Flame in Fiji

by Gloria Bevan

  "Think so?" His gaze was all at once tender. It said quite plainly that where her brother was concerned, she was very young and stupid . . . and vulnerable.

  Soon it was time to reboard the excursion boat, but for Robyn a little of the magic of the day had slipped away. She kept remembering Johnny, and wondering. Watching the water rippling around them, she reflected that Johnny hadn't confided to Noeline the true position in regard to his financial losses. To the other girl he was a young man who owned a more or less prosperous guesthouse. Something else concerning the other two worried her, and at last she pinpointed it. Something was missing in their relationship, she sensed it. There was no real feeling between them ... she knew she wasn't mistaken ... so why . . . Of course there was no accounting for love, but she had an inner conviction that love didn't enter into their relationship. Convenience perhaps, advantages on Johnny's side financially. What was it that David had suggested? Revenge, but that was absurd. One thing, she had no need any more to make excuses for her brother's absence from the guesthouse. It was all too clear to David that Johnny preferred enjoying himself in the company of people to whom money was no problem, rather than pulling his weight to retrieve the position in his own property. To ease her conscience, she said suddenly to David, leaning on the rail at her side, "Maybe I will look over those plans. I mean, if Johnny isn't around to okay them —"

  "And mightn't be for quite a while."

  "I didn't say that —"

  "I did, but never mind," for her face had fallen despairingly, "you'll do, Robyn. After all, you're the other half of the partnership."

  Her heart gave a sudden lurch, then she realised that of course he wasn't referring to himself but to Johnny.

  "We can take a run over them when we get back," he was saying.

  As the cruiser moved towards Suva harbour Robyn eyed the attractive native girl who had explained and exhibited the findings of the divers out at the reef. Now it appeared that her duties were over, for she was perched on the deck rail, her brown fingers plucking the strings of her guitar while her strong sweet voice rose in a foot-tapping rhythm that was joined by the passengers.

  David had left his car parked on the wharves and soon they were driving through the wide, colourful streets. They dined in a small Chinese café and when they emerged into the street the heat met them. Guiding the car out of the city, David took a steep hill overlooking the harbour where old homes and new apartment blocks were screened amongst the tropical greenery of trees and bushes.

  Outside a high block of modern units he braked to a stop and soon they were climbing a flight of stairs. He turned the key in a lock and they were in a spacious lounge room, delightfully cool with air-conditioning after the humidity outside. Softly lighted, the room was furnished in tonings of browns and golds. A man's room, she thought, glancing around her as he went to a desk and picking up a roll of blueprints brought them back to a low table. He indicated a low chair, then held a light to her cigarette. "Now you can get some idea of how the finished place will look." He spread out the detailed drawing. "Here's the pool, bang in front of the entrance. I don't want to do anything to interfere with the natural environment, so we'll have it here. That way we won't have to cut down more than a couple of palms."

  Robyn studied the outspread plan, then glanced up in amazement. "But you've made the pool turtle-shaped!"

  "Of course. That's what you wanted, wasn't it?"

  "Oh yes, but it was only a suggestion."

  "A good one ! Round the edge of the pool I thought we'd have lots of hibiscus bushes, all in one shade."

  "Lemon yellow?"

  "Couldn't be better! And over here by the entrance, an open porch shaded by hanging purple orchids. The modern units will be scattered amongst the coconut palms. They'll look like bures, but inside they'll be the last word in comfort and convenience. The old ones can be pulled down, they've had their day. Now over here is where I propose to place the restaurant." He came to stand beside her, bending over her shoulder as he indicated a place on the plan.

  "I see." It was very hard to follow his warm tones when his dark head was so close to her own and her foolish heart was thud-thudding so hard she was terrified he would hear it. All she knew was that the proposed project, blending in with natural surroundings, would be probably the most attractively designed building on the Coral Coast ... and that he was much too near her at the moment for her to be able to make any clear judgement. With an effort she dragged her whirling thoughts back to his enthusiastic voice.

