The doctors would walk in and out of Maria’s room to check on her condition, which stayed the same through the night. Jonas, the pain in his side decreasing, would talk to Maria in the hope that she might hear his voice and wake up. He asked her if she thought that Nirana and March had reached Koofay.
‘It will be quite a journey,’ he said.
8
ON THE SHIP, NIRANA AND MARCH SAT AT the front end of the vessel, which was designated for the wealthier travellers. The wind was fair and the ocean was calm, allowing the ship to sail smoothly across the waters. Nirana laughed as he saw the bewildered baby trying to figure out why the ground was moving. She pointed to the window.
‘The sky’, Nirana said.
She pointed at the sun.
‘Light’, Nirana said.
Nirana sang love songs to her – the only type of songs he knew – and March sang along.
‘I would sing these songs to Francesca,’ Nirana said. ‘Every morning and every night.’ He looked out and saw a seagull flying in circles. ‘Since we were five years old.’
He picked her up and rocked her in his arms, following the motion of the ship. He noticed that her diaper needed changing.
Realizing that he had never changed a baby before, he thought for a few seconds about the process involved. He looked through one of the small suitcases for the diapers and baby clothes that Maria had packed. He picked up a diaper and studied it carefully to see how the attachments worked. He took the cloth off March, and then the stained diaper and asked one of the clerks to throw them away. The clerk grimaced, placed them in a small trashcan and took the bin away.
As he was leaving, Nirana asked him, ‘Kind sir, would you know how to put one of these on a baby?’
The clerk replied, ‘I can travel across an ocean without a compass and find my destination in the darkest of nights. I do not know how to change a baby’s diaper.’
His frown turned into a small smile as he left the cabin. Nirana looked at the diaper and then at March. He pulled out some safety pins from the bag and began to attach the diaper to the baby. He figured out the process eventually. March wiggled her legs and playfully tugged at Nirana’s fingers as he was putting the finishing touches on her diaper. He laughed.
‘If Francesca could have seen me now,’ he said. ‘I hope she is doing okay. I hope the Faccinises will be okay without you.’
March lifted her arms and burped.
‘Lovely,’ Nirana said.
March sang Nirana to sleep and while he was sleeping, she looked out the cabin window and watched the seabirds soar in circles and in patterns. She pointed at them and looked at Nirana. She kept pointing at them until Nirana woke up.
‘Yes,’ Nirana said. ‘Lovely.’
He fell into a daze as he watched the seabirds fly and when March started to sing again, his head began drooping.
‘This has been one sleepy trip.’ He looked at March. ‘At least for me.’
There was a knock on the cabin door. It was one of the captains.
‘I am Captain Don,’ he said. ‘And is the singing coming from this cabin?’
March was quiet. Nirana nodded his head.
‘It was me,’ I said. ‘I was trying to sing this baby to sleep.’
‘You have sung the ship to sleep,’ Captain Don said. ‘We even travelled off course for a bit.’
Nirana looked at March and shook his head, smiling.
‘It is such a lovely song,’ Captain Don said. ‘Everyone on board fell asleep, including myself and Captain Neptune.’
Nirana apologized.
‘I hope that it won’t happen again,’ he said.
‘I understand the need for singing,’ Captain Don said. ‘Especially while at sea.’ He looked at March and added, ‘And with a baby. But please refrain from doing so for the rest of the voyage.’
‘Absolutely,’ Nirana said. ‘I will try my best.’
‘I even saw a dolphin on its back,’ Captain Don said. ‘Sleeping.’
He gestured toward the cabin window. ‘Hear that?’ the captain asked. ‘Those are snoring sharks.’
Nirana shook the captain’s hand and apologized again.
The captain commented on the beauty of the baby.
‘Hopefully,’ Captain Don said, ‘she’ll follow suit and sleep as well.’ He walked out of the cabin, calling out a ‘back to my duties’ to them.
After he had left, Nirana picked March up and kissed her on the forehead.
‘March,’ he said. ‘The baby who sang the sea to sleep.’
9
MARIA WAS STILL IN CRITICAL CONDITION.
