The Reef (20 page)

Everyone was tired, dehydrated, drenched in sweat. It took them several seconds to come to a halt by Forb’s extended arm. The bald man was peering into the forest, his neck stretched.

Manolin stood alongside the doctor. ‘What is it? What’s wrong?’

Forb was silent. His eyes flickered from tree to tree as a bead of sweat ran over one of them. He rubbed it clear and turned to Manolin. ‘Hear that?’

Manolin turned to the forest and back. ‘Hear what?’

‘That drone.’

‘No. I can’t hear a thing over those birds.’

Santiago approached, taking long steps. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘Drone bee,’ Forb said.

‘Oh, well, a bee isn’t going to be much harm is it?’ Santiago said. He brushed down his moustache. Forb took his pack off of his shoulder, opened it and pulled out a folded-up blanket. ‘Here-quick.’

‘What’s this for?’ Manolin asked.

‘Just unroll it and take the other end.’ Forb flicked the blanket to unravel. ‘Everyone, get under this.’

‘What the hell for?’ Mr Calyban shouted from behind.

‘This is most uncalled for,’ Mr Soul said.

‘Just get under, now.’ The doctor and Manolin held the blanket up for everyone to crawl under. The agents went under first, sighing, then the others followed. Manolin lowered his end and the blanket touched the ground, the travellers underneath. Manolin joined the doctor and sat crossed-legged, with Santiago at his shoulder. Everyone seemed too tired to speak, or disagree.

Manolin nudged Forb. ‘Is this necess-?’

As soon as he spoke he heard the deep drone that seemed to come from everywhere at once. Then, Forb pulled the blanket over their heads.

‘What’s that noise?’ Soul said.

‘Quiet,’ Forb said.

Manolin stared through the gaps in the fabric. The drone became louder and the vegetation rattled ahead, could feel his heart beat high in his chest as the large black shapes moved into vision, then could see them break the light, shift leaves and vines. The shapes hovered a few feet off of the ground and Manolin guessed them to be about a foot long. The large shadows glided, loudly, and he stifled a squeal as the shapes passed overhead. They flew in twos, achingly slow, passing like airships over their heads, casting thick shadows over the blanket.

After a couple of minutes, when the sound had gone, Forb lifted the blanket. Everyone spilled out, gasping at the fresher air. ‘Now, sir,’ Santiago said. ‘What where those exactly?’. He wiped his brow, stared into the forest after the sound.

‘Drone bees,’ Forb said.

‘Bees?’ Santiago asked.

‘Bees,’ Forb said.

‘But they were huge,’ Manolin said. ‘A foot long, at least, and I lost count of how many there were. They can’t be bees-they’re too big to be able to fly. I mean, their wings wouldn’t be able to lift them.’

‘Ah, but according to theory, the ordinary bee shouldn’t be able to fly anyway,’ Forb said. He wrapped up the blanket, placed it in his pack.

Manolin and Santiago looked at each other before staring back at the group. Everyone regarded the darker forest. ‘Don’t worry,’ Forb said. ‘They’ll not be back. They’re not normally out this late in the year.’ ‘Where’s the nest, and the queen?’ Santiago asked. ‘Surely they should have a nest and a queen. Where is it?’

The doctor stood under a shaft of light and waved the others over. Then he pointed upwards, through the trees, at the volcano that stood silent and large over the island. With the gentlest of smiles, he said, ‘Seen the queen once, only once. Not sure I’ll try again.’

‘By Arrahd’s balls,’ Jefry said.

‘I’ll second that,’ Arth said.

‘I’ll third it,’ Santiago said. ‘What flowers do they use?’

‘Some of the other islands have larger flowers. A foot long petals in places. The bees live here though. It must be safer for them.’

Manolin took a notebook out of his pocket, began writing scribbling notes. The doctor patted Manolin on the shoulder. ‘You remind me of me when I was younger,’ he said. Then he walked further into the forest.

The doctor stopped the group, who were now walking in a single line along the shaded path. Manolin had noticed that the trail had become well-trodden and wide. Vegetation had been cut away, and in the distance there was a wide patch of light. He could hear clicks, too, and looked around the canopy to find what he assumed to be a bird. He waved Arth forward. ‘Hey, Arth. What bird do you make that to be?’