  "I'm planning the new restaurant as a dine-and-dance place in native decor, with a separate snack bar for odd meals. Staff will be no problem with all the labour that's available here and for the key-line position, I'm counting on a friend of mine to take over as hostess-receptionist. Maria's tied up looking after a chalet-type outfit in Switzerland at the moment, but she's promised to take on the job at the Islander just as soon as we're ready for her. Actually," his voice warmed, "we're in luck to get anyone of Maria's calibre. She's a fluent linguist too, and that counts for a lot in a place like this where a French tourist may be giving a meal order to a Fijian waiter, to be prepared by an Indian chef! If anyone can manage staff problems and keep things on an even footing, she can. You'll like her !"

  Already Robyn had a feeling that Maria wouldn't be one of her favourite people, though it was clear that in David's opinion there was no one to equal her. Probably there wasn't —in her own sphere. Did she mean a lot to him in a personal -sense as well? His pleasant smiling face as usual gave nothing away, but she had an uneasy presentiment that Maria's arrival wasn't going to make her own invidious position at the Islander any easier.

  "Is she ... pretty?" The words were past her lips before she could stop to think.

  His quizzical glance rested on Robyn's downcast face, and she knew he had noted the pink that was flooding her face. "I think so." He stubbed the ash from his cigarette. "Her husband was a particular mate of mine."

  She glanced up at him in surprise. "Was?"

  "Keith was killed in an accident last year in the Alps. That's why I've been keen to get Maria here to take over. Might get her mind off Keith ... give her a fresh interest."

  Waspishly Robyn found herself hoping that the other girl's interest wasn't centred in David himself. A dark tide of jealousy, sharp and bewildering, attacked her. Absurd to imagine that a man in his early thirties wouldn't have women friends; in all probability a special one he was fond of. He could please himself, couldn't he, in regard to feminine company, and no doubt he did ! Maria would be older, sophisticated, someone with whom he would feel at ease. Not a young girl who felt younger still when she was with him, and had no talent for smart conversation or quick repartee with which to counter his teasing remarks.

  "What do you think of it all?" His voice jerked her from her unhappy thoughts.

  "Fabulous! I've got an idea of my own too to tell you about. That's why I went on the cruise today, to get an idea as to how it's done."

  "How do you mean?" He was regarding her with his lazy stare.

  "Oh, it's a big idea I've dreamed up." He was listening attentively now, she realised as she ran on. "It's a bit of a long-term plan, but when the place is all done up I thought we could get a much bigger boat than the old Katrina, one large enough to take a crowd, about the size of the one we were on today. Then we could take the other hotel tourists as well as our own guests on regular excursions out to the reef. I could act the part like the girl we saw today. I could do everything she did, except the musical part. All I'd need would be a couple of bikinis — and a nice smile ! There are lots of natives around who could do the diving for coral. Don't you think it's a good idea, David?"

  "No!" She had never seen him so roused. All unwittingly, it had seemed, she had crashed that cool composure. "I wouldn't hear of it."

  "You wouldn't ! "

  "That's what I said! Make no mistake about it, Rob, that notion of yours is out — definitely ! You can put the idea right
out of your head. I wouldn't allow you to do it !"

  "But it has nothing to do with you!"

  "It has, you know."

  "Oh yes ... thanks for reminding me." The dark despairing expression that could come so suddenly darkened her averted face.

  "Be sensible, Rob. It wouldn't work."

  "Sensible ! " All at once she was nettled. Why should she allow herself to be ordered about in this high-handed fashion? "I don't see why not," she persisted stubbornly. "I think it's a real brainwave. Imagine all the dollars it would bring in !"

  "It wouldn't, you know. Look at it this way. A cruiser of that type would cost a packet. It would take years to get the cost back in excursion fares. Oh, it's all right in Suva, of course, where they get the tourists from overseas liners, but out at the coast where it's more or less isolated, it would be a different story. Anyway, I wouldn't allow you —"

  "What did you say?" She stared up at him, eyes bright with defiance.

