Without You I Have Nothing (63 page)

_{Pausing, he looked
into Peter's eyes carefully as if trying to decide if his words had sunk in. Then
satisfied, he ordered Peter, "Bring your wife to me."}

_{Abruptly he dismissed
Peter, not allowing for any questions, and stared into the fire as hesitantly
Jennifer allowed Peter to seat her on the opposite side of the fire from the
old man.}

_{She failed to notice
that Peter had removed himself to the far side of the clearing.}

_"Jennifer."

_{She was visibly
startled when the old man addressed her in cultured Oxford English.}

_{"Oh, don't look
surprised. I've known your name since Peter first met you at the bar and
performed - The Dance of the Little Swans - wasn't it?}

_{"No, never has
Peter contacted me since leaving the jungle so many years ago nor did he tell
anyone of his plans for today. He is secretive, that man of yours. However, for
all his faults, he is a good man. He'll follow you to hell and back.}

_{"The near future
will be extremely painful, but those demanding times will eventually end. Constantly
remember that Peter is yours and you are his forever. Never lose sight of that
for a single moment. To assist you, take this snake bracelet.}

_{"When I entwine
the two bracelets it will be a symbol that the sorry saga has ended. Your life
with Peter will resume with no further interference."}

_{Carefully he separated
the two serpents and slid one-half of the bracelet onto Jennifer's wrist. The
other half he kept.}

_{Jennifer studied the
ornately carved, silver snake bracelet embedded with jade, rubies and diamonds.
Gently she ran her fingers over the scales of the snake and was surprised that
she felt an inner peace overpower her.}

_{"This is your
destiny and to show you that, 'There are more things in heaven and earth,
Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy', you will return home, and the
horror will end when I learn to fly.}

_{"You will have
twin girls who will be the first of your brood.}

_{"Tell no one of
what I have said, but hold it in your heart."}

_{Still cackling at the
utter amazement on Jennifer's face and disbelief that this old man of the
jungle could quote Shakespeare, he stood his words at an end. With his
followers, he left as quietly as he arrived.}

_{Peter and Jennifer
were alone.}

_{As Jennifer stared
into the glowing embers, Peter helped her to her feet.}

_{"Let's leave
this evil place. There's nothing here for me now."}

_{A sudden light
movement of air wafted across Jennifer's face and she sensed the voices of two
people saying, "Thank you!  We love you for loving our son."}

_{Peace flooded her
soul.}

_{Engrossed in their
thoughts, they returned to the chopper. It quickly rose and turned north
towards Penang.}

_{The pilot's voice
gave Jennifer a running commentary on what lay below, but her thoughts still
focused on that strange old man and what he had foretold of her future.}

_{Obviously, Peter was
also thinking of his message as he stared ahead with aloofness that Jennifer
found hard to combat.}

_{Bringing them both
back to reality, the pilot's voice, crackling in their earphones, changed to
one of urgency. "Hang on - lots of water ahead,” he warned.}

_{The sky had turned an
eerie green and water poured from the heavens like a waterfall. Rain lashed the
chopper and poured in through the open doorways. Tossed back and forth with its
engine screaming, the chopper struggled to keep them aloft as a howling wind
and drenching rain combined, trying to bring about their downfall.}

_{Terrified, Jennifer
clung to Peter who held her tightly in his arms.}

_{Saturated, terrified
and almost blinded by the light, she watched jagged bolts of lightning hurtle
past them on the way to the ground, accompanied by enormous claps of
ear-shattering thunder.}

_{In her terror,
Jennifer wondered if this was the beginning of what the old man of the jungle
had predicted.}

_{As suddenly as they
had flown into the storm, they passed through it, and below, sparkling in the
sunshine, were the Straits of Malacca with Penang Island on their left.}

_{The chopper swooped
down to land on a grassy patch at the edge of Bayan Lepas Airport.}

_{Jennifer giggled as
she saw a limousine rushing across the tarmac towards them. Relieved to be back
to normal, she had relaxed once more.}

_{"All mod cons,
nothing is too much for my love,” Peter grinned. Gently brushing a lock from
her face, he bent to kiss her forehead. "Thank you my love. Without you
today wouldn't have been possible."}

_{Smiling with relief
and marveling at how quickly her clothes had dried, Jennifer hugged him. They
were both back from the memories of his past.}

_{"I think we
deserve some luxury, and I knew we'd both be too tired to drive,” Peter
explained. "Let's do a little sightseeing on the way. It won't take
long.”  He called out to the driver. "The Snake Temple please,
driver."}

_{"No, Peter,”
Jennifer interrupted, "I've had more than enough excitement for today. Straight
to the hotel please, driver."}

_{Jennifer decided it
was time to assert herself as she moved closer to Peter to cuddle against him
and enjoy the warmth of his love in the air-conditioned leather comfort of the
BMW.}

_{"Certainly
memsahib,” was the chuckling answer of the turban headed driver.}

_{"Besides I'm
starving. I'm not like you, existing on a bowl of chilies, I need food. It's 3
o'clock and I've had no breakfast, no lunch and no water. I really need
reviving. I'm no robot you know."}

_{"If I may be so
bold Mem, I'll take you directly to the hotel and order something exceptional for
you both. You go straight to your room and relax. I'll take care of
everything.”  The driver had definitely overheard her complaints.}

_{The doorman opened
the car door for Jennifer and signaled a room boy to lead the way.}

_{Their suite opened
and Jennifer was delighted to see the French doors opening out to the gardens
and the sea wall with the mainland in the distance. The overhead fans creaked
their welcome.}

_{Sinking into the
cushions of the cane lounge, Jennifer sighed her satisfaction at resting in the
cool. She leant back, eyes closed, sandals kicked off and content to rest.}

