by Gloria Bevan
"No, but I just ... know."
He eyed her consideringly. "You're a nice kid, Robyn, but trying to protect your brother only makes you a lot more vulnerable. He's old enough to look after himself, wouldn't you say?"
She pretended not to understand. "Oh yes, yes ! That's why he's away, probably somewhere at sea. Working ... doing his best," she added wildly.
All at once he appeared to have lost interest in the subject of Johnny. "Ever seen a breadfruit tree? There's one right over your head."
She had been too involved in her own affairs to notice that they had entered a dusty pathway curving between high spreading trees. The green branches met overhead. "Or tapioca?"
"Never !"
"You've seen nothing yet! Look over there! What does that look like to you?"
She followed his glance towards the indentation by the side of the path where grass grew over a cluster of great flat stones. "Just a pit of some sort —"
"It's one that's been used by the firewalkers at some time or other, by the look of it. They come from their own island of Beqa. Ever heard of them, Rob?"
She nodded, only too happy to forget personal problems. "Johnny told me about them ... but I still can't believe anyone could walk barefooted on white-hot stones and not feel a thing —"
"It's true! Just one of those mystical affairs the scientists can't find any explanation for." They strolled on along a road cut through the jungle rising on either side. As they went on, David, carrying her sketching materials, pointed out to her the various trees with their tropical fruits, the metal bands high on the coconut trees that had been put there to combat the rats. Somehow Robyn thought she had never known a two-mile walk pass so effortlessly and enjoyably.
At last they emerged from the filtered light of the jungle in sight of the coast. The tide had receded, leaving an expanse of flat silver sea and gleaming sand. They rounded a point and quite suddenly they came in sight of a grassy clearing with its clusters of native bures. Fijian men were busy stripping the fibre from coconut palms and putting up foundations for new huts. Not far from a large thatched hut, women were seated on the grass weaving mats from pandanus leaves. Beside them were piled shell ornaments, woven mats, necklaces of beads and dried nuts. The smiling dark-eyed women did not press the sale of their handiwork, but as Robyn paused to admire the local jewellery David said to her, "Which one
would you like?"
She chose a long necklace made of tiny shells in shades of browns and amber. "And just for good measure —" he selected a starfish pin cut from shimmering mother-of-pearl and handed it to her. While he paid for the purchases she slipped over her head the bead necklace that blended so well with the natural linen of the short shift she was wearing.
"Selani said her sister lives in a but right at the end of the village," she told David as they strolled over the short grass in the direction of a line of thatched bures.
It was dark inside the hut and for a moment Robyn had difficulty in focusing her gaze Then, moving over the mat on the earthen floor, she caught sight of a smiling big-framed Fijian woman and two small, wide-eyed boys. An open fire glowed at one end of the hut and nearby were cooking pots, a scoured and spotless frying pan.
The children ran at once to their mother, burying their faces in her voluminous long cotton skirt, and miraculously David produced from a shirt pocket a small bag of sweets.
"Hello, little one!" Bending down to the child, Robyn cradled the dark-eyed toddler in her arms. Lustrous eyes gazed back at her and the small boy gave her a shy smile. Looking up at that moment, Robyn surprised an unexpected expression of tenderness — there was no mistaking it — in David's eyes, and suddenly self-conscious she put the child down and rose to her feet.
She turned to the big Fijian woman. "You wouldn't mind if I made a picture of your little boys? Just a quick one. They're such lovely children."
"Not mind, but keeping them both still," she burst into a fit of giggles that reminded Robyn of Selani. Then, scooping up both children, she seated herself and settled the boys on her capacious lap.
Robyn took up her sketchpad. "It's just an impression really," she murmured to David as he stood watching her flying pencil. "I can fill in the details later." Soon on the blank paper faces began to emerge. The sweet-faced young Fijian
mother; two small brown native boys, wide-eyed with wonder and mercifully too spellbound by the novelty of what was happening to attempt to scamper away.
She had almost completed the swift outlines when a tall good-looking young Fijian man appeared in the opening. Soon he was chatting with the others, explaining to the strangers something of native customs and the way of life in his own village.
