The Beach

∨ 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.’

‘That’s the spirit.’

‘Yeah…’ I paused. ‘…I suppose if I’ve got to leave the fishing detail then I’d rather I was working with Jed than anyone else.’

‘Uh-huh. I wouldn’t wish the garden detail on you.’

‘And the other option was carpentry. For a moment I thought that’s what Sal was suggesting and I nearly had a fucking heart attack. I got this sudden flash of working with Bugs all day, so when Sal said it was with Jed…I don’t know…I almost had to feel relieved.’

‘If you say so, Rich.’

‘I think I do.’

We turned a corner on the path and saw the longhouse through the trees. There were figures around the kitchen hut, so I guessed the other fishers were back with their catch. I couldn’t see any of my detail. They probably weren’t back from the corals yet.

Just as we were about to enter the clearing, someone behind us called our names. We both turned round and saw Jesse jogging along the track with a bag of vegetables from the garden.

‘Hey, man,’ he said to Keaty, as he reached us. ‘Hear you’re leaving the Jar Dan.’ It took me a couple of seconds to translate his Kiwi accent to jardin.

‘Yep. I’m moved to the fishing.’

‘I heard, you lucky bastard.’ Jesse looked at me. ‘Not you though, mate. You must be pissed off, losing that cushy number. You’ll be sweating with us now.’

‘I’m not going to the garden.’

Jesse grinned. ‘Carpentry! With Jesus!’

‘No. Jed.’

‘Jed?’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘Blow me. What’s all that about? Not enough weed to go round?’

‘Maybe. I’ll find out soon, anyway.’

‘Yeah…You will.’ He nodded thoughtfully, then he patted Keaty on the back. ‘You’ll be sorted, anyhow. Get to watch Françoise swimming all day. I could do with a bit of that.’

Keaty shot me a quick glance, which puzzled me, and said, ‘Watch it, Jesse. You don’t want Cassie to hear you.’

Jesse laughed. ‘Too right. Skin me alive.’ He winked at no one in particular, then looked into the clearing. ‘So. Looks like the cooks have got food on the way. Better get the veg down there.’

‘Sure,’ said Keaty, and Jesse jogged off. Keaty watched him go, then turned to me. ‘He’s the one person I’ll really miss out of the garden detail.’

‘Seems like a decent guy.’

‘He is. You’d like him and Cassie a lot. Especially as they aren’t exactly Bugs’ biggest fans.’

‘Oh?’

‘I used to bitch about Jean being a tough boss, but Bugs…he drives Cassie nuts.’

‘I’d picked up on that before.’

‘…I guess you’ll miss working with your detail too.’

‘Mmm.’ I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Probably too deeply and too slowly, because I noticed Keaty giving me another curious glance. ‘I’m sure I will.’