by Jan Anderson
And Sue. Where's Sue?'
She and Nanny have stayed up with Barney until the weekend. She's tons better and Barney seems to have plenty of staff used to children to help keep an eye on her.'
I see.' He turned to his son. Ponniah tells me we've acquired an almost tame iguana who comes to drink at the pond every evening. You might like to go and see if he's there. But don't forget to keep away from his tail. Keep in front of him if you find him.'
O.K., Dad. I'll come back if he's there, 'cos I don't suppose Rossi's ever seen a real iguana.'
As soon as he had got rid of Terry with such obviousness, Tom turned to his sister. Did Barney bring you back?'
No.'
' I imagine you didn't hire a car for all that distance.'
No, I didn't,' she replied calmly.
Then there's only one answer.' He closed his eyes as though in great pain. You know I gave you strict instructions, particularly with regard to Terry, and you flagrantly disobeyed them. I will not have either you or my son contaminated by that man.'
Rossi sighed wearily. Oh, Tom, please don't start that argument again. Think of what might have happened if we hadn't got Sue to hospital last week. And think of your own comfort now. I'm not making friends with Matt Lincoln, I'm using him.' That statement was quite true, she realised with surprise. All the way along she had used him and he had asked nothing in return—at least not until about an hour ago. Her lips burned at the memory of the payment that had been exacted. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Tom, not of that of course, but of the quarrel that had gone before, only that would have meant telling him also of the reason for the quarrel, that Matt Lincoln was determined to get him out. Such knowledge could make Tom turn to his own kind of reprisal.
So she contented herself by saying, Please, Tom, let's change the subject. When we talk of Matt Lincoln, it only makes bad feeling between you and me, which is just the sort of thing that would please him. Instead, I'll get you a glass of beer. It seems
hotter than ever today.'
That evening after Terry had gone to bed she and Tom sat in the empty, rather barren living room and played chess, something they had not done since he had taught her as a child. Because of the long silences between moves, the strange sounds of the house and the garden seemed more pronounced. All round them was the light squawking of the geckos, the tiny pale greeny-grey house lizards that darted endlessly up and down the walls, across the ceiling, heading for the rather doubtful comfort of the flickering electric light. She had learned already from Ponniah—on one of his gloomier days—that for a gecko to fall from the ceiling meant certain death for someone.
The most startling sound was the trumpeting of an elephant, sudden and loud enough to make Tom look up and cock his head.
Nearer than usual,' he commented. ' They don't usually come within a couple of miles of here.'
There were several on the road that night Sue went to hospital. I thought at first they were huge rocks or something.'
Mum, well, they do come on to the road sometimes, but they rarely cross to this side. They're probably taking a short cut to the far side of the tank.'
Where the hermit lives?'
' Who told you about him?' He looked sharply at her. ' Oh, Terry, I suppose? Someone has filled his head with nonsense about the old man having practically supernatural powers.'
And does he?' Rossi asked curiously.
Good lord, no, but I presume he does have a way with animals, probably comes from living in the wild for so long. He's a kind of grand guru.'
Long before the evening was over Tom's head began to nod, so Rossi persuaded him to go to bed. With Ponniah's help they managed to manoeuvre him to his room. When she passed about ten minutes later he was sound asleep. She stopped only to let the mosquito net down to protect him and to wish that from now things would go right for him. She had not dared to ask what was happening on the coconut plantation.
In the morning Tom seemed a little more cheerful and since he wanted to catch up with some long overdue paperwork she decided to make Terry do his own lessons with the promise of a swim later.
It was when she and Terry were wandering up the beach late in the morning that she saw Ponniah hurrying down to meet her. His face seemed longer and gloomier than ever.
Please, lady,' he said, ' I would like you to come.'
Where?' she demanded. To the house? Is something wrong with the master?'
No, the master is working.' His eyes slid to Terry.
Terry,' she ordered, go and see if your father wants a cool drink or something I'll be along there in a few minutes.'
Reluctantly, he went to do her bidding, while she turned to Ponniah and said patiently, ` Now, perhaps you will explain to me where you want me to come.'
He did not answer, but started off with a long, loping stride towards the plantation. Mystified, she followed.
They came to where the slender trees stood in their long ridged rows. There were a couple of new labourers leaning on their picks, looking wide-eyed
and nervous.
Well?' she demanded firmly. What's wrong?' Look at the trees, lady.'
She went closer and saw that about head height along some of them were sawn marks, or in some cases round holes that looked as if they had been drilled. This had been painted over with something dark that smelt like creosote. She had not the faintest idea what all this was about, but it certainly looked wrong.
What is it, Poniah?' she asked.
I do not know, lady, but it does not look good. Shall I go and tell the master?'
No. At least, let me think a minute. The master is not well and we do not want to worry him unnecessarily.'
Then I will go and ask my friend Raja. He is great man for coconuts.'
She was about to say no, remembering that Raja was Matt Lincoln's man, but she decided that was a silly decision. Besides, it was the only way of getting at the truth without worrying Tom unnecessarily.
' All right,' she said, but hurry.'
