by Di Morrissey
‘It’d be good business, provided it was all above board. I admit it’s a ripe opportunity for shady practices, but you don’t know that it isn’t a completely legit concept. St Herve seems a straight operator.’
‘Connor!’ Madi’s frustration got the better of her. ‘Think where we’ve been today. What we saw. Do you want that spoilt?’
‘Who says it would be spoilt? It should be shared, more people should be given the opportunity to experience this sort of thing, but on a more businesslike scale, of course.’
‘No! That’s where you’re wrong. By businesslike you mean commercial, up-market, big deal operations. Complexes, for God’s sake. That’s wrong.’ Connor drew back at her vehemence and Madi took a breath, trying to talk calmly. ‘Look, ever since Kaieteur, since I’ve been up the river with Lester, since being here at Caraboo, it’s been gnawing away at me and I can see exactly what should be done in this country. And the way to go is with eco tourism. Small, special, unique experiences. This place doesn’t have the infrastructure to carry tourism on the sort of scale you’re thinking of. And it’s not environmentally sound tourism. You’d destroy the very environment people want most. Don’t you see anything wrong with a huge great casino out here?’ she demanded.
Connor tried again, speaking quietly to counter Madi’s growing anger. ‘It would be like an island on its own and, if sensitively done, it would benefit the people, and—’
‘Connor, I didn’t believe we could be on such different wavelengths.’ She pushed open the door and climbed into the hammock on the verandah. Connor sighed and fell back on his pillow. He was too tired to deal with this now. He’d get up shortly and give her a cuddle. But in two minutes he had fallen asleep.
Madi wrapped her arms about her as she swung in the hammock, then hearing Connor’s steady breathing, she tiptoed back in and pulled on a long-sleeved shirt and a sarong, picked up her pillow and went back outside.
As she rocked gently in the string cradle she looked out at the mango trees and the white sandy soil gleaming in the moonlight. The argument with Connor had disturbed her deeply. Not because they’d disagreed, but the fact they held such different views. She couldn’t believe that Connor wasn’t as swept up and influenced by the magic and unspoilt beauty of this country as she was. This was a fundamental divergence of attitude between them which meant they had different outlooks on life.
What had Pieter Van Horen said to her about two people needing to share the same passion? Connor was a pragmatic and practical banker, who looked at life from a nuts and bolts and figures perspective. And then she realised, Matthew would probably agree with Connor. Was it a male attitude? A western businessman’s outlook? Stewart Johns and Kevin Blanchard would agree with Connor too.
On the other side, there was Pieter, Kate, Xavier and Lester who would not want the casino. Would Connor agree to a casino at Ayers Rock? Or another uranium mine in Kakadu? Madi sleepily rubbed her eyes, it was all too hard and dispiriting to think about. She pulled the folds of the hammock over her and fell asleep.
At some point in the night, she stirred, shifting her weight to one side and glanced across the moonlit ground. Standing between two trees beyond the hut was a shadowy animal that she thought was a dog, but seeing the way it moved its long tail, she came wide awake. It was a jaguar, beautifully marked with dark spots, its compact head lifted as it paused, before stalking slowly and regally away across the compound. She closed her eyes again, totally calm and accepting. Nothing she saw in Guyana came as any surprise any more. Smiling to herself she drifted back to sleep.
Connor kissed her awake. ‘Don’t be mad at me, Madi,’ he whispered. ‘Come back to bed and cuddle me.’ He looked so contrite Madi kissed him back. ‘Connor, you can’t solve everything with a cuddle.’
‘But it’s better than arguing.’ He nuzzled her and tried to lift her out of the hammock and instead she almost landed on the floor. Laughing, she pushed him playfully in the chest. ‘You’re impossible. By the way, we had a visit from a jaguar last night. I bet we can see its paw marks out there.’
