by Jan Anderson
And me,' Terry pleaded.
She was relieved that she had a genuine reason for refusal. She said quietly, Thank you, but Tom will be home by then.'
Fine, but let me know if anything goes wrong. I'm here all day.' With a brief wave he was gone.
Relief at knowing Sue was all right made Rossi suddenly limp, and she knew there could be no work for her today, so she promised Terry they would spend the day on the beach, swimming and fishing,
and they would take a picnic lunch down there.
It was a strange, unreal sort of day, on one hand beautiful and peaceful, swimming and lazing on the golden sand, on the other . .. she could not quite say what gave her the uneasy feeling that something was not quite right. At first she put it down to her natural worry about Sue. Until Tom was here and they had been to the hospital to see for themselves she could not put her mind at rest.
During the morning she dozed while Terry built an enormous sand castle, and it was when she woke she knew something was different. Apart from the sea there was a different sound about the place, but she could not put her finger on it.
It's funny,' she said finally to Terry, I feel I should be hearing something and I can't.'
Oh, you mean the men working,' he said instantly. ' I know, they stopped quite a long time ago.'
' Do they usually at this time of day?' she asked. I don't think so,' he said uncertainly Perhaps Dad has come home early.'
So Rossi decided to go up to the house and see for herself. There didn't seem to be much sign of life, so, leaving Terry with Nanny, who also had an oddly uneasy look, she walked across to the plantation. There was not a single man there, but the tools were all in a neat pile, as if they had stopped work for the day.
Puzzled, she walked back. Do you know what's happening?' she asked Nanny. The older woman looked away.
Lady go and ask Ponniah.'
So Rossi went in search of Ponniah. Even he did not look too pleased to see her. Where is everyone?' she asked. There are no men on the planta-
tion and soon my brother will be home.'
He looked at her sullenly, and for a moment she thought he wasn't going to answer. Then he shrugged. They are not working for Mr Finch anymore,' he said finally.
What do you mean?' she demanded. My brother is not here, so they must be working for him '
He shook his head. They have all gone.' She felt her stomach pitch over.
' Where are they ? ' she said more calmly than she felt. ' I must go and tell them to return.'
They will not return,' he told her. They are
now working for Mr Lincoln.'
CHAPTER VI
Rossi could not believe her ears at this statement. She started to question Ponniah more closely, but at each corner she received the same answer—that all three boys were now working at the next plantation.
Ponniah finished by saying to her rather slyly, Lady should go and have a look herself.'
Rossi made no answer to this. She doubted whether she would recognise the boys. She had only seen them from a distance each day. But when she had dismissed Ponniah she turned back to Nanny and said, ' Do you know if what he says is true, Nanny?'
The old woman shrugged. ' I think it is so, lady. They do not like working here. They prefer to work with the Master Lincoln. He pays more money,' she ended simply.
It was that last statement that roused Rossi to
anger. That Matt Lincoln should wait until Tom was away and then lure his workers away with the promise of more money seemed to her too despicable for words. She thought of his help last night—calculated no doubt to win her over—and she went hot with shame. So Tom and everyone else was right after all. The last shred of doubt disappeared.
She glanced at her watch. Tom would be home in three or four hours. What on earth was she going to do? In spite of wanting to see Matt Lincoln soundly routed, she did not want to be a witness to Tom's violence towards him. That would serve no purpose at all. Well, she decided finally, it was up to her to try to put things right. So, telling Nanny not to allow Terry to follow her on pain of severe punishment and, swallowing her pride, she headed for the next property. From wanting to have nothing to do with Tom's neighbour she seemed to be making quite a habit of paying him visits—however unsocial they might be.
She looked around her, aware once more of the difference between the two properties and grew even angrier at Matt Lincoln's selfishness. He had everything here . . . surely he could not really take away what little Tom had?
She walked up the path from the sea to where the waxy white flowers of the temple tree glowed in the sunlight. Raja stepped silently out from the house.
' I'd like to see Mr Lincoln,' she said formally.
The Master is not here, but he will be here soon. Would the lady like to wait?' He pointed to a chair on the terrace.
' I'd prefer to wait here, thank you,' she answered stiffly.
' Would the lady like a drink?' The dark face was friendly and smiling. She thought of the difference between Raja and their own boy, Ponniah, and even felt resentful at that.
No, thank you,' she snapped.
For a few moments she walked about the garden and then, from the far side of the property, she heard the sound of sawing. She decided to walk across to the plantation and see for herself that Tom's boys were working there.
She soon found out how right Ponniah had been. Though she did not recognise the faces of the men she did recognise the dark red turban one of them always wore and the old floppy army hat of the other. Both of these two were laughing and talking with the other men as they worked. She turned angrily away.
She followed the path back towards the house trying to decide the best way to tackle Matt. It was no good her losing her temper. She had to match cunning with cunning.
A small rustling in the bushes stopped her suddenly. She knew by now the only danger round here was from snakes She had not seen one yet and knew they tended to keep away from human noises, nevertheless she was still wary.
