Chapter 6 Koločep
Kolo?ep
“Watch out, Obi!”
Natali gripped her lead so tightly the dog was almost sitting on her feet.
She wouldn’t like it, but at least she’d be safe from the whirl of activity on Donje ?elo quayside; tourists wheeling suitcases, crates being stacked by local men with almond-brown skin, and weird trailer contraptions that looked like they were attached to ride-on lawnmowers arriving from the direction of the village.
Through all these comings and goings, Lloyd was pushing a sack trolley loaded with books towards the hardstanding where the library would be, about thirty or so metres away.
He’d already taken the folding table and banner, while she and Obi had stood guard over the boxes – if for no other reason than to make sure they weren’t lined up with the others, ready to load onto the next ferry.
Now Lloyd had taken the books, Natali was free to move away, but she stood, uncertain, nibbling her thumbnail and worrying about not really pulling her weight to help set up the library. But no way was she letting go of Obi’s lead in such an alien environment. No way at all.
“I’ll have to make it up later,” she told the dog. “Give Dida Krila’s winches a proper strip down and greasing. Cook a really nice supper.”
It was three long summers since Natali had crewed a yacht.
To say she was grateful to Ana was the underestimation of the century, so she wanted to show it in everything she did.
The last few days had been absolute bliss, finally doing the work she’d been trained for.
And more importantly, it had been a great life for Obi, being fussed and spoilt by all three of them, and having company all the time.
For the past couple of years she’d scraped a living taking kitchen and cleaning jobs, and the long hours had meant Obi was often alone.
It was so not fair on the little dog, and there’d even been times when she’d wondered if keeping her was really the right thing to do.
But there was no way she could let her go.
Not now. Life would be so very empty without her.
She only wished she could get on as well with her crew mates as Obi did. Oh, they were perfectly nice just, well, clever. Not one, but both of them, had been to university, while she’d left school at fifteen.
Lloyd was especially alien. An older man who was perfectly willing to and capable of helping with domestic tasks, who seemed interested in her, asked questions, yet didn’t push or press her when she couldn’t find the words to answer him.
Or, most importantly, when her stammer returned halfway through a sentence, he didn’t try to finish it for her.
“Why can’t I ever think of anything remotely interesting to say?
” Even Obi wasn’t listening, having left the protection of Natali’s legs to investigate an empty crate.
But Natali knew the answer anyway: it was because she was stupid.
And when you were stupid, by far the best strategy was to keep your mouth firmly shut.
She’d had no choice but to leave school as soon as she could, but she’d hated it anyway, and being out at work had brought so many advantages.
Earning money had been the main one – saving, so she could afford to rent her own tiny bedsit away from her mother and her constant stream of boyfriends.
Not being bullied and generally looked down on had been another.
And on top of these riches, she had made the miraculous discovery there was something she was good at after all.
Her first job had been cleaning in a yacht charter business.
For some reason, the woman who ran the workshop had decided Natali was good at mending things, so had trained her as a mechanic.
All right, she had no formal qualifications, but she could fix just about anything that could go wrong on a yacht, which had led to her crewing on charters.
Until Covid. Until Obi. Until the endless drudgery of low-paid jobs and living in dives, trying to stay positive, but always one step away from eviction when her money dried up or the tourists came back.
But this summer, this summer, everything was going to be fine.
“It won’t be if I stand around dreaming all day, Obi.
Time for your walk.” She eyed the steep road leading to the upper reaches of the village.
It was shaded by wonderful, cloud-shaped trees and would no doubt be peaceful, but it was unlikely she’d find any shops up there and she needed bread and something for supper.
“Not today,” she told Obi. “We’ll explore the waterfront instead,” and she set off past the massed boxes and crates waiting for the ferry, towards the path that edged the rocky shore.
The aromas of the quayside were far too tempting for the dog, who kept stopping to look around her and sniffing the air.
Natali had almost persuaded her as far as the bench in front of the ticket office, when the elderly woman sitting there clicked her fingers and Obi leapt up, scrabbling her front paws on her skirt and gazing at her adoringly.
“I am s-so s-sorry,” Natali stammered.
