The Birthmark

by Beth Montgomery

  Hector shrugged. ‘Probably. He knows a lot about ghosts.’

  ‘How come he knows so much?’ asked Lily.

  ‘Because he’s Gilbertese. He knows about spirits and healing and things.’

  ‘My family thinks he’s weird,’ Lily said.

  Hector looked at her and his voice rose. ‘He’s not weird. He’s just grumpy. He likes being alone.’

  ‘Where is he now?’ she asked.

  ‘Home, but he’s going out fishing soon, at high tide.’

  Lily laughed at him, ‘See, goes out in the hot sun, I told you he was weird.’

  Something tightened in Hector’s throat and he couldn’t be sure if Lily was teasing him or not. ‘Shut up. He’s not weird.’

  ‘We can’t play cards, if the joker and two other cards are missing. Where are they?’ Decima directed her gaze at Hector.

  He looked hurt. ‘Me, why do you think it’s me?’ He slipped a hand up the leg of his shorts and pulled out the missing cards. ‘Is this what you want?’

  ‘Bastard!’ the girls screamed at him in unison.

  The three of them whooped with laughter and Hector felt like a king.

  ‘Come on, let’s play,’ Decima said. Her small dark hands flashed back and forth as she dealt the cards.

  ‘Why do you want to know about ghosts?’ Hector flicked a card onto the discard pile between them.

  ‘Lily saw one the other night, didn’t you?’

  There was a long silence while Lily picked up a card. ‘I think so,’ she whispered.

  ‘What was it like?’ Hector asked. He was keen to hear an eyewitness report. If someone had really seen a ghost, then he was willing to believe it was true.

  Lily told him what she’d seen. Hector’s mind was immediately filled with ideas. ‘We ought to see if he comes back—perhaps he was trying to tell you something. Who do you think it was?’

  Lily looked at him with a pained expression. ‘I don’t know. I thought he was Chinese.’

  Hector thrust a card on the discard pile and hissed his displeasure at the progress of the game. ‘Do you think he’s Japanese? A soldier from the war? Maybe he died somewhere in Anbwido.’ He looked eagerly at Lily, hoping she’d feel the same excitement about it. Her face was sad, swollen and disfigured. She sniffed and looked at him, impassive.

  ‘I didn’t like it, Hector. It wasn’t fun. It wasn’t a game.’

  Her tone made him feel uncomfortable, and willing to believe her. He wanted to be there at night, around her house, ready to see the ghost if it came back. But he knew he couldn’t; that was the easiest way to get a real beating. If someone caught you hanging around their house at The three of them walked up the bush track that led to Government Settlement. At Christina’s house they stood on the terrace, unsure of what to do. Decima thought they should knock on the door, not call out like they normally did at Tevuan homes. Hector plucked up the courage to approach the kitchen door. He tapped on it as if he thought it would break. The two girls doubled up laughing at him. night, they’d be thinking all sorts of bad things. They’d think you were there to sweet-talk their daughters or rape them. They’d think you were hanging around ready to steal their DVD players and stereos or something. No, Lily’s house at night was out-of-bounds. He’d just have to ask his grandfather what he knew.

  An uncomfortable silence grew between them. Finally Decima spoke: ‘We’d better go and get Christina.’

  The door opened.

  ‘Where have you been? It’s nearly three o’clock. You said you’d be here after lunch,’ Christina complained.

  ‘That’s island time,’ Hector smiled.

  ‘They don’t have a watch,’ Decima offered.

  Christina glared at her. Hector stumbled through an introduction. ‘Decima’s Lily’s cousin. She’s been to Australia…she’s our friend,’ he said.

  ‘Oh, well I’m glad you’re here. I thought you’d forgotten me.’ She glanced at Lily who had turned away and was already heading back to the path.

  ‘Are these your new friends?’ A man’s voice came from a shadow in the doorway behind Christina.

  ‘Yeah, Dad, this is Hector, and Decima, and Lily’s over there,’ she gestured. A tall man with a red face and a sharp nose followed Christina out the door. His arms were covered in small brown spots, like the belly of a fish. Hector could see the resemblance between the man and Christina, except the skin on Christina’s arms wasn’t so spotty.

