“Here we are… at last!” Becky dropped her bag right in the middle of the floor, threw herself on the bed and on the second bounce folded her hands behind her head. She smiled wide at Geoff, who gently put down the two heavy suitcases and carefully took a seat on the corner of the bed.
“Yes, it’s been some time since we started to plan this holiday. Took a fair bit of our savings too.”
“Well.” Becky said as Geoff sat down next to her. “We are here in Sri Lanka now, ready to have a ball!” He put his hand over hers and leaned over to kiss her. She skilfully slipped around him, avoiding the kiss, got off the bed and gracefully glided to her suitcase. “Let’s unpack and then see what Hambantota… I got it right!" she beamed, "did you hear, it sounded just like the man at the desk said it... in any case let’s see what it can offer us.”
“Yeah, lets unpack.” Geoff sighed frustrated. They started to unpack.
“Where shall we start?” Becky asked through the door opening, whilst hanging a skirt in her wardrobe.
“How about I treat you to lunch in the pub or whatever we can find in the city?”
“We can eat in the hotel restaurant.”
“You being that boring, not you – I don’t believe it for a moment.”
A deceptive calm existed in the depth of the ocean. Currents were swaying sea anemones and a variety of tropical fish fed among the reefs. A shark slipped by quietly.
Becky sat opposite Geoff at a table on the veranda of the small restaurant. A ceiling fan lazily stirred the hot air.
“So…?” He smiled at her. “Are you enjoying it?” She tilted her head and flashed an excited smile at him.
“Oh yes,” she cooed. “It’s so special to be with you.” He looked deep into her eyes probingly.
“Do we have to stay in two separate rooms during this holiday?” He didn’t manage to hide the pleading expression. “When are we going to make it work? I mean, Dan has let you down.” He immediately regretted his last words, yet it has become time for her to face the truth. Pain fleetingly flashed across the depth of those bright green pools of expression, which were emphasised by a skin tanned in soft gold. He felt his heart missing a beat – 'how much I love this beautiful woman,' he thought. He decided to press on, hoping that it won’t spoil their holiday. “You know that I have fancied you since our school days and you did run to me when Dan let you down, didn’t you?” Becky just stared at him, carefully dabbing away an unexpected tear whilst trying not to smear her mascara. She tried to figure out where he was heading. Her mind drifted back to the last time she had seen Dan – in bed with another woman. How she had loved him. He had been everything to her – so gentle, charming and exciting - everything a woman could desire in a man. They had already been married for three years. The hot breeze had blown one of her blond curls into her eye and she stroked it away, once again dabbing a tear with a hanky that Geoff had offered her. She had just stood there, staring at the woman in his arms. She had not even been pretty. After what had felt like ages she had torn herself away and had run downstairs, out through the garden that both of them had so tenderly created, to the stables and had ended up hugging a surprised, yet ever faithful Black. There she had cried, hugging his pitch-black neck, leaning her head against his. Black had listened patiently while she had poured out her shattered heart to her favourite horse and best friend.
“It is so Geoff,” her voice thick with sorrow, “I did run to you, but only because you always had been such a faithful friend. At school we were mates and as colleagues at the newspaper you and I are good friends.”
Geoff had been at home when she had ended up at his house after a wild drive, going wherever the road had taken her. She had found it difficult to come to terms with what had happened.
“But why did you agree on this holiday. I was led to believe…” He broke off not sure whether he should speak his thoughts. When she had moved in with him she had insisted on her own room and had also paid rent even though he had initially refused to accept it. He was hoping that during that holiday they would be more intimate. Up to then she hadn’t even accepted a kiss from him.
“I know you always had a crush on me,” she said as if reading his thoughts. She saw the hurt on his face and bit her lip. “I’m sorry for being so blunt Geoff, but up to now I haven’t felt love other than friendship toward you and I can’t be more intimate without love.”
“But you kind of owe me. I was the one who was there when your husband were unfaithful to you.” The words were much harsher than he intended, yet within him the overwhelming love of years was burning and was threatening to burst out like lava from a volcano.