Arth bounded keenly towards Manolin, stood beside him, glancing, wide-eyed, from tree to tree. ‘That’s no bird, Manny. At least, not one that I’ve heard.’

Manolin said, ‘You sure?’ ‘Pretty positive. It’s too guttural for a bird.’ Arth’s black tail moved from side to side.

‘Arth’s right,’ Forb said, with a smile. ‘That isn’t a bird. It’s what you’ve all been waiting for. From here on, I’ll have to take you two at a time. Manolin, Santiago, shall we?’

The men nodded. Mr Calyban and Soul grunted disproval.

‘Good,’ Forb said with a glance towards the government agents. ‘I suggest the rest of you sit down for a few minutes, relax, enjoy the forest. There’s fruit from those trees-’ He indicated a cluster of dark leaved trees behind them, with small, yellow globes hanging in bunches. ‘We have to go in twos so the tribe will accept you. Don’t move from here, I’ll come and find you.’

He ushered Manolin and Santiago forward along the path.

The rest sat down, one by one, grunting as they hit the dry forest floor. The wind was stronger, some way up the volcano, and the refreshing breeze filtered though the forest sounding like the tide.

‘I don’t see why we can’t go first,’ Mr Soul said to his colleague.

‘Hey, we’ll all get to go at some point,’ Arth said. ‘Let’s just calm it down and stay cool.’ ‘Yeah, so just relax,’ Jefry said. ‘I really don’t think you should talk to us like that,’ Mr Calyban said. His eyes rested on Jefry, casually, as if he was a tree.

‘There’s not enough room on this island for your attitude,’ Jefry said. He brushed his mop of white hair away from his forehead. ‘We’re all here for a job, so let’s do it.’

‘We’re here to watch you people, not any ridiculous tribe,’ Mr Soul said.

That maybe so,’ Jefry said. ‘But I wouldn’t be so rude all-’

‘Jef, they’re not going to shut up so let’s just keep it quiet, okay. I’m not feeling too good,’ Yana said. She slid back against a tree. Then she reclined, reached in her pack for some water, poured a few cool drops over her scalp.

Jefry said, ‘Sorry, Yana.’ ‘That’s okay. I just want to relax a bit, that’s all.’ She smiled before closing her eyes as she poured more water on her face. Jefry was relieved when he saw her smile. He watched Becq move in a little closer, place her hand on Yana’s shoulder. ‘Are you sure you’re okay,’ Becq asked, crouching. ‘It’s not the food is it? I had the same thing and I’m fine.’ ‘Sure, just a little sick that’s all. I’ll be fine. Probably not used to all this walking.’

‘Me neither,’ Becq said. ‘Just so long as you’re all right.’

‘Hey, I said I’m fine,’ Yana said. Then, ‘But thanks for worrying.’

Jefry stared his wife as if he were at school, watching a girl, one he had a crush on but could never talk to. That was no way to look at his wife. He couldn’t put his finger on the point when he’d begun to view her from such a distance. Two years, maybe three. He knew of several couples his own age, and some of the husbands had even confided in him that they, themselves, had not made love to their wives for months. That made him feel better. He knew the problems of a human-rumel marriage, too. He knew the only children he would have would be infertile, just like a mule. Maybe that was what was wrong, that she wanted a long family tradition. Then he remembered her dedication to work.

She was a geologist at heart, and it was something she would complete her life. She had said it herself-and that was a reason he fell in love with her. It didn’t help her being more intellectual than him. She was the bright one, and she certainly made sure he knew it. He was a chemist, and helped the others when they needed his skills. The others did all the glorious work, bringing new species back, finding new gemstones and other precious finds. He played with test tubes, measuring liquids, telling them combinations of this and that. It wasn’t glamorous. It certainly wasn’t alluring. He was useful, but not exciting in both his marriage and his work.

He sighed, again, looking at her hair blow in the breeze. Her face tilted back, the moisture from the water she had poured glistened. He still thought her beautiful.

