent face. His voice was soft but mellifluous. Jennifer's first impression in the helicopter had been of a quiet, almost withdrawn, man. But then he'd courteously sat behind her and allowed the stunning scenery to be the focus of her attention. The olive-skinned girl was very beautiful and when she spoke she had an exotic, South American accent. Mac introduced them.

‘Jennifer, this is Carmelita, also called Carmel, Carmen or Caramel. She's from Venezuela.'

‘Oh, which name applies when?' asked Jennifer, smiling at the dark-eyed beauty.

‘Carmel is easy for Australians. The rest call me Carmen if I get excited and Caramel when I get too brown.'

‘I see,' laughed Jennifer, noticing Carmel seemed to have an all-over suntan. ‘You're a long way from home.'

‘I've been working in the Caribbean, I'm not
sure where I'll end up. Depends on my professor here.'

If it was a proprietary remark Mac looked unfazed. ‘No, Carmel, it's up to you. You must choose. It's your future.'

Gideon appeared beside them. ‘'Scuse me, Jennifer, come and meet Rudi, Mac's associate professor. And you must know Lloyd?'

‘I don't believe so,' though she recognised Lloyd as one of the resort staff. He was twentyish, and good looking in a sun-bleached hair, overtanned way. She hadn't seen any of the others before.

‘Lloyd is our sailing skipper, and dive captain for the Shark Bar and Mac's crews,' said Gideon, which meant nothing to Jennifer.

‘Hi. The rest of the time I'm a boatie on the fishing charters at the resort. I've seen you round,' said Lloyd, shaking her hand with a disarming smile. ‘When are you and your hubby coming out with us?'

‘She says she's not the seafaring type,' explained Gideon. ‘We'll have to get her out for an underwater excursion.'

‘No chance of that!' Jennifer was wondering what on earth, if anything, she might have in common with these people. It was like being at a cocktail party where you came into conversations halfway through, where Jennifer was asked her impressions by everyone she met, and it seemed everyone knew everyone else really well. But they were friendly, funny and affable.

It didn't occur to her that she was also attractive, charming and warm.

Gideon replenished his glass of rum and took Jennifer by the arm. ‘Come and talk to Mac and me.'

They settled themselves in three chairs facing the sea. The moon was rising and it was a magnificent sight.

‘Never get tired of the view. A good way to end the day, no matter what the day has brought,' said Gideon. ‘So when is the queen of the deep returning?' he asked Mac.

‘Isobel? Soon enough. She's been at a conference in Portugal.' He turned to Jennifer. ‘Isobel is a fascinating woman. Very impressive. You must meet her.'

‘Really. Will she be staying at the resort?'

‘No, with us,' said Mac.

Jennifer looked from Mac to Gideon. ‘I'm confused. All these people, are they off a boat? I didn't think there was anywhere else but the resort to stay on Branch.'

Mac glanced at Gideon, then to Jennifer, and chuckled. ‘Ah, and never the twain shall meet. You have stumbled into the secret world of Branch Island.'

‘The Shark Club?' asked Jennifer in amusement.

‘That's by invitation only. Mac is the director of the Reef Science and Research Station here on Branch.' Gideon indicated the group behind them. ‘They're all his students and associates. Doing whatever it is they do for months at a stretch.'

‘It mightn't look like work, Gideon, but there're five PhDs happening amongst that lot, not to mention the other postgrads – masters and honours students.' Mac turned to Jennifer. ‘We're mainly scientists and marine biologists, attached to Southern Star University in Queensland. But we have students from all over the world. Like Carmel. The opportunity to study the reef, its ecosystems, marine life and other environmental issues is highly sought after. I bring a team here twice a year.'

Jennifer felt goosebumps rise along her arms. ‘I had no idea this was happening here. Where are you based? Do you come over from the mainland and camp?'

