When the Singing Stops (39 page)

Kate turned and calmed the horses.

‘A shame. I hope it died quickly. Law of nature, eh?' They rode back in silence.

Leaving the vaqueros to do their work with the cattle, Kate, Madi and Connor rode for an hour along a trail that took them into a low range of
hills to a gorge with a sparkling pool. A waterfall that ran over rocks of jasper and sandstone fed the pool which was fringed with spindly palms. Madi and Connor stripped down to their swimsuits and dived in, welcoming its refreshing coolness with enthusiastic shouts and a splashing waterfight.

Kate puffed at a hand-rolled cigarette and grinned. Eventually Madi and Connor joined her on the shady bank. ‘It's a little paradise,' enthused Madi, leaning back on her elbows, and taking in the beauty of the spectacular gorge.

She tried to imagine a casino and hotel filled with thousands of tourists here, but it didn't make any sense at all. ‘Have you heard about the casino project being talked about for these parts?' she asked casually, deciding the need for more information was critical to her decision to take the casino job.

Kate responded with a hint of disdain in her voice. ‘Yes. I heard the rumours. An El Dorado company project, I believe. Sir Walter would turn in his grave. Possibly it's more serious than just talk. As you can see, what this spot really needs is a casino. Quite uncivilised without one, wouldn't you say?' She gave Madi a smile and stubbed out her cigarette on a rock.

Connor reacted with intense interest. ‘Kate, what do you mean a company called El Dorado?' he asked.

Kate nodded. ‘That's what the rumours say.'

‘Did you know El Dorado was involved in this casino, Madi?'

‘Sasha St Herve refused to name the backer,' Madi said. ‘He didn't give me much detail at all. I'm to get that later if I decide to prepare a promotion concept for him. Apparently, they plan to fly the gamblers in from North America, Europe and Asia. Be something exclusive, I suppose, a casino in the beautiful wilds of Guyana.'

‘Well, it could provide a lot of jobs. Bring money into the area,' Connor said. ‘What do you think, Kate?'

‘The money would go into the pockets of the rich, as usual, and not to my people. They'd be in service as they've always been.'

‘Kate, a big casino can become a catalyst for development and bring other businesses and opportunities into the area. Casinos are popping up all over the world, and making a big economic impact. Surely a deal will be made to put something back into the local community. I mean, who owns the land?' asked Connor.

‘Most of the Rupununi is state owned. It's leased in allotments of five, twenty-five, and ninety-nine year leases mostly.'

‘So there, it's easy. The government can insist that a percentage of profits must be ploughed back into civic amenities or develop some other industry to support the casino. Where would their fresh food come from, for example? Couldn't local villages supply that?'

‘That's all very well but it's tokenism in the
big scheme of things,' retorted Kate. ‘And given the history of this place there'll be corruption at the top and very little money will find its way down the economic ladder.'

‘If it did get the go ahead, what would you do?' asked Madi.

Kate stiffened slightly. ‘Fight. I'd fight. If I had to, I'd fight alongside Xavier and our people to prevent such a monstrosity erupting on our doorstep. The perceived benefits would not be worth the epidemic of social problems that it would bring.' Kate stood, a gesture that signalled an end to discussion of such a distasteful subject. ‘We should get back to the river. It will be difficult returning in darkness.'

Night closed in swiftly on the water and kabouri flies descended in swarms to bite and suck blood from exposed skin. Kate produced a torch and began picking out the innovative navigational aids—a series of tin cans tied to trees along the waterways.

Back in their hut after dinner that night, Madi sat cross-legged on the bed beside Connor as he tucked the mosquito net in around them. ‘El Dorado—dream or nightmare,' said Madi.

Connor was relaxed about it. ‘As Matthew said, untangling who is really behind this El Dorado group is another matter. Not that we should be so concerned with that, I suppose. El Dorado only affects us obliquely. Matthew says
progress at the bauxite mine is going smoothly. Gordon Ash is a hard worker and has rallied the troops. Stewart Johns says there is light at the end of the tunnel now. Whatever happened with funds being siphoned from the old mine company to El Dorado is yesterday's news. However, I always have to be alert to possibly corrupt machinations behind the scenes in any deals I set up here for IFO funding.'