“Geoff, I loved Dan,” she simply stated. Tears started to flow freely. She tried to hide her face.
“I… I’m sorry,” Geoff stuttered, “I didn’t mean to open old wounds.” She looked up into his tender black eyes and smiled through her tears.
“I’m okay… really,” she whispered as she picked up his hand, kissing it with trembling lips. “Excuse me, I just quickly want to freshen up.” She ruffled his hair as she passed him on her way to the ladies’ room.
Becky felt much better when she left the ladies’ room ten minutes later. She vaguely noticed the door of the gents’ room opening as she approached the outer door of the cloak room area.
“Becky?” She froze in her tracks as the melodious voice whispered her name. Her heart beat wildly against her rib cage as she stared at the wood of the half-opened door. She was too scared to look in the direction of the voice. ‘No… no, please not now Dan.’ She contained herself and, as calmly as she could muster, turned to look in his direction. The usual excitement and fun emanated from his tanned face in which deep blue pools twinkled. He characteristically combed his fingers through his medium length, light brown curls. She felt weak in the knees. How much she loved this man. She searched her heart for hate, a reason to shout at him, slap his face, do something horrible to him, but found none – only a burning love. She pushed at the door in an attempt to get away.
“Beckedydove, I must talk to you. Please don't leave.”
‘Don’t call me that,’ her heart screamed and she wanted to run, but her legs felt like lead. She just stared at his moving lips, those lips that could so gently caress her lips and neck, so warmly enfolded hers in a passionate kiss. Those lips that could so easily turn into a warm smile. She was unable to speak; scared that she might make a blunder and showed him how much she still loved him. 'No he did wrong, he must suffer,' she thought.
"She deceived me Becks, but it was me who was wrong – I should have resisted her. I tried to get hold of you to tell you I’m sorry.” Through her mind flashed an image of her colleague Joan who had to answer the phone a thousand times telling Dan that she was not available. She could still hear Geoff’s firm reprimand to Dan to leave her alone when he started to phone to Geoff’s place.
“I’m really sorry Beckedydove.” She chanced a look into his pleading eyes so filled with love.
“No!” was all she managed and then she burst through the door into the crowded restaurant.
"Everything okay?" Geoff had a deep frown between his eyes. Becky laughed her happy laugh, contrary to what she felt inside.
"Shall we go and test the beach?" she smiled. To Geoff she seemed her old self, yet he spotted something strange. They decided to take a Bicycle Rickshaw down to the beach.
"Look at the view from here," Becky exclaimed whilst spreading her arms across the horizon. "Isn't it stunning?" She bounced about in her seat like a child, trying to take everything in, yet her eyes told a different story. A lorry rattled by noisily, blowing its diesel fumes all over them. "Cough, cough," Becky pretended whilst holding her nose and waving her hand in front of her face. Geoff just sat there quietly enjoying her, not really knowing what to do. At the beach she pulled off her shoes and ran to the water. At the edge she spun around, arms open and hair swirling, looking for Geoff who had just paid the taxi and was approaching her at a relaxed pace.
A fish stirred momentarily, listening. A faint rumble reverberated somewhere down and the seabed lifted a little dust. A moment’s quiet, the sea creatures waited, unsure what to do.
There were many people on the beach. Becky spread out her towel and undressed to reveal a perfect body clad in a fluorescent green bikini, which emphasised her eyes. Geoff was doing the same next to her. As she lay down on the towel she was not anymore in the mood to play. She just wanted to soak up the sun.
“I’m going to take a swim.” She looked up at Geoff who towered above her. She knew how fond he was of distance swimming. He would probably swim around the island if he had the time.
“It’s a fantastic idea,” she said, “these waters are perfect for swimming distance. O, I almost forgot,” she rolled over and took out her suntan lotion from her beach bag, “before you go, would you kindly rub my back with this?” She smiled up to him. He quietly took the lotion from her and started to rub it into her body, not only the back, but also the rear of her legs. She enjoyed his touch. Her confused mind spun. She felt the tension slowly leave her.