Mac laughed. ‘Some might call it roughing it, we have a fairly basic set-up but we have a functioning lab, tanks, work areas and reasonable accommodation. Depends whose turn it is to cook. Of course, the turtle researchers are up all night and they keep waking up the coral researchers who are awake all day and they keep waking the turtle researchers . . . You get the drift – sleep is at a premium.'

‘That's where the rest of the original resort went,' explained Gideon. ‘The research station is tucked away in the middle of the island.'

‘No ocean view, I'm afraid. But we've set up a beach base camp as we got sick of dragging gear back and forth. You must come and have the A-class tour.' Mac grinned.

‘I'm staggered.' Jennifer was almost speechless. ‘I'd love to see it. Can I come tomorrow?'

They all laughed. And then Jennifer had so much to talk about and so much to ask Mac and Gideon she didn't notice the light had slipped away. Candles and lanterns were lit, a dim light hung above the bar and the mutton birds began returning for the night, shrieking and calling as they flew to their nests.

‘Are we barbecuing, Gideon?' called Rudi, who, as Mac's associate professor, oversaw the hands-on day-to-day running of the students' schedules.

Jennifer jumped up in alarm. ‘Gosh, I didn't realise it was so late. I'd better head back. Oh, do you have a torch, Gideon?' The track would be in pitch darkness.

‘Lloyd is heading back to the resort, go with him,' said Rudi.

‘Great,' said Jennifer with relief. She hoped Blair was busy and hadn't noticed she wasn't there. He'd be worried. ‘Where is Lloyd?'

‘On his boat. In the channel. You can wade out and hop on.'

Jennifer stared at them in shock. ‘Oh no, I couldn't.'

Gideon took her arm. ‘Lloyd will look after you. Sometimes you have to step outside the circle you've drawn round your feet, young lady.'

Mac stood on the other side of her. ‘It's a calm night, after that rain you might see some phosphorescence. Just around the point,' he said gently. ‘If you want to join the club, you have to do something you've never done before. Step up now, Jennifer.'

For anyone else a boat ride in the calm and starry dusk was not a frightening event. But as Jennifer sat in the small fishing boat clutching the handrail and watching the silhouette of Lloyd at the wheel, she experienced a mixture of emotions. The surface of the water was silvered, still. Like a lid on some nether-world below the sea. It had been many years since she'd had the dream. As a child she'd always felt there was a safe world down there. But as a rational adult she realised she had come close to drowning like her brother and also her father.

For Jennifer her fear of the sea was linked to abandonment and temptation. How easy it would be to slip over the side right now. Lloyd wouldn't hear the splash above the engine noise. Jennifer didn't trust herself. She didn't trust the almighty pull she felt from the ocean that repelled, scared and yet seduced her.

She closed her eyes but Gideon's words came back to her, about stepping outside the circle. She did feel she had drawn a net of safety and security tight around her. Afraid to let emotional challenges creep through. She thought of what Mac had said, of doing something she'd never done before. When she opened her eyes she saw Lloyd sitting comfortably on his swivel chair at the wheel, paying her little attention.

Cautiously Jennifer angled her body towards the gunwale and looped her hand through the metal railing. Holding on tightly, she raised herself to her knees and looked over the side.

Water gurgled past the hull. She took a few short, sharp breaths. Nothing changed. The silvery water rushing past sparkled in the night light. She lifted her gaze, looking past the wake to the flat dark water beyond. It didn't appear sinister or threatening. She continued to stare down into the water.

Then, from those dark unknown depths, a white blob shivered towards the surface. It looked spongy, soft. Childlike. To her horror, Jennifer saw the face of her brother. Ashen-faced, glassy-eyed. A washed-out shape of a once-vibrant boy. Jennifer gasped, felt her stomach heave and put her hand to her mouth to stop the retching.

Lloyd was beside her, a hand on her shoulder. ‘If you're feeling sick, hang right over and let it rip. Don't try to swallow it.'

