New Beginings - 10. NB Chapter 10

Reluctantly I read on to see what it had to say. “The Norwegian flagged ship – Southern Explorer arrived in Albany yesterday, after completing its second supply run, from Albany to Cape Town, resupplying six subantarctic research bases in the Southern Ocean, with four of them being French, one being South African and one Australian. The Southern Explorer, will set off again at the end of August, for another supply run, and will remain in South Africa till early March till it makes its next supply run, back to Albany”.

I told Annette that if Sebastian calls, she does not know where I am, and reluctantly she agreed to do as I asked, and that was the end of the subject for the remainder of the weekend. A few weeks later, when I drove home for another weekend break from campus, I saw Sebastian standing in the main street, talking to a local, and luckily he didn’t see me, as I headed to the rectory. Now knowing the dates when Southern Explorer is in Western Australia, I decided to remain at the university campus, where I can’t be found.

When the mid-year holidays arrived at the end of June, I decided to take a quick trip back to Stanley, and with two days of travelling each way, it would give me a full week to spend at the Falkland Islands, which I was looking forward to, even with the long tiring journey, too and from there. Leaving on the Thursday evening, I arrived in Santiago, in time to catch the twice weekly flight to the Falkland Islands, arriving on the Saturday afternoon, and catching the bus into the main settlement, I asked the driver to drop me off at the Lafone Lodge.

The look on Mary’s face when she saw me approaching the front yard was a delight, she smiled broadly, dropping the basket of roses that she had been cutting. “Oh my dear Huon, what a lovely surprise to see you, come in lets get you settled into your room, how long are you staying this time” Mary said to me, as she gave em a hug, then grabbed my small suitcase. “It’s nice to see you again too, Mary, have you both being keeping well? I am staying for just a week, I am on mid year holidays from my university studies” I replied.

Once I had settled into the room that Mary had given me, I accepted a cup of tea and sat down. “You better give Tom and Margaret a call, and let them know you are here for a week” Mary said to me, and I nodded my head as I retrieved my mobile from my pocket, and dialled the number, which was easy to remember as there are only 5 digits for phone numbers in the Falkland Islands.

“Douglas Farm, Margaret speaking” I heard when the call was answered, “Hello boss, how are things going at Douglas” I said with a smile, “Now that sounds like my second favourite man, and it sounds like a local call, what are you doing back here Huon” Margaret replied, and I chuckled. “I arrived on todays flight, I am on mid year holidays, so I thought I would spend a week on my favourite place on earth” I replied.

“Well it is wonderful to have you back, and Tom will be thrilled to know you are back, even if it is for just a short while. I will get him to come into town in the morning, to pick you up, we have missed you a lot you know, especially now that Ole Jed is not with us any more” Margaret said, “I look forward to seeing you both again, see you tomorrow” I replied and we ended the call.

“Well it looks like you are staying only for one night then, we only have two other guests at the moment, dinner will be at the usual time” Mary said to me. “Thankyou Mary, you have always been very good to me, I might go for walk around town, and see if anything has changed” I replied, “take your jacket, it’s been quite cold the last few afternoons” Mary said to me as I stood up and headed to my room.

The following morning, I had just finished breakfast, when Tom arrived. “Hello my boy, it is good to see you again” Tom said with a big smile, and I stood up and shook his hand, “Hello Tom, it is good to be back, my word, you must have left home early to be here now” I replied. “Yes, but I didn’t mind, especially when it is to collect you” Tom said to me.

For the 90 minute journey back to Douglas, Tom informed me, that Old Jed had got so drunk one day, that he drove the old ute straight into the river and nearly drowned, so he was sacked, and Tom has had to cope on the own. After a brief welcome home, and a change into work clothes, I went straight to the stables, where Sophie recognised me right away, and I quickly saddled her up and we went for a nice long ride.

When we had returned, Tom was waiting for me, and once I had unsaddled and brushed Sophie down, I jumped into the landrover with Tom, and we set off to check on some mobs of cattle. By the end of the day, I was looking forward to a hot shower, change of clothes, and a nice hot meal. For the week that I spent on Douglas Farm, I enjoyed every moment of it, and it was sad to leave again, but unfortunately I had to return home.

