Too confused to argue, Claire watched her leave. She gulped down the Coke without tasting it. Then she looked for the shower. She found it amidships: a real shower with real water. The towels were white and fluffy. There was shampoo and soap and scent all neatly slotted into a small shelf. She showered as quickly as possible and then looked for something to wear. In the designated locker, she found a minuscule bikini and a long T-shirt that covered its inadequacies.
When she had dressed she felt temporarily revived, but her misgivings returned as she sat in the cabin waiting for Liana to reappear. She heard noises above and then there was a great roar as the engines started. She held on to the edge of the table as the boat slewed round. Shortly after, Liana’s elegant trousers descended the steps followed by the rest of her elegant body.
‘Where are we going? What’s happening? What about my phone and my camera – it’s got all my latest photos, and my iPad, and my luggage? Where do you fit into all this?’ Claire’s flood of questions was unstoppable. She had to raise her voice to be heard above the engines.
‘Your luggage will be returned later.’ Liana smiled. ‘Right now we’re going to Drew.’
‘What?’
Liana spoke more loudly. ‘I’m taking you to Drew.’
Her heart jolting, Claire remained suspicious. ‘I thought he’d left for Australia.’
‘He postponed his trip when he heard you’d gone missing.’
‘But how did he know where I was?’
‘He didn’t. No one did. Apparently you disappeared without telling anyone where you were going.’
‘I left a note for Deb . . . and Jean-Louis knew.’
‘Jean-Louis is out of the country. Some people were concerned about your whereabouts,’ she continued calmly. ‘News that you’d disappeared reached Drew and he asked me to make enquiries. He knows that someone in my position can usually find out what they want to know.’
Claire raised her eyebrows. ‘Your position?’
‘I am a member of one of Maising’s major families,’ said Liana with pride. ‘I have contacts in the Government and one of my brothers-in-law is Deputy Chief of Police. He was able to discover where you were.’
‘But why didn’t the police come and rescue me if they knew where I was?’
‘Some thought you were in danger. Others said you were the guest of Kim Kwan, who must not be offended. The police are not interested in helping those who make unnecessary trouble in high places.’
Claire decided to ignore the implications of that remark. ‘But what about the Embassy? Didn’t they make a fuss?’
‘Your employer’s maid said you must be on holiday. Most people saw no reason to doubt her.’
‘Not Deb or Lucy. Lucy wouldn’t believe that.’
‘Who?’
‘Lucy at the Embassy. Did she tell Drew?’
‘I don’t know what she did or did not do. Only Deborah Case seemed really concerned about you and, of course, your friend Howard. But he, too, was inclined to think things should be done through official channels. But your other friend Drew knows that informal methods work best in this country, so he came to me for help.’ Liana lit a cigarette and puffed smoke all around the teak-lined cabin.
Claire began to feel slightly seasick. ‘But aren’t you putting yourself in danger by rescuing me?’
‘No, there is no danger, as long as you keep quiet about it.’
‘Keep quiet about it? Why?’
Liana smiled. ‘You ask a lot of questions, too many unanswerable questions. Here in Maising, life is colourful but obscure, not clear black and white. Drew understands that, unusually for a Westerner. He’s sympathetic to our mentality. Here we go with the quiet discreet flow, the bamboo bends with the wind, as they say. You, too, should be more content to let things pass, then you wouldn’t have so many problems.’ She waved her languid fingers. ‘Now we have a long journey – why not rest? You must be exhausted after such a long and unnecessary swim. Try to sleep a little so that when you meet Drew, you will be fresh.’
Claire flushed at her mildly ironic tone. ‘But I still don’t understand why you helped me. It’s very kind, but you don’t even know me.’
Liana stubbed out her half-smoked cigarette. ‘Please, enough questions. You must remain below where you won’t be seen. Your blonde hair is very conspicuous. Even when it gets dark you should stay in the cabin. You can sleep on one of those bunks.’
Claire stumbled into the forward cabin and lay down. The engine roar was less pronounced, but beneath her the bows of the boat thumped up and down on the water. Everything vibrated, juddered and rattled about. It wasn’t a relaxing situation, but eventually, exhausted, she slept.