‘It has been six days since she stirred,’ Dr Slide said. ‘I have counted every second,’ Jonas replied.
‘How many?’ Dr Slide asked.
‘518,400 seconds,’ Jonas replied. ‘401. 402. 403. 404. 405. 406.’
‘Keep counting,’ Dr Slide said.
Jonas had been living in the hospital for the past six days, barely leaving Maria’s side. Francesca would bring him food every morning and mid-evening. Jonas hadn’t bathed for the past week and the room was beginning to smell of his curry and sweat. The evening of the sixth day, Francesca visited Jonas to give him some company.
‘Nirana and March will arrive in Koofay soon enough,’ she said.
‘I hope all is well,’ he replied.
‘There is a rumour going around that the sea would fall asleep from time to time while they were travelling,’ Francesca said.
‘Do you have a telephone in your house?’ Jonas asked.
‘We bought one about a year ago. Odd things. They run on a magic of some sort.’
‘I’ve heard about them,’ Jonas said. ‘If you don’t mind, and I would pay of course, would there be a way to call them?’
‘Of course,’ Francesca said. ‘And don’t worry about paying. This will be a perfect use of the telephone.’
The Medallions were the only ones in Kolkaper to have a telephone. They realized that this limited its use.
‘Whom can we call?’ Francesca would ask.
‘Let’s go for a walk,’ Nirana would reply.
Francesca looked at Jonas. She breathed in and coughed.
‘If you like,’ Francesca said, ‘I could stay here and you can go back home and clean yourself.’
‘I know I smell,’ he replied. ‘But I’m afraid that I cannot leave this room.’
Jonas ran his hand through his hair. Loose strands fell out.
‘I almost lost my job because of my long leave of absence,’ he said. ‘A colleague of mine came in earlier today to inform me.’
‘These are troubled times,’ Francesca said, ‘Days full of fallen pine cones.’
‘Truthfully,’ Jonas confessed, ‘I had completely forgotten about the Science and Metal Lab. However, an hour later, realizing the situation I am in, my superior actually visited me here and gave me my job back.’
‘That is good news,’ Francesca replied. ‘I will go now and tend to the house. Perhaps Nirana will call on the telephone soon enough.’
‘Thank you for the food and sorry about the smell. If I can give you some coins, could you please bring me some aloe leaves?’
‘Don’t worry about the coins, I have a garden full of soap.’
Jonas thanked her and sat down again in the chair beside Maria.
‘Please wake up,’ he said.
He put his head on the side of her bed. After a week of restless nights, he was finally able to sleep for a bit. He dreamt about fried eggs, bathtubs and metals. He dreamt about March and Maria holding her at a fountain made of stone. But some small movements from Maria woke him up. The bed sheets moved a bit where her knees were. Jonas looked up from Maria’s legs to her face. Her eyes opened, she lifted her head.
‘Please bathe,’ she said. ‘You are creating a whole new world of demons with the stench of your body.’
She closed her eyes and her head fell back onto the pillow. Jonas left the hospital room and bathed outsi
de using a fire hydrant. When he returned, he saw Francesca sitting in the room with a bowl of lentils and rice.
‘You look refreshed,’ she said.
‘I feel much better, like a snake that has just shed its old skin.’
She handed the bowl of rice and lentils to Jonas. He took his time eating the food. Although he was hungry, Jonas was always patient, never eating too fast or too slow.
‘One day I will cook for you,’ Jonas said. ‘I am a good cook. I can make big bowls of cereals.’
‘I have good news,’ Francesca said. ‘Early this morning, I received a telephone-ring from Nirana. They have arrived safely and the Armers were there to receive them.’
‘I miss her,’ Jonas said.
‘Everyone is doing okay. Apart from a few adventures Nirana had in changing March’s diapers, everything is well.’
Francesca and Jonas looked at Maria.
‘I informed Nirana about the events of the past week,’ Francesca continued. ‘He sends his condolences and wishes the best for everyone.’
‘Wish him a safe trip back,’ Jonas said.
