NB New Direction - 25. NB ND Chapter 25

Within three weeks, we had completed all preparations for the arrival of the first guests to the island, we had done some major advertising in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the UK and Canada, and we have been getting some solid bookings to stay on the island.

Using the company that has DHC-8 Dash 8 aircraft, we have arranged for weekly flights from Perth to Deepdale Island and return, and also weekly flights from Singapore to Deepdale Island via the Cocos Keeling Islands, with a stopover. Sebastian and I had worked out a timetable for the visitors, with those coming from Singapore, leaving at 0800 hours on Thursday, and arriving on Deepdale at 1500 hours on Friday, after the 24-hour stop on the Cocos Keeling Islands.

Visitors flying in from Perth would leave at 0800 hours on Wednesday mornings, and we have also decided on the option of flights from Broome, which is just over 5 hours flight, with a departure day and time of Mondays at 0800 hours, arriving on the island at 1315 hours. This would mean three flights in and out of the island each week, and we would also be allowing yachts to sail into the island, with a total 9 moorings available.

On the Monday of the first flight arriving on the island, all of the shire council members were gathered at the airfield to greet the first visitors to the island, who were individually greeted as they stepped off the plane, before they were transported to their accommodation using new six-seater buggies, that had come with the last load from the Southern Explorer.

Also brought along, were the kayaks, paddles and PFD jackets, a good supply of golf bag sets with carry trolleys, and pop up gazebos, for sun shelter on the beaches, plus a dozen men and women’s mountain bikes all for the guests to keep themselves occupied during their stay.

By late Friday afternoon, the island was full of guests, with all 32 cabinsoccupied, and three yachts are currently moored in the yacht bay, the souvenir shop, bakery, two cafés, two clothing stores and restaurant, are being kept very busy with all of the guests, and on two occasions, guests have wandered or ridden into the restricted area of the defence base, even though it is clearly signposted that it is a restricted area.

Kyle’s POV

On the second week of the island opening for guests, all the staff were keeping very busy, at 2pm on the Wednesday, Sebastian and the twins flew back to Perth along with the guests, so that they could do some shopping and have a short holiday, leaving my mum and I to keep an eye on my best friend and boss of the island – Huon. On the Saturday evening, Huon informed me that he was feeling a little tired, and that he would not be attending church in the morning, and he insisted that he would be fine, and suggested having lunch with him after church.

The next day, shortly after 11am, after the service was over for another Sunday, I went over to Huon’s place to check on him, but he wasn’t there, I checked around the outside of his cabin, and still no sign of him. “What is it Kyle?” Annette asked me as I was dashing around. “It’s Huon, I can’t find him and I am worried, maybe he is in the admin building” I replied as I headed in that direction, with my mum close behind.

When I opened the door, a large gust of cold air hit my face, and I could see my best friend slumped over his desk, as I raced up to him, and shock his shoulder, and much to my horror, I received no response from him, and he felt very cold. Mum gently pushed me to one side, and she approached Huon, and placed a finger on his wrist, then on his neck, and her head fell forward.

“I am sorry son, but Huon has passed, he has gone to a better place” my mum said to me, and I collapsed on the floor and burst into tears, while mum picked up the radio mic, “Dr Judy Chakma Patwary to the administration building, medical emergency” mum said into the mic.

A few minutes later when the doctor entered and she saw me on the floor, then looked at mum, she knew that it was not good, as she slowly approached Huon, and retrieving her stethoscope, she listened to any sign of life and found nothing. She jotted down the time on a note pad, before doing a few other observations, making a few notes each time, before she turned to face mum and me.

“I am terribly sorry, but from what I can work out from a few observations, this was either a stroke, heart attack or maybe a brain amorism, we will know more once a post mortem has been completed” Dr Judy said to us. “Thank you, Dr, he did complain of not feeling very well yesterday afternoon, when he went home to rest.

I stood up and wiped away my tears, and slowly approached my best friend, “Goodbye Huon, you have been the best mate ever, and I will never forget you” I said as I leaned down and kissed him on the forehead, before turning and dashing out of the building. About half an hour later, after a shower and lots more crying, I went looking for mum, and I found the church still open, and candles were lit on the alter, and several staff were seated under the shade sails, with Mum back in her church wardrobe.

