Page 26 of One Summer in Monte Carlo
Vanessa waited a couple of seconds before saying quietly, ‘I’m not sure you’re well enough to hear this, but you need to know.’
Ralph glanced at her, puzzled, as she took a breath before continuing.
‘Angela was here earlier, talking to me. She doesn’t think any of this was an accident.’
Ralph sighed and reached out for her hand. ‘I know. Neither do I. The head shaman warned me to be careful a couple of days ago.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me? The villagers seemed happy to have us around when we arrived,’ Vanessa said. ‘What’s changed?’
‘Since this guy from Rio has become involved, some of the men have become wary of me filming the village activities. Particularly the dam,’ Ralph explained quietly.
‘Is that because of the mercury they’re going to be using? Will the profits from the gold still go to the village?’ Vanessa asked.
Ralph’s fingers squeezed hers before saying slowly, ‘Not as much as the villagers hope.’
Vanessa was silent, remembering how worried Angela was about the future of the village and its people, how they desperately needed to find a reliable way of sustaining their way of life.
‘There must be another way,’ Vanessa said thoughtfully. ‘Something legal they can do to survive.’
‘If we could think of another option, I’d be only too happy to help them set it up,’ Ralph said quietly, ‘but as far as I can see, there is nothing we can do. There’s something else… They want us to leave. They’re afraid our presence here will upset this guy from Rio.’
Vanessa’s heart skipped a beat. After what had happened to Ralph she personally couldn’t wait to leave the jungle. ‘Are we going to?’
But her heart sank at Ralph’s reply.
‘Not immediately, no. I’ve still got a couple of things I’d like to film. I’ve promised to stay away from the dam – which suits me. The less I know about it, the better.’
Vanessa sighed and stroked his forehead gently.
‘How much longer do you think we’ll be here?’ she asked quietly.
‘A couple of weeks, maybe a bit less – depends on how quickly I get better from this little incident,’ Ralph said. ‘Could I have another drink please?’
As she held the water to Ralph’s lips, Vanessa thought about Ralph’s ‘little incident’. It was typical of him to play down the seriousness of the accident, but Vanessa knew it could have turned out so differently. She could have been a widow before they’d been married even six months. She smothered a sigh. A few more weeks to go and then they could trek out of the jungle and back to civilisation and proper doctors.
Ralph was regarding her anxiously. ‘If you want to leave and wait for me in the eco-camp, I’m sure Angela could arrange for a guide.’
‘I’m not leaving you,’ Vanessa said fiercely. ‘We came together and we’ll leave together. OK?’
Ralph nodded weakly and closed his eyes. ‘Love you,’ he whispered as he drifted, exhausted, back into sleep.
Vanessa sat at his side, still holding his hand and wishing they were already in the comparative safety of the eco-camp.
18
The night of Zac’s party, Monaco Old Port was a mass of twinkling lights from the yachts and the restaurants that lined the harbour. Grand Prix fever was definitely in the air as Monaco slipped into party mode for the biggest week of its year.
Nanette had spent an hour or two during the day up at Jean-Claude’s villa finishing the sorting out of his office and making sure his diary was up to date. She’d found several invitations to various summer events along the Riviera, including one to the famous Red Cross Ball and another for the Monte Carlo Gala for the Global Ocean at the end of the summer season. When she asked about them, Jean-Claude had immediately told her to RSVP declining the Red Cross invitation but to put the date of the other one in the diary, while he responded and accepted the invitation.
‘I alternate between them,’ he’d explained. ‘This year I go to the Global Ocean event.’
When Nanette saw the size of the cheque he’d written to accompany his response and to reserve a table at the charity money raising event, she remembered how expensive it was to have a social life amongst the VIP residents of Monaco. Supporting a charity in Monte Carlo required deep pockets.
Now, a few hours later, standing on the balcony surveying the evening scene below her, Nanette took in the atmosphere. Whereas it had once been commonplace in her life, she was now so detached from the social scene that watching it had something of a surreal quality for her.
After the laid-back nostalgic atmosphere of the weekend, it was clear the big boys were now gathering in town ready to play. Music from several parties already in full swing on various boats floated up on the sultry air. Couples strolled nonchalantly past the luxury yachts, stopping occasionally to gaze on board, in the hope of seeing a famous face or two amongst all the glamorous people.
Nanette picked up her mobile and took a short video of the harbour down below:Pole Positionlit from stem to stern, the music and the buzz of laughter drifting up on the air. She sent it to Patsy with the cryptic comment: ‘Guess who’s having an on-board party tonight?’