Connor rolled his eyes as Madi ran out to check. Sighing, he had a sudden longing to be in New York, Washington or Sydney. Fascinating as all this was, there was a lot to be said for First World comforts. He wondered if Madi would soon get over this obsession with the charm of primitive Third World experiences. Hovering in his mind drifted the big question . . . and then what? He had been thinking this through for some time. There had been many women pass through his arms for brief periods of time, some longer than the two and a half months he’d known Madi. And then inevitably had come the day when—often conveniently—he’d had to move on.
He cherished many of the relationships and realised he’d probably broken a few hearts. But Madi was different somehow. She frustrated him when she held back the love he knew was there, the love he snatched and shared when she let the barriers fall. For the first time he felt that someone else held power over him, simply by not wielding any power, playing any games or making any claims.
Like Matthew he had been slightly taken aback by her transformation from innocent abroad to a very self-possessed young woman discovering the intoxication of passion for a cause that went beyond herself. But in discussing her, both men had decided Madi’s passion for Guyana and the need to address its social inequities would pass once she left the country and picked up the threads of her life again. Now Connor wondered if he and Matthew were underestimating Madi and he felt even more confused. A swim might clear his head.
Madi showered and strolled down the sandy track beneath flowering trees to the creek where Connor was floating on his back. She sat on the log where he’d dropped his towel and shorts and watched him slowly backstroke. She smiled to herself. Despite their difference of the night before, she was very attracted to him. She was so glad they were together, sharing this time.
Connor splashed out of the creek and sat beside her, towelling his hair. She picked up a corner of the towel and began drying his back and impulsively leaned over and kissed his shoulder. He turned and returned her kiss, and between them suddenly flooded feelings of warmth, affection and a sense of bonding. Each felt it and knew the other did too.
‘Madi . . . this isn’t how I planned it, but . . . seems as good a time as any,’ said Connor softly, with a hint of a smile.
‘What?’
He reached for his shorts and dug into his pocket for something, telling Madi to close her eyes. She did, then felt his hand taking hers and placing something metallic in her palm. ‘You can open your eyes now.’
Madi stared at the exquisite ring sparkling in the morning sunlight.
‘Oh Connor . . . oh my. It’s the pink diamond you found!’ She held it up to the sun and rosy splinters of light seemed to crackle from within the now beautifully faceted stone. ‘The setting is from Guyanese gold too. I did a deal with Lester,’ he hastily added, ‘to help his son.’
‘You’re giving this to me?’ Madi stared at him and began shaking her head. ‘Connor, I can’t accept this.’
‘Madi . . . my darling. I’m giving it to you for a reason . . .’ Connor lifted her left hand and slipped it on her engagement finger. ‘I want you to marry me.’
Madi was silent, utterly overwhelmed. She hadn’t expected this.
‘Connor, it’s beautiful . . . but it’s so soon . . .’
‘Madi, I love you. I know you love me too. I also know we are meant to be together. It doesn’t matter about time, how long we’ve known each other. When you know, you know. And I just know that you’re it. I can’t imagine not having you in my life.’
‘I think I do love you, Connor . . . but you know I’m cautious. You’ve never been married, and when you’ve made a mistake, you can’t help . . . being fearful.’ Madi was close to tears and desperately wishing she didn’t have to deal with this right now. She felt she was being rushed and he’d taken one step too many and was close to spoiling the relatively uncomplicated relationship they’d share
d up to now.
Sensing her hesitation Connor went on with faint desperation. ‘I’m not putting any pressure on you. We can stay engaged as long as you like. Madi, I just had to make a commitment, I love you and I want you to know I am serious about this. I’ve never felt this way before and I realise now, I’ve just been paddling around waiting until you showed up.’
‘You’re sure it’s not the fact you feel time is marching on and you should settle down?’ She gave a small grin, then looked back admiringly at the ring, twisting it a little on her finger.
‘Hell, Madi, it’s not like I’m some middle-aged Romeo grabbing a young bimbo to boost his ego.’ Connor sounded agitated. This wasn’t the reaction he’d anticipated, but as they sat in silence for a moment, Connor had to admit to himself that this was just what he should have expected from Madi and why he’d felt the need to pin her down.
