Close to the Wind

by Jon Walter

  Vex shook his head, annoyed. He pointed a finger back at Papa. ‘No, I really must … I have to contradict you. That is a story which persists in following me however much I refute it.’ He came close to Papa and fixed his eyes on his face. ‘I have never owned a market stall. Please believe me. I made my money from an idea, a very simple idea – although, yes, I grant you, it did concern a vegetable.’ Vex stood toe to toe with Papa. He cupped his hand and held it up between them as though he were holding a cricket ball. ‘I noticed that an onion appeared to have a far greater volume when chopped than it does when it is whole. I bought my onions cheaply, chopped them, then packaged them as instant ingredients: healthier than fast food, but convenient. It’s a modern idea.’ He glanced at Malik as though he should be young enough to understand. ‘I marketed them to appeal to those people who believed they didn’t have the energy or the time to chop an onion.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Do you see? I sold them the idea of an onion rather than the onion itself. I sold a lifestyle. I made a simple foodstuff into a luxury product and sold my onion for forty times what it cost me.’ He smiled with satisfaction. ‘Of course, I have moved into very different fields since then – banking, selling bonds, that kind of thing – but I believe that is probably where this myth of the market stall comes from.’

  Malik could see that Papa was flustered at being given such a speech. ‘Yes, I understand,’ Papa said. ‘Luxury vegetables. That’s clever. I see that. But my point was that with everything you have built, with all that you have become, well, that can’t simply disappear. Surely not?’

  Papa paused with his hands held out, waiting like a dog for a bone, but Vex gave him nothing.

  Papa became impatient. He took hold of Vex’s shoulder. ‘You are a great man. You must still have influence. You must have items of value.’ Papa’s eyes searched his face for a sign that it was true. ‘For God’s sake, is there nothing you could sell? What about your houses? There must be something you can do?’ He lowered his voice. ‘I will be good for credit when we are safely away – I can assure you of that.’

  Vex took the old man’s hand and squeezed it. ‘You’re very kind but you flatter me.’ He stepped away from Papa, and Malik caught a glimpse of shoes that were polished. ‘Not so long ago that would have been true. Only a month ago I could have sailed away in the best cabin on the ship.’ Vex shook his head. ‘But not now. Would I be here if that were still the case? No, I wouldn’t. I expect I would already be on the ship. Instead, I have been at the docks and I have stood in a line on the quayside with everybody else, waiting to see the likes of Nicholas Massa, hoping I can find someone that I know who will help.’ He sucked at the gap in his front teeth. ‘I saw Martin Krupp in the same queue.’

  ‘The town clerk?’

  ‘The same. One of the most connected men in the town.’

  ‘He was a rich man,’ added Hector, as though he were reminiscing of a warm summer’s day.

  ‘I saw Kolarov too, the owner of DBG. I saw Cohen from Adams and Cork. You should have seen them – you would not have believed it. Their faces were dirty, their clothes torn. They looked like dockers, but then I suppose I do too.’ He opened his arms, inviting them to look at his clothing. ‘Do you see how I am dressed these days?’

  Vex turned a full circle, and even in the candlelight they could tell that his clothes were old and un-ironed. Malik noticed a hole in the knee of Vex’s trousers, but he looked again at the expensive shoes.

  Vex put his hands in his jacket pockets. ‘We were all rich men once. No? We have all seen the good times. But not any more.’

  Malik didn’t like listening to this. It only made him more anxious. He was really hungry now. If only these men would leave then he could ask Papa for some food. When it was just him and Papa, it had been simple. And if Mama were here then she would make everything all right because she always did. Malik wished he’d never hidden when she had told him to. He should have stayed close to her. He should have held her hand and never let her go.

  ‘Papa, I’m hungry,’ he said.

  Papa appeared to have forgotten that Malik was even there. ‘You must wait for the morning,’ he said. ‘You should be sleeping now. Come on. Lie down and try to get some sleep.’

  Hector produced a cereal bar from his jacket pocket and walked over to the mattress. ‘Here.’ He handed it to Malik. ‘I’ve already eaten today, so it’s better that you have it. I can buy food tomorrow. I saw a woman on the docks selling melons from a bucket and I have enough money.’ He laughed. ‘So, that’s the good news for today, gentlemen.’ He held his arms out wide. ‘Even in times like these, I can still afford a melon for my supper.’

