The Master of Barracuda Isle

by Hilary Wilde

  people, building houses for old folk, adopting babies and paying for their education. I think it would be simply smashing." "You do? You don't want a mink coat or diamonds?" She knew he was teasing her, but she answered the question seriously. "I don't suppose I'd refuse them, but I wouldn't be happy. I'd always be scared stiff lest I lost them," she told him. He glanced at his watch and whistled softly. "How time flies! We'd better get back, we're late for lunch. Not that it matters. It's sure to be cold." They walked along through the narrow lanes between the trees. "Rab Mortimer is coming over this afternoon to meet you," Ludovic said as the long white house came into view. "I think you'll find him interesting." Rab Mortimer, the naturalist, proved to be a rather insignificant-looking man with sandy-coloured hair, a pale freckled face and a shy smile. A short man, Jan thought, as Ludovic introduced them, but a friendly one. "I'm from England, too. Miss Shaw," Rab said after a quick glance at Ludovic. "You're interested in fossicking?" Jan laughed. She and Ludovic had walked up from the lagoon, eaten a delicious lunch of cold chicken and salad under the gently waving palm trees, then she had had a brief siesta before joining the two men. She was wearing her white frock with the gold chain belt and tandals to match, but she doubted if either man noticed her clothes or even her. They were polite, even charm-ing, but they had been engrossed in their talk about coral and clams. "I'd never heard the word before Ludovic said it," Jan confessed. "I haven't a clue, but it sounds fabulous." 5"

  "Rab'll initiate you into its mysteries," Ludovic told her. "He comes over every day." "Believe me, I'm grateful, Fairlie. I know how you feel about trespassers." Ludovic smiled. "You didn't trespass. You wrote and asked my permission, Rab. That's the difference. You can imagine how overrun with ghastly tourists we'd be if I didn't make a veto." Rab laughed. "I most certainly can! The tourists are like ants, swarming everywhere with their ghastly transistors, bottles of beer and shrieks of laughter." Ludovic nodded. "Exactly. I want to keep this island the peaceful place it is." Later, much later, when Rab had left them, Ludovic asked Jan what she thought of Rab. "He seems quite nice," she said truthfully, looking up ; at the man who towered above her and above Rab. She thought suddenly that when Ludovic was in a room, the walls seemed to come creeping closer for he ' was so big. Not fat, most certainly not, for he had the , leanness of a healthy active man. But it wasn't only the I physical side of Ludovic that seemed to dominate I everythingperhaps it was his aliveness, the vitality, or | the certainty in his mind that he was always right, I always the strong one, always the master! He seemed | to fill the room, make everyone else diminish in size.j Certainly Rab Mortimer was like a shadow in compari-I son. | They spent a pleasant evening, just Ludovic and Jan, I: talking. He did most of the talking, but she was more I than content to listen, for his colourful description of|his life as a grazier fascinated her. I'. "Everything out here is so different, so much bigger," l|she said, and paused. Even the men, or Ludovic, were jrbigger in every way. She thought of Frank, the man she |;liad loved from her childhoodwhy, he was just a quiet ordinary man in comparison. Even George whom I 5i

  she had loved in Sydney could never hope to equal Ludovic, for all his smooth sophisticated charm. Ludovic seemed to stand alone, to be unique. She said goodnight to him reluctantly, for she had enjoyed every moment of the day. She wished Ludovic was always like this; friendly, kind and willing to communicate with her. The side she hated and that roused her to quick often unreasonable anger was his arrogant dominant manner, his changes of mood, his sarcastic amusement at her expense. If only he was always likethis! When she awoke next day with the arrival of her breakfast, she knew that he had already left the island and gone back to the mainland to fly down to Sydney. He did it so casuallyto him a thousand miles or even more was the equivalent of a journey of ten miles in England. Out here distances seemed to mean nothing at all, perhaps because they had learned to live with and to accept these incredible distances between cities. The sun welcomed her as she went outside after a shower. She had dressed for this new game of fossicking in blue Bermuda shorts, white shirt, the pink pointed straw hat on top of her dark hair that she had tied back ma ponytail. Sneakers were on her bare feet, and the thick gloves Ludovic had given her to wear on her hands. She walked slowly through the woods, looking up at the sleeping flying foxes, at the huge white flowers, the fragrant yellow flowers of the climbers, listening to the soft enchanting beauty of it all. Never had she imagined there could be so much beauty. She wished her mother could see it. How she would love the sunshine, the vivid colours, the quietness. And Felicity? Would she love it? Jan wondered, and decided that while her sister might appreciate the beauty ot it all, the silence and quietness would seem to her too static to bear. Felicity had to have people round her, laughter, voices, admiring eyesshe had never liked , quietness and hated to be alone. 53