When the roaring stopped, she opened her eyes. It was night-time. To her astonishment she could hear the sound of disco music. She looked out of the porthole at fairy lights and palm trees.
‘Where are we?’ she asked when Liana appeared.
‘Welcome to Sunny Island. I’ll hand you over to Drew. Just make your way to Hut Number Twenty-eight. He’ll be waiting.’
‘But how . . . ?’
‘No time to ask questions. Just walk down the jetty and follow the path round to the right.’
‘Aren’t you coming?’ asked Claire, fearing some kind of a trick.
‘No. Now please go ashore. This is a holiday resort for Europeans. You won’t be conspicuous here.’
‘What about your clothes? I’m wearing your clothes.’
‘Keep them – as a souvenir. And take these shoes too.’ She took out an elegant pair of black leather sandals.
‘Thanks, very kind, but I couldn’t.’
‘Don’t be silly – you need them.’
Claire put the sandals on her feet and then held out her hand. ‘Thanks, and thank you very much for rescuing me.’
Liana shook hands politely. ‘My pleasure. But you must say nothing to anyone about what I’ve done to help you. All right? If the wrong people find out, there may be trouble. Do you understand?’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘Now hurry. I cannot wait here.’
One of the crew handed Claire on to the jetty and then the cruiser went astern, turned and roared off. She felt abandoned. Would Drew really be here?
She walked to the end of the jetty.
Twenty-Five
‘Welcome to Sunny Island Resort Hotel’ said the sign, just as Liana had promised.
Huts 18-36 were indicated to the right. Slowly Claire followed the curving path amongst coconut palms and thatched huts, neat and pretty. The holidaymakers could be heard in the distance, laughing and talking; the disco blared away. She thought of going to join them, to find help. But she walked on.
If only she could be sure Drew was really here.
Eventually she arrived at no 28, identical to all the other small round huts. The light was on inside. Her heart thumping, she crept round the back with the idea of peering through the window, but the sand was decorated with small seashells which scrunched beneath her feet. She started in fear as the door of the hut opened and a tall dark figure appeared.
‘Claire? Is that you? Oh, thank God you’re alright.’
She ran into Drew’s arms and burst into tears of relief, burying her head in his shoulder.
He held her tight for a while and then he said gently, ‘Hey, come inside. Don’t cry. You’re OK. But what the hell are you wearing? That T-shirt looks a bit small for you.’
‘It’s Liana’s,’ she said with a watery smile.
‘Yeah, I guess you’re a bit fat compared with her.’
‘Fat!’ spluttered Claire indignantly.
‘That’s better, made you laugh.’ Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her gently and then with increasing passion. She clung to him tightly, her knees almost giving way beneath her. They remained holding each other for some moments. Then he peeled off her T-shirt, and his hands began to caress and explore, gently but insistently.
Head reeling, she pushed him aw
ay. ‘No one said anything about sex being part of the deal,’ she said breathlessly.
‘Afraid it’s obligatory for the rescued female to sleep with the rescuing male. You must’ve seen it in all the movies.’ He pulled her to him again.
‘But that’s just so corny. Aren’t you going to let me recover a bit?’
‘Mm, no, can’t wait any longer, waited too long, always waited too long for you.’
She smiled, her eyes closing. ‘I repeat, you’re supposed to . . . do the rescuing personally . . . but if you insist on your so-called rights,’ she murmured between kisses.
‘You bet I insist.’
*
Later he said, ‘Now, have a drink and I’ll tell you the plan while I serve dinner.’
‘Sorry, I’m not very hungry.’
‘Just sit down and shut up and listen. Do as you’re told for a change.’
Claire looked around. ‘Don’t you want to hear about everything, about what happened? I certainly want to ask a few questions.’
‘Yes, of course, but first things first. Just sit down and belt up. The food’s ready, not exciting, a kind of takeaway, but best I could do. Sorry it’s got a bit cold, but you would insist on sex. Eat up now, like a good girl.’
