From Nemesis Island

by Christine Mustchin

  ‘Bye.’

  He stretched out. The timbre of her voice could still excite him, even when drowsy. He took a tepid shower. Breakfast was good, the coffee excellent and the concierge helpful to the extent of warranting and receiving a large tip when Richard checked out. He provided him with maps of the city and suggestions of places to see, enthused by an apparently genuine foreign tourist. Richard played the role with a great deal of pleasure and then went in search of a taxi to take him to the hospital. The hospital was the only one in the city and he had seen it marked on the map as the concierge had indicated more conventional points of interest.

  The Department of Gynaecology was on the ground floor and well signposted. A large reception desk was his principal hurdle. Phrase book in hand he asked if anyone spoke English. A flurry of activity and concern resulted in an understanding that he was to wait. If need be, he would have waited for hours to look into the eyes of the monster he was about to meet. In fact, his wait was only half an hour and he was conducted into an office some distance away from the department by a severe female of middle years with an equally severe bob of dark hair. She gestured to him to sit and took her place opposite him, behind a large desk.

  ‘I am the Deputy Administrator of the hospital,’ she began, enunciating carefully and speaking with deliberation. ‘How can I be of assistance?’

  ‘Thank you for seeing me. I wanted to speak to one of your surgeons.’

  ‘You are not from this country. Why are you here?’

  ‘I’ve just flown in from England. I’ve come to see my fiancée who lives here.’

  ‘It is usual for an appointment to be made.’

  ‘Could I arrange that then, please?’

  ‘Is it for yourself? The department of Gynaecology is for women you know.’

  ‘Yes of course. It’s just that my fiancée and I are due to be married soon and she has heavy periods. She wants to see someone about them but is rather shy. She asked me to call at the hospital to discuss things first.’

  ‘And where does she live?’

  He gave the name of the port.

  ‘I see. This is not usual.’

  ‘I know, but she has heard such good things of your surgeon, Jalbis Zachion, and asked me to see him personally to explain things.’

  As a spur of the moment cover he felt quite proud of himself. He hadn’t expected to be confronted by such administrative hurdles. At most he had anticipated a secretary who would have taken him straight to his goal, or an appointment requiring a return visit.

  The administrator pursed her lips.

  ‘That will not be possible.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘He is no longer here.’

  ‘I’m sorry?’

  ‘He has left. Actually he resigned but did not work out his notice.’

  Richard slumped back into his chair. The severe woman looked pitifully at him.

  ‘It was for the best. We had had a complaint. A woman died after routine surgery. He was under investigation.’

  No rules about confidentiality here then. Richard stored up the information to report back to David.

  ‘That’s a disappointment. My fiancée had great faith in him. He did miracles for her mother a year or so ago.’

  His powers of invention increased with his desperation.

  ‘I would at least like to write and let him know how grateful we are. Do you have a forwarding address?’

  ‘I’m afraid not. He has disappeared. Regrettable, as he will be unable to respond to the complaint.’

  But very understandable, thought Richard. He stood up.

  ‘Thank you for your time. You’ve been most helpful.’

  ‘It is a pleasure. And congratulations.’

  Richard left with a lot more on his mind than the joys of a fictional matrimony.

  25

  The autumn sunshine of the city was a mockery. Richard’s internal day was all cloud and fog. He had not decided in advance how a face-to-face encounter with Jalbis Zachion would have proceeded, but, on the strength of his recent capacity for on-the-spot invention, he would have acquitted himself well. He had wanted the satisfaction of confronting personally the monster who, he was sure, was responsible for violating Trish. He had also had an idea that he would somehow have been able to take a photo of him on his mobile. Everything had evaporated now as if into cyberspace. What was it about the nature of evil that made it so tenacious in its achievements and duration, and yet so elusive when given chase? He trudged back towards the hotel with the help of the concierge’s map. He could use the time to think of his next move. He passed a small park and went in and sat on a bench. He called Trish. He needed to talk about what to do next. His letter would not have reached her yet. He would have to confess. He told her where he was. She took his admission well.

