A handful of dreams Read online

  beautiful for words. Those little coves with the white sand and those huge waves ...' ' That reminds me, both of you. If you go exploring the rocks with their bright-coloured little fish and tiny crabs, do remember to wear rope-soled shoes. We'll get two pairs today. I'm dead serious, you must be careful walking over the rocks, because you can be bitten, with dangerous results. I'm not joking,' he added seriously. ' In addition, you must only swim in the lagoons and then watch out. In the deep water there are hundreds of sharks. You'll probably see some dolphins, too, having a game.' ' Dolphins are greatso clever,' said Anthony. ' Mum took me to a show in London and the dolphins were smashing.' Cilia was listening, but she was also looking with wonder at the lovely colours: a tall bush of pink camellias, and the large purple flowers. Then there were the flamboyants with their scarlet flowers as well as the wonderful little birds of every colour imaginable. Some little birds kept swooping down and were gone before you had time to look at them. ' One thingthere are no crocodiles here,' T-heo was saying. ' Snakes, yes, and lizards and tortoises, of course. We must get hold of a schooner and go to the other islands. Some of them are fantastic. There's Frigate Island where you can see one of the world's most rare birds, the magpie robin. Then there's Praslin which is supposed by some to be the original Garden of Eden, and Cousin Island is another fascinating place. Tens of thousands of birds live on the island, no human beings. And a colony of giant tortoises, many several hundred years old.' 62

  'Whew!' Anthony whistled softly. 'Uncle. would you buy me a camera? I'd love to take photos of them all.' ' Sure, Ant.' ' How big is this island. Uncle?' Anthony was really enjoying himself, Cilia thought. What a strange man Theo was. A real Jekyll and Hyde. He could be so unpleasant, so brief and curt, even sarcastic, and then in a moment he could be this sympathetic, pleasant man, making sure his insecure, unhappy nephew was given a good time. ' About seventeen miles long and about five miles broad,' he told the boy. 'Is that all?' Anthony was surprised. 'And that?' He looked up at the mountain that stood gaunt, and yet beautiful, covered as it was by the palm trees. ' Morne Seychelles is three thousand feet high.' ' What do they grow for a living. Uncle?' 'Copra . . . from the coconuts. That's why there's always the sweet sickly smell.' ' I like it,' said Cilia. Theo gave her a strange look. ' You would,' he said curtly, and turned back to Anthony. 'Just think of how old this place is. Ant. Many of these waterfalls have been here for a thousand million years.' Anthony whistled softly. " It makes you think!' Victoria proved to be a busy town, the streets full of people who were, as Theo had said, of many different kinds. Most of the shops were serviced with amazing politeness by Indians in white suits, or Chinese. With Theo's help. Cilia bought several ,63 thin dresses and Anthony some thin cotton shorts and shirts, as well as a camera. Anthony was obviously having the time of his life. He couldn't stop talking or asking questions. This gave Cilia time to stand quietly back and study Theo. He fascinated her. True, he irritated and annoyed her, especially when he said such nasty things about poor Paul, yet at the same time this unexpectedly tender, fatherly way he was treating Anthony was amazing. Somehow it didn't go with the brusque, efficient, impatient, arrogant air Theo normally had. The car was a sports car, bright red. Cilia fell in love with it at sight and so did Anthony. Theo made Cilia sit in the driver's seat and drive him a short distance. Then he nodded. ' You're okay. Have it if you want it.' ' Of course I do,' said Cilia. The hard part was going to be letting Joanna think the car was hers! It must be Cilia's while she was on the island, she decided. How long would she be here? She turned to ask Theo, but he and Anthony had plunged into one of the stores. Cilia waited for them, looking round. There was a ship in the harbour, anchored by one of the jetties. Along the shore she could see glimpses of white buildings seeming to look shyly through the screens of trees. There were huge rocks suddenly appearing unexpectedly next door to modern buildings. There was a cathedral and a statue of Queen Victoria. Cilia found the narrow winding streets fascinating to look at, particularly because the balconies of the old wooden houses seemed to bump 64 into one another across the roads. The people all seemed to be so happy, jostling one another, walking in the middle of the road, laughing and talking. Cilia wandered back towards the garage where the car awaited her. No sign of Theo or Anthony? No sign either of the long green car. Had Theo gone home, leaving her to drive her new car? she wondered. The garage proprietor came out and handed her the car keys with a courteous bow. She would be happy, he said he hoped, and that the car was beautiful, as beautiful as its new mistress. Slightly embarrassed, Cilia got in the car and drove slowly towards the main road that led along the coast. Theo was right, she thought; there mightn't be the traffic of England, but there were hundreds of bicycles and rickshaws and everyone seemed to view the roads as belonging to them. She drove slowly, sounding her horn and being given startled, rather shocked glances as if she was committing an offence in telling them to get out of the way, but at last she got out on to the road. She still drove slowly though the car went like a bird. She found herself singing. She was happyso very happy, she thought. This was the loveliest place in the world. Not even in the wildest of her dreams had she imagined anything as beautiful as this. It was only as she drove into Joanna's drive that Cilia remembered Theo had said they would have lunch in Victoria! Had it been an invitation or an order? she wondered. Well, he and Anthony and the green car had all vanished, so it had been natural enough for her to feel dismissed. Q>