  Malik held the bar by the edge of the wrapper but he didn’t open it. Now he felt bad about wishing the men weren’t here.

  Papa looked over. ‘Thank Hector for the food, Malik.’

  Malik tore the end off the foil. ‘Thank you.’ He took a bite. The bar tasted of nuts and honey and oatmeal.

  Vex went over to his satchel. ‘If you’re hungry you should have these as well.’ He produced an orange and a brown paper bag, twisted at each corner to keep it sealed. He looked embarrassed. ‘I’ve also eaten today.’

  Papa took the food, untwisted the paper bag and looked inside. ‘A sandwich. Thank you. You are good men. Good men.’ His face sparkled when he smiled. ‘Thank you.’ He handed one half of the sandwich to Malik, who lifted the bread and saw cheese and ham inside. Papa offered to return the other half. ‘You should take this back. I think you’re too generous. Far too generous.’

  ‘Not at all,’ said Vex. ‘You haven’t eaten. Go on. Take the other half for yourself. But perhaps we could all share the orange? I find it refreshes the mouth if I’ve been smoking.’

  Papa handed the orange back to Vex, who dug his long nail into the pitted skin and peeled it in a single piece which he placed by the ashtray. He parted the flesh into sections, then bowed his head and blessed the food. Papa turned the sandwich in his fingers to hide the bite he had already taken.

  Malik could smell the juice on his fingers as he held his piece of the orange, and he popped it in his mouth and chewed. The food tasted good and the tang of cheese and orange stayed on his teeth long after he had finished and he sucked at them, reminded of lunches in cafés and afternoon outings to the beach with Mama.

  ‘I should go.’ Vex took them by surprise. He crouched down to the candle and picked up his bag.

  Papa was startled. ‘Please … no, wait … don’t go yet.’ He knelt next to Vex and put a hand around his. ‘There’s something else. Something you should know.’

  Vex raised his eyebrows and waited. Malik sat up straighter and tucked his legs under him on the mattress.

  Now that everyone was looking at him, Papa seemed to want to take back his words. He hesitated, looked at each of their faces in turn then said, ‘There may be a way for us to get the tickets. It’s only a chance … but …’

  ‘Salvatore?’ asked Hector. He walked back from the window and stood over the two crouching men. ‘Salvatore, what do you have in mind?’

  Malik knew that Papa would find a way. He knew it.

  Papa still had his fingers over Vex’s hand. He suddenly seemed to notice and let go. ‘I have something you should see, something of great value.’

  He stood up and walked to the corner of the room and then he came back to the candle. ‘It may be worth enough to get tickets for us all. Yes, I’m sure it is. I should have said something, I know that now, but well, it’s something of a last resort, a little nest egg which I hadn’t intended to use. I hope you will understand why I didn’t say anything earlier.’

  Everyone waited expectantly.

  ‘What is it?’ Hector was anxious. ‘You have to tell us.’

  Malik had moved to the edge of the mattress and Papa waved him closer to the chair. ‘Malik? Do you have the torch with you? Bring it here to me.’

  Malik brought the torch across to Papa but Papa didn’t take it from him. I
nstead, he stretched out his legs to make himself comfortable and put his hands on his thighs. He had a smile on his face. ‘You haven’t guessed yet, eh?’ Papa’s eyes sparkled and Malik felt like it should be Christmas or his birthday, but that was confusing. He didn’t want Papa to play games with him like this.

  ‘What is it, Papa?’

  Papa ruffled Malik’s hair. ‘All this time with your old Papa and you never knew. Well, you’re in for a shock, my boy. It’s some sight, I can tell you.’ Malik edged closer to him. ‘Turn on the torch. Go on. There. That’s it. Now …’ He put a finger to his face and pointed to his mouth. ‘Shine it here. Right in the back of my mouth.’

  Papa tipped his head back and Malik tilted forward with the torch. He saw Papa’s eyes swivel in their sockets to follow him as he came in close.

  ‘Look properly,’ said Papa. Hector and Vex edged around behind Malik’s shoulders, trying to see what was there. ‘Can you see it?’

  Papa opened his mouth wider and Malik held the torch next to Papa’s lips, and when he bent in close he saw it straightaway, a sudden flash of brilliance at the back of the teeth. Malik gasped and pulled away.