Manolin shaded his eyes from the sun, as they stepped near the clearing, so he could take in the scene. Arranged in a layered circle were numerous huts, about fifty, he guessed, and the soil was light, dry, almost a sand. Charred leaves indicated the vegetation had been burned back. Then he shook his head in disbelief, he saw what they had been looking for: ichthyocentaur, and dozens off them. His mouth fell open to say something, then decided against it. Forb stepped aside, allowing Manolin and Santiago the full view. The ichthyocentaurs were as tall as a man, and as grey as some rumel were, but they possessed stubby tails, such as on dolphins. Their faces were strange, broad, although eerily human.

A large group of them turned simultaneously to face the newcomers.

Manolin looked towards Santiago as each man sought to find any words to describe what they were seeing. They could hear staccato clicking. Forb stepped forward, moving his arms and hands through the air. To Manolin and Santiago’s surprise, the ichthyocentaur began doing the same, and just as they did, the clicking ceased. Forb turned and waved an arm to beckon the strangers forward. ‘Come on, Santiago, Manolin. Come over.’

They walked towards the doctor, out of the shaded forest, out into the intense sun that beat the clearing as if someone had opened a furnace. Manolin looked around, counted dozens of these creatures, naked, staring, clicking. He could see the doctor signalling with his hands as they approached and two tall ichthyocentaur came towards him.

‘Well I’ll be,’ Santiago whispered to Manolin. ‘Look, he’s signing to them.’

‘Really? Thanks for that,’ Manolin said.

Santiago looked at Manolin for a moment, then nodded.

Forb broke the silence. ‘I’ve introduced you to them. I’ve told them you’re from other shores and that they have no need to fear you. That you’re hear to help.’ ‘Splendid,’ Santiago said. ‘They’re interesting creatures, aren’t they?’

‘Forb, how do I sign “hello” to them?’ Manolin said.

‘I’m glad you asked. Look -’ Forb indicated a circular motion with his right hand, whilst keeping his left palm facing upwards.

Manolin repeated the gesture, making eye contact with one of the two ichthyocentaur, and smiled. He thought if all else failed, the smile should break down barriers. He noticed that they possessed small, gill-like flaps on their sides. His vision drifted down, and noticed the penis that gave away their sex, and that their legs he would have normally expected to find on a horse, or a lion.

The two creatures repeated the sign back, his smile widened. He turned in a circle, repeating the gesture to all the tribe collectively. Some of them replied. Forb laughed, patting Manolin on the shoulder. Then, he signed to the two creatures standing next to him and they turned, allowing Manolin and Santiago to see the full torso from behind. There was a tiny fin on each of their backs. They did not walk at all awkwardly, which Manolin thought they would.

The clearing was on a slope that he suspected was the gentlest section up to the volcano, which he could see large and clear to his left. There was forest surrounding the settlement, and the huts were made of bamboo, of woven palm leaves. It was achingly hot. Ferns littered the floor near his feet. Butterflies flipped behind huts whilst bright birds examined him from above. Everyone was silent for sometime, although it was not uncomfortable, as if each of the men knew that they were simply taking in details.

Manolin watched the tribe at work. They were still building their new settlement, after being relocated from the shore. They moved with precise, graceful motions. They were communal, too, gathering in large groups, generating those audible clicks, which he had discovered were their own form of communication. On one side of the settlement, women were hauling large quantities of plant matter. ‘Forb, what’s over there?’

‘Keen eye, I see,’ the doctor said. ‘Well, that’s where they store plants.’

‘Can I have a look?’

‘Yes,’ Santiago said. ‘That’d be good to see what they’re storing.’

‘Okay,’ Forb said. ‘But be careful there. They’re extremely protective about plants here.’

They approached a large building that was made from the same bamboo and palm leaves as nearly everything else. It was twenty feet long and dwarfed the other buildings in the settlement. The three men approached a female ichthyocentaur, who signed a greeting to Forb. Manolin signed
hello
to her and she returned the greeting, with a look of puzzlement on her face.

Forb signed something which he translated to the others as,
They have come to help with the deaths. They have come to try and stop the deaths. I am touring them here. Okay to enter?

Yes,
she signed back.