Another Throw of The Dice

by Mary Clare Morganti

  Nevertheless, when adventurous humans did appear from the ocean to settle the new land they brought with them an entourage of small creatures which were undaunted by the impenetrable forest and which set about penetrating it. For these aliens the reigning birds, many of which had lost the power of flight, were a cornucopia.

  Now in a new era of enlightenment, repentant humans were atoning for that ancestral sin by trying to eradicate those interlopers for the sake of the dwindling birds and their green hosts. One could only imagine the collective music which had once filled the canopy and the forest floor, but which now gamely kept up a sort of memorial chorus. And in this protected island of birdsong, few alien sounds were heard.

  Once a month however, the clacking noise of a helicopter intruded into an isolated settlement in the bush to bring supplies of food and fuel to a small group whose days and nights were dedicated to the survival of the remaining indigenous creatures. These isolated workers thought of themselves as lighthouse keepers maintaining a beacon of hope for vulnerable species.

  Today there was to be an extraordinary delivery…

  ‘Here they are. Thank goodness the rain has held off.’

  ******

  True to his word, Semese Lautusi had rallied his friends over a period of months with the intention of reuniting them and celebrating the friendship forged in the warm Pacific country where he still lived and worked. It had not been easy to decide on the venue or the date for their reunion when everybody could convene. He acknowledged however that the convenience of electronic mail had made the task so much easier and had meant that he could re-establish a network after the lapse of fifteen years. He regularly stayed late at work to further the project. The hospital had seen some beneficial changes in that intervening time and Semese reflected with some satisfaction on how technology also enabled people to be treated in their own environment. His frequent overseas journeys provided him with interesting contacts some of whom had spent time training local doctors. He often thought back to the days when his friend Michael worked at the hospital and how he had hoped to return there as a doctor with a clean slate. It was however a blessing denied and only his old friend and colleague now superintendent, remembered and was still saddened by his death. It was a highly motivating factor in carrying out the task of rallying their friends.

  When Semese discussed the reunion plans with Eturasi he deliberately emphasised the social aspect of the event, whereas the latter was more inclined to want to go to Queensland where Dinah was running her very successful diving school with Yushi and Fanua as active partners. That sounded rather jolly.

  ‘You can go there any time but the chance to visit one of the most isolated conservation estates in the world is not to be sneezed at. After all there’ll be plenty of great copy in it.’

  Eturasi knew that was true but what about the cold and the frequent rain in what was the subantarctic rain forest. (Semese was reminded of Michael’s teasing him about the fur coat which he had bought in France those years ago and which he still had stored away with silicon gel and which he had once worn in Russia; he would take it with him and give it an airing in a very private gesture.)

  ‘Have you heard from Polly and Jim?’

  ‘Yes. Jim is running for the US senate in Hawai’i but the elections are a few months away and they are really keen to come. They have already visited Australia apparently so New Zealand has some attraction. The twins are in the United States with their grandparents so it’s perfect timing for them.’

  Eturasi had come to the hospital to see the new dialysis machine so that he could write an article for the newspaper. It was a good news story for a change. He stood up to go and find the technical man who would help him to understand its function. He hoped to see the machine in action and talk to a patient.

  ‘I’ll bring the article for you to look it over before I print it,’ he reassured

  Semese with uncharacteristic humility which surprised them both.

  ‘Of course.’

  It wasn’t often that Eturasi needed advice.

  *******

  Polly was a keen sender of emails and few Christmases had gone by when Eturasi didn’t hear from her. According to the photos she sent the children shared the parents’ heritage. The girl Stella was dark and her brother Jesse was fair-haired. Both had tanned skin and looked extrovert with Polly’s big smile. They visited their grandparents in the US almost every year and had developed close relationships with their cousins there. Jim’s mother had been to Hawai’i several times - her second husband had died not long after Polly and Jim were married and Jim’s sense of responsibility was back on his agenda as she got older.

  Polly had built up a small export business of Polynesian artifacts so she was interested in seeing Maori art and crafts in New Zealand. The few examples which she had seen in the local museum impressed her and she was hoping to find a source for the several thriving niche markets she had established in the US.

  She wrote - ‘I hope you won’t be disappointed in me Eturasi. I haven’t studied the local language after all. English is so dominant here and I admit the twins and my small enterprise have kept me busy. Jim and I are excited about returning to our old haunt on our way further south and I hear that the tourist trade is flourishing. I wonder if you could book us in to one of those gorgeous beach fales once the dates are fixed.’

  Semese had got in touch with Fanua’s parents and they described the life that she and Yushi were living in Queensland. They visited them regularly and were hoping that the grandson Philip would come to live with them one day so he would get to know his mother’s culture. He visited Japan quite frequently and spoke Japanese because there were so many businesses owned and run by them in north eastern Australia. Yushi was enthusiastic about the reunion in New Zealand because it meant seeing his old English teacher after so long. He remembered her as rather enigmatic in those days but perhaps now he had more of an understanding of her personalitybecause he was fluent in English and constantly met tourists from all over the world. The cosmopolitan experience meant also that he was unlikely to return to live in Japan where he might feel an outsider.