‘What about poor Ernesto?' demanded Madi. ‘If El Dorado owns the casino, then his murder could also be connected to that.'

‘He obviously started to do some unravelling in government departments. We'll probably never know who was involved with his death or what level this corruption reaches.'

‘Well, this certainly influences my attitude to the whole casino proposal. I'm not getting involved with anything that's got shonky backing and furthermore—'

‘Madi, you don't know that it's shonky or illegal or underhand or whatever. Business is done in many ways. A consortium forming a shelf company is common business practice for tax or privacy purposes.'

‘Secret purposes, you mean,' exploded Madi. ‘Connor, you're missing the most important point. Who wants a huge complex like the Amazonia casino out here? Though I have to admit, initially I thought it sounded sort of fabulous. But not now.'

‘It'd be good business, provided it was all
above board. I admit it's a ripe opportunity for shady practices, but you don't know that it isn't a completely legit concept. St Herve seems a straight operator.'

‘Connor!' Madi's frustration got the better of her. ‘Think where we've been today. What we saw. Do you want that spoilt?'

‘Who says it would be spoilt? It should be shared, more people should be given the opportunity to experience this sort of thing, but on a more businesslike scale, of course.'

‘No! That's where you're wrong. By businesslike you mean commercial, up-market, big deal operations. Complexes, for God's sake. That's wrong.' Connor drew back at her vehemence and Madi took a breath, trying to talk calmly. ‘Look, ever since Kaieteur, since I've been up the river with Lester, since being here at Caraboo, it's been gnawing away at me and I can see exactly what should be done in this country. And the way to go is with eco tourism. Small, special, unique experiences. This place doesn't have the infrastructure to carry tourism on the sort of scale you're thinking of. And it's not environmentally sound tourism. You'd destroy the very environment people want most. Don't you see anything wrong with a huge great casino out here?' she demanded.

Connor tried again, speaking quietly to counter Madi's growing anger. ‘It would be like an island on its own and, if sensitively done, it would benefit the people, and—'

‘Connor, I didn't believe we could be on such different wavelengths.' She pushed open the door and climbed into the hammock on the verandah. Connor sighed and fell back on his pillow. He was too tired to deal with this now. He'd get up shortly and give her a cuddle. But in two minutes he had fallen asleep.

Madi wrapped her arms about her as she swung in the hammock, then hearing Connor's steady breathing, she tiptoed back in and pulled on a long-sleeved shirt and a sarong, picked up her pillow and went back outside.

As she rocked gently in the string cradle she looked out at the mango trees and the white sandy soil gleaming in the moonlight. The argument with Connor had disturbed her deeply. Not because they'd disagreed, but the fact they held such different views. She couldn't believe that Connor wasn't as swept up and influenced by the magic and unspoilt beauty of this country as she was. This was a fundamental divergence of attitude between them which meant they had different outlooks on life.

What had Pieter Van Horen said to her about two people needing to share the same passion? Connor was a pragmatic and practical banker, who looked at life from a nuts and bolts and figures perspective. And then she realised, Matthew would probably agree with Connor. Was it a male attitude? A western businessman's outlook? Stewart Johns and Kevin Blanchard would agree with Connor too.

On the other side, there was Pieter, Kate, Xavier and Lester who would not want the casino. Would Connor agree to a casino at Ayers Rock? Or another uranium mine in Kakadu? Madi sleepily rubbed her eyes, it was all too hard and dispiriting to think about. She pulled the folds of the hammock over her and fell asleep.

At some point in the night, she stirred, shifting her weight to one side and glanced across the moonlit ground. Standing between two trees beyond the hut was a shadowy animal that she thought was a dog, but seeing the way it moved its long tail, she came wide awake. It was a jaguar, beautifully marked with dark spots, its compact head lifted as it paused, before stalking slowly and regally away across the compound. She closed her eyes again, totally calm and accepting. Nothing she saw in Guyana came as any surprise any more. Smiling to herself she drifted back to sleep.

