The Golden Reef (1969) (17 page)

Keeton was half-asleep at the helm of the yawl when the girl came out of the cabin. She was carrying a cup of tea in her hand.

‘I thought you might be thirsty.’

He took the mug. ‘You think of everything, Val.’

‘How many more days before we reach the reef?’

‘Depends on the wind. Three or four maybe.’

It had been her own idea to return with him. He had urged her, not with any enthusiasm, to accompany her brother on board the ship; but she had been adamant in refusing.

‘If you really intend to go back for the rest of the gold‚’ she had said, ‘you’ll need help. I won’t let you go alone. Ben is in good hands.’

That was true. The ship had been a passenger-cargo liner, and carried a doctor. She was bound for Sydney, and within a few days Dring would be ashore. He would be all right. Keeton sipped the tea. ‘Do you still hate the gold?’

‘Yes‚’ she admitted. ‘But I know you would have gone for it anyway, and I couldn’t let you go down into that ship alone. I wish I could persuade you to give it up. But you won’t do that.’

‘No‚’ he said. ‘Not now. I can’t.’

She sighed. ‘So that’s how it’s got to be.’

It was that same evening when they saw the wave, small at first in the distance, but growing bigger and bigger until it was like a great hill of water advancing to meet them. It was awe-inspiring,
frightening, for it had appeared without warning out of a dead calm sea. It seemed to stretch across their path from horizon to horizon, so that there was no way round, only through or over it.

The girl clutched at Keeton’s arm. ‘It will sink us.’

‘No‚’ he said. ‘There’s nothing to fear.’

They met the wave head on, and the yawl rose on its vast back like a paper boat, buoyant and weightless. It rose high in the air and then went sliding down the other side; and the tremendous ridge of water went rolling on until it shrank and vanished in the distance.

‘What was it?’ Valerie asked. And her voice shook.

‘I don’t know‚’ Keeton said. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it before. It must have been some kind of tidal wave.’

She shivered. ‘It was horrible. There was something elemental about it. I was terrified.’

‘I wasn’t too happy myself‚’ Keeton admitted. ‘But it’s gone now, so let’s forget it.’

Three days later they reached their destination. Yet even as they drew towards it Keeton knew that it was not the same, not as they had left it. There was no foam gleaming like snow along the reef, for there was no reef. That was the amazing, scarcely credible fact: the reef had disappeared.

Keeton refused to believe it; it was just not possible. He checked and re-checked that this was indeed the place. He searched with his binoculars the whole wide expanse of ocean, and no sign of coral met his gaze.

‘It can’t be gone‚’ he muttered. ‘It can’t be.’

And yet it was. Two pairs of eyes proved the fact.

‘Suppose‚’ Valerie suggested, ‘there’s been some kind of submarine earth tremor while we’ve been away. Or some volcanic action.’

And then Keeton remembered the great wave, and he knew without doubt that she had guessed the answer: the same action that had caused the wave must have destroyed the reef also. And with the reef had gone the
Valparaiso
and all that was left of the gold.

For a long while he was silent, gazing at that empty circle of
water in which for nine long months had stood his home, and then he began to laugh.

‘It’s gone‚’ he shouted. ‘It’s gone, Val, all gone; every last ounce of it. It’s gone to the devil, and we’d have to go down into hell to dredge it up now.’

He shook with uncontrollable laughter. He could not keep still. The laughter bubbled out of him in gusts.

‘Gone! All gone!’

The girl put a hand on his arm, gazing at him in concern. ‘Charlie, you mustn’t. You’ve got to control yourself. I know what a terrible disappointment it must be for you, but—’

He stopped laughing suddenly and stared at her. ‘Disappointment! Is that what you think? You think I’ve gone mad with frustration? Is that it?’

‘What else am I to think?’

‘What else? I’ll tell you what else. I’m glad it’s gone. Glad.’

And it was true. At last he felt free; free to live his life as it ought to be lived; free to be like other people, no longer carrying this load upon his shoulders. For more than three years the gold had ruled him, had ordered every move that he made; and now it was gone for ever. How could he not be glad?

‘Let’s get away‚’ he said. ‘Let’s get away from this place – now.’

Her eyes were shining. It was as though a cloud had lifted from her mind.

‘Yes‚’ she said. ‘Oh, yes; let’s get away.’