  Dinah was in a relationship with one of the school’s diving instructors who was a happy go lucky Australian - in contrast to Robert - so Yushi never mentioned the latter but did wonder what had happened to him. It was somewhat of a surprise at first to hear that he and Min were living together in this remote part of the world but on reflection, he realised that their shared austerity would probably be suited to the isolation. Gerard, unlike the other contacts, tracked Min down through the internet when his daughter Monique decided that she wanted to go to university in New Zealand. He had given up the café after several years and was growing cocoa for export while Yvonne was running a popular pre-school in town. They rented a small house nearby for the times when she was too tired to drive to the plantation. Gerard had called Min and she had sounded embarrassed when she found out who it was.

  ‘Have you been talking to Semese?’

  ‘Semese? No. Why?’

  ‘We are organising a reunion here as soon as it’s convenient for everybody. In a way, we want to remember Michael as much as to go over old times.’

  ‘Who is going to be there?’

  ‘Well - so far - Polly and Jim and Yushi. Perhaps Fanua. We’re not sure yet about Dinah but probably Eturasi from the newspaper - and Semese of course. Robert hopes to put in an appearance.’

  Gerard was silent as he interpreted that last remark. Were they still together? He remembered that last year of Min’s contract when she and Robert lived in the same house but seemed to pursue independent lives. Through force of circumstance his sexual encounters with Min had petered out although she often came to the café for a coffee fix.

  ‘Where are you living Min? I know you are not in Auckland because of the different exchange prefix.’

  ‘I’m in the deep south and the next stop is Antarctica. Not exactly your sort of place Gerard.’ />
  ‘Are you afraid I might come and find you?’

  ‘No - you’re very welcome - but you would need to be prepared for the cool temperatures, lots of rain and real isolation. Anyway - how did you find me?’

  Gerard explained and then confessed his motives were connected with

  Monique.

  ‘How about Yvonne?’ Min was tentative.

  ‘She’s fine. Very busy with her kids.’

  Min, in one of those curious mental flashes when the mind creates a scenario based on a misinterpretation, visualised her with a local husband and several more children. He meant her pre-school of course, which she was hoping to set up when Min left.

  ‘That’s great. I wish I could help Monique but I’m at one end of the country and she’ll be at the other. It’s a matter of about eleven hundred miles.’

  ‘Perhaps she and I will come and visit you in your hideaway before she enrols at the university.’

  Min felt her perch sway slightly, but she tried to sound encouraging.

  ‘Get in touch with Semese at the hospital. He’s coordinating things, the dear man.’

  When she regaled Robert with the gist of the conversation he surprised her by saying how much he would enjoy introducing Gerard to the Bush which, as Min so often teased him, he thought of as his very own.

  ‘Nowhere else in the world does the word have the unique meaning that it does here.’ He rubbed his hands together at the prospect. It was a mannerism he had acquired in the new climate and it did double duty as enthusiasm and a warming technique. Min wondered vaguely why Gerard provoked this response. Some primal territorial urge perhaps?

  She decided to email Semese. Things were starting to sound serious and she and Robert needed plenty of time to get permission and then to prepare for the influx. There was no corner shop for emergency supplies and she wanted this show to be an experience that everyone would remember.

  ******

  Robert went outside to watch the helicopter descend into the clearing beyond the fence line while Min rushed around in an unconstructive panic. She smeared a gash of lipstick across her mouth for the first time for months and was horrified by the look and tried to remove it leaving a sort of clownish smudge. The rotor blades were still turning so she went to the bathroom and washed her face. It was an unvarnished middle- aged woman who looked at her from the mirror.

  ‘Bugger. It’s too late to call it off now. Here goes.’

  She took a deep breath and stretched her face in a practice grin, splayed her nostrils and pulled back her shoulders. It was so long since she had faced anyone other than Robert and the other hairy conservation workers, that awareness of her image suddenly smote her.

  The first person to touch down was Fanua who looked as fit as a racehorse with a baseball cap containing her thick hair. Behind her was Polly whose smile seemed to dwarf her other features as she signalled with both arms to Min. Jim looked more substantial than the last time they had seen one another and when he took off his cap to wave it madly, his baldness was a shock.

  ‘Hello- Hello - and welcome to our hideout in the bush!’

  ‘This is something truly special,’ Polly breathed reverently.

  ‘You look as if you belong right here,’ said Jim with feeling and Min knew he meant it as a compliment.

  As she hugged him she saw over Jim’s shoulder, Semese and Gerard leaving the helicopter. For a split second she wondered who the beautiful young woman was, whose hand Gerard was holding as she stepped down the short ladder.

  Gerard was laughing and saying something in French as he propelled his daughter in front of him to embrace this stranger in what seemed like a chilly sort of jungle. Min said - ‘You must be Monique’ - and thought how trite she sounded as they gave each other a double peck. Gerard almost elbowed his daughter out of the way as he put his arms around Min and bobbed his face from side to side in a quadruple salutation. Min felt herself sway on impact and took a backward step to steady herself from falling. She looked at Semese who was standing patiently with an amused smile. She wondered briefly about whether to hug him as Gerard let go of her, but he put out his hand and with the other one took her shoulder in a firm grip.