  ‘I’m glad you’ve been honest, Dick. I could tell from your eyes that you were hiding something.’

  ‘You know me too well.’

  ‘I’m working on it.’

  ‘Listen, you said you wanted to help. I’m in a bit of a jam here. I’ve just been to chase up that Jalbis Zachion at the hospital.’

  ‘Oh Dick, I thought you said he was dangerous.’

  ‘I’m fine. He wasn’t there.’

  ‘Whatever made you try and find him?’

  ‘I wanted to see for myself what sort of man could inflict such a terrible thing on you.’

  ‘What had you planned to do?’

  ‘I hadn’t really thought.’

  There was a pause.

  ‘Do you think you should continue with this, Dick?’

  ‘I can’t anyway. He’s resigned and disappeared. Something about a complaint in the offing over the death of a patient.’

  ‘Well I’m relieved. But how can I help though?’

  ‘You don’t know of any other place in the city where he could be?’

  The line went quiet for a while.

  ‘Sorry, Dick. I only saw him at the hospital and out and about. The only other time we met up was at my hotel.’

  ‘You’re not just saying that to protect me?’

  ‘No, not at all. What are you going to do now then?’

  ‘I’m going to the convent. There’s still Kia. I’m going to ask her to testify against Jalbis. She’s the only chance left now and she knows what he looks like.’

  ‘Be careful, Dick. Please.’

  ‘Too right I will. Anyway, better go.’

  ‘Okay. Bye.’

  He snapped shut the mobile and hurried the rest of the way back to the hotel. He checked out and organised car hire through the concierge in record time. The concierge even managed to solve another problem by pointing out the route to the convent, albeit with a very quizzical look in his eyes. Richard was pleased to see he could get there without going to the port. He was reluctant to revisit that place unless circumstances compelled him to.

  The journey to the convent was over tortuous mountain roads and required driving skills that were in no way a feature of the standard UK driving test. Dick felt challenged for the first hour and then began to enjoy himself, stopping from time to time to take in the spectacular scenery. How could a country so beautiful harbour such cruel and inhuman people? It was late afternoon when he pulled up in front of the convent. His ring on the old bell produced nothing. He controlled his frustration and sat in the car for ten minutes before trying again. He turned away a second time just as the grill slid back. Kindly eyes looked enquiringly at him.

  ‘Sister, I’m sorry to disturb you. Do you speak English?’

  The grill slid shut and Richard sighed. He certainly couldn’t attempt a conversation in Latin. He needed to speak to Mother Superior. As if by divine intervention, the grill slid open again and a voice spoke to him.

  ‘I am Mother Superior. What is your business?’

  ‘My name is Richard. I came here just over a week ago with a girl called Kia.’

  ‘Ah yes. Novice Sister Peta. How can we help you?’
>
  ‘Would it be possible to talk to Kia, I mean Sister Peta please?’

  ‘I am afraid not.’

  ‘I suppose it’s not normally allowed, but it’s really urgent, and I could go into the courtyard at the back and meet her. I wouldn’t disturb you.’

  ‘I’m afraid she is not here.’

  ‘Oh, I see. When will she be back?’

  ‘That I cannot say.’

  ‘Please. It would be very helpful.’

  The nun’s eyes closed for a moment as if in prayer.

  ‘I am afraid she will not return to us.’

  ‘Why? What has happened to her?’

  ‘A man came two days ago. He was carrying papers of authentication from the Bishop. Sister Peta had been chosen to attend the course for trainee teachers in the city. She went with him.’

  ‘If you let me have the address I’ll go and see her there.’

  ‘It is no use. She never arrived there. I telephoned to ask how she was only this morning. They know nothing about her.’

  Richard stared through the grill willing her words away. There was only one explanation.

  ‘Was the man who came for her the monk who called for the documents?’

  ‘Yes, he was.’