"What is the big but used for?" Robyn enquired, putting away her sketchpad. "The one all by itself in the village? Does anyone live there?"
"That's the meeting house," the Fijian man informed her. "Once every month we have a meeting there. Everyone from the village comes. We talk, fix up any troubles —"
"Don't tell me," Robyn teased, "that you have problems here in this island paradise?"
"Not many. Just sometimes the boys of the tribe, they think they grown-up, can do as they like. They want to leave the tribal grounds and go to live in the town. Some of them give cheek, but that soon settled —"
Robyn smiled towards David. "They've managed to solve the generation gap problem!" Turning to the Fijian man, she asked, "How on earth do you do it?"
"No problem. Chief of the tribe, he gets out the big stick. He wallop boy good. After that, no more trouble!"
Robyn laughed, "I can imagine!"
Presently, after promising Selani's sister that she would return in a week or two with a sketch of the children, Robyn preceded David through the opening of the thatched hut.
Outside the sky was a moist inky blue and a sudden gust of wind sent a coconut tumbling from a nearby palm. They had gone only a short distance when lightning zig-zagged around them. Almost immediately rain pelted down on their faces. The sea was dark green scattered with a myriad dancing drops and the path streamed with water. "Come on, run for it!" Plucking an umbrella-like pandanus leaf from a nearby bush, David held it over Robyn's head as they hurried
towards the nearest hut. His arm was still around her as laughing and breathless, they fell in at the opening and stood peering around the empty dwelling. A fire still glowed in the grate on the floor, so evidently the owners weren't far distant.
Robyn drew herself free, but she was still very much aware of his nearness. "How long ... will it last ... the rain, do you think?"
He brushed the drops of moisture from her hair. The look in his eyes as they rested on her said quite plainly : Quite a while, I hope. Aloud he murmured reassuringly, "Not long. These tropical downpours soon rain themselves out. Why, Robyn? Don't you like being here?"
"It's awfully hot," she said breathlessly, "what with the fire ... and everything."
"Why don't you come right out with it," for a moment the lazy tones deceived her, "admit you don't like being shut up with the enemy?"
"But you're not ... my enemy." Her voice was very low.
"Good! That's a start anyway. I told you it was start-again time! Robyn —" The intensity of his gaze ... magnetism ... electricity ... drew her towards him and once again she felt his mouth on hers. This time his kiss wasn't gentle, only ... deeply satisfying, wildly exciting.
At last she came back to the present. "David —"
"That's better," his voice was tender. "I've wanted —" He stopped short as a fuzzy dark head appeared in the opening and a small Fijian boy peered towards them. "There's a man looking for you. Here he comes now, in the car."
"Thanks, son." They moved towards the opening, but the
child had already sped away in the direction of a nearby hut. Robyn took a deep breath. "It's Johnny! He's come looking for me !"
"What of it? Relax, honey, he's not going to worry me any."
"I know, but —"
A car do
or slammed outside and the next minute Johnny entered the hut. Robyn glanced up to meet his brooding gaze.
Angrily he dashed the raindrops from his face and she realised that her apprehensions were well justified. He looked furious, his grey eyes stormy, his mouth tightly set.
"Hello." Her smile wavered, but she kept it plastered to her features. "Were you looking for me?"
"I was," he said sulkily, ignoring the other man. "Eve told me you'd gone over to Selani's sister's place to sketch the kids. We thought you'd be drenched. If I'd known you weren't alone, I wouldn't have bothered."
"If I'd known you were coming back today, I wouldn't have come here at all." She hated herself for the conciliatory note in her voice.
"Well, you'd better jump into the car now," he said ungraciously. "Coming, Kinnear?"
"No, thanks. The rain's almost over and I could do with a stroll."
"Suit yourself. Coming, Rob?"
She hesitated, said tentatively to David, "You don't —mind?"