She wandered over to the piece of land that lay between Tom's property and Matt Lincoln's. As yet nothing had been cleared there. It was a tangled mass of undergrowth, with only a narrow path leading round the edge. She tried not to think about the trees, because deep inside her she already knew the answer.
Ponniah was back in less than five minutes, but Raja was not with him. Instead, he was shaking all over. Please, you must come this way now, lady.'
Why? '
Because . . . because it is said that you must.
My friend Raja is very unhappy man.'
So once again she followed, but this time in the other direction, edging round the path, leaping across the stream in the middle, until she came out to the edge of the other, much larger plantation. Raja was there all right, surrounded by a similar unhappy band of labourers.
Well, Raja, what is it?' she enquired more strongly than she felt. ' Ponniah said you would come to look at my brother's trees. Instead I am brought here. Do you know anything about it?'
The Ceylonese said nothing, but she followed the direction of his eyes. Here, many of the trees had received similar treatment, all the ones nearest to the boundary.
She gasped. But what is it? What has done that to the trees? Can't you tell me, Raja?'
From behind her came a now familiar voice. Raja could tell you quite easily, but he prefers that I do.'
Well?' She tilted her chin towards Matt Lincoln, who stood towering over them all like a rock. Only this time there was no amusement in his voice, in his face; not even mild contempt. Anger was there of a kind she had never met before, an anger born not of the moment, but of a deep and terrible wound.
Come with me, Rossi, and I'll show you.'
He strode over to the nearest of the trees and jabbed his finger at the black, slashed marks.
Let me tell you that you're looking at a dead tree.' He swung his arm round the whole acreage. You're looking at ten years of wasted effort. Someone bent on destruc
tion has come along during the night and with the precision of an engineer either drilled or sawn through the trunks of half of these trees, then injected them with poison. They'll never
bear another coconut, and just as soon as I can
manage it, they'll have to be cut down and burnt.'
Somehow she did understand his anguish. To cut down all those living, thriving trees seemed as much an act of sacrilege as if they had all been living creatures, but there was just a tiny corner of her brain which was working out something else.
' You seem,' she said, ' to have brought me to see this appalling thing as if I, or someone I know, might be to blame, when all the time you seem to be forgetting that my brother has suffered in exactly the same way.'
Except,' he said contemptuously, that he has far, far fewer.'
' But does that make the attack any less vicious?' she asked, still bewildered by what had happened. You seem to be talking as if Tom had climbed out with his bad leg and done the damage personally.'
He passed a hand wearily across his head. I'm sorry,' he said, I don't know quite what I'm saying. I only know that when I get my hands on whoever did this—or caused it to be done—he's never going to be able to set foot on this part of the island again.'
CHAPTER X
The impulse to shout back at Matt Lincoln dissolved. Instead, Rossi looked about her at the utter devastation of the coconut plantation and wanted desperately to offer some kind of sympathy. The despair and utter weariness on his face was an almost tangible thing, and she was the first to admit that had a similar thing happened to her she would also have hit out at the nearest person.
` I'm sorry too,' she whispered. ' It seems impossible to think that anyone could do a thing like this. I . . . I suppose I must go back and break the news to Tom. He doesn't know yet. I just can't think how he's going to react.'
She started to walk away and he followed her, laying a hand on her arm. ' Rossi, there's something I want to say. Something I must make clear now.'
' Yes?' she waited, quivering as she felt his touch again.
' Yesterday you accused me of wanting to get your brother out. I think you even suggested I might stop at nothing to do so. Well, it's true that I don't think Tom has much chance of success, but I wouldn't have had something like this happen to him for the world. This is just like kicking a man when he's down.'
It's all right,' she said. I think I know you wouldn't stoop to anything like this. You love the land too much—even if you don't always love your fellow humans. I don't suppose I can convince him that you're in as bad a state as he is—even though you can probably ride such a disaster somewhat better. I'm just a little frightened of what he'll do. He's low enough already. You see,' she went on quietly, I expect it's difficult for you to believe this, but Tom has always been such a cheerful, easygoing man. I find such a change in him. It's as though . . . as though he's lost faith in everything.'
There's one thing you could do.'
What's that?' she asked.
Get Julia back. That's what he needs more than anything.'
' But. . .
No, don't say " but " before you've given the whole matter some thought. I know I'm right. And there's one more thing, Rossi . . . you probably don't like running across to me when things go wrong. I know exactly what your opinion of me is, but nevertheless, I would like you to remember I'm here if you want help. It's bad to sit over there worrying on your own.'
Thank you,' she said, thank you. I will remember that.'
She walked slowly back through the trees, listening to the sound of the surf breaking on the beach, to the ' did-'e-do-it ' birds flying overhead with their endless clear question repeated again and again. And at her feet she heard a rustle and looked down to see Matt's baby leopard scampering playfully after some quarry. It was all so beautiful, she thought. Paradise. Must there be a serpent in every paradise?
When she reached the house she realised she had been gone nearly an hour. Tom was sitting out on the terrace with a beer looking tired and annoyed.