The woman looked up at her and smiled from beneath her wide-brimmed straw hat, her face deeply tanned and covered in a patchwork of fine lines.
“It’s not your fault. I did try to attract your dog’s attention, and it’s nice he’s friendly. What’s his name?”
“It’s Obi … and she’s a her.”
The woman fondled Obi’s ears. “Then I apologise, young ladies.”
Obi needed no further invitation to jump onto the woman’s lap, winding herself into the floral fabric of her skirt. Natali was about to apologise again when Obi’s new friend gestured to the empty end of the bench.
“Given Obi has decided she needs a rest, may I suggest you join us?”
Obediently, Natali perched on the edge of the wooden seat, Obi’s lead clutched between her fingers. What now? How long would she be trapped here when she should be working? But she couldn’t be rude, she really couldn’t.
“And what is your name?” the woman asked.
“Natali.”
She racked her brain for a way to fill the short silence, but her companion beat her to it. “And I’m Baka Valenti?. I’ve lived here forever and I’m as old as the hills. Everyone knows me, but I don’t know you.”
“I w-work on a catamaran. We’re taking a l-library around the islands for the children.”
Baka nodded. “Ah yes, I heard. My neighbour’s going to bring her boy to choose a book in English, but I do wonder if he’ll read it. I’m sure he would rather be swimming or on his bicycle with his friends.”
Natali nodded, unsure what she was expected to say. If anything. Maybe she could just listen while Baka rambled on. More people were beginning to gather on the quay for the ferry, so maybe she wouldn’t have to stay too long.
“You’re a shy one behind those pretty blue eyes, aren’t you?” Baka said softly.
Natali shrugged, but all the same a small surge of gratitude welled up in her.
Most people thought she was rude or standoffish.
At least somebody understood what she was somehow unable to say, even if it was a random old lady.
In that case a shrug was a far from adequate reaction, so she nodded.
It still didn’t feel enough. Words it would have to be.
“I’m g-glad you don’t think I’m unfriendly.”
“No, I don’t think that at all, but even so, a little conversation would be nice, if you can manage it.”
What could she say? Her eyes darted around in panic, the increasing activity as more of the funky, motorised tractor-trailers began to arrive giving her an idea.
“You’re waiting for the f-ferry?”
The woman beamed. “In a way. I am waiting for my son. He went to America many years ago and I have not seen him since.”
“But that’s w-wonderful he’s coming home!”
“I have missed him. Every day I have missed him. My eldest boy lives in Split, but it is not the same.”
Natali fiddled with Obi’s lead. “America … it’s such a long way.”
“Too far,” said Baka firmly, “but when he left there was nothing here. No money you see, after the war. No future. But he promised me that one day he would come back.”
As if on cue the ferry rounded the headland with a blast of its whistle, and Natali stood. “I must give Obi her walk, and leave you to m-meet him. It’s been nice talking to you.”
“And to you, Natali.”
Having chosen the lower path, Natali now had to walk past the library.
Should she stop to speak to Lloyd? This could be so awkward.
While ignoring him was inconceivable, he was actually working so she was sure he wouldn’t want to be bothered with her.
What if she spoke and he didn’t reply? What if she didn’t and he called after her?
He’d set up the table and brightly coloured burgundy, blue and white pop-up banner with the library’s name on a small hardstanding built over the rocks that edged the bay.
Next to Lloyd was a young man selling local honey and olive oil from under a huge faded red umbrella, and to Natali’s huge relief they were talking to each other.
A nod and a wave would be fine after all.
Obi was having none of it. She caught Natali off-guard with an excited little bark when she saw Lloyd, and he turned towards them, grinning.
“Come to see how we’re getting on?”
Natali nodded.
“It’s been a slow start for both of us”—he gestured towards his neighbour—“but Marin here will be busy when the trip boats come in. Not sure I’ll see anyone though, with so few people living on the island.”
Well, he would see Baka Valenti?’s neighbour and her child, but somehow the words to tell him stuck in Natali’s throat.
She was useless, bloody useless. She should at least try.
But even as she was attempting to form the sentence, Marin asked Lloyd if he’d be here all summer, and to her intense relief the moment passed.