‘March began to cry in the background, so Nirana had to leave,’ Francesca said. ‘He will use the telephone again and you can come over anytime and use ours.’
‘It’s like March knew something bad had happened,’ Jonas said.
Jonas looked at Maria and bowed his head. Then he looked at the walls and then at Francesca. He clasped his hands. He unclasped his hands and put his fingertips together. He scratched his knees and looked at the ceiling lights.
‘The humming sounds like flies,’ Jonas said.
‘A constant reminder,’ Francesca said.
‘March will find her way,’ Jonas said. ‘She will sing herself through life. She will keep her eyes open until she has seen all that needs to be seen.’
Francesca went up to Maria and fixed her blanket.
‘What will happen to us?’ Jonas asked.
Francesca rubbed Maria’s forehead and wrists.
‘What will happen to Maria? If she is gone, I will be no one.’
‘She will find her way,’ Francesca said. ‘Whether it’s in this life or another life, that we cannot say.’
10
IN KOOFAY, THE ARMERS WELCOMED March and Nirana into their house.
‘A wonderful baby,’ Sofi said. ‘Amazing how she can sing like that. I couldn’t even talk with such skill when I was in my teens.’
‘She will be safe here,’ Ons said. ‘Please stay as long as you like.’
‘Just for a day or two,’ Nirana replied. ‘I have much work to do in Kolkaper. The Faccinises wished they could come, but they have much to tend to at home.’
‘Take your time,’ Ons said. ‘Sofi and I have cooked dinner for tonight. For dessert, we will have pudding, lemon pudding.’
‘Delicious,’ Nirana replied. ‘Please excuse me, I must refresh my face. May I use the telephone afterwards?’
‘Use it as much as you like,’ Sofi said. ‘So far we’ve used it only four times.’
He went to the bathroom. Ons and Sofi played with March.
‘It has been such a long time since we held a baby,’ Sofi said. ‘I miss those days.’
‘I do too,’ Ons replied. ‘But it is all a process, isn’t it – the process of life.’
March was looking back and forth between Sofi and Ons. She put her fingers out to touch Ons’s face and felt the smooth texture of his chin.
‘She seems mature for her age,’ Ons said.
‘That she is,’ Sofi said. ‘As if she has been alive for a hundred years.’
March started to sing. Stretching out her hands, she touched everything in sight. The multi-coloured cushioned furniture attracted her attention the most.
‘Unbelievable,’ Sofi and Ons said at the same time.
Their heads drooped. Suddenly March began to cry.
Nirana rushed into the room with a heavy brow. His eyes were watery. He sat down on the sofa and consoled the baby and then looked at the Armers. Nirana told the Armers about the Faccinises and the stabbing incident.
‘How are they now?’ Sofi asked.
‘Maria has been unconscious since and has been at the hospital,’ Nirana said. ‘Jonas’s injury is in the process of healing and he is alive and well.’
He looked at March.
‘He sleeps at the hospital, in Maria’s room.’
Nirana picked up March and rocked her gently from side to side.
‘You would have been a great father,’ Ons said. ‘Our condolences to the Faccinises. We wish well for them.’ ‘Come,’ Sofi said. ‘Let us eat now. You two must be
famished after the boat ride.’
They went into the dining room which was lit by a sparkling chandelier, a three-levelled creation made of glass and diamonds. March was in a crib that had been used for the Armers’ children when they were babies. Yellow curry and vegetables decorated the table – celery, carrots, peas and corn.
‘I didn’t realize how hungry I was until just now, seeing this food,’ Nirana said.
‘We have plenty,’ Ons replied. ‘Will March eat?’
‘Not until tonight, when we are sleeping. Then she will be hungry.’
Nirana stayed with the Armers for one day. He spent as much time as possible with March. They went for walks in the park and to the beach to watch the waves and the seabirds. March sang, and the seabirds started to slow down; some fell into the ocean. People gathered around, listening with excitement and watching the seabirds fall asleep. There, in Koofay, they weren’t worried about the baby who could sing.
‘You’re special,’ Nirana said.