  ‘What is it?’ Hector leaned over Malik’s shoulder. ‘Let me look.’ He brushed Malik aside and took hold of the torch. He put his head close to Papa’s mouth and peered inside. ‘A diamond! Vex, come and see. It really is.’ Hector laughed out loud. ‘It’s a diamond!’

  Vex nudged Hector out of the way and grasped the torch. He placed a hand on Papa’s forehead to keep his head pushed back. ‘Good God. It really is. That’s some jewel. How big is that?’

  Vex released Papa’s head so he could talk. ‘It’s the biggest I could find that would fit comfortably in my mouth. I had it set into the tooth.’

  Hector took the torch from Vex. ‘Let me see it again.’ He made Papa open his mouth by tugging at his beard and Malik caught a second glimpse of the diamond nestling at the back of Papa’s mouth, a ribbon of saliva around the gums.

  ‘I don’t believe it!’ Hector’s own mouth hung open. ‘Just look at the size of it.’ He shook his head in disbelief and began to laugh. Then he let go of Papa’s chin and wheeled away across the room. ‘When did you put it in there?’

  Vex stepped up to have another look but Papa closed his mouth. ‘Enough.’ He waved both men away. ‘Could I have some water please, Malik?’

  Malik brought back the flask from the rucksack and Papa unscrewed the cap and took a decent swig. He gasped when he was finished. ‘I had the jewel set in my tooth three months ago when the banks began to default on loans. I saw what was about to happen, knew it would turn out like this, and so I sold my house.’ He reached across and touched Vex’s sleeve. ‘I took a hefty blow on its true value, but I knew that it would soon be worth nothing to me and so I made sure of a quick sale and got paid in cash. I also withdrew my savings from the bank.’

  ‘Did you sell the business?’ asked Hector.

  Papa shook his head. ‘There was no time.’

  ‘How did you find such a jewel?’

  ‘I had to go to the diamond traders out east and I had my dentist set it into the tooth, where nobody would think to look. I had planned it as a new start. It was my insurance – a little something set aside for once we got away from here.’ Papa raised his eyebrows. ‘I wouldn’t want to rely on the generosity of others. You know how it is.’

  ‘You’re a sly old dog,’ said Hector.

  ‘And this way there’s no export tax to pay on it.’ Vex ran his tongue across his lower lip.

  Papa chuckled. ‘Yes, it was a clever thing to do. I’m sure of that.’ He looked across to see if Malik was taking it all in and Malik smiled back at him. Mama would be smiling too once she knew.

  ‘But now I see I need a change of plan.’ Papa slapped his hands against the top of his thighs. ‘If we can’t get on the ship then it’s nothing more than an expensive filling.’ He leaned down and put the flask of water on the floor, and when he straightened up he held his arms out in a grand gesture, intended to hold them all. ‘And so tomorrow, gentlemen, I shall go to see the very same dentist, I shall pay him to remove the diamond and then I shall sell it.’ Papa winked at Malik. ‘We will have more than enough money for the tickets and I intend to buy five.’ He stood up from the chair and hugged each of them in turn. ‘That will be one for each of us. Perhaps I shall ask for cabins. Why not? We could travel first-class. And I mean to get a discount.’

  ‘That’s very generous of you, Salvatore.’ Hector bent down and ruffled Malik’s hair. ‘See what a clever man your papa is?’

  Malik couldn’t keep the smile from his face. He had known that Papa would know what to do.

  Papa laughed. He patted his stomach as though he had just eaten a good meal rather than half a sandwich and a segment of orange. ‘Money will buy you a good-looking dog, Hector, but generosity will get him to wag his tail. That’s worth remembering.’

  Vex had walked away and was standing quietly at the door. He had his back to them when he pointed a finger in the air and said loudly, ‘No.’ He turned back to the room and shook his head at them. ‘It won’t work.’

  Papa was incredulous. ‘Of course it will work. It’s worth one hundred thousand at the very least – enough to buy tickets for all of us. I’m sure of that.’

  ‘I don’t doubt it.’ Vex had a hand to his chin, the way Papa did when he was thinking. ‘I have bought and sold diamonds and I know their value.’ He walked back across the room and stood over Papa. ‘But what are the chances of finding a dentist tomorrow? The whole world has gone mad. Your dentist will live … where? I don’t know, let’s say …’

  ‘The old town.’ Papa leaned forward in his chair. ‘He lives and works in the old town. Most of them do. If we can’t find him, there will be another.’