It was not a snake that pushed out in front of her, but a small, golden bundle of fur, the most enchanting creature Rossi had ever seen.
Without any fear she bent down and spoke gentle, soothing words to the small head cocked towards her. The reply was a baring of the sharp teeth, a hissing snarl. Yet in a curious way it was a friendly noise, as if it was only doing what was expected of it.
Rossi reached out a hand and touched the furry body of the cub. It snarled a little and withdrew, but did not really move. She had never seen a leopard as small as this and only after she had been
laughing in delight at its antics, and playing with it for a few moments, did she stop to wonder if the mother was anywhere around. When she heard the step behind her she nearly jumped out of her skin.
He's only a couple of months old,' Matt said conversationally. ' One of the local boys found him after his mother had been killed, and brought him to me. He just loves human beings.' He picked up the cub by the scruff of the neck and tickled it behind its ear. Don't you, Rascal?' He looked directly at Rossi. We call him that because he's up to every kind of mischief.'
Still holding the leopard cub, he went on, Raja tells me you were looking for me. He also remarked that you seemed rather angry. Not more trouble, I hope?'
He had that extraordinary knack, Rossi decided, of putting everyone at a disadvantage. She had wanted to storm him and tell him exactly what she thought of him; instead, here they were, face to face, both wanting to touch the mischievous, snarling bundle of fur.
Rossi stepped back and said in her coolest voice, You could call it trouble, I suppose, but not the sort you mean.'
I see. Well, you'd better tell me what's wrong.'
Surely you know that, without my telling you,' she burst out. I know you hate Tom for some reason or other, but there's no need to play such dirty tricks on him when he's not here. Haven't you the common courtesy—or the courage—to wait until he comes back before trying to wreck his
venture even further?'
She could have sworn for a moment there was a look of real surprise on his face. But she dismissed the idea as impossible. He was much too shrewd
not to know exactly what he was doing.
Very carefully he put Rascal on the ground and shooed him away. Then, in a patient, resigned sort of way he said, Right. I appear to have done just one more thing to upset your brother—and you now —but until I can confirm or deny the accusation, I think I have a right to know what I'm accused of.'
You've stolen the only labour he has!' She spat out the words.
I beg your pardon?'
' You heard exactly what I said, and you know perfectly well what I mean.'
I'm afraid I don't . . . oh, wait a moment. Are you trying to tell me that the new men who started work with me today came from your brother's place?'
' You know perfectly well they did. What did you do, bribe them, or frighten them, or merely threaten them! '
Suddenly his face darkened. The joke—if it was a joke—was over. I don't think you should make accusations quite like that, Miss Finch. And before you say something further that you might regret, hadn't you better check up on your facts?'
There are no facts to check on,' she retorted. They're our men, or they were yesterday, and now they're yours. Are you trying to tell me you didn't know they worked for Tom?'
' I'm telling you exactly that. I have an excellent foreman who takes on all the labour. I don't question his choice, unless there's trouble amongst the men, or he wants to dismiss one. Come with me.'
She found herself following him, unwillingly, but having no alternative. She honestly did not know whether to believe him or not.
On the terrace he turned to her again. Wait
here,' he commanded, then went inside and called something to Raja.
A few moments later a small, wiry man appeared and bowed towards him. He did not give her a single glance.
Matt said to the man, very clearly, Ajit, I'd like to know where you found those extra men you took on this morning.'
The little man looked faintly uncomfortable, but with a lot of gesturing and raising his eyes to heaven, started to talk very quickly and, of course, incomprehensibly, in his own language.
Matt listened to him then put in a couple of questions. The man spread his hands helplessly and started to talk again. Finally, when he had finished, Matt dismissed him, and turned to Rossi.
Well, it seems quite straightforward. I told him a couple of days ago that we must have extra labour as soon as possible. He passed the word round in the village, which is equivalent of telling everyone in the local back in England. These men came forward and said they were leaving your brother anyway, so naturally, since they had the right sort of experience, he took them on. Now do you believe me?'
' Tom won't,' she said obstinately.
No, I dare say you're right. What do you suggest I do? Dismiss them and make them go back to where they came from?'
Something of that sort, yes. There probably isn't anywhere else for them to work anyway. You could explain to them that they're letting Tom down and if they don't work the whole crop could be ruined.'
He smiled rather wryly. You can only lead a horse to water, you know. They said they were going to leave Tom.'
And you believe that,' she said contemptuously.
I believe they wanted to leave him,' he replied in a dangerously calm voice. ' And that comes to much the same thing. There must be something wrong. If Tom gets them back, he'll get a sullen crew who won't give their best. If I were you I should make it my business to ask why they all wanted to leave.'
There was logic in what he said, but Rossi was beyond all logic. I wonder,' she said, if you put it about that you were prepared to pay more than anyone else. I would call that enticement. Funny,' she added, Tom was only talking about a different kind of enticement a couple of days ago. . .