His grin was as lazy as ever. "Why should I? After bending over the old drawing boards a lot of the time a good tramp is just what I like — Oh, Johnny, you'll find the plans for the alterations on a desk in my room. Run your eye over them when you get back, will you? I'd like to have your say-so before I give the builders the green light to go ahead."
The young face hardened. "Do as you please. It's over to you now."
"Okay, then," David said in his pleasant unshakeable tone. "So long as you're around when the place is fixed up into working order and you're back in business. I'll get the workmen started next week. After that a month should do it. Just wanted to make sure you approved —"
"Why ask me? Go right ahead ! So far as I'm concerned I don't care what you do, so long as you restrict your activities to the house !" His significant glance swept to Robyn and she felt hot with embarrassment.
How could Johnny behave like this, even though he had
some provocation, goodness knows ! For a man of his independent nature, it must be galling to be forced to account to someone else for your movements in your own home. Only Johnny wasn't behaving as though the old Islander were his home — her swift thoughts chased one another through her mind. He acted as though the guesthouse was the last place he wanted to be in, especially if the architect were to be there as well!
Sick with humiliation, she didn't glance towards David but made her way out into the teeming rain. She splashed through a puddle and seated herself in the car beside Johnny. They shot forward in a shower of spray, past the small pond with its pink and white waterlilies floating on the surface, that was rapidly filling. But she was aware only of Johnny's thunderous face. She wanted to ask him where he had been lately and why he hadn't contracted her, but something in his set look deterred her. A few short weeks ago she wouldn't have hesitated, yet now... Surely she wasn't afraid of Johnny, her brother, even in his dark moods.
"I thought you had more sense," he burst out, "traipsing all over the place with him!"
"It was only a walk," she pointed out mildly.
"I wouldn't trust Kinnear anywhere!"
"Anyway," she asked, "where were you all week? I was worried about you at first, until Eve told me you often took off for days at a time without letting anyone know."
It was the wrong thing to say, she realised almost at once. He flung her a scowling glance. "Now you're trying to tie me down — Sorry, Sis," the endearing lopsided smile lightened the young face, "you'll have to get used to my wandering ways. I never thought you'd take it to heart . I would have sent you a message, but I was away on a cruise boat and we didn't touch any port for a week." Somehow she felt it was a lie, but it wasn't worth arguing about.
As suddenly as it had come, the brief tropical storm was over. Birds began singing on bedraggled branches and over the mountains the sky was a drenched blue. The humid atmosphere had lightened and palms and jungle growth glittered with raindrops. Now David would be able to make his way back to the guest house.
Aloud she said, "You were pretty awful to David just now."
"I can be a lot worse than that, as he'll soon find out if I have to put up with much more of his interference. Not that it's likely. After today I won't be around much at the Islander."
With a sinking heart she glanced towards his stormy face. "You mean —"
"It all depends how things turn out. I'll tell you one thing, though, Rob. When I do come back here, it will be on my own terms, not his!"
"I don't know what you mean." Suddenly her feelings got the better of her. "Don't you care about all the money we owe —"
He threw her a wry sideways glance. "You'd be surprised, Sis. Actually at the moment it's about the only thing in the world I do care about! You'll just have to take my word for it, believe me, when I say I'll settle the score with Kinnear, right to the last cent, but it's got to be in my own way!"
"But you won't tell me how —"
"You'll know before very long, one way or the other."
"I wish you wouldn't be so mysterious. What can I tell Pam? She's rung up twice while you've been away, once on long-distance from Australia, wanting to know when you'd be back."
His face hardened. "So what? Just tell her that I don't know. It all depends on what I'm doing and where I happen to be."
They had reached the grounds of the guesthouse and he pulled up with a jerk at the foot of the steps. As she got out of the car he revved the engine. "'Bye!" A defiant wave of his hand and the small old car was speeding down the driveway.
As she watched the vehicle vanish around a bend screened by thickly-growing banana palms, Robyn was conscious of mixed feelings. She was struck by a niggling feeling of disloyalty. Going over to the enemy camp — was that the way it would look to Johnny? Was it because he had come across her and David together today that her brother wasn't staying on at the Islander? All the same, he needn't have behaved quite so unpleasantly towards David. I'll see him and apologise for what Johnny said today, she promised herself. The minute David gets back to the house I'll find him and tell him that Johnny didn't mean what he said. It's just his way.