  ‘Nice to meet you,’ the man said, wincing in the sun’s glare. ‘I’m Brett Lowry.’ He reached out to shake Hector’s hand.

  Hector could smell the yeasty fragrance of beer on the man’s breath.

  ‘When will Christina be back?’ Brett asked.

  Hector was confused. How could he know when they’d be back? He couldn’t see into the future.

  ‘Don’t stress, Dad,’ Christina scowled.

  ‘Before dark,’ Decima reassured him, and they set off down the hill.

  ‘Enjoy yourselves!’ Brett called out after them.

  Lily led the way down the track. She didn’t turn back to join in the conversation. Hector assumed she was embarrassed about her face but Christina hadn’t noticed. She seemed more interested in escaping from the house.

  By the time they’d reached the Ring Road Hector had learnt that Christina was in Year Ten at school in country Victoria and loved horse-riding. Hector had never seen a real horse and couldn’t stop asking questions.

  Decima laughed at his efforts to be friendly. ‘Do you want to steal a horse just like you steal a chicken?’ she teased.

  Lily was waiting for them to catch up. ‘There’s the pillbox.’ She pointed to the other side of the road. Only the top of the dome was visible above the high grass and creeper around the base. Beyond the pillbox the reef stretched out to the sea.

  They crossed the road and waded through the grass. Hector hauled himself onto the dome and the girls followed. There wasn’t much room for the four of them, so he slid down onto the sand on the other side. The view out to sea was clear. Sometimes the haze on the horizon played tricks on his eyes, but today the sea was sharply defined: a dark blue against the bright sky.

  Hector imagined what an American ship must have looked like all those years ago. ‘They watched for ships all along the coast,’ he said.

  ‘It’s a great view,’ Christina said.

  Lily rolled her eyes. ‘It’s not that great, same every day really.’

  Decima had to agree with her. ‘And these pillboxes always smell like piss.’

  ‘At least you live near the sea. I hardly ever get near the ocean,’ Christina said.

  ‘What’s it like where you’re from?’ Lily asked.

  ‘There’re a few hills around, but it’s just a lot of grass. And half the year it’s so dry that the grass is brown—same every day really, except when it snows in the mountains,’ Christina said smiling at Lily.

  ‘Snow! What’s that like?’ Hector said.

  ‘Cold and wet.’

  Lily grinned. ‘I guess you think it stinks where you’re from too?’

  ‘It’s OK, but I don’t want to stay there forever.’

  Lily pointed at Christina’s midriff. ‘Why do you have a ring through your belly button?’ she asked.

  Christina laughed. ‘It’s just fashion. It’s cool, don’t you think?’

  ‘Tevuans aren’t into it,’ Decima said, spitting into the sand. ‘Girls are supposed to cover up.’

  ‘Oh, I didn’t realise it offended people,’ Christina said, blushing.

  ‘Stuff them,’ Decima said. ‘Wear what you like. They’ll get over it.’

  ‘The Japs sat down here,’ Hector interrupted. He pointed to a small opening that served as a door at the base of the pillbox.

  Christina jumped down to inspect it. ‘Wow. There’s not much room inside. They must have been small soldiers, especially to get their guns and swords and everything in as well.’ She ran her hand over the surface of the concrete. ‘Dad
said they made these pillboxes as soon as they invaded. ’ ‘How come your dad’s such an expert?’ Decima said. ‘Oh, he’s right into the war and all that. He never shuts up; even raves on about it at breakfast.’

  ‘Did you tell him about the sword?’ Lily asked sharply. Christina looked alarmed. ‘No, I…I just asked him this morning if the Japanese killed many people and he told me about swords and guns and stuff.’

  ‘Like what stuff?’ Lily demanded.

  ‘Well, only a few people in Japan made swords. The guy who made them put his name on the handle part before the grip went on. You know, like a brand.’ Lily’s stare was rattling Chritina. ‘Yeah well that would be the Japanese writing on the sword you found, I guess. Dad said only the officers had swords. They were special. I don’t really get it, but the officers had a kind of spiritual connection with their swords.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Hector said.

  ‘Well, their swords were like a part of them and they couldn’t bear to be separated from them, not even when they died. So, if an officer died the Japanese sent the body home with his sword so he could be buried peacefully. Otherwise his spirit would be messed up.’

