ONE

ON THE RIBS

“Here’s to the mermaids we never did see, here’s to all the divers who hold their pee.” Jake raised and clinked his bottle with Tam’s and they drank. They lowered them, both lost in thought.
“Hard to believe is over, macha,” said Tam, finally breaking the silence.
“Yeah, but it is. Ten years of putting up with your scrawny ass.”
“Lah, don’t get sensitive to me.”
“I think you mean sentimental.”
“Lah, So what Bill do now?”
“Says he’s gonna move closer to the grand kids and do some fishing and watch the sun set.
“Can he do it?” Tam asked.
“Guess it don’t matter if he can or not, macha. Boat’s gone.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Jake wiped a trickle of sweat from his temple and looked out over the street. It was warmer than usual with no breeze. Many of the vendors had gone home early leaving, the street empty and quiet. “I’ll get us another.”
“Not for me. I need help cousin pick up stuff in Semporma tomorrow.”
“Alamak! You leave me to drink alone? Tonight?”
“Sorry, macha,” Tam said standing up. “Do proper tomorrow night. Lah?”
“Bah, you go if you want to go,” replied Jake, feigning disgust. Jake watched Tam’s relaxed strides as he left, his pace emulating the easy-going rhythm of the island, fluid and unhurried.
He rose and entered the lodging house, the temperature inside climbing. It was almost empty. Like him, the few drinking patrons were sitting outside. He took two more beers to his table and downed one before wiping his brow with the bandana from his neck. Three locals sat nursing their drinks, workers from the rice plantations, he figured. He thought he heard an English accent and found the two anf mohs were back, drinking tonight at the far end of the deck. They were younger than he, hard looking, not your typical tourist type. Looking for work on one of the rubber plantations? He doubted it. Adventure seekers going up river? Maybe they would need a guide. Desperate times called for desperate measures.
Jake finished the second beer and fetched two more. He nursed them, re-playing the last two days. First Aida leaves and now un-employed. He didn’t hold any grudges. Aida and he, like all the others, had only been temporary, and Bill had been talking for months about selling.
Glancing up, he watched the four Red Cross nurses step out onto the porch and find a table not far from him. They were all in their early twenties, dark hair, shiny young faces, their actions and facial expressions animated, full of excitement. Two were slight and younger than the third who was older and heavy. Their first adventure abroad? They laughed and giggled, quickly draining their drinks, stealing furtive glances at the two guys at the end of the deck. The fourth, the blonde from last night, older still, maybe thirty five, was different. She sipped her drink and joined in the conversation, but it was obvious her mind was occupied with something other than the two males on deck. Age had sharpened her classic features, setting her apart from her companions. He assumed that she must be in charge.
He had caught her watching him at the market in the afternoon as she struggled with her chopsticks. He had wondered, as she stood there among the others who swarmed the street, why she was there. Why, looking like she did, she wasn’t married. Why she was watching him.
He watched as her eyes flicked his way. Interesting. He reached for his drink and finished the beer in one long pull. Six beers and he felt pretty good. He knew he should start the walk home but it had suddenly become interesting. And she is attractive. He stood and walked by their table, dropping his eyes to her, making eye contact as she looked up at him. Her eyes didn’t dart away as he expected, but held his. Not a challenge – more of an inspection. He smiled and nodded imperceptibly before going inside. Her glass had been empty. Now, will she follow me to the bar?
Ling saw him coming and was already putting a beer on the bar. “Jake, I hear boss sell boat. Lah, you no have job.”
“You heard right, Ling. Belanja, macha. I’ll settle my bill tomorrow.”
“Lah, Jake.” He grinned at Jake. “You need job, you scrub floors for Ling.”
Jake laughed. “Lah, I….” Movement beside him stopped his retort, and he turned with anticipation to the woman beside him. One of the young nurses carefully lowered three empty glasses to the bar.
“Three more please, Mr. Ling.” She smiled up at Jake. “Hello, I’m Tina.”
“Tina,” Jake said, trying not to let the disappointment show on his face. Up close she looked like a kid. He withheld his name and any further comment, turning back to Ling and the beer that was pushed towards him. “You have a nice evening,” he said to her and walked back towards the porch.
He was aware that the three others at the table were watching him as he sat down once more. Tina returned and there were hushed comments, more furtive looks and some laughter, all at his expense he was sure. He sighed. He could have used the company tonight, but he wasn’t about to bed some twenty year old, still wet behind the ears, two days arrived in a foreign country. Even after six beers. Jake tried to tune them out, but, loosened up by the second drink, their giggling and laughter gradually raised his spirits. It reminded him of coming to the island, all those years ago. It had been more escape than adventure, but it had all worked out.
Across from him, the three young nurses stood and headed inside, Tina sending him a last look. The blonde remained, her drink unfinished. Jake watched them pass the bar, grudgingly it seemed to him, and climb the stairs. He returned his eyes to the blonde who sat staring out into the night. If this isn’t an invitation then I don’t know what is. He picked up his beer and strolled to the table.
“Are you stalking me?” he said, the grin on his face alcohol infused.
He caught her off guard and she hesitated before regaining her composure. “You saw me in the market, didn’t you,” she said.
“Watching me, lah? No doubt about it. May I join you? I like to know who’s stalking me.”