He held her up to the sun and the sunlight framing the baby made her look like a glowing spectacle – a being somewhere between a human and a wonder. March’s mouth was wide open, making odd shapes as she sang the high and low notes of the song.
The night before Nirana left, he held March in his arms and looked into her eyes. March looked into his eyes too and raised her arm to trace his face with her fingers. She opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but nothing came out. Nirana didn’t say anything either and kissed her on the forehead.
‘Take care of the Armers,’ he said. ‘They’re sweet people. They will guide you as you will guide them.’
11
THE ARMERS SOON REALIZED THAT March was an easy baby to care for, easier than their own children had been. The first years of her life went by quickly for all of them. Jonas called as often as he could and spoke to the Armers and he would ask them to put March next to the telephone so he could hear her murmur and babble. ‘She sounds eloquent,’ Jonas would tell the Armers. Calling the Armers was the one bright spot in Jonas’s life as the coma reigned over Maria.
The Armers taught March how to read and write by the age of five, which was two years after she had learned how to use the bathroom on her own. ‘This is easier than trying to sleep,’ March would say. She had yet to close her eyes at night – those hours when the world was at rest, she would learn as much as possible about math and science and literature. She would do jumping jacks, hoping that she would eventually tire herself out, but after jumping for two days straight, she realized that it wouldn’t work.
When she was ten, Sofi gave her a canvas and three tubes of paint. She would wear an apron and stand outside on the porch, painting splotches of blues, reds and yellows. Ons would stand outside with her, smoking his pipe and telling her to mix the various colours. He did not know how to paint, but he acted like he did.
‘Great texture,’ he would say.
As she grew older, in addition to painting, her favourite activities included singing and playing football. She was the leading scorer for her team, averaging two goals a game. She could have scored more, but she made sure to keep the team involved. Every Saturday, she would spend one hour listening to the Armers’ record player and then after, she would try to emulate the voices of Pavarotti, Kiri Te Kanawa, Buddy Holly and Gilbert an
d Sullivan. Sofi taught her how to play the violin when she was eleven. March would become frustrated because she had trouble matching the fingers with the strings. From late at night till early morning, she would practice until she came close to perfection. Sometimes, when she wanted to throw the instrument out the window, the birdsong from outside helped her keep her patience. She learnt more from the birds outside on the branches of the nearby trees than from Sofi. March wouldn’t tell her this though, because she knew that Sofi took pride in teaching her the violin.
March formed a passion for the body and was curious about how bodily processes worked. When she was twelve years old, she was injured in a friendly game of football. She scraped her knee on the dirt. Instead of crying and asking for help, March sat there gazing into the open cut. Another student ended up crying and running home after seeing March’s torn skin. March limped back home and showed Ons and Sofi the cut. They put formaldehyde on the wound to keep it from getting infected. March was fascinated by the reaction of the blood with alcohol and laughed on hearing the sizzle. She asked Sofi to put more, but Sofi laughed and said, ‘Any more and you will spit formaldehyde from your mouth.’ From then on, March would purposefully get cuts and bruises to see all the various kinds of scrapes and healing. She loved scabs.
‘I want to be a doctor,’ she said.
She was a curious teenager – always asking questions and always wondering why. Ons and Sofi were glad to answer her questions to the best of their ability. For the most part, they had no problems with her inquiries, but when she asked the Armers in the kitchen how giraffes were born, they were stumped. They did not have that problem with their own children, because they had learnt about reproduction at a later age, in school.
‘The teacher will tell you about that,’ Sofi said. ‘Be patient.’
But March wanted to know as soon as possible. She would walk about the market, asking everyone she knew about how giraffes were born. Most of the responses were either surprised looks or laughs and then they would walk away without answering her question. She finally found out from one of the orange sellers, Mario. He told her while selling oranges to customers. Some were angered and others were embarrassed by their conversation. He lost business that day, but made a good friend. March stood and listened to Mario intently. She accepted everything he said, showing no emotion. After Mario finished explaining the birth of a giraffe, March stood there for a few seconds without saying anything. Mario continued to sell his oranges to the few customers who didn’t care about their conversation.
The Sea Singer Page 4