  ‘What does that mean?’ asked Decima.

  ‘The spirit stays around and haunts the place where he died.’

  ‘Do you mean like a ghost?’ Hector looked directly at Lily. He could see she was afraid.

  ‘I suppose so,’ Christina said. ‘But it can’t be true. There’s no such thing as ghosts.’

  There was a long silence. Lily, Hector and Decima exchanged glances.

  ‘I think we’ve seen enough here,’ Decima said. ‘Do you want to see more on Monday, Christina? I’m sure we could show you some other sights.’ She and Lily slid off the pillbox onto the grass.

  Hector scrambled back over the top of the dome. Christina hesitated. Hector saw she was confused. They’d only just got here and they were leaving again. She must have sensed the tension that Lily generated.

  Should they tell her about the ghost? Then she might understand why her comments were too dismissive. But it was risky. She’d just think they were all superstitious idiots, dumb islanders.

  No wonder most Tevuans felt ill at ease around white people. His ibu had told him that long ago the island had suffered under the British and the Australians. They’d treated the islanders badly, bossed them around and stolen half their money. Hector had forgotten if it was before the war or afterwards. Christina didn’t seem bossy or stuck up, but it was best to be careful.

  He watched Lily and Decima cross the road ahead of them. What if Christina’s story was true—what if Lily had disturbed a ghost by taking the sword? Hector knew she’d have to return it. But he’d given it to her when she said she liked it. Pabwa. He couldn’t ask for it back. And besides, Lily got so fierce whenever the sword was mentioned. He was certain she would never return it to the forest.

  six

  Mawendo District

  18 December 1942

  Tepu pushed a boulder to one side, paused and looked up. His eyes met Egirow’s stare and in that instant he realised he’d been too slow to salute. In desperation he raised his hand. But the Lieutenant knocked Tepu’s arm down, sneered at him and slapped him in the face. ‘Stand up! Salute!’

  Tepu lurched backwards, raising his hand to his head, but the motion lacked urgency. Egirow was furious. He brought his rifle butt down on the boy’s head. Tepu rocked from the impact. Blood streamed from somewhere above his left eye. A second blow came, and a third, and through the searing pain Tepu held one thought clearly in his mind: keep standing. No matter how much it hurts, keep standing.

  That night, cut, bruised and angry, Tepu took the black stone and walked into the forest. The marines rarely patrolled this part of Yamek, but he had to be vigilant all the same. Sometimes they moved about in the evenings, as silent as cats. If they caught him during the night-time curfew he would surely be beaten and he’d had enough beating for one day.

  Tepu recalled his grandfather’s words, ‘You must pass tests of strength and endurance.’ Was today’s assault one of those tests? How many more would there be?

  He made his way between coral pinnacles, over boggy ground and rotting logs until he found a secluded spot: a small clearing between three pinnacles at the base of a cliff. Taking his bearings he guessed he’d walked as far as Baringa District.

  He took the black stone from his pocket and ran his fingers over the smooth surface. ‘What is your magic?’ he whispered, willing the stone to answer him. But the stone was silent. He placed it on the ground and looked up, pleading silently to the gods and his ancestors for help. The stars blinked back at him. Tepu sat for a long time, staring up at the universe. Eventually he gathered enough courage to speak aloud.

  ‘Ancestors, hear me. Reveal your secrets,’ he murmured. Again there was silence. This time he shut his eyes and repeated his plea, over and over until it became a chant, a low rumbling tune.

  After a while, Tepu’s limbs felt numb. He longed to rub them or stretch his legs, but he was determined to keep up his call to the spirit world. Just when the pain became unbearable he heard the flapping of seabirds overhead. They were black noddies, returning to their roosts from the ocean. Their chattering reassured Tepu— he knew his chant was working because his grandfather’s totem was the black noddy sea tern. He kept his eyes shut and concentrated on the image of the bird in his mind.

  Soon Tepu felt as if his body had begun to float on air. Whispers surrounded him. He shivered. A flash of light entered his brain and subsided just as quickly. A low, rasping voice called to him from the darkness.

  ‘Pick up the stone,’ the voice said. ‘The stone will guide you.’

