The Road to Paradise Island Page 32

  After we had finished eating we went into the courtyard where our fans were brought to us. They were beautiful, made of ivory and painted in rich colours. Mine was blue and green—Felicity's red and white.

  We exclaimed with pleasure when we saw them.

  "Something to remember me by when you find the heat unbearable," he said.

  So we sat out there in the scented evening. There were flowers in abundance in the courtyard; red hibiscus, pink jasmine and gladioli.

  Sitting there I felt intoxicated with the perfume and the drink which I felt was more potent than he had admitted.

  But perhaps I felt this dreamy contentment because I had escaped from the nightmare of William Granville's house, because I was starting on my quest, because it was all so strange and beautiful and because I did enjoy the company of this man.

  That night I lay in bed drowsily going over the events of the evening. I could still smell the heavy scent of frangipani, hear the sudden whirring of an insect as it fell against one of the lamps.

  "The flying beetle," he had said. "Nothing to worry about. They come in often. They're quite harmless and you get used to them. There are lots of strange things you get to know out here."

  And we had sat on in that scented velvety night and I could savour nothing but a deep contentment.

  He had brought us back to the hotel at ten o'clock. He said we needed a good night's sleep.

  I told him we had slept most of the afternoon.

  "A good night's sleep is what you want," he said firmly. So he took us home, along the drive with the cane on either side, down to

  the harbour. I could hear the clop clop of the horses' hoofs as we came down the slight incline; and I could see the little boats rocking on the water, and the ship, which would sail tomorrow, was still lying there in the bay.

  And when I went to bed I tried to ward off sleep because I wanted to go on remembering.

  I awoke feeling greatly refreshed. I threw aside my mosquito net, jumped out of bed and drew up the blind. I stepped out onto the balcony. Below me the harbour was already'stirring to life. Carts drawn by bullocks were coming in—I presumed from the hills beyond. People with produce to sell were arranging their stalls.

  There were several boats on the water—fishing I guessed.

  Water was brought to my room and I washed and dressed. Then I knocked on Felicity's door. There was no answer so I went in.

  She was lying on her back staring at the ceiling. As I came close I saw the tears on her cheeks.

  "Felicity!" I cried in alarm. "What's wrong?"

  She said: "He came ... he came in the night ... He came back ... He was here ... just as in that dreadful room."

  "You've been dreaming," I told her. "It was nothing but a dream. You're here in Cariba. You loved it yesterday. The harbour is just down there. It looks so exciting."

  She began to shiver. "I shall never get away from him," she murmured.

  "Listen, Felicity, he's dead. He can't touch you now. That's all over. We're starting again."

  She shook her head; her teeth began to chatter and there was a blankness in her eyes. I realized she was not listening to me.

  I was horrified and bewildered and uncertain what to do.

  My first thoughts had been that she had had a nightmare which, although it left unpleasant effects, could be dispersed with the coming of daylight. It was more than that. She just lay there inert and when I spoke to her she did not seem to hear.

  I grew more and more worried. I was realizing that I had been simplifying matters when I thought I could just take her away from the scene of horror and she would forget. She had gone through several ordeals, culminating in the violent death of her husband. I could not expect her to recover from that merely by removing her from the place where she had endured her misery.

  I immediately thought of Milton. I needed help and he was the one to give it.

  I went downstairs and spoke to the quadroon at the desk.

  I said: "My friend is ill. I am very anxious about her. Could a message be sent to Mr. Harrington?"

  "But certainly. I will send someone immediately."

  "Thank you very much."

  She summoned one of the men and he set off without delay.

  "The poor lady is sick," said the quadroon. "She seems not very strong."

  "Yes," I agreed. "She has had rather a bad time."

  "The doctor will soon make her well."

  The dark eyes surveyed me with some curiosity. I supposed it was partly Milton Harrington's interest which made us special objects of curiosity. Moreover if they knew of William Granville's sudden death they would know that Felicity was his widow. They would not, therefore, be very surprised to find that her health had suffered.

  I went back to Felicity. She was still lying there staring into nothing.

  I sat down by her bed and took her hand. I said: "It's all right, Felicity. I'm here to take care of you."

  She did not speak but the pressure of her fingers told me that she was reassured.

  It was not long before Milton arrived.

  He came straight up to my room. I heard his approach and went out to meet him.

  "It's Felicity," I said. "She's acting rather strangely. She doesn't seem to be aware—She had a bad night... dreams... nightmares... But it is more than that."

  "Shall I see her?" he asked.

  She looked up fearfully when he came in.

  I said: "It's all right. It's Mr. Harrington. He's come to help."

  She clenched her teeth together: "He didn't die ..." she whispered. "He's here..."

  I looked at Milton.

  "I'll send for Dr. Norton," he said. "I know him well. I'll explain."

  "Oh, thank you."

  He went out of the room. Felicity just lay there as though unaware of anything that was going on.

  I heard him coming back and I went out into the corridor to meet him.

  "She's suffering from delayed shock," he said. "It was a terrible ordeal she went through. It's beginning to show now what an effect it has had on her."

