Ed Lacy - South Pacific Affair

Eddie smiled down at Buck. “This I learned in a shoot-'em-up movie. The box will be returned to you in Papeete, if the port records show you entered within a week from today!”

Buck started for the box. Eddie held it in front of his face, said, “Go ahead, try to take it from me! I'm almost queer for that banana nose of yours!”

Buck dropped his hands. “This is piracy. I'll have you hung!”

Eddie pointed to the lock. “The money is safe. It's locked and you have the key.”

“And to make it all legal, we will let Cumber hold it,” I put in.

“Yeah, this is what they call security—you're putting it up. We ain't got a thing to do with it,” Eddie told him.

Buck cursed under his breath, and for some reason stared up at the sky. For a small second I almost felt sorry for the old bastard, being shown up in front of his crew, knowing how word of this would get around the waterfronts.

The man at the wheel took the schooner through the channel with expert ease and the canoe people cheered as they saw the ship. Without our telling them a word, the crew dropped anchor, cut the motor. A few minutes later Cumber scampered up the rope ladder.

I handed him the box, said, “Give Buck a receipt for this. Just write one box as bond that the Shanghai will be in Papeete within a week. Otherwise the box belongs to the people of Forliga.”

I'd been speaking mostly in English and Cumber said in Tahitian, “Good,” as though he had understood what I was saying. “Now I tell my people to fill the canoes with food for the divers.” He held the box in one hand and started to dive over the side as Buck roared. “Be careful with the box, you fool!”

“I put that in report to Governor, you call Chief of Forliga a fool!” Cumber snapped, then went down the ladder.

Buck groaned again and I told Eddie, “Let's get the divers back on here before one of them paddles ashore.”

Eddie ran to the bowsprit and shouted in Tahitian, “Come back to the ship. The people on Forliga are sending out enough fresh food for all. Captain Buck has agreed to take you to Papeete at once, where you will get the best medicines. To land on Forliga would only make everybody sick.” Eddie called to Cumber, paddling to shore, to hold up the strong box. “Captain Buck has put up much money to show he does not lie this time. The sooner you get your canoes on board, the faster you will be in Papeete, then in PellaPella.”

They didn't like the idea too much, the coconut palms of Forliga were so close, but they all returned to the Shanghai. Eddie and I stood on the stern, watched the divers and their families come up the ladder, as the crew hoisted the canoes to the deck. About half of them looked in a bad way, watery blisters on puffed faces, shaking with chills and fevers. Buck had disappeared into his cabin and Teng and Marson stood by sullenly. I expected Buck to come out with a pistol, but he didn't.

When three Forliga canoes full of nuts and what fruits and vegetables they had came alongside, Cumber shouted for the crew to lower baskets for the food; no islander was to go up on the deck—undoubtedly Nancy's advice.

It took about an hour to empty the canoes and when the last atoll canoe headed back for land, I said, “Let's get off here before Buck pots us with a gun.”

“He won't do a thing, long as we have that box.”

I started to call a canoe back but Eddie said, “Well swim. And don't worry about sharks—all this paddling about will have scared them off.”

We dived off and swam to the atoll as the Shanghai headed for the channel. Swimming, I could feel every movement of her diesels, like the damn ship was bearing down on us. As we waded ashore Nancy and Ruita came running down and kissed me. The rest of the islanders crowded around us as if we were heroes. And with or without all due modesty, I felt like one: it didn't feel bad at all.

By the middle of the afternoon a small feast was under way —after everybody had gathered at the church to pray and sing. At Nancy's request I had written everything down in case we had to report to Papeete, and I was a little tired and sleepy. But I couldn't pass up the feast—of nuts, fish, and palm wine.

I sat besides Ruita and ate a little, felt exhausted. My head was starting to ring again. Somebody made a speech, I think it was the Deacon, in which he said it was truly a miracle no one on Forliga had been stricken by the bad germs.

He was wrong, One person turned real sick—me.

I had a chill late in the afternoon, a raging fever by night. Eddie and Nancy fed me lime juice and aspirins, refused to allow Ruita in the cabin.

By the middle of the night I had the shakes, was vomiting all over my bunk, as my head pounded into a delirious coma.

The last thing I remembered was Nancy holding a lamp over me, anxiously examining my face. A million miles away I heard her say, “Not the pox. From the sounds in his chest, pleurisy—and pneumonia.”

Chapter VIII

I awoke in a sweat as a fat roach raced down my chest. It took me a moment to realize I was on the Hooker. From the motion, we were at sea. I called to Eddie. Nancy appeared, asked “How do you feel, Ray?” and sponged my face with a cool rag.

“Where... are... we?” Speaking was such a great effort.

The old woman gave me a tired smile and a cup of coconut water, called up to the deck, “Eddie, he's come around!”

The sun streaming through the portholes hurt my eyes. As I closed them Nancy said, “You've been very sick, Ray. I've kept you on a lime juice diet, to break the fever. We're headed for Numaga. I have penicillin there.”

I dozed off. When I awoke she was still by my bunk, but I knew from the sunlight several hours had passed. She told me, “You're not sweating as much. I'll make tea. Lord, you gave us a fright.”

“Got ... the bugs bad,” I said, my voice dry. The cabin stank, the copra stink plus another lousy odor—me.

“Want more water, Ray?”

“Yes. Where's Ruita?”

“I made her stay on Forliga. Couldn't risk having her on the boat with you. When the trading schooner stops, they will bring her to Numaga.”

She gave me more coconut water, warm stuff that almost gagged me. I managed to ask, “How long have I been... out?”

“Almost two days. Eddie, bring some tea.”

I tried to think about the two days which had passed, asked, “How... what about the travel ban?”

“Still on, when we left Forliga yesterday. But Papeete said things were under control and traveling might be allowed within a week.”

“If Buck hears we broke the...”-

“Forget that monster,” Nancy said. “If he should report it, I am truly doing the safest thing for the atoll people in taking you away. On Numaga I can easily isolate you from the few islanders. Don't you worry, just get plenty of sleep.”

Eddie yelled down for Nancy to take the wheel and she gave my puss a last sponge-off, went on deck. Eddie looked as healthy and muscular as ever. He gave me a mug of warm tea which made me sweat. “Thought I'd have to look for a new partner for a time.” He put a big hand on my head, his palm cool and fresh.

“Getting ready to bury me at sea?” I asked.

“Damn near. The fever has broke. You'll be okay tomorrow. Want to pee? I'll get you a can.”

I shook my head, told him, “You're sure the ugliest nurse I ever had.”

“Go back to sleep now.”

Soon as he left I dropped off. In the morning I felt strong enough to go on deck. The sun felt fine and the light hot wind drove some of the sweat odor off me. I wanted to take a pail bath, but Nancy wouldn't let me. We were tacking back and forth off Numaga reef, waiting for the tide to reach its height. Although it left me very tired, I was able to start the motor as Eddie took the Hooker over the rusty reef.