As she spoke she knew she should not have said that, but it was too late to withdraw. She saw the expression in his eyes, and for a single, frightening moment thought he was going to hit her.
Instead he said, It's a great pity such loyalty is so misplaced. It might be a good idea if you put your own house in order, before coming to organise mine. Now, will you please go, before you force me to say something I really regret. Your brother will have his men back by tomorrow. But I take no responsibility for them after that.'
As she watched him walk away she began to wonder whether she had helped Tom or not. She had certainly done nothing to improve this relationship.
Tom came back around tea time. Terry had been looking anxiously out for him, but Rossi had expressly forbidden her nephew to run at him with the news about Sue.
When Tom climbed out of the car she was about to go and greet him when she saw he was not alone.
She hesitated, then her eyes widened in pleasure when she saw who it was.
' Why, Barney, what a wonderful surprise!'
He grinned at her and shook her hand. ' I really believe you mean that. Hello, young Terry, how are you? And where's Sue?' he added.
Rossi looked at her brother. Tom, there's
nothing to worry about now, but Sue hasn't been well.'
You mean she's in bed?' he said sharply, heading towards the house.
Rossi put out a hand to stop him. Well, yes, but she's not here. She's in hospital. . .
Then why the hell didn't you phone me, or let me know somehow?' He started back into the car. ' I'd better get there immediately.'
Tom, please listen,' she said. Sue is perfectly
all right now and you can go in and see her in about
an hour. We've checked with the hospital already.'
She finally seemed to reassure him, then Nanny came with the tea, so they were all sitting down before he asked—more calmly—that she should tell him what happened.
She recounted the events of the previous night, but by the time she came to Matt's part in them she merely said vaguely, . . . and when I got her to the doctor he insisted she should stay the night so they could keep an eye on her and make certain her temperature went down.'
Then it looks as though there's not too much to worry about now,' put in Barney. She's in safe hands. It must have been quite a responsibility for Rossi to decide what to do.'
Suddenly Tom seemed to realise there was a piece of the story missing. He turned to her. How did you get her to hospital? We haven't even got a
phone.' He saw her hesitation and said in a surly voice, ' Oh, I see, I suppose you went running next door.'
As evenly as she could Rossi told him, I had no alternative, Tom. This happened around two o'clock in the morning. I didn't even know where the nearest phone was.' .
So he phoned and the doctor came out immediately.'
He seemed to want to pour salt on the wound. Well, she had better tell him the truth. ' No,' she said, when I told Matt Lincoln what had happened, he said there was some doubt how long it would take the doctor to get out at that time of the night. He insisted on driving Sue in himself.'
And you allowed it?' His voice was full of injured amazement.
Of course. It seemed to me that Sue came before any quarrels you or I had. To me she seemed very seriously ill indeed. I was frightened, Tom, just as I think you or Julia would have been.'
It seems to me,' Barney put in, much to her relief, that Rossi did just the right thing. She had no alternative. Besides, I daresay even Matt Lincoln is human as far as children are concerned.'
Tom shrugged as if even that was in doubt, but he did not berate her any further, and as soon as tea was over he got out the car and drove into town. She shook her head when he asked if she wanted to come to. She knew Sue missed him when he was away, so it was better that she had him to herself.
When he had gone and Terry had disappeared to play, Rossi poured Barney another cup of tea. But he left it untouched and leaned towards her, covering her hand with his own.
Come on, Rossi, out
with it.'
' With what?' she said warily.
Look, I don't know you very well, but even I can see that something's wrong. A week or two ago I met a happy, excited girl off to Ceylon for the first time. Now I see an anxious, tense—yes, and even tired version of the same girl. I know it's not a very flattering thing for a man to say, but if Tom doesn't put things right, then I've got to. And it can't all be worry about Sue.'
She sighed. ' Is it really as obvious as that? Well, I suppose you're right. Things haven't been too easy. But then they're even more difficult for Tom, so I haven't the heart to complain.'
Right. I want chapter and verse. Tom's my friend, so I can speak frankly to him. To start with, how much help have you got here?'
When Rossi told him that there was literally one boy—and not a very willing one at that—and also that she was having to struggle with most of the cooking, he was obviously horrified.
You can't do it, Rossi. This isn't England, you know, and you haven't got used to this climate yet. If Tom can't afford more help, then he can't afford to strike out on his own. But I think that's something we can't put right, tactfully, don't you?'
She nodded. I was going to say something anyway. With the business of Sue, I realised I couldn't cope properly, but . .. but that's not the real problem.'
Ah, now we're getting down to it. I suppose it wouldn't be anything to do with Matt Lincoln, would it?'
When she didn't answer, he gripped her hand more tightly. I guessed as much. The man's obviously a menace, even if he does offer to rush
kids to hospital. Go on, Rosi, tell me.'
She was glad to get the whole business off her mind. She told him how impossible it was to live so near someone, particularly a man the children liked, and have to keep them at arm's length. She felt like a buffer between him and her brother, trying to keep an impossible peace.