  Joanna came out into the garden, yawning, rubbing her eyes. ' What on earth . . .' she began, frowning. Cilia got out of the car. ' Ours/ she smiled. 'Isn't she beautiful?' ' I don't think so,' said Joanna petulantly. ' A sports car 1' Her voice was scornful. ' Grow up, Cilia. What we could do with is a big posh-looking car.' ' I like this,' said Cilia, surprised and rather hurt by Joanna's reaction. ' I thought you bought it for me,' Joanna said accusingly. ' I did,' Cilia said, her temper growing. You can sell it when I go.' ' When will that be?' Joanna asked. Cilia couldn't speak for a moment. ' As soon as I'm allowed,' she said, and got into the car, ignoring Joanna who was shouting. As she drove away, Cilia scolded herself for losing her temper. If she had bought a Rolls-Royce it wouldn't have satisfied Joanna, for nothing could ever satisfy her, she should have known that. Poor Paul, Cilia thought, and realised suddenly that she was automatically driving back to Victoria. Maybe because having lunch with Theo and Anthony was far more enjoyable than staying with Joanna when she was in one of her moods. Carefully parking the car, Cilia began her search for the green car, glancing also in the shops to see if she could find Theo and Anthony. It was difficult in the crowded streets, looking in every store, searching the car parks. Finally she decided they must have driven back to Theo's home as she had thought 66