  Explanation confirmed and trail truly dead. Richard also thought the latter could well apply to Kia by now and he struggled with his feelings. He limited himself to thanking the nun and took his leave politely. He sat for half an hour in the car, churning over and over in his mind the day’s events, trying to work out a final move that would lead him to Kia or Jalbis. He switched on his headlights as daylight dimmed into a deep, grey dusk, and only thought to move off when the lack of heat in the car forced him to switch on the engine and drive away. He turned back along the road. He would have to seek some sort of lodging in the village. There was no way he was going to attempt these mountain roads in the dark. The village had a single public eating place of indeterminate description. He would take whatever they had to offer and wash it down with wine. The dish that evening was typical of honest, hearty peasant food and tasty enough. The wine was surprisingly good. Richard did not stint himself. After eating, he paid the bill and then conducted an elaborate pantomime to suggest he needed somewhere to sleep. There was a shaking of heads until Richard pulled out his wallet again and placed several notes on the bar counter. A room was quickly found and he divided the night between bouts of profound and dreamless sleep, and restless thoughts about the next day. By dawn he knew he had one more effort to make and, adding a hefty tip to the amount already paid for the room, he left with cheery waves behind him and some provisions on the back seat of the car. He was heading for the port.

  26

  The weather held and Richard took his time driving down to the port. The magnificence of the mountains was the only comfort left to him. He held out no hope for any news of either Kia or Jalbis and even less of finding them. He was certain that Kia was dead and unreasonably blamed himself for allowing her to stay at the convent and then, perhaps more reasonably, for not coming back to see her sooner. By the time he reached the port his pessimism was complete. He parked the car in the usual spot near the hotel and went to register. One night would do and then he could leave this world forever. Forgetting it would be another matter, even without a physical scar. He was more fortunate than Trish. He felt guilty at not calling her again but wanted to wait until he felt his search was truly at an end.

  He couldn’t face the hotel room and left his bags at the reception and went out. He met a familiar scene. The same old fishing boats rocked gently against the harbour wall, clinking melodiously as the breeze moved the rigging against the masts. Wizened, battered faces bent over vast swathes of netting as weathered fingers repaired the damage of the day. It was peaceful, without threat and restorative: the rhythm of a simple life, heedless of the chaos of a lawless world. He walked along the wall and looked out to sea. The island was visible with a clarity that he hadn’t noted before. It seemed to have moved closer to the mainland, menacing in the sharpness of its outline. He stood, unable to prevent the memory of his first walk along the wall that first sultry night. He wished the priest back beside him now. For some reason he could exactly recall the words that he had spoken then.

  ‘..a storm will clear it. God’s cycle, you know. He has answers beyond the limit of man. Be patient.’

  The priest had placed his faith in that God for justice to be done. It was not a justice that Richard understood when men were crucified, girls offered as human sacrifices to men’s perverted pleasures and a woman who had once given him so much reciprocal pleasure could find herself the subject of barbaric butchery. He turned away from the sea. He took a coffee in the bar for old time’s sake. If he had had photos he would have shown them round and made his search understood. As it was he could do nothing, say nothing. All he had were his eyes and ears and nothing struck him as unusual, and no one passed by that could have been Kia or Jalbis. He looked through the papers in the bar. Though the words had no meaning for him he studied the images, but there was nothing. He left the bar and went past Father Piontius’ house. The shutters were barred and the door securely locked. There was no sign of life. He knocked anyway but there was no reply. No doubt a replacement had yet to be found. He walked to the church; it was tightly sealed from all comers. He wondered if the regulars would miss their morning mass and if they would ever return to their daily devotions. At last he could put off his encounter with the drab hotel no longer. He walked deliberately slowly, watching the night close around him, glad at least for the light of the hotel building, as darkness completed its descent. He went to collect his case. A young woman was standing at the reception desk. She looked familiar. She turned and they were face to face.

  ‘Trish. What on earth are you doing here?’

  ‘When you told me where you’d gone I knew you’d end up here and I just felt I had to come too.’

  ‘Oh Trish. There was no need.’

  ‘I know but I wanted to come.’

  ‘Well, I’m glad you’re here.’

  ‘And I’m glad you’re safe.’