  "I thought she was getting on so well."

  "She left Australia, she came here ... the effort all that entailed

  could have sustained her. Now that she has arrived it's quiet and the accumulated effect of all that tension begins to show. I daresay all she needs is rest and careful treatment. Norton is a good fellow. He's been out here some years. He came out for a bit of experience five years ago ... and stayed. Hell do the best possible for her."

  "I'm very worried about her."

  He put his hand on my shoulder. "I'm here. You know you can trust me to look after you .,. both."

  I turned away. I felt too moved to speak. I was desperately worried about Felicity.

  The doctor arrived and examined her. He gave her something to make her sleep. Milton and I. with the doctor, went downstairs and sat at one of the tables outside the hotel to talk.

  Dr. Norton said: "She's in a highly nervous state. We'll have to be careful. She has had some terrible experience."

  "Yes." I said. "Her husband died violently and she was with him when it happened."

  "The Granville case." explained Milton.

  "Oh. I see. That explains a great deal. Poor lady, she seems to be of a rather nervous disposition. It must have been a great grief as well as a shock."

  "It was not a happy marriage." I said. "Mrs. Granville could not fit into the life to which she had gone. She had lived quietly in England and had no idea to what she was going."

  "I see. We will restore her to health but it may take time. I shall keep her sedated for a few days. After that we will see that she does not have too much excitement. Your room is next to hers. Good. I think she is going to rely on you a great deal."

  "I shall be there when she wants me."

  "Quiet and rest... and then she should be all right."

  "Thank you." I said.

  "I've given her something to quieten her. It will make her slee
p. I'll send some pills to the hotel at once, and I'll look in tomorrow to see how she is. I think you will find rest is what she needs more than anything. That will restore her peace of mind. You should take charge of the pills I shall send. One each night before retiring. Two might be injurious—more than that fatal. So you should take care of them. Make sure that she cannot get at them. She appears to have a lack of interest in anything at the moment. Give her one pill tonight and that should ensure a good night's rest."

  When the doctor left I went in to Felicity. She was lying still, her eyes closed, so I left her and went downstairs. Milton was still there.

  "Well?" he asked.

  "She's quiet. But I'm terribly worried about her. She looked so wild."

  "She looked to me as though she could break down completely. But don't worry. Norton knows what he is about. We re lucky to have him on the island. He keeps talking about going home and we keep persuading him to stay. He's doing an excellent job here. Even the natives regard him as a very special witch doctor with extraordinary powers."

  "Thank you for coming."

  "My dear Annalice, I am always at your service."

  I smiled at him. He seemed different, tender, gentle almost. I warmed towards him—not with that heady excitement which I had felt on some occasions but with something deeper.

  "Sit down for a moment," he said. "You must not let this make you ill, you know. You have to be the strong woman, the comforter, the healer, the good nurse. It would be an excellent idea if you moved up to my place."

  "I must stay here."

  "You would be more comfortable there ... and so would Felicity."

  "No. I must be here."

  "You say that with such finality that I know you are determined. You are an obstinate woman."

  "I suppose I am and I'm sorry to be so ungracious."

  "We should allow ourselves to be frank. I know why you won't come. You want to pursue your enquiries, for one thing, and the other is that it might not be comme il faut. Conventions are not so rigid here as they are in Merrie England. You think I am not to be trusted, and I'll tell you a secret as we are being frank. I'm not."

  I laughed and I realized it was the first time I had done so since I had gone into Felicity's room and found her lying there lost and bewildered.

  "Sit down here," he said. "Watch the harbour ... its very bustle will make you feel sleepy."

  "Yes," I agreed. "It has that effect. I am sorry for calling you in. I could have sent for the doctor. I must have called you away from your work."

  "It would always be a pleasure to be called by you."

  I shrugged the remark aside. I felt this was no time for light flirtation.

  He was serious at once. "Know always that if you are in difficulties I am here to help."

  "I am grateful."

  "One day," he said, "I shall want more than your gratitude."

  "Please ... not now ..."

  "I was merely stating a fact. I can see how worried you are. Whatever happens I'll look after you."

  "Thank you," I said.

  "All this is understandable. She was actually present when he fell and killed himself."

  I nodded. Then I burst out: "It was not only that. That was just the climax. It was before..."

  He was looking at me wonderingly.

  Then because I was overwrought, because I felt I must make him understand, I found myself blurting out everything ... the arrival at the house, the presence of Mrs. Maken, those terrible nights which Felicity had had to endure in the room with the balcony, the participation of Mrs. Maken, the stolid acceptance of Felicity, her pent-up emotions about matters of which she could not even talk to me.

  "He had an evil reputation. Drink and women. But one does not always pay a great deal of attention to scandal and rumours."

  "In his case no rumour could have been bad enough."

  I told him about the guns and how one night he had come into my room and I had threatened to shoot him.

  "Good God!" he ejaculated.

  "I should have done so, too," I said. "I never thought I could kill anyone, but I believe I would have killed him. I said I would shoot him in the leg... cripple him... and that frightened him. He knew that I meant it and that I was a fairly good shot."