When I finally arrived in Perth, I caught a taxi back to the student accommodation, and I slept most of the day, to try and recover from jet lag, and after having a large meal and going for a long walk around the campus, I went to bed at 9pm, as I had the start of the second semester the next day. The first week back was a little tough, as I tried to get back to a normal routine, and I kept myself busy with my studies.

When I read in the papers in early September, that the Southern Explorer had left Albany, for it’s next supply run, I was pleased, and the following weekend I went home to Toodyay to spend some time with Annette and Kyle, and when I arrived Annette laughed, “I had a feeling you would be home this weekend” she said to me and we both laughed, “You know me too well, Rev” I replied.

“Will you be heading back to Stanley at the end of the semester?” Annette asked me, “Yes, I have already booked the tickets, I will be leaving on the Sunday morning after the last day of the semester. I will be spending four days in New Zealand, before flying to Santiago, for an overnight stay and on to Stanley the next day, which will be Christmas eve” I replied.

“When will we be expecting you back?” Annette asked me, “That will be a week before the start of the new semester, when I came back from the mid year trip, I was exausted for a whole week from the jet lag” I said with a smile. “Well as long as that is what you want” Annette replied. I sent a email to Tom and Margaret, to let them know of my plans, for coming back to the Falklands, and I received a short email back.

“Looking forward to your return, Love Tom and Margaret”, and I smiled at the email, before closing the computer, and I spent the rest of the day relaxing with Annette and Tom, before heading back to my student accommodation, to continue with my studies, which was a challenge, but I still enjoyed it. When I arrived back in Stanley on the Saturday afternoon, nearly a week after leaving home, I was tired and exhausted, as the bus drove into the settlement, not taking much attention to my surrounds.

When I was dropped off outside Lafone Lodge, I was surprised to see my landrover parked out the front, and I was staring at it as the bus drove off, and Mary appeared. “Hello young man, do you have time for some afternoon tea, before you drive to Douglas,” Mary said with a smile, and I followed her inside, after depositing my suitcases in the back of my landrover.

Mary explained that Tom and Margaret had been into the settlement, earlier in the day and had dropped off the landrover, so I could drive out to Douglas when I arrive. After a nice afternoon tea with Mary, she asked me to take her into town, to the West Store, so she could do some shopping, and that she would get someone to give her a lift back home.

So we climbed into my landrover, and headed down Ross road, and I glanced over to the East Jetty, and I was not happy with what I saw. “Now what the hell is that doing here in the Falklands” I said in a angry tone, “What dear, oh do you mean the Southern Explorer? Mary replied, a little confused at my anger, “Yes I mean the Southern Explorer, what is it doing here?” I snapped.

“What is it with you and this hatred for this ship? It came into Stanley about mid October, I believe it has a supply contract to supply some research stations in the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans” Mary replied, “Yes I already know that, between Albany, Australia and Cape Town, South Africa, I know the owner, and I have been onboard that ship once” I replied.

“According to the local media reports, it is trying to get permission to do tourist cruises between the Falklands, to the South Georgia Islands and north to the Ascension Islands” Mary said to me looking very concerned, which I noticed. “It’s a long story, but lets just say I don’t want anything to do with Mr Wagner, his ship or his crew” I said as I slowed down, and turned into the carpark of the main store.

“So if any outsider asks about you, do we say we know no one of that name” Mary said to me, “Yes if you can spread the word around the locals, that would be appreciated” I replied with a smile, “Very well, have fun on the farm, and I will see you again soon” Mary said as she stepped out of the vehicle. As I drove down Ross road, I looked towards East Jetty and the ship.

Suddenly I saw Sebastian and two boys walking towards town from the jetty, I was not sure if they saw me or not, but I kept driving, still fuming that the Southern Explorer was on the Falklands. Once I was well out of town, I slowed down and pulled off the road, and retrieved my mobile and dialled a number. “Rectory, Kyle Davies speaking” I heard the familiar voice say, “Hey buddy, how are things in Perth?” I said in reply, with a smile.

