Hiroshima Sunset

by John Kelly

'You deceived me,' Amanda said, when Quentin answered his phone. It had been the call Quentin was dreading.

  'Yes, sorry about that,' he answered rather timidly, recognizing Amanda's voice. 'Are you all right?'

  'You lied to me Quentin.' Amanda repeated, determined not to be distracted by some phony act of concern.

  'Perhaps you'd better tell me what you are referring to,' Quentin asked.

  'You knew all along who wrote the journal, didn't you?'

  'Yes.'

  'You didn't trust me.'

  'How could I tell you that the author of the journal was the father of the man you work for?'

  'He lied to me too. And I suppose Janet was in on it as well; everyone has lied. No, I take that back. Shigeko hasn't lied, neither has Tokuo or Masako. But you and that snake I work for have been playing a game with me,' Amanda rattled off, annoyed, and frustrated.

  'We have both been deceived Amanda. The only difference is, I knew what that snake was up to. I had to play along with him or see my father's reputation go up in flames. My intentions were honourable, my means were questionable, but the outcome will be a just outcome and you will be the one to deliver it.'

  'He won't publish the story; not when it portrays his father as a bitter twisted old man.'

  'His father doesn't have to be portrayed that way. George Balwyn is the one who is twisted. His father was just a sad old man searching for answers. Surely you can see that now?' Quentin pleaded.

  Amanda said nothing. Moments passed in silence as she fought to control her anger.

  'What are you going to do now?' Quentin asked.

  'What am I going to do, you ask? I'm going to spend a few days here with Shigeko, writing as much as I can and then I will come home.'

  'Have you been in touch with George Balwyn in the last day or so?' Quentin asked.

  'No. I haven't. I don't plan to, either. I'll avoid him like the plague. I want to put as much space between me and him as possible; Janet too. I want to decide how the story will finish, without any undue influence. And, if he doesn't like it, too bad.'

  'There's something you need to know,' Quentin began.

  'What?' Amanda answered abruptly.

  'George Balwyn's mother died last week.'

  There was a pause at the other end. Amanda was momentarily silent.

  'Elaine?' she queried.

  'Yes.'

  'How is Michael?' she asked, more restrained.

  'He's okay, bearing up I guess.'

  'Well, it doesn't change anything.' Amanda replied, reasserting her fury.

  'What do you mean?' Quentin asked.

  'I mean that now it's my turn to dangle the strings, Quentin. Now it's my turn to hold back the truth.'

  'What do you plan on doing?' Quentin asked.

  'I will contact you when I'm back in Melbourne. Goodbye.'

  'Did you recover the Meijji artefact?' Quentin asked.

  But it was too late. Amanda had hung up the phone.

  27.