  Today Jan was not going to be alone, she thoughthappily, as she came but from under the shade of the trees and saw the earth road and then the lagoon beyond it. The lagoon was oval, the water an exquisite emerald green today, the wide expanses of coral on either side looked drab from where she was, but she went forward eagerly, remembering her delight the day before when she came across the exquisite pastel colours as well as vivid shades which you only saw close to it. Rab was there. But was it Rab? Jan wondered, as she crossed the hot sand towards him. He looked so different! Today he wore crumpled shorts and no shirt, his chest going red in the hot sunshine, his straw hat pushed back. She saw his hair was red, not the sandy shade she had thought, he turned to greet her, she saw that his eyes were green and bright with interest. He wore gloves. He had a deep narrow basket on the coral reef by his side, a stick in his hand. Slung over one shoulder was a camera. She also saw a long-handled diamond-shaped net."Hi," he welcomed tier. '"Oversleep?" Even his voice sounded different, much more alive and eager. That was when she realised something. She had noticed when Bany had come to see Ludovic the day before, as well. Ludovic overshadowed every other man, made them look like shadows, even diminishing their characters. Rab on his ov/n looked tall. If she was five foot seven inches and he was so high above her now he must be six foot, at least. Jan wondered if the men knew the effect Ludovic had on their appearance, and if they resented it. Though, perhaps, that was foolish, since it wasn't Ludovic's faultit was simply because he was made tliat way. Different. That day Rab introduced her into an exciting new world and, despite the heat, Jan enjoyed her new life. He showed her how to choose specimens, how to 53

  recognise the different species. He even let her photograph some of the coral polyps. He ma'de her feel part of his work, talking as they went, explaining why he wanted different specimens. "Watch your step carefully, Jan," he said. "Coral is brittle and abrasive and can injure you quite seriously, especially if you fall and graze your leg or hands. Never hurry." Close behind him, she waded knee-deep in the warm water. As he showed her the beauty of the coral her eyes seemed to grow wider and wider with amazement. "Such wonderful colours," she said. "I wish Mum could see them. She runs a boutique and is crazy about colour." She stared at an enormous purple-fringed coral that looked like the head of a cauliflower. Rab took her to the outer edge of the reef. "It's easier walking here," he said, giving her a hand over the difficult parts. Out here (he huge waves came racing in, to burst into a cascade of diamond-flashing drops of water as they hit the reef. It was high tide and the small waterfalls from the tiny mountain had vanished. "When the tide is out, there are crystal-clear pools of water here," Rab told her, bending to examine a coral polyp carefully, "and you see the most beautiful little fishes. "What sort?" "Damselfish." She laughed, thinking he was joking, but he grinned. Frue. They have some odd names for things here. Uamselfish, butterflies, surgeons, wrasses...." "Are there sharks?" Jan was looking out at the ocean with the rollers racing in and shivered. "They don't often come into the lagoon, but you'd be crazy to swim in the sea." Rab led the way, talking over his shoulder. "You do get salt water crocs, though. Not here, usually ,m estuaries or mangr
ove swamp3?Fairlie's a' 54

  great one for shooting crocs. He's got quite a name for '"Has he?" The poor croc, Jan caught herself thinking, and then smiled ruefully. Surely it was better to shoot crocodiles than let them eat people? she thought. Why must she always jump to the conclusion that whatever Ludovic did was wrong? Wrong, at least, in her eyes. Back on the sands, they relaxed for a while, Jan scolding Rab for not wearing a shirt. "You know how susceptible redheads are to the sun." He turned to look at her. "I'm trying to get tanned like Fairlie." "Like Ludovic? You haven't a chance," Jan laughed. "What hope have you? He's been tanned every summer of his life. We, coming out from England, have to start from scratch." "Tell me," Rab said, "what do you make of Ludovic FaMie? To me, as a dumb quiet-living Pommie, he's unique, a ... well," he laughed, "I like to work out what makes people tick, but I can't find what makes him. Do you know him weill?" "Hardly at all. I know his nephew, Jarvis, better." "Jarvis Fairlie? Yes, I've heard of him. Nothing like his uncle, is he? Bit of a playboy." "He's young...." Jan began indignantly, and stopped as she saw Rab smile. "Waving the flag for him?" Her cheeks were hot for a moment. "No, it's just that it maddens me the way all you older men run down young ones. Jarvis is only twentyyou can't expect him to settle down without...." _ "Sowing his wild oats? I gather he's sown more than his fair share," Rab laughed again. "Look, I'm only twenty-nine. Do you put me in a class with the oldies?" She blushed again. "I didn't mean to.... I was thinking of Ludovic...." "I reckon he's only about thirty, maybe thirty-two. How old are you?" 55

