The Cinnamon Tree by Aubrey Flegg

Author:Aubrey Flegg [Aubrey Flegg]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781847174901
Publisher: The O'Brien Press
Published: 2012-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

Yola had just arrived from Simbada airport; she stood in dismay among packing cases and chaos in Isabella’s house.

‘Don’t tear your jeans,’ Isabella warned, ‘some of those packing cases are sharp! Trust a man to go off and leave his wife to do all the hard work!’

Where was Hans? Yola wondered. Left? Gone to Norway? Where?

‘But, Isabella,’ she exclaimed, ‘where are you going?’ This was terrible.

‘Haven’t you heard?’ laughed Isabella, running her fingers through her hair. ‘Hans has been promoted. We are opening a Regional Office in Nopani.’

‘Oh wow!’ exclaimed Yola. ‘Oh wow, oh wow,’ and she had to laugh at herself; she had thought only Catherine could ‘wow’ like that. ‘Tell me, go on!’

‘I’ll tell you while we work,’ said Isabella. ‘I hope you are not too tired. You see, you and I are leaving for Nopani tomorrow.’

Yola wasn’t tired then, but she was dropping by the time the packing had been completed. It was such a disadvantage not being able to bend her knee to lift things. When the work was done, they moved out on to the veranda with glasses of coke from the fridge. She watched her glass frost in the warm night air while Isabella filled her in on what had been happening.

‘Yes, Hans has got his wish. The Nopani mine problem is bigger than we expected and it’s difficult running it from here, running up and down for everything. Also his wife objected – too many pretty girls in Nopani.’ Isabella grinned. ‘So, Head Office has agreed. He has found an old barracks on the north side of town. There are bunkhouses for the deminers, and the old adjutant’s house is an office and there is accommodation for the office staff. Hans and I will be looking for a house in town.’

Yola smiled bravely, but a cloud was descending. She lived on the south side of the town. If they were on the north, they might as well be on the moon.

‘Has the work up at the hill finished then?’ she asked.

‘Where you found your mine? Yes, that’s all clear now.’

‘Oh … good,’ but Yola couldn’t hide the disappointment in her voice.

‘Come on, sad face. What’s the matter? I thought you’d be pleased.’

‘Oh I am. It’s just … it’s so far away. The north side … well, it’s like school all over again. I’ll never get across town to see you.’

‘Tell me Yola, be honest, were you really hoping to work for us?’

‘Well, I did hope, just a little. I thought maybe I could paint sticks like Gabbin did. But now you’ve gone.’

Isabella got up and walked into the house. She came back out holding an envelope.

‘I should have given you this before.’

Ridiculously, Yola wondered if it could be from Fintan. Then she noticed that it had no stamp.

‘Hans said to give you this, but said to be sure … well … sure that you were interested.’

Yola opened the envelope. She was mystified; it seemed to be full of forms. The pages were white, yellow and blue.

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