Dr Judy came up beside me, “How are you coping are you ok?” she asked me, concerned. “Err, I’m not sure, everything is like a bad dream, where… what had happened to…” I stuttered, “Huon’s body has been taken to his cabin, with the air-conditioner at its coldest temperature. We have arranged for a plane to fly in from Perth, that will be here at 3pm, and after refuelling, will head back to Perth, with Huon’s body, I have contact the state mortuary, and they are expecting his arrival.

I have decided to leave it to your mum to contact Sebastian, to break the news, and for them to work out funeral arrangements, I suggest that you go and rest or maybe go into the church and pray a little, which ever you want to do, just take a few days off for now” Dr Judy said to me. I spent about ten minutes in church, before reluctantly entering the administration building, sitting at my desk, and I picked up the sat phone and began to make some calls to cancel all future bookings till further notice, starting with the guests due to arrive tomorrow.

Although the guests were very upset with the cancellation, I explained that the island had just lost its’ part owner and Managing Director, and that a full refund will be given. After nearly 40 phone calls, all the future guests have been notified, and I was feeling exhausted, with my emotions going in all directions, just as Mum entered.

“Hi dear, how are you coping” Mum asked me, as she came up to me and gave me a sideways hug. “Ok, I guess, I have just finished cancelling all future bookings, including all of tomorrows arrivals, and I am wondering if I should contact Tom, Margaret, Eric and Mary on the Falklands” I responded. “Yes, we will do that soon, as Huon wants to be buried there, he asked me to arrange it if anything happened to him, firstly we need to speak to Sebastian” my mum said as she picked up the sat phone and dialled the number for Sebastian’s mobile phone.

“Hi there, how are things going on the island, do you miss me already” Sebastian said when he answered, “Sebastian, this is Annette speaking, Kyle is sitting here next to me, we have some bad news to tell you… we are really sorry to inform you that Huon has passed away, sometime last night or this morning” my mum said into the phone, and there was a long period of silence.

“Seb, are you there, did you hear what mum said?” I said into the phone, “Yes mate, I heard you, are you ok?” Sebastian replied, “Apart from crying every five minutes, since I found his body, I am ok” I replied, “Oh, that is not good, well stay strong mate, he would have wanted that. Annette can you tell me anything else on what happened” Sebastian replied.

“I walked into the admin building soon after Kyle this morning, when we found him. Dr Judy said he had been dead for some time, and that it was either a brain amorism, stroke or heart attack. A plane is already on its way to the island to pick up the body to take it to Perth, with an ETA of about 8pm tonight, I am terribly sorry for your loss, Sebastian” my mum answered.

“Seb, I have cancelled all guest arrivals, until further notice, mum has opened the church for pray, and all current guests are aware of the situation. Mum has just told me that Huon wants to be buried at the Falklands, let me know if you need any help with organising anything” I said to Sebastian. “Thanks mate, I will keep in touch. We will remain here in Claremont, to start organising the funeral. Annette, will you be able to officiate the funeral service, I will organise and pay for your flights to Stanley” Sebastian replied.

“Yes, Sebastian that will be fine, once we have finished talking, I will contact Tom, Margaret, Eric and Mary, to break the news to them” my mum replied. A few minutes later, Mum had finished breaking the news to those on the Falkland Islands, Mum and I cried together for a little while.

When the plane arrived with a coffin included, Dr Judy and Mum dealt with cleaning and dressing Huon’s body, before he was placed into the coffin. The Army formed a guard of honour, and coffin bearers, and all the island staff formed a line each side of the road, to say farewell to their boss, and Annette decided to travel back to Perth, so she could be with Sebastian and the twins, and asked Dr Judy to help me while she was away.

Once the plane had left, I went and closed the church, since mum was no longer on the island, and I asked all the staff to return to work, to attend to the guests. Three days later after the last of the guests had finally left the island, including the yachts, with Judy Chakma Patwaryin charge, I travelled to Perth with the guests.

When the plane arrived at Perth Airport, I was surprised to find Sebastian and the twins waiting for me, and the twins wrapped me in a tight hug. “Hey guys, how are you coping, are you looking after your big brother?” I said to them, “Yes but we miss Huon very much” the boys chorused, “Yes, I miss him terribly also” I replied, with tears in my eyes, as Sebastian gave me a hug.

“Hey mate, your mum is staying at Huon’s house, and Mrs Cooper has organised a bedroom for you also. We heard from the state coroner today, Huon had died of a brain amorism, so it was fast and painless, he would have felt nothing, except maybe a headache” Sebastian informed me.

