Weeping Waters by Nicholson Anne Maria

Author:Nicholson, Anne Maria [Anne Maria Nicholson]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780730401384
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Frances, a group of us are going to the pub tonight. I thought you might like to come.’

Sam’s invitation takes her by surprise and before she can think of an excuse she has agreed to go. They have just completed a long day of data analysis in the laboratory and he seems to be trying hard to compensate for his previous behaviour.

‘Watch yourself, Frances, Sam has some pretty disreputable friends,’ Theo laughs.

‘Why don’t you come along and look after me then,’ she suggests, hoping he will agree.

‘I’d love to but…well, you know how it is. I don’t like leaving Sue alone at night and she’s not keen on the pub herself.’

‘Talking of disreputable, did I see you having coffee with that Carmody guy who was at the meeting?’ Frances asks, looking directly at Sam as they leave the office.

‘Me? I don’t think so,’ he says uncertainly.

‘I’m sure I saw him with you at a café in town the other week,’ she persists.

‘Oh, that could be right. Now I remember—I was having a coffee and he sat down to have a chat. Just a coincidence, that’s all. Don’t look so worried,’ he adds when he sees her eyes widen.

‘I’m not. Just thought it was odd, that’s all.’

She accompanies Sam two blocks towards the pub in the main street. Loud rock music greets them as they push through into the biggest bar.

‘Sam, over here!’

He takes Frances’ hand and leads her through thronging groups of people who, from their loud conversations and singing, sound as though they have been drinking for some hours. Sitting on a group of bar stools around an elevated table covered in empty and half-full glasses of beer and wine are three men and two women in their late twenties and early thirties.

‘Hi there, Sam. How’re you going? Who’s this then?’

Sam has his arm around Frances in a possessive way that makes her feel extremely uncomfortable. She slips away from him and offers her hand to the man who greeted them.

‘Frances Nelson, I’ve recently arrived in Taupo.’

‘I’m Aaron Priestley. We’ve heard all about you already from Sam.’

Sam grins sheepishly, then introduces her to the others.

‘We’ve all known each other for years—since I arrived in Taupo,’ Aaron says. ‘We meet here far too often. Glad you could join us.’ As he pulls a stool over for her he asks, ‘How’s the crater situation? Heard the Maoris are causing trouble as usual.’

Frances feels them all looking at her for her answer. ‘It’s a very divisive issue,’ she says. ‘Everything’s being negotiated at the moment. I don’t think it’s straightforward at all. Everyone’s entitled to have a say and it is a sacred area for the Maori. They feel their relationship to the land so deeply.’

The men at the table laugh at her response. ‘Easy to tell you’re new around here. You’ll learn, love, that no matter how many concessions we make, they’ll just want more and more—more land, more money, more rights until there’ll be nothing left for any of us.

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