“There you go,” he smiled gently, “I’m off.” With that he jogged into the water until he couldn’t run anymore, then dived and started to swim with strong strokes. She took the lotion and did the rest of her body.
An elephant stopped in its tracks lifting its trunk, sniffing the air, its ears attentive to it knew not what. It looked at the sea, just a blue vastness. Somewhere out there it sensed death… then it started to run.
Becky enjoyed the warmth of the sun on her skin, causing every muscle to relax. She smiled at the blue expanse above. She closed her eyes…
“The sun is nice isn’t it?” Her eyes popped wide open, staring at the sky for a moment. Then her body jack-knifed up and in the same movement swung in the direction of the familiar voice. Dan sat on his towel in his peach coloured bathing trunks. For a moment her eyes locked on his golden tanned, smooth-muscled and hairy chest before meeting his eyes. She felt weak inside once again.
“Are you following me to harass me?” She was annoyed and managed to sound angry.
“I didn’t follow you anywhere. I was sitting right here when you camped out. You didn’t even notice me.” Her mouth opened in astonishment and she gaped at him like a fish.
“How could I have missed you?” she said softly before she could stop herself. She could kick herself. It should have been something like ‘Oh it is not difficult to miss you’.
“What are you then doing in Sri Lanka if you didn’t follow me?” she ignored his slight laconic smile. She was annoyed at herself.
“How could I have known you are here? I had no contact whatsoever with you the past few months. I happen to be here on business and am taking the Christmas weekend off before I return,” he continued gently. Becky’s chest heaved a few times as she breathed heavily, not knowing what to say. He smiled his intimate smile.
“Are you going to allow me to explain, Beckedydove?”
“What is there to explain? I caught you red handed, you remember, you were actually busy…”
“Spare the details please,” he interrupted. She could see hurt in his eyes. She was stunned for a minute. Half of her wanted to hurt him and make him suffer, but the other half wanted to believe him, take him back. She swallowed. A seagull grabbed a piece of bread that a child nearby had thrown for it and screeched away, back into the safety of the heights.
“Please tell me what you want to,” she said softly.
The sea creatures scattered, the sense of death driving them. A vast seabed area vacant… waiting. Miles away animals ran… fear naked on their faces. Deep down under the sea the sand stirred once again… a second… a third time. Then with a violent thunder a reef shattered – rocks thrown high up just to tumble deep into the stomach of the earth and be thrown out again. As if a monster was breaking out from beneath, the seabed shook and rumbled over and over again. Waves of water forced one another up from the seabed and to the sides every time the earth went into frenzy, just like a huge paddle in a pool.
“I really did not mean to get involved,” Dan started, but suddenly tilted his head and stared over the ocean.
“What is it?” Deep within Becky sensed unease.
“Did you feel that vibration Becks?” Her eyes were wide as she nodded.
“What do you think it was?”
“I don’t know, I just don’t feel comfortable about it.”
“Me neither.” She looked around her. The sounds of children playing filled the air and seemed to overpower everything. She studied a few of the adults around them to see if she could pick up anything unusual - nothing in particular. “Do you think we are in danger?
“Probably yes, but I’m not sure what kind.”
“Do you think it could be criminal activity or terrorism, maybe a bomb that exploded somewhere?” She looked in the direction of the city. He shook his head. She had learnt to trust Dan’s hunches and premonitions. He had been right most of the times in the past.
“No it’s something natural. I didn’t like that vibration. It felt as if it came from the sea.” Dan jumped up and shaded his eyes whilst staring over the ocean. Suddenly he ran to some trees on the edge of the beach and skilfully climbed high into one. Becky anxiously watched him. ‘What’s going on, why is he so troubled?’ she wondered. She fondly remembered how he always would go out of his way to solve a problem or help people. ‘What did he sense, what did they feel and what was he going to see from the tree?’ She turned to the ocean once again to try and see something.
“We pick up an earthquake sir.”
“What’s the reading Jones?”
“Nine on the Richter Scale sir.” McCarthy whistled through his teeth.