“If you use ‘stalking me’ once more, you can bugger off.”
Jake pulled up a chair and sat. “Jake Bennett,” and he extended his hand.
“Katherine Brockman,” she said shaking it.
“Being newly arrived, I could be your personal guide and show you the sights.”
“Seriously? If I throw a stick, will you leave?”
“Ahh, come on now. I was just kidding.”
“Bloody hell you were.”
“Okay, so you’re here to save the island from the dreaded malaria?” It shouted “asshole” but it was too late.
“Are you always sarcastic with strangers?”
“It’s just one of the services I offer.” He knew that was a mistake and added, “Kantoi. The beer talking.”
“Drink a lot of beer, do you?”
Christ, I can’t win with her. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. It really is good that you’re here,” he said, back-peddling, trying to save the conversation.
“Do you know that a quarter of all Borneo children die from malaria before the age of five? So yes, that’s why we’re here.”
When she didn’t say anything further, he said, “I see you’re from England.”
“Aren’t you the observant bloke. Was it my accent that gave me away?”
“Careful. I’m not sure, but I think that was sarcasm. See, I’m rubbing off on you. But maybe it’s just better if I leave you to your evening.” Might as well find out now. He held her gaze, waiting.
“A truce, Mr. Bennett. It’s too bloody hot to retire.”
“You know, I have a little place on the beach. Much cooler than upstairs. A lot more private.”
“Blimey, you are a cracker.” She laughed. “I’m not a wide-eyed twenty year old looking for adventure with a tall dark stranger.” She shook her head and leaned back in her chair. “So, where are you from? Your accent’s not quite as distinct as mine. I would guess Australia? New Zealand? Canada?”
“Number three. And it’s Jake.”
“And what brings a Canadian all the way to Borneo, Jake?”
“I don’t know. I was young. A sense of adventure. Long ugly winters on the Canadian prairies.”
“From your interaction with the locals and your appearance, it would appear you’ve been here some time.”
“Did you just belittle my appearance, Miss Brockman?”
She smiled. “Sorry. It’s just that you look very… relaxed in your attire. Comfortable in yourself, in an island sort of way.”
He laughed. “Lah! Well put.”
“I hear the locals use this “lah” all the time. You use it in your speech. What does it mean?”
“It doesn’t really mean anything. Just used to emphasize something or react in some way. It’s used all the time, lah? And to answer your question, twenty years.”
She sipped her drink. “That is a long time. Lah?” She paused. “Did I use it correctly?”
He laughed. “Yes. You actually can’t go wrong with it.”
“How have you supported yourself? Fishing and selling your catch at the market?”
“That’s only once in a while, when Tam and I have extra time. Or need some extra money. No, in the first years I worked with the coal company until it closed. Helped out here behind the bar. Did some guiding up river. Last ten years I’ve been a diver for a one boat salvage company, which just sold out leaving me unemployed. Lah.” He grinned ruefully. “The reason for multiple beers tonight.”
“So you’re on the ribs?”
“The ribs?”
“Out of money. No food. Ribs showing.”
“Got it.” He shrugged. “What about you? Why nursing?”
“My parents died in the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918. Left my brother and me. I guess because of that I focused on medicine. Eventually became a nurse and here I am.”
“In Borneo.”
“Yes. So, have you been searching for another job?”
“No. Just hanging out at home, feeling sorry for my unemployed self. Living in the moment. A somewhat depressing moment. For two days.”
“Is that what you do? Live in the moment?”
“Seems to work for me. Moments are too important to ignore or take for granted. Like this moment. Who would have thought we would be sitting here tonight having a drink together. That’s in the moment.”
“I guess some moments are better than others,” she said, smiling.
“Absolutely. As a matter of fact, we could create a, how would you say it, a massively good moment.”
“And how would we do that?”
“You come back to my place. If we are compatible, I’m sure it will turn out to be a really good moment.”
She laughed. “And how would we find out if we are compatible?”
“I have a fool proof test.”
“You’re completely, bloody crackers.”
“You should yield to temptation. It might not come your way again.”
“You don’t give up, do you? I don’t know you. You are a complete stranger. There isn’t a hope in hell.”
He grinned at her over the bottle. “Sometimes false hope’s better than no hope.”
“Shades of a realist buried in there somewhere. That’s refreshing.”
“Thank you.” Jake sipped his beer, trying to figure out his next move. “You know that the Japs bombed Pearl Harbor. Now there’s rumors that they have taken over the airports and oil fields in Miri and Serina. Might not be a good idea for you and your friends to be here right now.”
“Those rumors are true. I got word earlier from home office.”
“You did?” He studied her face. She’s too damn calm. She doesn’t have a clue of what she’s getting into. “Look, you should consider getting out of here.”
“Bloody hell,” she said dismissively. “They won’t bother us. We’re the Red Cross.”
“They’re not going to stop there. And they won’t care that you’re Red Cross.”
“Bollocks. We’re here to stay. That’s what the Red Cross does.” She pushed her empty glass away and stood. “Thank you for some entertaining moments, Mr. Bennett, but I have a full day tomorrow. Cheers.”
Jake watched her walk into the house. He sipped his beer and looked out into the night. That went really well.