‘Madi, I don’t want to lose you. And that’s the truth. I thought if I gave you the ring . . .’ he paused, a little lost for the right words, then went off on a tangent to cover his embarrassment. ‘I want you to have it anyway . . . Lester and I both agreed it should be yours, no matter what.’
Tears sprang to Madi’s eyes at the tremble in Connor’s voice and the unashamed honesty with which he spoke.
‘Connor, I’ll wear the ring, but on my other hand. And I’m very flattered.’
‘Don’t say that . . . it sounds like a speech . . .’ Connor wrapped his arms about her. ‘Just love me, Madi, then you’ll see how things will fall into place. It’s easy . . .’ He kissed her long and hard as if willing her to love him back as passionately.
Madi’s mind was whirling. It would be easy to just love Connor and let events take the course he obviously envisaged. For all his worldly sophistication and romantic experiences, Madi suddenly saw him as a simple boy who wanted something and had made the appropriate claim and expected success to follow. It was how he’d led his life, she had no doubt. But the underlying assumption that she would go along with his wishes, even when she did love him—and she had to admit that she did—bothered her.
They drew apart and holding hands walked back to the compound. ‘Connor, it’s not you . . . and it’s not that I don’t love you . . . I still need a little time . . . for me . . .’
He squeezed her hand. ‘I’ll wait. I understand.’ However, in his heart Connor didn’t truly understand, but he was prepared to go along with Madi’s wishes and hope that somehow everything would work out just as he wanted it to.
Madi was thankful there seemed to be some diversion at the compound. Several horses were tied under a tree and a vaquero was talking to Amelia. They were hailed by Kate. ‘We have a visitor! A friend of yours, Madison.’
Pieter Van Horen, smiling broadly, stepped out of the house and waved, his yellow beard glinting in the sunlight, and his fair hair shining like a silver halo.
‘Pieter! How lovely to see you!’ Madi ran forward to give him a hug. ‘This is wonderful, now you can meet Connor.’
The two men shook hands and Connor was struck by the charisma of the older man. He’d imagined some academic wimp, not this tall, powerfully built and striking Dutchman.
‘Breakfast is ready,’ announced Kate, ‘so let’s talk over the eggs and toast.’ They joined Joseph already at the table with hot pepper sauce lined up in front of his plate, waiting for Amelia’s eggs.
‘So how come you’re here?’ asked Madi, smiling with delight at meeting up with Pieter again.
‘I’ve been collecting, talking to the captains of the villages down here, investigating this and that.’
‘Putting in a good word for Xavier here and there no doubt,’ she added.
‘I don’t need to do that. He has put in a good word for me. Everyone is most co-operative,’ he said, then turned his attention to Connor. ‘And you, Mr Bain, do you find Guyana as enthralling as Madison does? Or is it just another insignificant Third World country?’
Connor knew immediately that the craggy ethnobotanist could read people as well as he could read plants. He was spared the need to reply immediately when Amelia and her daughter arrived at the table with platters of scrambled eggs, slabs of beef and toast.
‘Well, yes, it is just another Third World country from my banker’s perspective, but thanks to Madison’s enthusiasm, I’m finding it more interesting almost by the day. By the way, Pieter, call me Connor. Aussies don’t have much time for the formal mode of address.’
‘And, Connor, what aspects do you find interesting beyond the bottom line of the project you’re working on, important though that is?’
He’s a bloody straight shooter this one, thought Connor. He got a little kick from Madi, as if she read his thoughts.
‘Well, I’ve seen a bit of this country and its people in a way that bankers seldom do, thanks to Madison and friends like Lester and Kate here. Yes, it’s really got a lot going for it beyond the mines, lovely country to enjoy, lovely people.’ Connor dived into his eggs, hoping the conversation would move on without him.
Pieter too attacked the eggs and, as if in synchronisation with Connor, picked up where he left off as their eyes met over empty forks. ‘These lovely people, it seems to me, aren’t getting much interest on their stake in this country. Would you agree, Connor?’