  He put his arms around her in reply and they hugged each other. A loud cough put an end to their embrace as the man at reception held up two sets of keys.

  ‘No thanks,’ said Richard. ‘Just one set will do.’

  The man tried to insist.

  ‘No, no,’ repeated Richard.

  ‘My wife,’ he said loudly in emphasis and pushed Trish up the stairs.

  ‘What a lie Dick,’ said Trish giggling.

  ‘I don’t think he understood, anyway I don’t care. I think we should stick together, it’s safer that way. Anyway I’m not staying here more than one night.’

  ‘Thank goodness for that. Now tell me what’s been happening since we spoke.’

  ‘Nothing. Not only is Jalbis missing but so is Kia.’

  They sat side by side on the bed as he told her all that he’d found out.

  ‘So you’re giving up then?’

  ‘I don’t know what else to do. Jalbis has disappeared without trace and is probably nicely set up on the wretched island by now, contentedly earning a fortune from trafficking girls and selling his despicable DVDs.’

  ‘DVDs?’

  ‘Oh, I didn’t tell you about those, did I? He’s been making snuff films for distribution on DVD. Very lucrative so it seems.’

  ‘How do you know about that?’

  ‘Kia told me and gave me one to look at. I didn’t see it till I got back to London. I’d rather not talk about it. I still can’t believe what I saw.’

  ‘Is that another you thing you hid so as not to upset me?’

  Richard nodded.

  ‘No more secrets now, eh?’

  ‘Promise.’

  ‘So what about Kia? Do you really think she’s been killed?’

  ‘I can’t know for certain but it looks like Jalbis has taken her away from the convent and he’s unlikely to show his brother’s mis
tress any mercy. The best that could have happened is that she’s been sold on like the other girls.’

  ‘Otherwise?’

  ‘Otherwise .. the DVDs’

  He put his face in his hands and stayed without moving. Trish rubbed his back gently.

  ‘You were fond of her weren’t you?’

  ‘Yes. She had a lot of grit and courage and she was doing all she could to get away from an impossible situation. I don’t think I really understood her though.’

  They sat without speaking for a moment.

  ‘I had sex with her – only the once. I just wanted you to know.’

  ‘But that’s all in the past now isn’t it?’

  He nodded. ‘Yes, I just want to move on now.’

  He sat awkwardly after his confession.

  ‘What about that other woman, Juditta?’ asked Trish.

  The question allowed Richard to regain his composure.

  ‘I don’t know what happened to her either but I’m not optimistic. You know, when I look across at the island I can’t believe that I’ve got all this information and I’m completely impotent to stop what’s going on there. It shouldn’t be like that.’

  ‘No, it shouldn’t. Perhaps something will turn up.’

  ‘Ever the optimist.’

  ‘You have to be. It’s the only way to go on.’

  ‘At the moment, all I have is bad memories.’

  ‘Let’s get some rest now.’

  They lay on top of the bed fully clothed and fell asleep quickly. It was several hours later when Richard sat up suddenly, woken by strange sounds and an orange brightness in the sky that filtered through the cracks in the shutters.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Trish was also awake.

  ‘I don’t know. Looks like there’s a fire somewhere.’

  They went and opened the shutters. All that could be seen was the sky lit fiery red and people running through the streets.

  ‘Must be a big fire,’ said Richard.

  ‘I wonder where it is?’ asked Trish.

  They went out into the streets to look for themselves and joined in the crowds who were jostling their way towards the harbour. Dawn was beginning to lighten the sky but it was not the cycle of daybreak that ripped into the sky with the eerie brightness of a giant flame. What looked like black smoke was belching above the stream of luminous light that seemed like a monstrous firework display of Roman Candles. The volcano had erupted. They could see the lava flow which shifted its burning load slowly but relentlessly towards the sea. What they had thought to be smoke, they now saw as clouds of ash that hung for a moment above the whole island before releasing its threat and falling to the ground below. People were setting off in small fishing boats and heading towards the island. The noise of shouting and talking was intense. An acrid smell had reached them and Trish began to cough.