‘Yes, my hero,’ said Claire with a grin.
She sat down at the table and helped herself to a small portion of lukewarm fried rice.
‘Liana’s the heroic one, not me,’ he said.
‘Yes, she certainly is. Tell me, d’you always get women to do the dangerous dirty work for you?’
‘Of course. They’re so good at that sort of thing. Though Liana claimed it wasn’t going to be that dangerous.’ He smiled, and then sat down opposite. ‘Now I thought I told you to drink and eat and be silent.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘That’s better. You women today don’t have enough discipline. That’s why you get yourselves in trouble. Now, listen, this is the plan for getting you back to Maising. We’ll sail back on a Hobie Cat tomorrow.’
‘A catamaran? Why can’t we go on an ordinary passenger boat?’
‘(A) There’s no ordinary passenger boat leaving tomorrow and (B) no one will notice a blonde on a Hobie, that’s why. Then I’ll take you straight to Lucy’s on my way to the airport.’
‘The airport?’
‘Yes, I have a flight to Australia tomorrow.’
Claire was silent for a moment and then she said quietly, ‘Oh. And what about me?’
‘Lucy says you can stay at the Embassy. You’ll be safe there.’
‘Oh.’ She was still quiet. ‘So you’re going back . . . to your wife.’
Drew spoke gently. ‘Like I told you, I’m going to Canberra to talk to Meredith. That’s all.’
Pulling herself together, Claire said in a hearty kind of rush, ‘Well, it was good of you to postpone your trip so you could arrange to save a damsel in distress.’
He smiled. ‘You’re bloody lucky to have been rescued at all. You don’t sound very grateful.’
‘Oh, Drew, I am grateful, truly. But why did Liana do it? And how come she knew where I was? How come nobody came before? What the hell was going on? I just don’t know who’s on what side. I mean who’s on whose side?’
‘It isn’t a question of sides, but I’m on yours. And Liana likes to help out when she can. She’s a great fixer. And she likes to demonstrate the clever and best way of doing things to us poor ignorant bungling foreigners. Always deal through locals with local knowledge, that’s my principle. Works best in a country like this, or anywhere else for that matter. You’d disappeared so I asked Liana, a local expert, to find you – simple as that. Ask the right person and you get the right answer.’
‘But I just don’t understand – why her? What’s her connection with Kim Kwan?’
‘I don’t know. I don’t know anything about this great mystery of yours.’
‘Well, how did you know I’d disappeared?’
‘Deb called me – she was worried. Eventually Johnny remembered you’d left a note, but he’d lost it. He said you’d gone somewhere, but he couldn’t remember where.’
‘I see . . .’ She paused deep in thought and then she asked, ‘Are you still connected with her, with Liana?’
He grinned. ‘If you mean am I sleeping with her, well, no more often than with all my other twenty girls. You’re the best though, by far.’
‘Bastard,’ she said, punching him. ‘Be serious for a moment.’
‘Why d’ you always have to know everything about everything, little Miss Nosy?’
‘I’m not nosy. Only when you . . . when you like someone you want to know about them.’
‘So you like Liana, do you?’
‘No, you fool, you know perfectly well what I meant. I mean I quite like you, so I wanted to know about you, but you’re always so damn secretive.’
He grinned. ‘You do talk a lot of bull sometimes, Claire. Now, what d’you want to know about?’
‘Oh, I don’t know, everything. You, your wife, everything you haven’t told me.’
He gestured towards her. ‘If you come to Canberra, I can tell you at leisure. Nice place, Canberra, a bit staid perhaps, but it’s attractive, good climate, great architecture, intelligent inhabitants like me.’
Claire’s heart leapt, but she said quietly, ‘Your wife will be there.’
‘She won’t be at the farm. She lives in town, leads her own life. We’ve separated. I told you before, but you wouldn’t listen.’
‘But you also said you wanted to sort things out with her.’
