Ocean's Cage by Carlton Demelza

Author:Carlton, Demelza
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Demelza Carlton
Published: 2015-04-18T04:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

William assisted me down from the cab and the impact of my shoes on the paved road was jarring. It felt like a long time since I'd seen roads that weren't graded dirt like those on Christmas Island. I was in the city again, but on a far grander scale than Fremantle.

The Adelphi Hotel soared up three storeys high, all arches and columns like the university back in Perth. These weren't golden brown, though – the Adelphi was white. Striped blinds and tropical plants shaded the interior from the sun and curious onlookers like me, but not for long. William tugged on my arm and drew me inside.

The white marble was cool under my shoes compared to the hot street outside. Electric fans whirred high overhead, stirring the leaves of the potted palms placed around the foyer floor.

"Can I help you, sir?" The English voice startled me. The only man I knew who spoke like that was the District Officer on Christmas Island, and though their linen suits could have come from the same shop as William's, this man was easily twice his age.

"Yes. William McGregor, chief engineer at the Christmas Island Phosphate Company. I have reservations for my wife and I." William's voice had hardened again.

"Christmas Island? Yes, Mr McGregor." The man's face seemed to have a slight sneer to it, as if he felt William was beneath him. "Do you have any luggage?"

William shrugged. "The ship will send it over, I'm sure. If it doesn't arrive by afternoon, send someone to the Islander in the harbour to fetch it."

From the man's shocked look, I understood that William had managed to offend him. "Of course, sir." A wave brought a uniformed Malay man to his side. "Take Mr and Mrs McGregor to the honeymoon suite."

I gave William a startled glance. There was a room dedicated for honeymoons? We followed the uniformed man across the foyer.

"Hughes must have sent word when we docked," William said in a low voice once the Englishman was out of earshot. "A little more ostentatious than I'd like, but you deserve it, and the company is paying, after all."

We proceeded up the stairs, past more marble, palm trees and polished timber, until we reached a set of double doors.

"Your room, sir," the Malay man said, throwing both doors open.

William gestured for me to go first, and I did, but I only managed a few tentative steps into the room before I stopped. It was similar to William's bungalow, but on a much grander scale. The enormous, canopied bed was draped in swathes of mosquito netting, tied to the corner posts. Another set of double doors led to what looked like a private balcony, with its own collection of pot plants and striped blinds. And beside the bed, a closed door that I presumed hid the bathroom. Now we were on dry land, my seasickness would surely vanish and I'd spend far less time in there than I had on the ship. At least, I hoped so.

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