Lingua Franca by William Thacker

Author:William Thacker [Thacker, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781785079757
Google: rJjnDwAAQBAJ
Amazon: 1785079743
Publisher: Legend Press
Published: 2016-05-15T23:00:00+00:00

11. METAMORPHOSIS

The walkway connecting each shipping container offers a perfect view of the harbour. From our towering position above the slipway, it looks as though man has triumphed over nature. There aren’t many trees or parks, just the industrial imprint of tankers, docks and tenement housing. But here we are, with our brightly coloured shipping containers and wire fence. I peer from the ledge, high above the scene. They’re carrying things like little ants in a colony. The morning’s activity involves litter-picking; they’ve left beer bottles and cigarette packets in the hedges. Nigel watches without getting involved. He maintains his authority by instructing people on what to do and where to stand. I’d rather stand outside my little square box and watch the ships come in.

Nigel’s required to raise his voice. ‘Are you coming down?’ He wants to know if I’m ready. I lean on the ledge and tell him I’m not coming. I’m not feeling in the mood to rename the local nursery. He asks if I’ve taken a paracetamol, and we exchange some words about which painkillers are the most effective. He doesn’t question my honesty, although he would if he were talking to anyone else. He’d tell them to stop being such a baby. He’s unable to say this. Instead, he says I should get some sleep and feel better soon. I can hear some of the others say, ‘Get well soon’. I shut the door and watch them depart through the slit. The taxi firms wait by the perimeter in the hope of giving a lift. Our security team will have vetted each firm.

It’s only when I’m certain everyone’s gone that I emerge into the light. What a relief to be met by silence. My every movement seems audible; I can hear the crunch of stones beneath my feet. The silence is to be recommended. I almost wonder why no one’s thought of it before. The scene is plain and clear – without people standing around, there’s more space in which to move, more time in which to think. There’s a whole island to explore. There’s time and space, which seems like an extraordinary turn of events. I could walk for ten minutes without having to worry about meeting journalists. I’ve got time to think about other people, like Kendal. I’m able to reflect on our town-within-a-town, and whether the people of Birdseye should reclaim their own name. The first plan is to check if anyone’s in the kitchen, which is unlikely but possible. The sound that disappoints me – because it means someone’s there – is the sound of the fridge door opening. Someone’s pulling bottles out of the fridge. Darren looks worried that I’ve found him. He puts down the beer bottle.

‘It’s alright, mate. They’ve gone.’

Darren peers around the corner to see if I’m telling the truth. When he’s satisfied, he takes a swig of beer. He’s more relaxed when Nigel’s not around. When it’s just us two, he can do what he wants. We’re the only two people who feel responsible to each other.

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