  "Nineteen." Rab laughed. i, "You look more lilse ^"-teen," he said, and added hastily: At least today. Yesterday you looked older. Amazing the difference clothes and smart hair-do's make. Today you look like a kid." She laughed. "You look about seventeen in that get-up, R.ab. , Somehow she didn't mind him teasing and laughing at her. It was different when Ludovic.... She jumped up. "Gome and have lunch with me.... she began, then stopped. In a way, she was m an awkward position. Had she the right, as a guest, to invite someone else to lunch? she wondered. Kab saved the situation by refusing.I always bring sandwiches and after lunch go baA to the mainland. I've a lot of work to do in the lab. He stood^ up and held out his hand. "It's been great lun having you around, Jan. Sometimes thegence here gets oppressive. See you tomorrow morn"Of course," she said, and smiled. As she began to go into the shadow of the tall trees sne glanced round. Rab was bent over his notebook ^S furioudy. He had already forgotten her ' Ihe lunch was waiting, delicious as usual. Lucy Sn ^Jn8^ served ^ ^"""-nted with words, fame^ V^^ what Lucy said, Lucy doing the str^h'?^^^111^ and the rcst of ^ day !> 1 f- ^r quietness of the house was derTf^ T6' Jan &OUSht again as she wandered from room to room. It was all so beautiful-and S TTi^h"^1"1 her' she marched for the rightword. Unlived-m? Was that the word? Cold? Unon?^ ^ T so beautlful it m^ht be a P^^re from dr^ L e ^P^^agazmes-the sort of pictures that tSt^fT011 but mademost P^P16 shudder at the tnought of having to live in such a place. Ludovic had shown her the record player and a 56 library of records, and how to work the radio, also some books in case she wanted to read. She drifted through the silent, hushed rooms to her bedroom, showered, and lay down on her bed, her hands under her head. How rarely she thought of George these days, she realised. In a way, this visit to the Isle was a great help. It wajs making her forget George and her heartache. Now she could look back on the brief love affair with clearer vision. She could think of George with his sophisticated charm, his insistence on taking her to the most expensive restaurants, the best seats at the theatre, almost as if he wanted to impress her. That had always puzzled her. Why should he want to do that? Suddenly she had an idea, an idea that seemed to answer her question. She remembered that once when George called at fee flat to take her out, she had been in the bath and Felicity had entertained George. That had been soon after Jan had started work and met George. Now Jan, eyes half closed, a frown wrinkling between her eyes, looked back. Knowing Felicity and her habit of dramatising everything and imagining the craziest stories, Jan found herself wondering if Felicity had strung a tale to George and given him the impression that they came from an influential and wealthy family. If so, that would explain George's sudden pressure of attention, the way he kept hovering over her desk, insisting they go out every evening, being very charming.... But if that was right, then it meant he had never loved her, and that hurt more than ever. Had she loved him? How did you define love? she asked herself. She had thought she loved Frank, but then she had realised it was just that they knew one another so well, they felt at ease together. But that wasn't love. Love should be thrilling, tempestuous, and heartbreaking as well as terribly exciting. You should feel breathless when you saw the man you loved, your knees should be like jelly, you should know that you would do anythingbut anythingto make that man happy. 57

  Had she felt like that about George? Closing her eyes, Jan tried to remember him and was startled to find how hard it was. He had been tall and thin with dark hair, rather too short, she had thought, dark eyes. He had to shave twice a day, which infuriated him. But lots of things infuriated hima waiter's slowness, for instance, or if the wine was not just right. It could be an unexpected storm, even. She could remember thinking how edgy he was . . . had she loved him? she asked herself again. Really loved him? Or was it the utter loneliness she had felt after telling Frank the truth? She remembered her shocked surprise when he agreed with her, kissed her affectionately and said it was better this way. Absurdly she had felt rejected. Then, coming out to a strange country where she had no friends, starting a new job, she had been first grateful for George's interest in her, then flattered by his attentions, and had somehow built up a romance that had never existed. When George had asked questions about her family, she had told him the truth. Their father had died and her mother brought them upalso that she had a boutique in Lewes. It was soon after that that George had quietly broken off their friendship. She should have recognised the truth at the time. George had never loved her, so she had never lost him. Nor was she at all sure she had ever loved him. Then this strange happening. Suddenly she wondered if she had done the right thing. She went back carefully in her mind over Ludovic's unexpected call at her flat, his half-veiled threats to hamper Jarvis's fun, her gratitude to Jarvis for his kindness during those first awful days after George had jilted herthough, she thought, tnat was rather a melodramatic way of putting it. But she had been heartbroken and miserably alone, her mother over ten thousand miles away. Jarvis had been kind and understanding, so she had wanted to help him in return. But was this really helping him ? If only she could contact him. If she could write him a 58 letter, and get an answer. But how could she do that here? Probably Ludovic had given Barry orders to look at any letters she wrote and to keep anything addressed to Jarvis. Ludovic was determined to keep her away from Jarvis. How ironic it was, when she was the last person Jarvils would really want to see. They had liked one another but had little in common. It had merely been Jarvis's kindness of heart that had made him help her during those first bad days, nothing more, and in order to repay that kindness, she decided, she had done the right thing. Perhaps now Ludovic would leave Jarvis alone and give him a chance to live his own life. 59