“Have we established its position yet? Which is the unfortunate city?”
“No reports yet sir.”
“That’s funny. An earthquake of that magnitude should have killed plenty of people by now.”
“True sir, it is awkward.”
The water, which the earthquake forced upwards, formed a huge mushroom on the surface, shooting metres into the sky. As it came down with a mighty crash, huge waves, amplified by the stirring effect of the quake, started their deadly journey in an ever-expanding circle, racing on their way of destruction.
“Good heavens.” Dan whispered as he watched the horizon lifting up slightly for a few moments and then dropping back to its former level. “What could have caused it?” He had hardly uttered the words to himself when it happened again. Then it struck him between the eyes. He searched the water masses closer than the horizon. “Oh my…” He literally fell from the tree grabbing at branches to break his fall. He almost started to run in mid-air. “Vacate the beach, people, everybody leave the beach at once!” He shouted at the top of his voice as he ran. The people just lazily stared at him as if he was a lunatic. Whilst he had their attention he asked. “Did anybody feel a vibration on the sand?” He got a number of confirmations. “Well I think that was an earthquake somewhere in the sea, for I saw very large waves coming in our direction. Get to higher ground!” To that he got various reactions. Some laughed, claiming he was crazy whilst others started to run away from the water in frenzy. With a loud hum his message spread like wildfire across the beach and into the water. He reached Becky. “Come Becks, let’s go.” Suddenly Becky hit hysteria. “What’s it now Becks?”
“Geoff is still swimming Dan. I can’t go without him.” People were speeding past them.
“Go on, I’ll see if I can spot him.”
“You go. I’ll wait for you here.” Dan took a breath to order her to go, but when he saw the determined expression that he knew so well, he just sighed.
“Okay, just stay here.” He made it for the water’s edge and tried to spot Geoff among the people that were rushing from the water. He noted a few fools who were still enjoying their swimming.
The huge waves sped forth towards the various beaches and villages filled with unsuspecting people. Several vessels, big and small, were riding them involuntarily like surfers, just to swerve and topple and being rolled ahead of the killer waves – the first victims.
Dan saw a familiar figure getting up in the shallow water and starting to walk toward the beach.
“Geoff! Run, your life is in danger!” Geoff looked up in surprise. ‘What is Dan doing here? Has he come to harass Becky? Let him go to hell.’ He looked across the beach to where he expected Becky to be and spotted her. He waved cheerily at her. ‘Why does she jump up and down like that, waving her arms?’ Then he noticed how empty the beach was and saw the people running. Suddenly Dan saw the sea in front of him emptying and the big fountains forming around Geoff’s legs as the water drew back to feed the wave, whilst taking the screaming swimmers with it. Geoff looked back and his eyes widened…
“Oh sh…” Then he ran as fast as his tired legs could carry him. Dan reached him and together they went for it. Becky started to run as well.
“Those high trees Becky!” Dan shouted. “Go for those high trees!” They reached the trees and Dan effortlessly lifted Becky into the branches. “Climb Becks, as high as you can get. Come Geoff, step into my hand. Hup… Now climb!” Becky had climbed many trees as a child and therefore went up like a monkey as high as she could go. She looked down and saw Geoff almost with her, but Dan was still helping some more people into the tree.
“Dan, come… quick come!” she screamed. She looked toward the sea and almost fell from the tree when she saw the wall of water reaching the beach. “Daaaan!” She screamed as the wall of water full of human bodies crashed across the beach, through the trees – the foaming water swirling just beneath her, shaking the branches violently - into the city, taking Dan with it. Whilst holding on for life she pulled up her legs instinctively and watched as the buildings, cars, buses and people were swooped away under its power. Another and another and a few weaker ones followed the first wave. It then returned to the sea, taking people and debris with it. Eventually the sea calmed down. Becky looked down to where she last saw Dan, hoping for a miracle. Emptiness. She looked toward the city. Much of it was flattened.