  Tentatively Tepu opened his eyes. He was surprised to find himself still sitting on the ground. The stone glowed before him with a green light. He picked it up, felt its warmth flow along his arm and overpower his fear. Confidence swelled within him. Tepu was certain now that the stone was meant for him. He felt an indescribable link, a sense of belonging, of trusting the stone and his inner self. They had become one. He sat motionless, clutching the stone to his chest until a movement above startled him.

  Tepu looked up and saw the outline of a black sea tern perched on one of the pinnacles. It ruffled its feathers and gave a small whistle. Tepu knew it was his grand father come to help him. Awestruck, he fell forward.

  ‘Great and wise grandfather bird, I thank you,’ he spluttered.

  The bird’s eyes shone with a green light. Its gaze drew Tepu to his feet, filling him with strength. He stretched out his arms towards the bird in reverence. The noddy whistled once more, spread its dark wings and vanished.

  Tepu blinked. The darkness enveloped him with a sense of calm. He returned to his camp feeling both drained and elated. He’d made contact with the spirit world. Now he’d have to learn the ancient magic.

  Leper Beach

  Anbwido

  Sunday 27 June 2004

  Sausages bobbed up and down in a basin of water lying in the sand. Lily knelt and broke open the plastic wrapper on a polystyrene tray of chicken wings. She dropped most of the meat into the basin then eased the last few wings out of the packet. She knew it would all thaw quickly in the sun—just like her family. They’d all get drunk quickly in the sun, and start arguing with one another. She wished she didn’t have to come along and witness it. Still it was a family barbecue, her dad’s big day, thirty-nine and still going strong.

  She watched her mother unpacking the old Landrover. Lorelei pulled out two folding chairs and wrenched each one open in turn. Stupid things, Lily thought. She remembered how her dad had sat in one once, how it stuck to his arse when he tried to get up. God they’d all laughed. Sometimes he was such a clown. Now he just looked pissed off with Lorelei. They’d already been arguing and it was only mid-morning.

  ‘Come and get this fire organised,’ she screamed at him. She was hauling bricks out of the back of the Landrover.

  Amos grun
ted at her. He had placed two eskies on the edge of the clearing and was emptying bags of ice into them.

  A car’s engine revved from the track beyond the clearing. Lily turned to see an old white sedan park in the grass underneath the beach almonds. The rusty doors opened and her uncle Eldon emerged from the passenger seat. He ran his hands through his spiky hair and called out to Amos.

  ‘Hey, birthday boy, you’d better get a beer into you before the party warms up.’

  Lily felt sick when she saw Eldon. He was probably still drunk from the night before. He was always drunk and usually dragged Lily’s older brother Rongo along with him. Rongo had just turned eighteen and thought it was cool to spend most of his time drinking, so he didn’t mind. This time though, Eldon had hitched a ride with Joachim, their mutual drinking partner. Joachim, who was as fat as a wild boar, eased himself out of the driver’s seat, then fumbled on the dashboard for a cigarette lighter.

  ‘Did you get the tomato sauce and the tongs?’ Lorelei shouted. ‘That’s what I told you to go back and get.’ She waddled over towards the car, the hem of her mu-mu catching in the long grass.

  Eldon lifted a slab of beer out of the back seat and balanced it expertly on one shoulder. He ignored his sister as he carried it past her, over to Amos and the eskies.

  ‘What kind of sauce is that?’ she shouted, following him.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ he said waving at her dismissively, ‘we sent Rongo to get the sauce. Here, have a beer.’

  Eldon ripped the edge off the carton and pulled out a can for her. She snatched it from him, ripped the ring-top off and threw it in the grass. After a long guzzle she wandered back to the Landrover and continued building the barbecue.

  Lily looked down at the sausages. She hated these gatherings. Apart from Decima, there was never anyone to talk to. Why was she cursed with brothers and mostly male cousins? Every cousin on Amos’s side of the family was a boy. It was better on her mum’s side. Lorelei and Eldon had three sisters. One died young from hepatitis, but Eide, Decima’s mum, and her sister Gertrude went on to have ten children between them. Auntie Gertrude lived in Tonga with her husband so Lily never saw them. But Auntie Eide had six children and number four was Decima. Numbers five and six were both girls and still at primary school, so they didn’t hang around with Lily and Decima too much.