‘Look. There’s no turning back the clock. Mines are here to stay. So are a lot of other industries that don’t sit too prettily on the landscape. If the people are going to share in this wealth the industries create, the industries first must be efficient and profitable. And if the people want stronger environmental safeguards, and that’s the trend almost everywhere these days, then they must be satisfied with lower profits. Guyana is damned lucky to have so much wealth in natural resources.’
Pieter leaned forward, waving his fork. ‘I agree with you, Connor. The question we must surely address at this point in time, is how to give the people real power in determining the development process? Shall we take our coffee in the garden?’
Connor gave Madi a big raised eyebrow as they passed the coffee pot along the table. Madi smiled reassuringly and gave him a peck on the cheek.
They sat on rustic bush-crafted chairs under a frangipani tree of great size and age. Kate saw them settled then left with Joseph to discuss a beef shipment.
‘Lovely coffee,’ said Pieter. ‘Nice to have a break in the routine of work, isn’t it?’
Connor was delighted to agree on something. ‘Yes, we’ve had a great time here. Gives one a chance to recharge the batteries.’
‘Oddly enough,’ said Pieter, ‘I never really get tired when doing my work.’
‘Just what exactly are you doing?’ Connor wanted to bite his tongue the moment he spoke, recognising where Pieter had cleverly led him. ‘Madi seems to think the plant business has enormous potential,’ he added.
Pieter knew his subject well. He presented a briefing of such focus, fact, and depth that it left Connor with few questions.
‘I told you Pieter was an expert,’ said Madi smugly. ‘Impressed?’
‘Yes, I can’t deny it. Amazing that the drug companies really do spend tens, even hundreds of millions of dollars investigating these natural medicines and in ninety-five per cent of cases it is money straight down the drain. Yet, they keep coming back for more.’
‘Because the profits, when they come up with a commercially successful new drug, are enormous,’ said Madi. ‘Don’t you agree the people who inherited the knowledge, should share in the profits?’
‘Well,’ said Connor hesitatingly, ‘it’s not up to me. It’s decided by government policy.’
‘Maybe an alternative would be to fund research on behalf of the people, and give them ownership of the patented drugs,’ suggested Pieter, almost as if he had just thought of the idea.
‘But it would take millions just to get started,’ protested Connor.
‘So?’
‘I don’t know of a precedent for something like this.’
‘So?’ repeate
d Pieter.
‘IFO wouldn’t put money into something like that.’
‘But you haven’t asked them yet, have you?’
Connor realised he had very little room left to manoeuvre and his faltering resistance crumbled when he saw the loving, expectant look on Madi’s face. ‘Okay. Who has the project paper and who has the political connections?’
Pieter smiled. ‘Xavier and the other Amerindian leaders have put together a proposal. A meeting in Georgetown can be set up at short notice. The briefing paper is very detailed. You realise, of course, that all this has political implications, so your discretion would be appreciated.’
‘Of course.’
It was then that Madi sat back in her chair, slightly stunned. Not at Connor’s capitulation, but at the realisation that this had been a carefully-planned power game played by Xavier, Pieter and Kate. For a moment she felt guilty that she too had unwittingly been a party to getting Connor in this situation.
Then, almost as if on cue, a group of Amerindians led by Kate came up the path, some of them carrying bags of plants. Kate settled them in a semicircle on the edge of the compound clearing and Amelia appeared with a tray of refreshments for them. Kate called to Pieter, ‘Your specimens have arrived, Doctor. Time for real work.’
‘Perhaps you would like to see a little of my work?’ he said to Connor. ‘I believe some of the plants they’ve gathered have most interesting properties.’
‘Naturally,’ he replied, and they both laughed at the unintended pun as they strolled across the compound.
EIGHTEEN
Antonio Destra parked in the compound of the Amerindian hostel in Georgetown, and allowed himself the leisure of a cigarette as he ambled around watching some craft workers weaving and painting in preparation for their weekend market of artefacts. That he was a little late for his appointment with Xavier worried him not at all. Making the Amerindian sweat wouldn’t hurt a bit.
He stubbed out the cigarette with his shoe then went inside and was immediately taken to Xavier’s office. A secretary with a note pad left on a nod from Xavier.