He walked around the room. Then he turned and stared at her. ‘Maybe you’re right. But it’s more that I have to sort myself out.’ His tone changed. ‘Now, let’s clear up this meal and have an early night. We’re leaving first thing tomorrow. I’ll wash the dishes. You dry and put them away under the sink. And you can tell me all about your crazy and not very successful detective work. Like why a nice sensible English girl got herself marooned.’
Claire smiled, a little sheepish. ‘Yessir.’
He grinned. ‘I approve of this new subdued Claire.’
While they were washing up she studied him. He was just the same, tall and brown and untidy. His hair was longer and curled slightly on his neck, in a very endearing way.
Later they stood in the doorway gazing at the dark sea. She shivered slightly as Drew put his arm around her.
‘This reminds me of when we first had dinner together, at sunset at the restaurant on the pier,’ she said.
‘Mm. Me too. Boy, I fancied you like crazy.’
She smiled. ‘Did you? The way I remember it, you spurned me.’
‘Yeah, well, I was too shy. And you were a bit forward, inviting me up to your flat.’
Laughing, she punched him gently in the stomach. ‘Forward! I was not forward!’
‘Course you were. But now I’ve got you where I want you.’ Nuzzling her ear, he whispered. ‘Take off your clothes, slave, and submit yourself to my desires.’
‘Again?’
‘Mm.’
At one point, in the heat of their passion, she nearly said that she loved him, but she stopped herself, just in time.
During the night she woke up and began to think about all the questions she had asked and how no one, least of all Drew, had given her any proper answers. Then he put his arm around her and she found herself embroiled in him and his body and his forceful, erotic love-making, and so again she stopped thinking about anything else.
*
Next morning the wind was strong. Drew did not seem altogether happy as he rigged the catamaran. ‘We should’ve started earlier, before the wind got up like this. When we get out there, you’ll have to go out on the trapeze.’
‘What? I don’t know how to. I mostly just crewed on ordinary dinghies.’
‘It’s easy, common sense. You’ve seen the Hobies at the sailing club. I was hoping that it wouldn’t be necessary for the crew to trapeze, but in this wind you
’ll have to. Here, put on the harness.’ He laced her into the blue and red canvas contraption. ‘Quite a good chastity belt, isn’t it?’ he said. ‘This hook clips on to the trapeze halyard – those wires that hang down from top of the mast each side. In a strong wind the large sail area makes the Hobie heel right over. To balance the boat you need to hang from the trapeze on the windward side – that’s the side opposite the sail, the uphill side as it were. Here, practise it on shore.’
‘OK, I understand. I’m not thick, you know.’ Claire clambered on to the trampoline and hooked herself on to a wire rope. Then she leant back.
‘Not bad,’ said Drew. ‘You’re supposed to stand on the edge of boat and lean right out. Let the wire support you.’
On the beach Claire had found it quite comfortable, easy even. Out at sea, however, it was another matter. The Hobie raced along faster and faster. It was exhilarating at first, but as they drew away from the shelter of the islands, Drew yelled to her that she must go out, trapeze. Trembling, she knelt to hook herself on to the wire rope that danced as it hung from the mast high above. Then somehow or other, bracing one foot again his leg, she stood up and leant back towards the sea. Miraculously she kept her balance. The wind whistled past her. She felt she was defeating the elements. ‘Wow, I did it,’ she yelled triumphantly.
‘Great. Now haul in the jib sheet a bit – that rope you’re clinging on to.’
The catamaran bowled along on the top of the waves. Clouds of spray hit Claire and soon she was soaked. After an hour in the same position on the same tack, she became exhausted.
‘Are you all right up there?’ he yelled from the deck.
‘I’m tired, cold, hungry and terrified. Otherwise just fine.’
‘Can’t hear. What did you say?’
‘I said I’m fine.’
Just then one of the hulls hit a wave and the catamaran suddenly lost speed. Claire did not. She was swung forward like a monkey on the end of a rope, around the front of the mast and back again.
‘Shit, bugger it!’ She let out a string of expletives as she grazed her arms and bruised her legs on all the fitments placed on boats specifically designed, it seems, to injure the unwary sailor.
Tropical Connections Page 21