  "You heard, Rob. I wouldn't dream of letting you in for a job like that."

  "Other people do it."

  "Other people are trained for the work. They know how to handle the situation, any situation —"

  "And I suppose," she suggested bitterly, "that I don't?"

  "Forget it. If you're thinking along those lines, it's out!"

  While she was casting about in her mind for a sufficiently crushing reply, he added carelessly, "Anyway, the position doesn't arise. I've other plans for you, Rob."

  "Such as?"

  For a moment he was silent, his gaze resting on her flushed face. "I'll let you know ... later. But for now, if you've made up your mind to be a working woman, what's wrong with taking over the craft shop?"

  She stared across at him in amazement. "But I don't know a thing about shop work !"

  "You'd learn quickly enough. That artistic ability of yours would be a real asset there. In a couple of months everything will be ready and you can start ordering stock. It's going to work out, Rob, you'll see. We'll make pots of money —"

  "For you!"

  "And you!" He flicked her nose. "I told you before, you're a funny kid. Don't you want to make a go of things at the Islander?"

  She sighed, avoiding his gaze. "In a way."

  "Only you'd rather it was Johnny who was doing it?"

  His tone was as easy, as friendly as ever, but underneath she was aware of the truth in what he had said. To change the subject she said, "What about the coral boat if I have to take over the shop?"

  He shrugged. "Johnny can take over the Katrina if he feels like helping out. If he doesn't there are plenty of local native boys who would jump at the chance of making a few dollars." He eyed her downcast face. "You're not mad about the idea, I take it?"

  "All right then, I'll do it," she murmured unwillingly. "I haven't much choice in the matter anyway."

  "It was your idea to help," he pointed out cheerfully.

  "Yes, I know, but ..." Suddenly it all came to a head. The shock of finding Johnny living in such different circumstances from what he had led her to believe, her shame-making excuses for his behaviour — excuses that she knew hadn't deceived David in the least — and now his ridiculous opposition to the harmless project she had dreamed up. "It's just Johnny," she blurted out in a voice choked with emotion. "You always talk about him in that funny way — Oh, it's not what you say," she was tripping over herself in confusion, "but the way you say it ... as if you didn't trust him to do anything at all !"

  "I don't, actually, but don't let it worry you." He spoke in those deceptively easy tones. "I could be all wrong about Brother John. You know something?" He grinned engagingly. "I hope I am."

  "But you don't really expect him to pull his weight? You know you don't!"

  He put out a hand to touch her, but she jerked herself away. In a low voice she said bitterly, "You haven't really got much faith in either of us, Johnny or me, that's what you really mean, isn't it? It's just a big excuse, not letting me get the new boat and working on it. Just because we got stranded —" She checked herself, realising that "stranded" was an unfortunate way of describing their plight, giving an impression that what had happened had been their own fault instead of a simple accident that no one could foresee. "You really don't think much of either of us, do you?"

  He was still smiling, that hateful, unshakeable smile, almost as though her futile efforts to defend the Carlisles amused rather than annoyed him. "You've got it all wrong, little one —"

  "And stop treating me like a child !"

  "Would you rather I treated you — like this!" She found herself imprisoned in strong arms. Angrily she stared up into his laughing face, then the next moment his kiss sent everything else from mind for the light embrace changed to something roughly tender . . . and meaningful . . . and heady.

  When she could speak, "I guess I asked for that." Her voice was unsteady.

  His arms still encircled her waist and he was looking down at her flushed face with an expression she couldn't fathom. Almost ... with tender concern. But when he spoke his voice was low and oddly intent, like that of a man who has himself well in hand. "Come on, child, I'll run you down to a taxi."

  It was funny, but she didn't seem to mind him calling her "child" now. Maybe it was because of the way he was looking at her. The outspread plans lay forgotten on the table as they went in silence out of the room and out into the scented darkness of the Pacific night. Robyn said nothing about staying the night at Mrs. Daley's home. IA her present turbulent state of mind the thought of a houseful of strangers was unendurable. All she wanted was to get back to the shelter of the Islander, no matter how late when she arrived there.