She had showered and changed into dry shirt and shorts and was moving out to the verandah to wait for him when David came striding along the passage. "Oh, Robyn, I was just coming to look for you —" Who would dream from his cheerful, offhanded manner that such a short time ago he and she — She brought up her random thoughts with a jerk.
"I'm off now," he was saying. "Be back some time when things start moving down here."
"David She took a step towards him, then hesitated.
"What is it?"
"Just —" At that moment a group of fishermen pushed past them in the narrow corridor. There was no opportunity for private conversation, no chance to say "I'm sorry". She turned away. "It doesn't matter."
"Tell me when I come back. 'Bye." He was gone, taking the steps two at a time, swinging around on the grass below to send her a friendly wave, just as though she hadn't allowed her brother to be so insulting to him. Was it for her sake that David put up with such a lot from Johnny? She couldn't think of another reason, yet she couldn't really accept that one! The turning car blurred out of focus as the foolish tears misted her eyes. How could a kiss make all that difference, leave her with this aching sense of regret? If Johnny hadn't come seeking her, if she hadn't agreed to return with him in his car, would David be leaving here so soon, so uncaringly? Suddenly the time when the builders would move in to begin renovations on the motel seemed an awfully long period ahead!
CHAPTER V
THE days slipped by and there was no further word from Johnny. In view of the bitter resentment her brother had displayed towards David at their last meeting, Robyn wasn't really surprised. She could only hope that once the place was remodelled and again in full working order, Johnny would think better of David; change his attitude of high-handed defiance.
"Don't worry about your brother being away so much of the time," Eve Daley told her cheerfull
y, "it happens all the time." But Robyn couldn't help the small niggle of anxiety. On the shabby desk in the dining room two letters addressed to Johnny and bearing an Australian postmark awaited him.
"Those will be from Pam," Mrs. Daley said. "It's too bad, those two being parted like this, and all over some stupid misunderstanding, I'll be bound. Pam's crazy about him and I was sure that Johnny felt the same way about her. He's a fool if he lets her go, a nice girl like that, and I told him so too! Pam isn't the type of girl to go on trying to patch things up forever !"
Robyn knew a moment's pity for the other girl, trying so desperately to put a lost love out of mind, then weakening and writing a letter to Johnny. Receiving no reply, she had written a second time, hoping ... Probably by now she despaired of ever receiving an answer.
"They say in Suva," the older woman murmured, "that Johnny and Noeline are always together these days. I never thought she would take him back, not after what happened. I simply can't understand it."
"Maybe she still cares for him." Robyn could imagine what had happened. A proud wealthy girl in love with a man who possessed little beyond a decrepit old guesthouse on the Coral Coast. A man who had the effrontery to cancel extensive wedding plans at the last moment. Johnny had told her that he would manage his problems his own way. Surely he wouldn't, he couldn't — Feckless and over-optimistic he might be, but to marry a girl he cared little about merely to settle a debt, relieve his intolerable position of being forced into subservience towards a stranger, a man he hated ... Oh no, Johnny wouldn't do that! Even his stubborn pride couldn't lead him to go to those lengths.
Aloud she said, "He's lucky to have two girls so crazy about him."
"Especially," the older woman's significant glance rested on Robyn's thoughtful face, "when they both know his failings!"
Oh dear, Robyn thought exasperatedly, she's just like David. She believes too that I'm mistaken about Johnny, but they'll both see how wrong they are. Just give him a little time and he'll prove to them that I'm right.
Meanwhile the time passed in a succession of sun-drenched days. Robyn explored the reef at low tide, collecting shells along the shoreline, lazed and swam in the turquoise waters of the lagoon. Between times she worked on her portrait of the small native boy she had seen in the village or experimented with stylized forms of palm trees and the local outrigger canoes with their matting sails.