The Beach

51

The Good News

The walking pace Sal set was slow. Sometimes she paused to look at flowers or to pull a weed from the path. Sometimes she stopped for no apparent reason, aimlessly drawing dust circles with her toes.

‘Richard,’ she began, ‘I want to tell you how pleased we all are that you found our secret beach.’

‘Thanks, Sal,’ I replied, already understanding that this conversation had a point beyond a casual chat.

‘Can I be blunt, Richard? When you three arrived, we were all a little worried. Perhaps you can understand why…’

‘Of course.’

‘But you all fitted in so well. You really entered into the spirit of what we have here, better than we could have hoped…You mustn’t think we didn’t appreciate you doing the Rice Run, Richard, and catching that lovely shark.’

‘Oh, well.’ I tried to look modest. ‘The shark was a fluke.’

‘Garbage, Richard. The shark gave everyone something to feel good about, and morale does get low during rainstorms. I still feel a little guilty about the way I spoke to you that miserable wet morning, but sometimes I need to be…pushy. I don’t consider myself to be the leader here, but…’

‘We all understand that.’

‘Thank you, Richard.’

‘And you are the leader really, Sal.’

‘Oh, maybe in some ways I am. Reluctantly.’ She laughed. ‘People come to me with their problems and I try to sort them out…Keaty, for example. I know you and Keaty are close, so I presume you know about his problem.’

‘He wants to leave the garden detail.’

‘That’s right. Such a headache. It isn’t easy moving people around. Someone has to provide the space before he can move, and the fishing detail is already full…He wants the fishing detail, you know.’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘For months now I’ve been telling him it isn’t possible. You see, he was about to start fishing when your little group arrived…He was terribly disappointed, Richard, but he took it very well. Others might have…I don’t know… held it against you.’

‘Sure. Three people turning up out of the blue, taking his job.’

‘Exactly, Richard. I was so grateful to him, and so pleased when you became friends…I was only sorry I couldn’t do anything to improve his situation…’ A weed caught Sal’s eye and she pulled it out, tutting at its stubborn grip on the dirt. ‘But my hands were tied without a vacancy in the fishing detail. And now I’ve realized that one isn’t going to appear unless I make it…’

I gulped. ‘Uh, no one wants to move, I suppose. What about one of the Swedes?’

‘One of the Swedes?’ Sal chuckled. ‘You couldn’t break up their trio without a gun, and even then you’d have a job. No, they’re together to the death. The three blond musketeers.’

‘Moshe?’

‘Mmm…I don’t think I’d want him to move. He’s rather good with those Yugoslavian girls.’

‘Who then?’ I asked, and obviously failed to keep a note of anxiousness out of my voice.

‘Yes, Richard. I’m sorry, but it has to be you. I don’t have a choice.’

I groaned. ‘Oh no, Sal. Please, I really don’t want to move. I love the fishing detail, and I’m good at it.’

‘I know you are, Richard. I know. But do try to see it from my position. Keaty needs to move out of the garden, I can’t separate Etienne and Francoise, Gregorio has been fishing for two years, the Yugoslavians…’ Sal shook her head. ‘Well, I shouldn’t really tell you this, Richard, but they haven’t the wit to do anything else. Jean can’t bear them and they could never cope with carpentry. I regret bringing them here at all. I’m a pushover for refugees…Truly, Richard, if I had a choice…’

‘Yeah,’ I muttered.

‘…And it isn’t like I’m going to put you on the garden detail.’

I paused. ‘You aren’t?’

‘God, no. I don’t think I’d be able to do that after the things Keaty must have been telling you.’

A terrible thought crossed my mind. Given a choice between the garden detail and working with Bugs in carpentry, I’d have taken Jean’s iron discipline any time.

‘Well,’ I began to say, not bothering to disguise my nervousness. ‘He hasn’t said that much…’

‘I’m sure he’s said plenty, Richard. No need to be diplomatic.’

‘No, Sal, honestly…’

She waved her hand. ‘It doesn’t matter anyway. You won’t be working on the garden detail…’

I closed my eyes, waiting for my sentence.

‘…You’ll be working with Jed.’

I opened my eyes again. ‘Jed?’

‘Yes. He wants a partner on his excursions, and he suggested you.’

‘Wow,’ I said, genuinely. It had never occurred to me that Jed might want someone with him. Although we’d become friendly, he still struck me as a loner.

‘I know, he never seemed the team type,’ Sal continued, apparently reading my mind. ‘I was just as surprised. You must have made a good impression on the Rice Run.’

‘…But what does Jed need help with? Doesn’t he just…steal grass?’

‘He does that, yes, but other things besides. He’ll explain.’

‘…I see.’

Sal beamed. ‘Richard, I’m so glad we’ve sorted it all out. I’ve been worried about telling you this for days… Now then, all that remains is to find Keaty. Would you like to give him the good news or shall I?’

? The Beach ?

52

Ich Bin Ein Beacher

When we reached the garden, Jean told us that Keaty had already started out back to the camp, so I jogged off to catch him up and Sal stayed behind, explaining to Jean that he’d have to make do with one less worker.

I found Keaty a few hundred metres down the track, and when I told him the news he was very sympathetic, despite the fact that it was good news for him.

‘I feel shit about this, Rich,’ he said after I’d finished explaining. ‘I didn’t mean for Sal to take you off fishing, I swear.’

I nodded. ‘My guess is it has more to do with Jed than you. You’ve been asking to leave the garden detail since I got here, and it’s only now that something’s happened.’

‘Maybe…You’re pissed off, right?’

‘…Well…’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘No, it isn’t your fault. It’s just bad…luck. Or something. But not your fault.’

‘Well, I hope not, Rich…And I’m sorry anyway…’

We walked in silence for a few moments, then Keaty said, ‘Do you know why Jed’s suddenly decided he needs help?’

‘I don’t even know what he needs help with. We still don’t know what he does up there.’

‘At least now we’ll find out.’

‘I will, you mean. If I were to tell you what goes on I’d have to kill you straight after.’

Keaty smiled. ‘You know what? I bet you’re secretly pleased about all this. I bet you’re looking forward to prowling around up there.’

I shrugged. ‘Ask not what your beach can do for you.’