_{"Peter, how much
of the words the old man of the jungle told us should we believe?  His words
burn into my consciousness but I find I am ordering myself to ignore the
rubbish. My education tells me that there is no positive proof that soothsaying
and fortune telling are anything but myths."}

_{Before Peter could
reply a polite knock sounded, and Peter's "Masuk!  Come in!” didn't
disturb Jennifer but the smell of food forced her eyes open. The room boy
placed a steak sandwich with a salad on the coffee table before her, and beside
it stood the compulsory ice-cold glass of fresh lime and soda. Neither the meal
nor the drink lasted long and Jennifer didn't care if Peter thought she was no
lady as she wolfed the food down.}

_{Another knock and
another "Masuk” from Peter, and another steak sandwich was placed before
her, and this time the fresh lime and soda was even larger and the room boy
winked, whispering, "With sugar” as he knew the tartness of the first
glass was more than enough.}

_{At last, with hunger
and thirst satisfied but too tired to move, she allowed herself to drift into
sleep to the sounds of the slow-moving fans as they creaked overhead. Jennifer
stirred as Peter lifted her, but she was too tired to open her eyes as he
stripped her and put her to bed.}

_{She merely murmured,
"What are you doing?"}

_{"I'm just
fluffing your pillows!”  He wheeled the TV to the bottom of their bed before
joining her and, drawing her head to his chest, he remembered her concerned
questions. "I can't say whether our friend can tell the future but I've
been in the East long enough to understand that at times the arts of the East
far outshine the arts of the West. What I can tell you is that, no matter what
our destiny, my heart is yours and I will protect you."}

_{Jennifer didn't
answer and lulled by the incessant chatter of the CNN News, Peter found his
eyes closing as he joined Jennifer in sleep.}

_{"That couldn't
possibly be the time!”  The 11 am news bulletin had woken Jennifer. She nudged
Peter until he groaned and turned over to grab her once more.}

_{"No you don't!” 
Laughing, she evaded his clutches and raced to the bathroom, quickly locking
the door behind her. "A girl has to have some privacy,” she shouted as the
shower splashed down on her.}

_{Peter stared at the
ceiling, still concerned over the Old Man of the jungle's message. The Chief
had said this was his destiny. He had no viable option but to graciously accept
the Chief's words. Knowing that with Jennifer by his side he could meet the
challenges ahead, he was still terrified for her safety.}

_{Jennifer was his
future.}

_{She appeared from the
bathroom and threw a wet towel at him. Peter made a quick leap from the bed
towards her and grabbed her around the waist before tossing her onto the bed. Laughing,
she screamed that this was her day and she had more plans than spending it
studying the bedroom ceiling.}

_{"You shower and
dress, and after a quick brunch we'll become tourists.”  Jennifer was in
control.}

_{Peter organized three
trishaws. "One for Mem, one for Tuan and one for Mem's purchases,” was his
explanation to the trishaw drivers.}

_{They rode up Penang
Road, meandering from store to store to arrive at a dimly lit shop run by, as
his clothing proclaimed, a Pakistani.}

_{Lovingly stroking a
Temple Lion and rolling the marble ball in its mouth for luck, Jennifer noted
in an off-hand way. "I like this stone lion, I'll take it."}

_{"No Jennifer,
it's far too big and too heavy.”  Peter tried to be the practical one in the
partnership.}

_{"Oh, I'm so glad
you Australians discipline your women,” the shopkeeper remarked with a glitter
in his eye and a lascivious lick of his lips.}

_{"Is that so?” 
Jennifer quickly retorted as she glared at the Pakistani.}

_{"Well,” she
added disdainfully, throwing Peter's credit card on the counter, "I'll
take a matched pair. Don't even think of doing a switch, The Little One, would
be most unhappy. Now I'll do some serious shopping."}

_{Before she asked
Peter to start haggling, she had added a large, smiling Buddha, an exquisitely
carved Ganesha and a delicate carving of Lakshmi to her purchases.}

_{Peter thought his
bargaining had ended when Jennifer stepped up to the counter once more.}

_{"Oh, no, that is
the price for my husband. I don't have his money. I'm a very poor wife, so...,”
and she dropped the price to 50% of what had been decided.}

_{The shopkeeper seemed
to sway a little. He grasped the counter as if to stop himself from fainting. Jennifer,
ignoring his stance, sat down in front of him on the shop chair, staring him
into submission. It didn't take long.}

_{Eventually they left,
Jennifer gleefully leading Peter by the hand.}

_{"See I'm a quick
learner,” she smiled back at him.}

_{Jennifer thought she
had learned a lot until the night when they walked in the cool of the early
evening up Penang Road to the Pasar Malam - the night market. While she was
picking her footsteps down a narrow alley between the puddles of rancid water
and woven baskets of goods, she was surprised when a stall keeper accosted her.}

_{His chant, "Air conditioned
bra, Mem, air conditioned bra!” brought her to a stop amid roars of laughter
from Peter.}

_{"She doesn't
wear one,” was Peter's quick reply bringing a blush to Jennifer's cheeks.}

_{As if that wasn't
enough, the sickening stench of rotting durians drove them back into the street.
Peter's laughter was not appreciated nor was his comment, "They say when
the durians come down the sarongs go up.”}

_{There was a crowd to
meet them as they stepped into the arrivals' lounge at Melbourne airport. Tearfully,
Jennifer's Mum raced to hug her and welcome her home. The three months they had
been away had seemed such a long time.}

_{Eric and Andrew were
just as happy to see them. Eric hugged his daughter, while Andrew was his
normal teasing self.}