Never an Empire by James Green

Author:James Green
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Accent Press
Published: 2016-03-14T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-two

The following day, after his visit to the sewing school and two houses, Father Enrique was surprised to see the sandy-haired reporter walking towards him in the street. He wore the same light suit and bow tie and there was a big smile on his face. The American stopped in front of him with his hand stretched out.

‘Well, well. Nice to see you again, Father.’

Father Enrique reluctantly shook the man’s hand.

‘I didn’t think I would see you here again. Has San Juan provided you with another fairy story to fire your imagination?’

It wasn’t meant to be welcoming but the American ignored it, carried on smiling, and took hold of Father Enrique’s upper arm.

‘I’m not here looking for any story; that’s all finished, done and sent off. I’m here to see you. Come to the hotel and I’ll buy you a drink.’

Father Enrique felt the gentle pressure on his arm. He pulled himself free.

‘I’m afraid I have business to attend to. Parish business.’

‘Visiting a few wealthy wives and drinking coffee? That can wait, surely?’

‘No it can’t and … how did you know what I do?’

‘I know all about you, Father. You’d be surprised how hard I work when I’m on a story. I only use a small fraction of what I dig up. All the rest gets carefully stored away.’

‘Stored away? Where?’

The American tapped his head.

‘Up here.’ He laughed. ‘Don’t worry, no one else gets to look at it. It’s all safe with me. Now, how about that drink?’

‘No.’

‘Father, I’d like this to be a little private talk just between ourselves but if I have to I can make it official.’

‘Official? How can a reporter make something official?’

‘I’m not just a reporter. While I’m here I do odd jobs for the governor general’s office. He’s short-handed and takes all the help he can get when there’s anything needs looking at outside Manila or one of the big towns.’

‘And something needs looking at here in San Juan.’

‘That’s right.’

‘You know, the more I find out about you the less I want to have anything to do with you. Last time we met you were a reporter, nothing more. Now you’re a temporary official with the governor general’s office. Before you turned up nothing much ever happened in San Juan. But now something seems to happen all the time.’

‘It does seem that way. Don’t you want to know what it’s all about?’

‘No. I told you before and I tell you again: I want nothing to do with you.’

‘Not even if it involves the young woman called Carmen whom your housekeeper is passing off as her cousin’s daughter?’

Father Enrique tried to keep the surprise and anxiety out of his voice.

‘What about her?’

‘Yes, I thought if I mentioned Carmen your attitude might change. A very pretty young woman, Carmen. Don’t you think so, Father?’

‘I suppose so. I hadn’t noticed.’

‘No? Then you must be the only man in San Juan who hasn’t.’

What do you mean?’

The American’s hand went back to Father Enrique’s arm.

‘Let’s go to the hotel and get that drink and I’ll tell you.

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