Thirty-five minutes later, we arrived in Claremont, where Mum was there to welcome me. “Hi son, how are you coping, are you ok?” Mum said to me as she gave me a big hug, “I am ok I guess, I am struggling but surviving” I replied. “Ok, well get some rest, as we are flying out again tomorrow afternoon. We are flying to Santiago, via Melbourne, then we have a chartered flight to Stanley” Mum announced to me.

“Will… will he be travelling with us, on the same flights?” I asked, and Mum smiled, “Yes son, Huon will be travelling with us the whole distance, everything is organised” Mum replied. “Relax mate, we will be with you all the way, we are all one family, so you are part of this process” Sebastian said to me.

“Our flight leaves Perth at 12.15pm tomorrow, and after two hours in Melbourne, we leave there at 8.30pm, and arrive, in Santiago just over 13 hours later” Mum informed me, and for the next two days it was a blur of emotions and lots of overseas travel. When we stepped off the plane at Stanley, the first thing I spotted was Huon’s Landrover, which made me cry some more, and we as a family stood and watched as the coffin was loaded into the back of the Landrover, and driven off to the hospital, for overnight storage.

Vehicles had arrived to transport all of us to our accommodation at Eric and Mary’s place, and we all settled into our rooms, for the night, with the funeral service being held at 10am tomorrow. When we arrived at the Cathedral, I was stunned to see that the building was packed full, as we were lead to the front row of the cathedral, and shortly after, we all stood when the coffin was carried inside.

I was crying through most of the service, as I had Sebastian on one side of me and Mrs Cooper on the other side, and I could hear the twins also crying on the other side of Sebastian, as we said our last farewells to my best mate.

Epilogue Twins POV

Sebastian has been very quiet an withdrawn since our dear cousin died. The Southern Explorer had turned around at Cape Town, so the crew could attend the funeral at Stanley, and a wake was held onboard later in the afternoon, with just family and close friends on the ship for lunch straight after the funeral service.

Rev and Kyle both tried to get our brother to talk, but everywhere we went, it reminded him, of Huon. Deepdale Island, the ship, the farm on the Falklands, the retail buildings, school and houses in Claremont, and all Sebastian would do is retreat to his suite and cry.

When we all arrived back in Australia and Claremont, Sebastian asked everyone to gather in the office conference room next door, first thing tomorrow, after a good rest from our long journey back from the Falkland Islands, this gathering was to include Annette and Kyle, Mrs Cooper, Mr Jai and Dr Judy Chakma Patwary, who was arriving from the Island this afternoon.

The next morning at 8am sharp, we were all gathered in the conference room. “Thank you everyone for attending, if have my lawyers from Geneva on loud speaker” Sebastian began, and my twin and I looked at each other, feeling that something big was about to be announced.

“As most of you know, Huon’s passing has hit me very hard, and now I can’t seem to go anywhere without having memories of him. It is with that in mind, that my twin brothers and I will be returning to Switzerland. Mr and Dr Chakma Patwary, I am appointing you both joint Governors of Deepdale Island, I will speak to you both about it in more detail later. Annette and Kyle, the Deepdale homestead, just out of Toodyay, is yours, transfer of ownership will be finalised in a few days time.

Mrs Cooper, Huon’s home, two doors down, is now yours, also with ownership being finalised in a few days. This administration office, all documents, will be packed up and sent to Head office in Geneva, and the school can take over using the space, as well as the house that I and the twins are using at the moment.

The leasing of the school space and the retail spaces in Claremont, the Southern Explorer and Deepdale Island will all be managed from Geneva. Finally I want to say that it has been a privilege to know you all, and we may at times speak by phone, but for now the twin and I will be packing up and flying to Geneva in three days time. That is all for now thank you” Sebastian announced, leaving everyone stunned.

Sebastian met with everyone individually for the rest of the morning, while Mrs Cooper helped us to starting packing our belongings, and get everything from the trip into the wash. On the day that we were to fly out of Perth, possibly for good, Mrs Cooper, Annette and Kyle came to the Airport to see us off, which was very difficult, and my twin and I were in tears as we passed through the secure area to be processed by customs and quarantine.

We knew that for Seb’s sake, we had to leave Australia, even though it felt like home to us in the time we had been there, but we had to stay together as a family, and Switzerland was our true home.

The End