I open my eyes, the remnants of a daydream fading away. I wonder how Della could have known about Jade all that time ago. I wonder how she could have known about String. I realise that, in both cases, it was impossible.
Faith maketh man. I certainly have faith. Whether it’s fed from somewhere or I make it myself, I possess it. And it possesses me.
I move away from the bench as I see a uniformed man come down the gangplank from the ship. There is a noisy crowd on the mole, trying to get a glimpse of what is being unloaded from the hold. A few men in army uniforms lounge around, cradling some very unconventional fire-arms. I guess they could wipe out the town within an hour or two with the hardware they’re displaying.
I approach the man, hoping the uniform is not a lie. “Could you tell me where this ship has come from? Where it’s going?”
He spins sharply, hand touching the gun at his belt, but his expression changes when he sees me. Perhaps he thinks I may have some money because I’m a European. I prepare to run when I have to disappoint him.
“Came from Australia. Goes to Europe. Take you home, eh?” He rubs his fingers together and I back away, nodding.
“Hope so.”
Jade is sitting on a wall near a row of looted, burnt shops. She has some fruit, and is surreptitiously nibbling at a chunk of pink meat.
“How did you get that?”
She smiles. “Used my guiles and charm. Made promises I can’t keep. Just hope I never see him again.”
I frown. “Well, maybe it won’t matter.”
“What do you mean?” she says, but I think she knows.
“The ship’s going to Europe. Are you coming with me?” There, right out with it. No beating around the bush. No prevarication.
“No,” she says. I feel myself slumping with sadness. She hands me some meat, but I do not feel hungry. “Have you got someone there?”
I look at her, thinking, trying to decide whether or not I have. “Not as such,” I say. “Not really. I don’t think so.”
“And what does that mean?”
I shrug. “I’ve got faith in someone, but I don’t really think she exists.” If you know someone’s faith, you know their soul. I feel that Jade has always known my soul, and I think I may love her for that.
“I can’t come, Gabe,” she says. “It’s not too bad here. I know a few people. I’ll survive.” She nibbled at some fruit, but I could tell that she was less hungry than me. “You could stay?”
“You could come.”
We leave it at that.