  ‘Talofa lava. Great to be here.’

  Min smoothed back her hair and took a deep breath.

  ‘Thank you so much for all you have done. You have been wonderful to organise us all! Couldn’t Eturasi make it after all?’

  Semese turned towards the helicopter and then turned back to Min; he shrugged his shoulders and said that he must be still talking to the pilot. Just then the two men appeared at the gangway and Eturasi waved in a wide arc.

  ‘This young man is married to one of my cousins - can you believe it?’ he said as he shook Min’s hand. She hardly recognised him now that his hair was white, highlighting his brown skin. He had also put on a lot of weight.

  ‘What a remote place you’ve chosen. Steve tells me he calls only once a month and it’s nearly always raining!’

  Min laughed and said hello to Steve who had become a lifeline during the time since she and Robert had arrived. Today he brought the requisites which Min was hoping would be sufficient for the human invasion and about which she was now having doubts. Steve sensing her anxiety, said that he would unload the cargo while everyone else took up the threads.

  ‘I’ve brought extra clothing,’ he confided to Min, ‘in case our friends have underestimated what they’re getting into.’

  She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, letting her hunched shoulders drop.

  ‘You’re a pal,’ she said, as she followed the others towards the house. She could hear a babble of voices and small bursts of laughter as she walked in to face the moment they had all looked forward to for so long. Robert had managed to find enough seating but Eturasi and Semese were sitting cross-legged on the floor next to Fanua who was beaming with pleasure. Semese looked at Min and said that they were hearing about Yushi’s last-minute cancellation because of an influx of tourists which Dinah couldn’t handle without him.

  ‘He sends his apologies and he hopes to come and see you on his own very soon,’ she reassured Min. ‘He’s really disappointed - and so’s Dinah. They want me to give you all their best wishes.’ Fanua looked around and Polly said,

  ‘And so say all of us.’

  Robert took over at that point much to Min s relief and welcomed them all while regretting Yushi’s absence.

  ‘Of course the other absence we are all too conscious of is Michael’s, and in a way, Min and I would like this reunion to be a way of remembering him as a friend and a very good person. There was something about him that inspired respect and affection and his death will always be a mystery I suppose.’

  Min felt a sudden chill go through her and she was close to tears. The drama of it all was overwhelming and she was having difficulty remaining calm. To distract herself, she announced breezily that it was time for refreshments.

  There was a generalised murmur and Jim spoke up to thank Semese for his hard work.

  ‘Poll and I have dreamed of seeing you all again some day, but to be situated in this remote remnant of what seems to be virgin vegetation (the alliteration is serendipitous!) is truly an unhoped-for bonus. Semese - you have done a great job in arranging everything and our thanks to Min and Robert for offering us the chance to see this amazing spot…’

  A loud clap from Gerard and the word Bravo interrupted Jim’s speech and “For They are Jolly Good Fellows” was instigated by Polly in a hearty mezzo-soprano voice. Monique looked bewildered and Min wondered if her father’s idea of bringing her here had met some resistance. After all these people were total strangers to her. Min began to take orders starting with Monique to try and put her at ease.

  ‘Could I have only hot water please?’ Her voice was slightly accented with the pure vowels of the local language. Min was charmed.

  ‘I suppose English is your second language, ’ she said once again stating the
obvious perhaps. Monique explained that she was comfortable in three languages but would have to work on her English vocabulary if she wanted to become a journalist.

  Gerard was smiling with approval and pride from the other side of the room so Min asked if he would make the coffee.

  ‘Without a machine?’ he drawled, his hands in the air. He came to her side and put his arm around her shoulders.

  ‘Of course, ma chère. Je vous ai apporté quelques paquets.’ His bounce was undiminished, thought Min.

  Polly had taken orders while Min was thus waylaid and she sidled over with her numbers. Min took her by the hand and led her and Gerard to the kitchen to help her. She showed them the system for heating water on a two-hob spirit stove and brought out the powdered milk to mix.

  ‘This will be a totally new taste experience,’ she told them and a flash of apprehension crossed Gerard’s face.

  ‘But interesting,’ he murmured.

  ‘Have you forgotten the cyclone?’ asked Polly.

  ‘Ah - the cyclone - yes - but now we are safe and with friends,’ he said with perked-up conviction.

  His irrepressible energy is such a tonic, Min thought. Over the years, I’ve forgotten its effect on me. Woo-oo. This is going to be OK.’

  There was a certain hysteria just below the surface and Robert looked forward to a calmer atmosphere once everybody had got over the business of recognising one another and acknowledging the freight of years. He very much wanted to explain his work in conservation and he had an idea which met with enthusiasm when he mooted it.

  ‘So much has changed - in the world and in our lives - I wondered if tomorrow we could all spend five to ten minutes giving a rundown on our current activities. I for one, would like to bore you with the programme we have running here.’