  "If I had known ..."

  "What could you have done?"

  "I should never have let you go with him."

  "How could I have left Felicity? She is frail and gentle. She couldn't take care of herself and yet..."

  He said: "That night ... on the balcony ..."

  "They said he was about to take aim at what he thought were bushrangers."

  "And there were no bushrangers?"

  "I don't know. I think she had come to the end of her endurance. There was a struggle and the gun went off and he fell."

  "No wonder she is in this state. I'm glad you brought her here. We'll take care of her together."

  My lips trembled a little. I said: "I'm glad we're here... with you. How can I thank you."

  "You just have," he said, "in a way which means more to me than anything."

  We sat there in silence for some minutes looking out over the

  harbour. I hardly saw it. I was back in that house. I was reliving it all again. I would never forget. How much more deeply had it affected Felicity!

  The doctor's assistant came with the pills. I took them to my room and hid them at the back of one of my drawers beside the map.

  Then I went to Felicity. I sat beside her for some little time. She was sleeping peacefully.

  When I went downstairs Milton was still there.

  "She's asleep," I said.

  He nodded. "That's what she needs. We'll have lunch together and then I shall send you to rest. Siesta is the order of the day here. In the afternoon it is too hot to do anything else but sleep. Everything is silent from two o'clock until four. This evening I shall come to see how you both are."

  "Thanks—again thank you," I said.

  I could eat nothing more than a little fruit. I was very shaken by Felicity's state. That blank look in her eyes had worried me more than anything.

  Milton seemed to understand my mood. He tried to divert my attention by telling me stories of the island, the plantation, the habits and customs of the people. Sometimes he made me smile faintly; and all the time I was overwhelmed by my gratitude towards him.

  I kept asking myself what I should have done had he not been here.

  After he had left I went to my room, first looking in on Felicity. She was lying on her back with her eyes closed, and there was a look of tranquillity on her face.

  I could not sleep. I kept turning over and over in my mind all sorts of possibilities. What if she were really ill? What if she lost her reason? What should I do? She was my responsibility. I thought comfortingly: He is there. He will help.

  And thinking of him I was able to doze a little.

  Felicity slept through the day. At sundown I went in and sat up by her bed. She opened her eyes and smiled at me.

  "I feel tired ... so tired," she said.

  "You need rest," I told her. "Sleep all you can."

  She smiled and closed her eyes.

  I went downstairs. Milton was there. He asked about Felicity and I told him she was sleeping all the time.

  "It's what she needs," he said.

  We dined together in the hotel. I was rather silent but he talked

  cheerfully and somehow I got through the evening. When he said good night, he took my hands and kissed me tenderly on the cheek.

  "Don't forget, if you are frightened, you only have to send for me.

  I went up to my room and from the balcony watched him ride away. He turned to wave, putting his fingers to his lips and then blowing a kiss towards me.

  I smiled and waved. Then he was gone.

  I went to Felicity's room.

  "Is it night now?" she asked.

  "Yes."

  "I'm afraid of the night."

  "
There's no need to be now you are here in Cariba."

  "I dream ... nightmares."

  "Remember I'm next door. The walls are thin. Just knock if you wake ... and I'll come in."

  "Oh yes ... I will. You are so kind to me, Annalice."

  "Nonsense. I'm looking after you and I fancy I am rather good at that."

  I settled her down and adjusted the net over her bed.

  "I feel shut in," she said. "Just like ..."

  "You're miles away from there. That's all behind you. This is quite different and remember I am on the other side of the wall."

  I kissed her lightly and sat beside her till she slept and then went to my room. I was really very tired.

  It must have been about two o'clock when I was awakened by the knocking on the wall. I hastily rose and putting on my dressing gown went into Felicity's room.

  She was sitting up and wildly staring about her.

  "No, no," she was moaning.

  "It's all right," I cried. "I heard the knock. I'm here. Was it a dream?"

  "He came in ... " she stammered. "The whisky ... I could smell it. I hate whisky because ... because ..."

  "Listen to me," I said. "It's all over now. You've got to forget it. As soon as you can you'll be all right. There's so much to do here. It's such a lot of fun really. Milton is ready to help us. All you have to do is get well. I'll give you a pill," I went on. "The doctor said you might have one ... only one ... each night. Perhaps I should have given you one before I went to bed but you were sleeping so peacefully. However, I'll give you one now. It will make you sleep and give you pleasant dreams."

  *

  I went to my room and brought the pill to her. She took it obediently.

  "I'm here ... in Cariba, aren't I. You're with me and he's dead ... dead. He was lying there with all the blood round him ..."

  "He's dead," I said, "and buried. That is the end of him. He can never torment you again. He's gone and we are here; and that is all that matters."

  She said: "Yes."

  "Now lie still, close your eyes. I shall stay here until you are asleep."

  "Will you promise to?"

  "I promise and if you have a bad dream all you have to say is: This is only a dream.' And if you need me, all you have to do is knock on the wall."