The people started to climb out of the tree; some of them soaked because they were not high enough. Becky was just glad that they survived, unlike… she shook off the thought, tears forming in her eyes. Everyone looked stunned as they stared at the destruction around them. Becky looked for Geoff. She needed support, for her heart was aching for Dan. She found him hugging a branch whilst shaking like a leaf. She climbed down to him. She heard him whimpering like a small, terrified child.
"Geoff?" she said as she crouched on the branch next to him. He showed no reaction. "Geoff." she tried again a little louder. Still no reaction. She reached out and put her hand on his shoulder. No recognition. "Geoff," she shouted, "its me, Becky!" Still nothing. From where she was she could not see his face. Carefully she climbed to another branch from where she could face him. She was horrified by the expression on his face. It was as if he was in a stupor. How was she going to get him down? A thought crossed her mind. She had heard that if someone was hysterical you needed to slap him. Maybe it would work with his condition as well. She just hoped he didn't fall. She secured her grip on the branch, pulled back her hand and slapped him hard on the cheek.
"No... no!" He shouted so loud and with so much anxiety that she almost fell. "Don't take me to the sea, I don't want to drown." He started to repeat the sentence over and over.
"It’s gone Geoff," she said softly, "you're safe now. Come we need to get out of the tree to the hotel. We need to get some clothes." She pulled lightly at his arm. He started to respond and step by step they got down. Geoff wasn't much better when they reached the sand. He was shaking all over and she literally had to pull him forward. Slowly but surely they progressed to the hotel, just half a mile down the beach. Signs of destruction were everywhere. When the hotel came into view Becky stopped in her tracks. She gaped at what she saw.
Not much was left of the hotel. The gardens were completely washed away and the roof sagged as much of its support had been destroyed. Most of the inside of the hotel was gone since it had been built of light tropical material to complement the surroundings. Becky was surprised that the roof still stood. Geoff started to whimper again. Becky looked with disgust at the once dependable Geoff who had supported her with so much stability. What had happened to this strong man of an hour ago? Good heavens, he had just swum miles in the same sea that had shaken him like that. She stood undecided for a moment, looking around her. There were not many people about. It was still quite desolate. She shuddered at the sight of several bodies hanging from the trees. They must have got stuck in the trees as the waves had passed. She felt nausea and a terrible loneliness welling up from inside her. Subconsciously she looked for Dan’s body. When she thought she recognised a body she ran closer, just to return disappointed. When she had searched all the bodies she could see, she returned to where Geoff was still crouching in a foetal position. Her heart was broken. The only true love she had ever had in her life had been taken away by those monstrous waves and the man she had got to love in a way seemed to have gone nuts. She felt alone on the planet at that moment, nobody to support her. She looked at Geoff.
“Nothing can happen to you here,” she mumbled, “besides I‘ll be back soon.” She left him where he sat on the sand, hands folded around his knees, swinging slowly to and fro. She walked toward the hotel. As she approached it she sensed danger. She could see right through it. A few bodies were also folded around pillars. She heard the roof creaking and could see it slowly moving over to the left. At any moment it would collapse. She was at the edge of the hotel and realised the danger she was in. If the roof collapsed then she could be in trouble.
“What am I actually doing here?” she wondered. She was just about to turn around when she heard a soft groan. She looked in the direction from where she had heard the sound.
“Is anybody there?” She shouted and then heard the roof creaking more violently. She looked up, not sure what to do. Was what she had heard her imagination? She took a few steps closer. There was the groan again - she could place it then - about twenty metres into the building. Twenty metres to cover should the roof come down. “Oh well what is there to lose?” she mumbled. Dan is gone. ‘Dan… She didn’t even give him a chance to explain - she had been so selfish. Had she given him an opportunity in the restaurant, they probably would have still been there and he would still have been alive.’ Her eyes filled with tears. Through her mind flashed memories of his tremendously romantic initiatives. He had never spared anything in creating a fairytale married life, which was why she had been so shattered when she had found him in the arms of another woman. Tears blinded her as she stumbled deeper into what was once the hotel. ‘Maybe it was just that ability of his to be so romantic that caused him to entertain other women as well,’ she thought. For all she knew he had done the same for many women… ‘No… no not Dan. Anyhow, what’s the point… he’s dead.’