  ‘But there is no old town. Not any more. You more or less said so yourself.’ Vex ran his hand across the hair that was left on his head. ‘What are the chances of us finding someone who will do it? We have more chance of finding a dentist at the dock, waiting to board the ship.’

  ‘That’s not a bad idea,’ cried Hector. He flicked back the hair from the front of his face. ‘We can go first thing in the morning and ask around till we find someone.’

  Vex shook his head. ‘Even if we find someone they will have no anaesthetic, no drills and nowhere to perform the operation. And he has to be trustworthy. It can’t be just anyone.’

  They paused, the one man looking to the other.

  ‘Mama always takes me to the dentist,’ Malik suggested, trying to be helpful. ‘She might know where you can go, Papa.’

  The men ignored him. All three of them stared at the floor and Malik watched them with a growing sense of unease. Eventually Papa shook his head. ‘Vex is right.’ He spoke more to himself than to anyone in particular. ‘What was I thinking of?’

  ‘We should at least try.’ Hector walked round to the mattress. He reached down and put a hand on Malik’s shoulder to reassure him. ‘It’s the only thing we can do.’

  ‘It’ll take too long.’ Papa shook his head. ‘We may not have the time needed to sell the jewel and still get tickets for the ship. That’s something else we should consider.’

  Vex crouched in front of Papa. He put a hand on his knee. ‘Let me look again.’ He had assumed the authority of a professional and Papa opened his mouth without question. Vex stared at the jewel. ‘Do you mind me doing this?’ He put a finger past Papa’s front teeth and prodded, then wiped his finger on the leg of his trousers. He stood up. ‘There is another way,’ he declared.

  ‘What do you mean?’ asked Hector.

  Vex put his hands up as though he were surrendering. ‘It’s not for me to say.’

  Papa stared up at him calmly. ‘I’d rather you said it.’

  Vex nodded slowly. ‘I think you know what I have in mind.’

  ‘Say it anyway. It’s easier for you to say it.’

  Malik had no idea what they were talking about.r />
  Vex shrugged. ‘I think it’s possible for us to take the tooth out ourselves.’

  Papa smiled ruefully. ‘It’s the obvious thing to do.’

  Vex was reassured that Papa agreed. He came quickly across and slapped him on the shoulder, smiling as though it had all been decided. ‘If we’re lucky, old man, it won’t be too hard.’

  Hector looked at Vex. ‘You’re not serious? How will you do it?’

  ‘Hey. Not so fast, eh?’ Papa looked worried and he wouldn’t meet their eyes. ‘I have always had strong teeth. It might not be so easy. Let me think of a better way.’ Papa leaned forward in the chair, put his elbow on his knee and sat with his fingers across his mouth.

  Malik held his breath.

  Papa said, ‘Couldn’t we find a wealthy passenger to buy our tickets and accompany us onto the ship?’ Papa looked eagerly between the two men. ‘I could go straight to the dentist once we arrived, then I could pay them back in cash. Whoever did it would make a lot of money.’

  Vex shook his head. ‘There’s too much risk. I wouldn’t do it. Not in these circumstances. If I could hold the diamond in my hand and say it’s mine, then that would be a different matter.’

  Malik saw the resignation spread across Papa’s face. He went and took hold of Papa’s hand and squeezed his fingers, just like Mama might have done for him if she were here.

  Papa smiled weakly then he took his hand from Malik’s. ‘I know you’re right.’ He nodded at Vex. ‘So we must do it ourselves.’ He flicked a finger at

  Hector. ‘Bring me my rucksack, will you?’ Hector brought him the bag and they watched Papa unzip the large side pocket where he had stored his tools. He laid out the hammer, the pliers and the screwdriver on the wooden floorboards behind the candle. ‘Show me your hands.’

  The three of them put out their hands. Malik could see that Vex’s fingers were rough, with a patch of dead skin up near the long black nail. Hector’s hands were gentler, although he had a callus on the edge of the finger where he must have held his pen. Papa looked at each of them and then turned to Hector. ‘You’ve never done a hard day’s work in your life, Hector, but your hands are smaller than Angelo’s … perhaps you will be more precise.’