The Reef Read Online Free PDF Page B

‘Still, I have to say, they’re very realistic. ‘
    Manolin was disappointed.
    ‘You know, I can’t remember what I was saying before you came in,’ Jefry said. ‘I’m sure I had a point to make.’
    ‘What’s that?’
    Jefry said, ‘I got lost in my thoughts’
    ‘Was that unfamiliar territory then?’ Yana said.
    Jefry saw the sarcasm in her eyes. ‘No, my dear, your body is unfamiliar territory.’
    Arth sniggered. Yana sat silently, fingering her cigarette. She rubbed its ears with her free hand, and the creature regarded her with narrow, satisfied eyes.
    ‘So, any work this week?’ Manolin asked.
    ‘Not much to report,’ Santiago said. He puffed on his cigar. ‘Guano has gone to the Mayor’s office though, and he’ll be back soon with some possible news, but apart from that we’re still going to have to burn that research grant for a month or two longer.’
    Everyone nodded. A silence crept on them. Times were tough for DeBrelt’s Freelance Exploratory Crew. They were mercenary naturalists. Together they travelled Has-jahn and lands further, for whatever they were asked for, animal, vegetable, mineral. Their knowledge was unrivalled. They came at a high price, but, as they told everyone, you got what you paid for: intellectuals who knew their subjects inherently. There wasn’t much call for their specialist knowledge in recent times, and so they had become regulars at the tavern, drinking away research funds, eating into Santiago’s personal pockets, which Manolin knew were luckily rather deep. Sometimes they even had mail delivered to the bar.
    The door burst open. A couple strolled into the room to a standing roar from DeBrelt’s table. The man was clad in a smart, black robe, with baggy white breeches underneath. His fingers were covered in dozens of silver rings, and at his side was a small woman with a large smile that Manolin thought was genuine. She wore the same styled outfit, but wore a white top and black bottom.
    ‘Tchad, Dora, come over, many congratulations,’ Jefry said, checking his stance as he scraped his chair back.
    He was being careful not to stumble, and Manolin saw that Yana looked at him almost angrily at his loudness. Shame flashed across her eyes as if a candle had been blown out. Jefry sat back down, removing beer froth by raising his lower lip over his top. Manolin watched and felt pain as Tchad squeezed Dora’s hand, their faces beaming. He could see they were happy. He breathed out, but smiled anyway, and he congratulated the pair.
    Drinks were ordered. Food was brought. The table became full of rare curiosities: crab, oyster, certain cystoids, fish, eel, lizard were all crammed into the centre, sizzling and spiced. The main course, a large squid, was brought last, placed in the centre of the table and everyone gazed at such a delicacy. Each of them had a plate and filled it to the top. Manolin was not feeling particularly hungry. Santiago more than made up for it. He devoured the delights, being careful not to get any in his moustache. A crowd came and went, congratulating the couple, who were coy, gracious.
    As the evening progressed Manolin drank more. He had bought the whole bottle of whisky so that he didn’t have to move. For many minutes he stared at the cream label, the old style lettering. The noise of the crowd began to gather in his head, amplifying, aching. His eyes felt hot and his head heavy on his neck. His eyes focus sed on the whiskey as he threw back another glass. The liquid fired his taste buds, sending a flash of alertness to his eyes. It took him away from the noise. Breathing became difficult. He tapped his chest with the ball of his palm.
    Yana nudged Santiago, whispered in Santiago’s ears, and he nodded. She felt sorry for Manolin. She had spoken aloud that his wife would ruin him, but even she would be surprised how rapidly this was happening. Yana cared for him. Probably in the absence of any attention from her husband, and in the