She still felt his lips in her neck, feverishly caressing her body, his soft hair brushing all over. ‘Had I been forgiving this morning it could have been so different.’ A raw sob escaped her lips, tears streaming down her cheeks. The groan could be heard slightly to her right. She wiped her eyes and found the woman. She was lying on her back with a heavy log of wood on top of her. Becky stared at her.
“You, what are you doing here?” She immediately recognised the woman she had found in Dan’s arms. ‘Did she accompany Dan on his business trip? No, couldn’t be because he wanted to make right with me… or did he?’
The roof warned loudly. Becky looked up and realised she had to get out of there. She looked at the woman. She felt like leaving her there, let her die in her sin. She started to move back to safety and then stopped. She couldn’t just leave the woman there to die - it would be inhuman. ‘But she ruined my marriage - she deserves it. What would Dan have done if it had been his enemy?’ She got hold of the log and with all her might lifted it slightly and started to move it painstakingly slowly from the woman’s body. The roof groaned and some debris fell all around her. She paused for a moment to catch her breath and to anxiously study the roof.
“O, com’on log, the roof is going to fall,” she panicked. At last – it felt like hours – the log was safely away from the woman’s body. Becky dropped it heavily and grabbed the woman under the armpits. She knew she actually shouldn’t move her because of possible back injury, but the situation demanded quick action.
“She’s not that heavy,” Becky mumbled as she started to drag her towards safety. The roof started to make a constant creaking sound. Becky looked up and saw that the pillars were beginning to topple. Within minutes it would crash down on her. “I don’t want to die now,” she sobbed as she feverishly pulled the woman to safety. Becky looked up once again and realised she was not going to make it.
Suddenly there was another pair of hands helping her and the speed doubled. They almost ran to safety. A loud creak told her the roof was falling and she prepared for death. Then they were out in the sunlight. The roof crashed to the ground with a deafening sound; splashing the water from the remaining pools all over them as both she and her helper lost their balance and fell.
She lay for a few moments regaining her breath and then turned towards her helper. Her heart missed a beat. The unmistakable light brown curls were wet and the blue eyes looked tired. His body was full of scratches, but he was smiling.
“Dan,” she whispered, “you’re alive.” He just nodded and pulled her closer. She lay with her head on his shoulder whilst he played with her hair. “How did you manage to survive?”
“I just held my breath as long as I could with the intention to swim back once the wave had gone back to sea. Next I crashed into some heavy branches and instinctively got hold of one and held on for dear life. The branches gave me a bit of a hiding.” She stroked over the wounds. The question that had burned in her mind for some time surfaced on her lips.
“What is she doing here?”
“Who?” She lifted her head in surprise – looked him in the eye.
“This woman we pulled from the hotel.” Dan sat up to have a look at the woman. Becky saw genuine surprise on his face.
“Good heavens, I don’t know. Haven’t seen her for months. It was just a one-night stand. Maybe she came here to look for other men to entertain.” Becky, who had watched his face intently whilst he had recognised the woman, pushed him down again.
“I believe you and I love you, you brave, irresistible knight.” She covered his head with her hair and his lips with hers. Vaguely they heard helicopters and people searching for survivors, but they were lost in their love. After having enjoyed their new-found love for a few minutes, Dan took her face in his hands.
“Now that we’ve found one another, let's see who else we can find.” He said. They heard a groan.
“O sherbet!” Becky hopped up. “We completely forgot about her. Let’s see if she’s okay.”
In South Africa today security plays a vital part in any business or private home. This book and the volumes to follow, will guide you step by step through the essential precautionary measures to be taken in protecting your family and valuables. From employing security guards, evacuation of your site and security measures to burglar bars and alarms in your private home.
a Book compiled by me from experience gained after 10 years in the security industry as Industrial relations officer with Nosa qualifications, 1st Aid, fire protection and also S.O.B. grade A.
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