  On the long drive over darkened roads, her thoughts milled endlessly around the man who had just left her. Humiliating enough to be under financial obligations to him. Now she had to admit that he affected her in another, more personal way. Else why was she still burning with anger towards him? Once she had thought that he was someone special, she'd liked him a lot, yet tonight she had been stung into a quarrel that had surprised herself as much as it had him. And it had got her nowhere. For when it came to a matter of arrangements at the remodelled motel, all her arguments and hot anger couldn't alter the fact that he definitely had the say in the running of the place. It was just as Johnny had told her —David was the boss and he meant to assert his authority in no uncertain terms. The dark landscape slid by and all at once she was tired and fed up — and jealous. Now what could have put that idea in her head? How could she be jealous of a woman she had never met, and regarding David, of all men?

  But he knows her well and he likes her a lot ! You could tell that by his tone of voice when he spoke of her. Obviously he had terrific confidence in her abilities. He would trust Maria to do the right thing for the Islander every time, whereas he regarded her efforts to improve the financial position of the guesthouse in a rather different light. Once again he had made her feel useless and where matters of business were concerned, childishly inexperienced.

  Why not come right out with it, admit that what was really on her mind was his kiss, his

  touch, the disturbing nearness that led her to say such silly dumb things when she should be tossing back smart replies ! She turned her head towards the outline of dark jungle-clad hills and attempted to dwell on other less personal matters, but it was no use. The smiling face, the warm voice was there in her mind and she could think of nothing but their meeting in Suva and the hours they had spent together.

  In the morning when she had slipped into her swimsuit and strolled down the beach, she was surprised to find someone already there. A girl lay motionless, face down on the sands. She looked, Robyn mused, like someone who wanted to be alone with her thoughts — or who was waiting for someone to join her? Something about the figure in the black bikini struck her as familiar. Of course ... Pam. The next moment the other girl jerked to awareness. For a moment an expression of wild hope lighted her dark eyes, then it was gone. "Hi !" Listlessly she
lay back on the sand, hands crossed behind her cap of dark hair. "I got in late last night and Eve told me that you'd taken off for Suva. She said you were planning to go on the ()Mao° cruise. Enjoy it?"

  Robyn dropped down at her side. "Oh yes, it was super! And what do you think? David was on the boat too."

  Pam raised enquiring dark eyes. "Again?"

  "How do you mean?"

  "Oh, just that ages ago I happened to run across him in Suva and he told me he was tired of that particular excursion — but of course that was before he met you!"

  "Me? He couldn't care less about me. It just ... happened that way."

  "Did it?" Pam's derisive smile was disquieting. It raised a question in her mind, but the answer was so incredible it was simply ridiculous.

  "Anyway," Robyn went on lightly, "it was fun. The boat called in at Tradewinds and it was heavenly, right on the

  water's edge. Then we went back to Suva and a native girl sang and played her guitar."

  Put into words there was nothing spectacular in the afternoon excursion, at least, not in this part of the world, and certainly not enough to warrant the deep happiness that had coloured the day — until they had quarrelled.

  She was unaware of the sudden droop of her lips, the sadness in her transparent face.

  "Then you two had an argument?" Pam prompted softly.

  Robyn swung around, startled. "How did you know?"

  "Just your expression. Don't look like that. You'll make it up again, or he will. It couldn't have been all that important."

  "It was — to me. You see," she ran on in a rush of confidence, "I had this-fabulous idea of getting a bigger boat, when the place is all modernized, I mean, and I could do just what the native girl does on the Olooloo cruise. I know it would be a success."

  "But he wouldn't let you?"

  "No ... and the awful part of it is that I can't do a thing about it. Seeing he's in charge of everything now I have to give in whether I want to or not." It was such a relief to speak with someone who was aware of the true position of affairs at the Islander. The injustice of it all swept over her afresh. "It makes me mad!"