  in the beginning. He had helped her shop, shown her the island and got her the car she wanted. Why should he bother any more? As she was surprisingly hungry, she hunted for the sort of restaurant she would like. She was about to cross the road when she heard a voice shouting: ' Cilia . . . Cilia! Here she is. Uncle!' It was Anthony, racing towards her, grabbing hold of her. ' We lost you,' he said accusingly. ' You frightened us.' Theo was close behind him. His face pale, his mouth stern. 'Where the hell have you been?' he asked. ' We've gone nearly mad looking for you. I rang up your sister's and she said you were in a temper and had driven off somewhere.' 'I couldn't find you either,' said Cilia. 'I hunted everywhere and even the car had gone. So ... so I thought you'd taken Anthony home and ... and took it for granted I'd drive myself in the new car.' ' Hadn't I said we'd have lunch here?' Theo demanded. ' Yes, but I didn't remember that until I was at Joanna's.' ' Why were you angry with her?' ' That's my . . .' she began, and then shrugged; he probably wouldn't believe her, because he obviously thought Joanna was wonderful 1 ' I was upset,' Cilia confessed. ' I thought the car was marvellous, but Joanna didn't. She wanted a posh Rolls-Royce.' 67 Theo laughed. ' She was joking. You do swallow the bait. Cilia. Come along, let's go and eat. Anthony and I are starving.' '
So am I,' Cilia said. Anthony shook his head. ' Don't ever do that to us again. Cilia,' he said with a pompous solemnity that reminded her of Theo in one of his moods. We were worried stiff, weren't we. Uncle?' Theo laughed. ' We certainly were. Ah, just across the road here. Pleasant place and good food.' The restaurant was surprisingly crowded, mostly with English or Americans. Theo led the way when the head waiter came hurrying, almost falling over in his eagerness, and bowing politely at Cilia. ' Yes, monsieur, the table, it is prepared. This way, if you would be so kind,' he said. Their progress was slow, for Theo kept stopping at different tables, greeting the people sitting there, introducing Cilia as his friend and Anthony as his nephew. She was greeted with smiles and curious eyes and she wondered if many of them were thinking she might be Theo's fiancee. That made her want to laugh, it was such a crazy idea. Theo had his own interests and marriage was certainly not one of them. The lunch was excellent, with Anthony thoroughly enjoying himself, Theo and Cilia chatting impersonally. ' If we may, Anthony and I are coming home with you,' Theo said after he had paid and they walked out into the hot sunshine. ' I've sent the car home.' Cilia had to laugh. That gives me no choice, then.' 68

  Theo smiled. ' Exactly. By the way, you'll be getting invitations from some of those people you met today. If you're asked to an evening party or dinner, let me know and I'll take you.' Startled, Cilia stared at him. ' But why should you? I mean, it's very kind,' she added hastily, ' but I don't want to be a nuisance.' ' You won't be. I don't allow people to be nuisances,' Theo said with his bland arrogance. ' Don't forget I'm your trustee and Aunt Lil made me promise to look after you. I'm not one to break my word.' ' It's . . . it's very good of you,' said Cilia. ' Was that why you introduced me to so many people?' ' Yes, I want everyone to know that I believe you, that I know you're not the sort of monster the grapevine will make you if given a chance.' Which was very good of him, Cilia thought as they went to her new car, but it meant she was under, a ... well, a sort of obligation to him for being so good, and the odd thing was that she didn't want to have to feel grateful to him for anything! Driving the car, at first she felt nervous and ill at ease, wondering if Theo would criticise her and become a back-seat driver. But, as she soon found, she need not have worried, since Theo took not the slightest notice or showed any interest whatsoever in her driving. He talked all the time to Anthony, pointing out the birds, giving them their names, telling him about the coconut palms that could live for seventy to a hundred years, how they had nuts all the year round and could also grow as tall as eighty feet. He also promised to show Anthony how to tap two sticks together with which they 69

  would call a little bird called 'the flightless rail'. They both laughed and Cilia felt the odd one out, as she drove carefully, her eyes watchful, for she didn't want to do anything wrong. When they reached Theo's house, Anthony looked at Cilia and then at his uncle. ' Can I show her the horses and dogs?' he asked eagerly. Theo ruffled the boy's hair. ' Not now, son. You run round and give Pierre a helping hand. I want to talk to Cilia. By the way, ask Ermyntrude to bring us out some coffee. I fancy some.' As Anthony raced towards the house, Theo looked at Cilia. ' Well?'he asked. Somehow she knew what he meant. ' He's a different child,' she said slowly. ' Honestly, Theo, you are making him happy.' ' Let's sit down. I'm enjoying it, too. I only wish I hadn't got to leave him.' ' You still haven't heard from your sister?' Cilia asked as they walked across the lawn. She kept turning her head, drinking in the beauty of it all. What made the colours so vivid? The redsthe bluesthe dramatic purplesthe pure white the lovely warm golden? ' Your neck stiff?' Theo asked as they sat down. 'My neck?'Cilia was startled. 'No. Why?' ' You keep turning your head from side to side.' She had to laugh. ' I was just looking at everything. It's all so beautiful. You know, Theo, I just can't understand why Joanna never told us how beautiful it was.' ' You find it beautiful?' ' Do I find it beautiful 1' Cilia echoed. ' It's . ., 70