“Hi Huon, it is good to hear you, how was the trip?” Kyle asked me, “It was very long and tiring, Kyle when did your mum last hear from Sebastian Wagner?” I answered. “Yesterday, I think he was trying to get mum to convince you to talk to you , even if it was by telephone, he is still in South Africa I think, hang on a minute....” Kyle said to me and after a few moments I heard him call out to Annette.

“Mum, it’s Huon on the phone, wanting to know when you last spoke to Mr Wagner” I heard Kyle say, and moments later Annette came onto the phone, “Hello Huon, Kyle was saying you are enquiring about Sebastian Wagner, he rang yesterday from South Africa I think, it was a long distance call, as the line was not very good, he wanted me to convince you to speak to him by telephone” Annette said to me.

“I do know that he is not in South Africa, thats for sure” I commented, “Why do you say that Huon?” Annette asked, “Because less than two minutes ago, I drove past the East Jetty, and the Southern Explorer is moored there, and it has been here since mid October, and I just saw Sebastian and his two brothers walking into town from the jetty” I replied, “Oh, that is one very fluke coincidence, has he seen you?” Annette replied, “I don’t think so, I was driving past so I hope not” I said.

“Well, I hope and pray that he didn’t see you, I presume you are heading out to the farm now?” Annette asked, “Yes I am, and I will stay out there as much as I can, till it is time to come home for the new university year, thanks for the update, and you can inform Sebastian, when you speak to him next that I am not interested in talking to him, and to stop looking for me” I said to Annette.

“Ok dear, I will let him know when he calls next, and I won’t tell him that you know where he is, good luck and see you when you get home” Annette said and we ended the call. I continued my journey to the farm, and I went directly to the main house, where Tom and Margaret were waiting for my arrival.

“Welcome back, did you have a good trip?” Margaret asked me, as she gave me a warm hug, It was long and tiring, but I look forward to returning each time?” I replied with a smile. “We now have another farm hand, his name is Jose, he has been with us since early September, he is a Chilean nephew of the farmers on West Falkland, and I think you will get along with him very well.

We moved your belongings into Old Jed’s cottage as it is a bit larger, and Jose has your old cabin, and he has been taking good care of Sophie for you” Tom said to me, “I look forward to working with him” I said as I sat down and accepted a cup of tea. I explained to Tom and Margaret about the Southern Explorer, and that I was not on good terms with the owner and crew of the ship, and they understood, and said they had already been given a briefing about it from Mary.

Margaret also mentioned that Jose would be having his main meals with us at the main house, as he is only 21 years old, and not a very good cook, and I chuckled at this. “I won’t be coming over in the mid year holidays, as I am looking at doing some work place experience to improve my skills as a Farrier” I announced to my bosses, “That is good to hear, that you are doing this” Tom said to me.

One I had finished my tea, I headed out to get settled into my new cabin, which has a fence around the house, a garage and it is bigger in size. When I entered the cabin’s front door, I found it to be freshly cleaned, nice and warm and it appeared to be nicely furnished, the lounge room was larger, and it included a television. The kitchen was simular to the other cabin, with the kitchen stove currently rnnning, keeping the cabin nice and warm, and the kitchen and dining room were a good size.

The bedroom was slightly larger than the one in the other cabin, and looked very comfortable, Looking in the wardrobe, I found all of my other clothes already hanging in there, and in the top shelf was my laptop computer and wifi modem, which I pulled down and set it up on the dining table. Once I had done that, I had a closer look around the kitchen, and found breakfast foods in the cupboards, and in the fridge.

The bathroom was a little bigger than the other cabin, and the laundry is also inside, while the back patio had a large supply of cut wood for the fires, and I carried a few more pieces inside to the kitchen, before heading outside to park my vehicle in the garage, before going back inside and relaxing in the lounge room, where I thought about this situation with Sebastian,

I was annoyed that Sebastian was trying to force his friendship onto me, and very pissed off that he has ended up in the Falkland Island of all places, but I did wonder why he was being so pushy. But for now, I just wanted to continue with my work on the farm for the summer, then return home to continue with my university studies. When I walked over to the main house for dinner, I found a young man chatting to Margaret, while she was preparing dinner.