Where have you been?' he said crossly. Terry said Ponniah had taken you off on some secret mission. He's back, but I can't get a sensible word out of him.'
Rossi swallowed. It was not going to be easy or pleasant breaking the news to him. She considered asking Terry to leave them alone, but decided not to. Terry would find out soon enough what had happened, and perhaps the presence of his small son might keep a rein on Tom's anger.
I wish it was good news,' she said at last, but I'm afraid it's more bad.'
Well, go on.'
' It's your coconut trees,' she blurted out, at least most of them. They're finished, Tom, finished.'
He sat up slowly. What do you mean? How
can they be finished?'
Someone has come along and poisoned them. I don't quite understand how, but they seem to have been either drilled or sawn through and the poison injected.'
Well,' he said slowly, ' I presume we can make one guess as to who is responsible for that.'
No,' she exploded, you mustn't jump to conclusions. He's in exactly the same trouble. Many of his trees have been killed just like yours.'
' Well, I still wouldn't put it past him to fix the whole thing.'
He spoke with icy calm, a reaction which seemed to her even more worrying than if he had gone berserk.
' You can't say that,' she cried. No one would do a thing like that. It would be a terrible sort of revenge.'
He put his head in his hands. Well, anyway, it looks as if I am finished unless I can find a way out, or raise some capital from somewhere. But if I ever have to get out, I'm not going to sell the place to Lincoln, whatever he may think. Leave me, both of you, while I see if I can work out some ideas. After lunch I'll see if Ponniah and one of the new men can help me along to see the damage.'
As she went into the house she felt Terry's small hand tucked into hers. Poor Dad,' he said, I wish we could help him, don't you?'
' I do indeed, Terry,' she said sadly, but I don't honestly know what we can do, except perhaps look after him well and keep as cheerful as we can.'
Will we really have to leave here, do you think?'
I don't know that either. I think we've got to give your father time to work things out. I do know that if he can possibly stay here he will. He loves
it so much.'
' But he still doesn't like Uncle Matt, does he?' The little boy was quiet for a moment, then added astutely, ` If they were both to work together then things might be all right, mightn't they?'
Perhaps,' she smiled. At least it would help.'
After lunch she was surprised that Terry went off for his rest without a murmur. Perhaps he too wanted to think. He was a very wise little boy. She tried to read, but couldn't. In the end she put her book down and went out to find a shady spot on the terrace.
Her head was buzzing with all that had happened today. Even now she could not believe that anyone was capable of such wanton destruction. But what really worried her was what had been left unsaid. Who could possibly have done it?
Having seen the ordinary labourers around here she knew that none of them would have had the intelligence or general knowledge to perpetrate what was probably an engineering feat however simple. There were the overseers of course, people like Raja and Ponniah. But Ponniah was basically a house servant, and though sullen and often unwilling, he had his own kind of respect for Tom. And as for Raja, he was obviously Matt's key man, in one of the best jobs to be found in these parts. That meant it was likely to be someone from outside. After all, she did not know much about local politics, or local jealousies. Perhaps there was someone else who wanted to see both Matt and Tom back where they came from.
When her mind had finished circling on that subject, she thought what Matt had said about Julia and reluctantly admitted that he might be talking sense. At a time like this Tom needed a wife by his side, not
o
a sister. And the children needed a
mother badly, because certainly Tom was not going to be much use to either of them at the moment.
On impulse, Rossi went inside and started a long letter to Julia. She did not ask her to come back, or anything like that, she merely put down all the facts, everything that had happened since she had come to Ceylon. When she had nearly finished she re-read the letter and decided it added up to a gloomy picture. But she did say that Terry was in good form and that Sue was now, although it occurred to her that she didn't even know whether Tom had written to his wife about Sue's illness. Before she finished it off she decided to put it away until the morning. Somehow she must find a way of broaching the subject of Julia to Tom this evening.
Somehow it was easier than she expected. As he was on his own Terry was allowed to stay up for dinner, but instead of delighting in the privilege he was very subdued and picked at his food and though both Tom and Rossi made a point of not talking about the immediate problem and making him tell stories about Crackers and the two days spent up at High Rocks, he was still not his perky self, and when Tom shooed him gently away to bed before coffee, once again he went without a murmur.
Tom turned to his sister. Do you think he's sickening for something?'
She shook her head. No, at least I don't think so. He's very sensitive, you know, and I think what has happened recently has shaken him rather deeply.'
Julia would know what to do. I don't think I do, unless it's to give him all the affection and attention I can.'
Rossi fingered her coffee cup, staring into the deep
brown liquid before she said bluntly, Tom, do you still love Julia?'
Oh, God, yes, of course I do. It's whether she loves me is the crux of the thing. I'm a bit of a failure, you see, and I don't think she likes that. But now that's she's not here, I can see that I was a bit rough with her at times. I suppose neither of us could compromise.'
Well, decided Rossi, she had found out what she wanted to know, so before she went to bed was able to finish the letter to Julia in just the way she wanted to. Perhaps, somehow, she might touch the right chord in Julia's heart.