  too lovely for words. I just wish Aunt Lil could have seen it.' ' You could have both come out to visit Joanna.' ' We were never asked.' Cilia rubbed the edge of the deck chair. -' Maybe we should have suggested it, but Aunt Lil was ...' ' Proud and hurt by your sister's behaviour. I take it Aunt Lil never tried to stop the marriage?' ' No, she never tried, but there was a feeling. You know the kind? A sort of disappointment. Paul says that Aunt Lil hated him because his father jilted her.' 'His father jilted Aunt Lil? With all that wealth. A likely story,' Theo said contemptuously. ' More likely Aunt Lil discovered the kind of man -Paul's father was and jilted him. Paul thinks up some funny stories.' ' His mother told him.' ' Do you honestly think your Aunt Lil would bear malice all those years? Do y.ou believe she would allow herself?' ' No, I don't. I was surprised,' Cilia confessed. ' I'm surprised you even believed it fora moment. I thought you knew Aunt Lil better than that. Paul just making up something to make him seem the victim . . .' A tall Creole girl with beautiful features and long black hair brought out a tray with the coffee. ' Thanks, Ermyntrude,' he said. ' Like to play mother. Cilia? I like mine black, please, and four lumps of sugar.' ' Ermyntrude ... . what a strange name,' she commented. ' You'll coqie across some odd names here. I 7 think it dates back to the days when the slaves' children were given their master's name or that of one of his familyHildegarde, Josephine, Carmelite. Sometimes it's the name of a saint, that usually comes when they live near a Mission.' ' Are there schools and hospitals here?' ' Of course there are. This is a sophisticated, civilised place. Unfortunately for usthough fortunately for the localsmore and more tourists and retired people are coming here, to visit or even live.' ' Like you.' . He smiled. ' Touche! Yes, I know it's a good thing for the islands, but it is rather spoiling things.' ' Progress always does,' she sighed. ' I often wonder what is progress,' Theo mused. ' Maybe these locals were happier before the tourists came. Maybe they weren't.' 'Hi, Uncle!' Anthony came running. He seemed so full of life that he couldn't waste time by walking. Cilia thought. How lovely for him if his parents liked the island and decided to settle here. If they decided to settle down anywhere, that was the problem. Cilia realised. ' You know that stallion, Kamasta? Well, he's sort of limping. I wish you'd come and see. Pierre says it's nothing, but...' ' We'll have a look.' Theo stood up, smiling at Cilia. ' Well, Cilia, it's been a pleasant day but hot for you, so I expect you're eager to get back to Joanna's and have a bath. We'll be seeing you,' he said. ' Goodbye.' Feeling as if the chair had been taken away from under her and she tipped out. Cilia stood up quickly. ' Goodbye.' Anthony grinned. ' 'Bye. See you? You'll come 72 riding?' ' I'd love to.' ' She will,' Theo said curtly. ' Let's get going.' He strode away across the lawn. Anthony close behind. Cilia finished her cup of coffee as she stood up. Well, Theo could not make it more plain if he spelled out the words. She was merely a responsibilityhe would keep his word to Aunt Lil and look after her ' young niece '. Also, Cilia realised, he was going to make use of her where his nephew was concerned. Otherwise she was a nothing. She might just as well be a robot, something so impersonal that you didn't know it was there. She walked to her car, wishing she could see the inside of the house, or the dogs and horses. Why had Theo stopped her from seeing them? One thing, when she was living there with Anthony, she would be able to explore, so she must just be patient and wait. T