Connor kissed her awake. ‘Don't be mad at me, Madi,' he whispered. ‘Come back to bed and cuddle me.' He looked so contrite Madi kissed him back. ‘Connor, you can't solve everything with a cuddle.'

‘But it's better than arguing.' He nuzzled her and tried to lift her out of the hammock and
instead she almost landed on the floor. Laughing, she pushed him playfully in the chest. ‘You're impossible. By the way, we had a visit from a jaguar last night. I bet we can see its paw marks out there.'

Connor rolled his eyes as Madi ran out to check. Sighing, he had a sudden longing to be in New York, Washington or Sydney. Fascinating as all this was, there was a lot to be said for First World comforts. He wondered if Madi would soon get over this obsession with the charm of primitive Third World experiences. Hovering in his mind drifted the big question . . . and then what? He had been thinking this through for some time. There had been many women pass through his arms for brief periods of time, some longer than the two and a half months he'd known Madi. And then inevitably had come the day when—often conveniently—he'd had to move on.

He cherished many of the relationships and realised he'd probably broken a few hearts. But Madi was different somehow. She frustrated him when she held back the love he knew was there, the love he snatched and shared when she let the barriers fall. For the first time he felt that someone else held power over him, simply by not wielding any power, playing any games or making any claims.

Like Matthew he had been slightly taken aback by her transformation from innocent abroad to a very self-possessed young woman
discovering the intoxication of passion for a cause that went beyond herself. But in discussing her, both men had decided Madi's passion for Guyana and the need to address its social inequities would pass once she left the country and picked up the threads of her life again. Now Connor wondered if he and Matthew were underestimating Madi and he felt even more confused. A swim might clear his head.

Madi showered and strolled down the sandy track beneath flowering trees to the creek where Connor was floating on his back. She sat on the log where he'd dropped his towel and shorts and watched him slowly backstroke. She smiled to herself. Despite their difference of the night before, she was very attracted to him. She was so glad they were together, sharing this time.

Connor splashed out of the creek and sat beside her, towelling his hair. She picked up a corner of the towel and began drying his back and impulsively leaned over and kissed his shoulder. He turned and returned her kiss, and between them suddenly flooded feelings of warmth, affection and a sense of bonding. Each felt it and knew the other did too.

‘Madi . . . this isn't how I planned it, but . . . seems as good a time as any,' said Connor softly, with a hint of a smile.

‘What?'

He reached for his shorts and dug into his pocket for something, telling Madi to close her eyes. She did, then felt his hand taking hers and placing something metallic in her palm. ‘You can open your eyes now.'

Madi stared at the exquisite ring sparkling in the morning sunlight.

‘Oh Connor . . . oh my. It's the pink diamond you found!' She held it up to the sun and rosy splinters of light seemed to crackle from within the now beautifully faceted stone. ‘The setting is from Guyanese gold too. I did a deal with Lester,' he hastily added, ‘to help his son.'

‘You're giving this to me?' Madi stared at him and began shaking her head. ‘Connor, I can't accept this.'

‘Madi . . . my darling. I'm giving it to you for a reason . . .' Connor lifted her left hand and slipped it on her engagement finger. ‘I want you to marry me.'

Madi was silent, utterly overwhelmed. She hadn't expected this.

‘Connor, it's beautiful . . . but it's so soon . . .'

‘Madi, I love you. I know you love me too. I also know we are meant to be together. It doesn't matter about time, how long we've known each other. When you know, you know. And I just know that you're it. I can't imagine not having you in my life.'

‘I think I do love you, Connor . . . but you know I'm cautious. You've never been married, and when you've made a mistake, you can't
help . . . being fearful.' Madi was close to tears and desperately wishing she didn't have to deal with this right now. She felt she was being rushed and he'd taken one step too many and was close to spoiling the relatively uncomplicated relationship they'd shared up to now.

Sensing her hesitation Connor went on with faint desperation. ‘I'm not putting any pressure on you. We can stay engaged as long as you like. Madi, I just had to make a commitment, I love you and I want you to know I am serious about this. I've never felt this way before and I realise now, I've just been paddling around waiting until you showed up.'