  CHAPTER THREE

  JAN awoke early next day and from her bed she could see the lovely morning through the windows. It was too beautiful not to be enjoyed, she decided, so she showered, dressed and hurried out into the cool hall. Breakfast on the verandah would be very pleasant, she thought, but wondered how she could make Lucy understand. Then as she passed the baize door, it opened. Jan stood still, surprised, also pleased, for it worried her to think of the Ryders who were so near yet so far away. It offended her sense of justice, for even if they did work for Ludovic, it shouldn't mean that they were to be treated as someone inferior. A tall thin girl in a lilac nylon overall came into the hall. When she saw Jan, her hand flew to her mouth in dismay. "I'm sorry," she said. Jan smiled, "I'm not." She went forward, holding out her hand. "I've been wanting to meet yo
u." The girl looked nervously over her shoulder and pulled the baize door to. "Barry mustn't hear." "Why not?" Jan asked. "I can't understand it. It doesn't make sense. I mean..." "I know what you mean." The girl smiled. She was a pretty girl, but obviously the quiet type, Jan sawin her midtwenties, with soft honey-coloured hair tied back in a ponytail. "I'm Esther Ryder," the girl said, shaking Jan's hand and smiling. "You see, Barry doesn't like us to get involved with the master's guests." "But I'm Mrs. Fairlie's guest." Esther Ryder laughed. "That makes it worse!" 60

  "I just don't understand," Jan repeated. Esther shook her head. "I know. It seems crazy, my word, it does. Actually it's mostly Barry's fault. Not fault, that's the wrong word, but he's a proud man and sensitive and he doesn't like being treated like a... like a...." She looked round her as if searching for the right word. "I know," Jan said sympathetically. "Well, in the past, things here have been difficult, at times. The master likes to be left completely alone. That's understandable, as he brings up a lot of work, then there's Mrs. Fairlie...." Jan nodded. "Yes, please tell me about Mrs. FairHe." "You don't know her? You must have read about her in the papers and magazines." Esther sounded almost shocked. "I've only been in Australia a few months. Actually, as I said, she asked me up here and I just can't understand why she isn't here." Esther shrugged. "She's probably forgotten she invited you. She's strange. Charming but vague. She's so busy do-gooding that she forgets everything and everyone else. You see," she moved closer to Jan, looking again over her shoulder, "Barry feels that . . . well, _ that it's better if we don't get involved with the Fairlie family. He's known Ludovic and worked for him for years. They're real buddies, but during working hours, Ludovic is the boss and Barry won't forget it. The same applies with Mrs. Fairlie. He'd rather keep at a distance because she drives him mad with her vagueness and her complaints. She's a strange mixture." "What does she do?" Jan asked. "What does she do? Oh, she's a real do-gooder. She goes all over Australia, and the world for that matter, lecturing and talking, on radio and T.V. about wild life preservation, cruelty to animals, bad housing, delinquent children." Esther laughed. "She 61 can always find someththing to talk about and she loves it. I wish she wasn't like that, though. Life might be better for Jarvis and Sara." "Sara?" Jan asked. "Jarvis's sister. She'll be along when the holidays come, but I doubt if her mum will." "I didn't know Jarvis had a sister." "They're not a close family, see. None of them care very much for one another. Seems to me there's only one person cares for them all and that's Ludovic. Barry says he's too good to them, that they should find their own way, but that's not like Ludovic. He has to help people." Somewhere in the house a door slammed. Esther looked startled. "I must go. Don't tell Barry I've met you, please." "No, but I do wish...." Esther smiled. "So do I. Sometimes Barry goes off for a day or two and then . . . okay?" "Okay," said Jan, and Esther opened the baize door and slipped through.Jan went slowly out to sit on the verandah. She liked Esther and she liked Barry, and it would_have been so nice if.... Yet she could see Barry's point of view. Obviously Esther loved him very much and did what he wanted and not what she would like, but... Jan thought, looking at the beautiful scene before her, but when you love someone, wasn't that the natural thing to do?Yet she was sorry she couldn't be friends with the Ryders, but at least now she would not feel so alone in the evenings because she had met Esther, Jan knew. Quietly Lucy came to her side, handing her two magazines."Thank you," Jan said, surprised. Then she realised Esther must have sent them, so she opened one magazine and looked down the Contents. She found a heading, "Mrs. Fairlie asks Why." 62