  CHAPTER VIII

  The next few weeks passed quickly, with Theo taking Anthony and Cilia out every day as he had promised, to the different islands where Anthony used his new camera, his young face so happy that it made Cilia want to cry. Anthony was really enjoying every moment. He had even got an exercise book in which he carefully wrote down notes. ' So I can tell Mum,' he explained gravely to Cilia one day. ' She'll be interested,' he added as he gave her the book to read. I do hope so. Cilia thought as she read the notes. ' We saw a weaver bird, it's called toc-toc, but I don't know why. We also saw a chameleon. It has tunny long legs, walks slowly, and if it is frightened, it stands still, twisting itself so that it looks just like a leaf. We also saw kestrels. They eat dead lizards.
I like lizards, they move so fast. We saw lots of spiders. They are huge but don't hurt you. The white terns make strange screeching noises. We also saw giant tortoises, two hundred years old.' ' I think Aat would make a good ornithologist,' was Theo's comment. ' What's an ornithologist?' Anthony asked. Cilia had to admit that she didn't know either. Theo laughed. ' Someone who studies birds and their habits. You have to go to college to study, of course, but then you can travel anywhere in the world.' ' Sounds good, but . . .' Anthony paused, obviously uncertain. Cilia smiled at him sympathetic7A ally, for she knew he longed for a permanent home one where he could have a horse and dogs. It was strange, but Cilia saw little of Paul these days; he brought home work with him and immediately after their dinner would vanish into his study. Not that it made Joanna any more friendly, as it was obvious she was annoyed because Cilia was going out every day with Theo and Anthony. Not that she said anything, but there was a silent sort of atmosphere in the house which Cilia hated. It grew worse when the invitations out to dinner or to parties came in for Cilia, who was always escorted by Theo. 'Why is Theo taking you out all the time?' Joanna asked once after he had phoned. ' Are you having an affair?' Cilia had to laugh. ' An affair? Why, we fight most of the time. He's only doing this because he promised Aunt Lil he would look after me.' Joanna laughed scornfully. * As if you need looking after! You're with me and . . . well, I can't see why he need take you everywhere. Are you sure he isn't in love with you?' Again Cilia had to laugh. ' We're always arguing or fighting. He's just doing his duty. He's taking me out on purpose.' 'On purpose?' Joanna, beautiful as usual, looked sceptical. ' For what purpose?' Cilia hesitated and then decided to tell the truth. ' Because he wants to stop the talk about me on the island.' ' What talk?' Joanna asked, but Cilia saw the red flush that slid over her sister's face. ' You know very well what I mean,' she snapped, 7B suddenly angry, for Joanna's behaviour hadn't helped at all. Cilia mimicked an affected voice and said: ' Is this the cruel, selfish sister who stole all the money from poor Joanna?' Joanna's cheeks were bright red and she fidgeted as she lay on the swing chair in her yellow kaftan. ' That's absurd. No one says that.' 'Don't they?' Cilia laughed bitterly. 'They may not always say it in those words, but they imply it.' ' That's ridiculous! You're making it up.' ' I am not!' Cilia's voice was angry. ' Theo knows that, too, and that's why he takes me out and introduces me to peopleto show them that he doesn't believe I'm that sort of girl, who would make Aunt Lil forget you were her niece. If anyone did that, Joanna,' she finished, standing up, ' it was you. You never wrote to Aunt Lil. She used to worry about you. You believe I did it deliberately, don't you? That's why I hate living here with you. I know you and Paul don't want me...' Joanna sat up quickly. ' That's absurd. We like to have you with us. I'm sure you're imagining it all. Cilia. I can't think anyone would believe you did it on purpose.' Cilia hesitated. Should she believe that, or was Joanna only saying it because she wanted to get as much money as she could out of her sister? It was a horrible thought, but, knowing Joanna, she could not help thinking it was true. ' I'm not imagining it, Joanna. Only last night at the Beavers' party a woman said to me: "I think your sister is a wonderful woman, to be so nice to you." ' Cilia yfi