She shook her head, swallowing hard, and looked at him. ‘Sorry, I just thought . . . I saw . . .' She looked back at the water where the mucusy blob floated. ‘That . . .'

‘It's a man-o'-war. Big jellyfish. Harmless. Some varieties have long stingers that can give a nasty rash. The box jellyfish is quite deadly and has tentacles up to three metres.'

She couldn't answer. She saw the pulsing flaps around the circular body. ‘Sorry, Lloyd. I'm fine now. Really I am.'

‘Good-oh. Shall we go full steam ahead?'

‘Let's go.'

‘Hang on then.'

Lloyd opened the throttle and the boat surged
forward, the bow lifting slightly. He glanced back at his passenger. Jennifer was grasping the seat and gunwale rail, her face lifted to the night air. Whatever had momentarily ailed her had passed. Instead she looked exhilarated.

There were bright lights, activity on several boats and a few curious people watching from the wharf. As they chugged in to the steps Lloyd cut the engine and called out, ‘What's going on, Doyley? Someone get something big?'

‘No. Blair's wife's missing. We're going out, they might have to call the chopper in,' shouted Doyley.

‘No, man. She's with me. It's all right.'

A siren rang out and a signal flare whooshed in an orange glow off one of the boats. There was shouting and figures ran down the wharf. Jennifer hated the attention and just wanted to be alone back in their cabin. Blair walked back with her.

‘You had us worried sick. That was so stupid of you. Not to mention creating bloody havoc'

‘I'm sorry, Blair, I met some really interesting people and I didn't notice it was getting late. And, frankly, I didn't fancy walking across the island on my own in the dark,' she added with some heat.

‘You're right,' he conceded. ‘I was just so worried. It's so unlike you.'

‘Is it?' Jennifer stopped. ‘You mean I've been acting like some nervous nelly when I used to be my own person, do my own thing?'

‘Yeah. I guess so. I have enough to do with
keeping tabs on all the staff without worrying whether you've fallen in the sea, down a muttonbird hole, whatever.' They were both thinking of Rhonda.

Jennifer resumed walking. ‘You know what, Blair? You can stop worrying about me from now on. Believe me.'

There was something in her voice that caused Blair to bite back any more criticisms. ‘Great. I'm glad. So you won't mind if I go back to work? What about dinner?'

‘I'll fix myself something. You eat at the resort. I don't need babysitting, Blair. I plan to do some work.'

‘Good girl. Have a restful evening. Sounds like you've had enough excitement for one day. By the way, who were these interesting people?'

‘No one you'd enjoy. Some university people. A scientist and a beachcomber.'

‘You're right. Not my types.' Blair didn't see the tight and furious expression on Jennifer's face.

Later, alone, after having eaten a scrambled egg and a cup of soup, Jennifer sat with her feet on the coffee table listening to the radio and thought about the afternoon. And the trip back. Suddenly she laughed out loud, went and pulled the wine from the fridge and poured herself a glass, lifting it up to toast herself. ‘Welcome to the Shark Club, old girl.'

There was a tap at the door.

‘Who is it?'

‘Rosie. Are you okay?'

Jennifer opened the sliding door. ‘Never better. Sorry about the panic earlier this evening.'

‘No problem. Good to know the team swung into action so quickly. Gave everyone a bit of excitement for a minute or two.' She held up a bottle of wine. ‘Thought you might like some company.'

‘Lovely. In fact, I have one open. Come on in.' Jennifer's eyes were bright, her mood merry, which Rosie put down to the wine and excitement.

They finished the bottle of wine and found they had plenty to talk and laugh about.

‘I'm glad you've met Gideon, he's a grand old character. A tinker and boffin. An inventor. I've never got time to get over and see him. He cruises over for dinner once a month or so. I suppose I should go,' said Rosie eventually, not making a move.

‘We haven't opened your wine,' protested Jennifer.

‘Is there something we can celebrate then?'