Monsoon (40 page)

‘Thanks, Sands.' Anna got back into bed and waited. It was another half an hour before she heard car doors slam, cars drive away and the front doors clang shut. Carlo fussed around in the cafe before coming upstairs.

In the dark he slid into bed beside her.

‘What was all that about then?' asked Anna.

‘You're awake? Good.' He leaned over to caress her.

‘Carlo! For God's sake. I nearly called the cops. I thought you were in trouble. Who were those men?'

‘Cops! Well, some sort of security heavies. Said they'd been patrolling and checking on Barney's, saw I was outside talking with a couple of fellows and they thought I needed protection. Assistance.'

‘What was the argument about?' asked Anna.

‘Money. Barney pays them protection money. They were doing their job. They wanted payment. Fair enough, I thought.'

‘I hope you didn't pay them.'

‘Of course I did. If Barney's been paying, I'm not going to rock the boat.'

‘Sandy just paid them! They tried to get a lot more out of her and she told them off. Now you've paid them again!'

‘Yeah, well, Sandy doesn't know how to handle people like that. I gave them US dollars and that got rid of them.'

‘Now poor Barney is out of pocket and they're going to expect that all the time,' exploded Anna.

‘Anna, keep out of business dealings. You don't understand how things work,' said Carlo crossly. ‘Go to sleep.'

‘Gladly. I'm tired. But you put that money back in Barney's till out of your own pocket.' She rolled on her side with her back to Carlo, who sighed.

‘I'll wake you early, eh?'

Anna didn't answer.

However, Anna was up early, dressed and downstairs before Carlo woke and long before the cafe was due to open. She checked everything was clean and tidy, then headed outside and hailed a cyclo. She had an errand to do before cleaning Barney's flat and opening up for the breakfast trade.

She showed the driver the address the waitress had written on a scrap of paper and they set off through the early morning streets. They stopped outside a narrow house on a corner. A small tree struggled at the edge of the road and above it a looping spaghetti tangle of electrical wires hung from a pole with several thick tendrils disappearing into the roof. An elderly woman in dark pyjamas had thrown a bucket of water across the footpath and was busy sweeping it clean. A sign in Vietnamese was painted on the door. It was the correct number so Anna knocked. It was immediately opened by an old man who smiled at her. She held up the plastic bag of food and the basket she was carrying. Nodding and murmuring he led her inside.

There was the smell of cooking, the sound of a baby crying and women's voices in a room down a hallway. Anna passed several rooms with cushions and mats on the floor. In one a woman sat breastfeeding a baby while a toddler played at her feet. The hallway led to an open courtyard where several women were chatting and children were playing. A small fountain splashed against one wall and an altar was set up under the eaves. Off the courtyard there was a bath house and a big kitchen where women were cooking. Dishes of food were spread along a table where older children were helping themselves to bowls of noodles and rice.

‘Good morning,' said Anna. ‘Does anyone speak English?'

A young woman came to her. ‘I do: can I help you?'

‘I've brought you food. From Ho, the cook at Barney's cafe.'

‘Oh, thank you!' said the girl, taking the bag with the plastic tubs of food. ‘He is so good to us. We thank Mr Ho very much.'

Anna followed the young woman into the kitchen and looked around. It seemed very sparse and basic. One dish for each person and few utensils and pots. The meal looked very frugal. ‘What is this place, exactly?' Anna asked.

‘It is a home for mothers and children who have nowhere to go or who are in trouble. We care for them for a few nights and then they must move on. They come back again, but we try to have space for those who need help, who are hungry,' explained the girl.

‘Who owns this place? Do you get money from the government?' asked Anna.

‘The old couple over there have lived in this building for many years. All of the family had moved out so they started taking in neighbours in need and the word spread and others came. It's called The Family House.' She pointed to the old man who'd opened the door and the woman who'd been sweeping out the front. ‘They are grandparents to anyone who wishes to come here.' She smiled. ‘They have many, many children. Everyone here is their family.'

‘How nice. So no money is given by the government?' asked Anna.

The girl shook her head. ‘No. If they ask for official help, they must get papers. Too many regulations. They are good people who do this from their home, but any donations are welcome.'

‘And is it just for mothers and children?'

‘That's right. Many are alone because of problems with their husbands. Some of the children live on the street, even from very young. They beg, work, get money. We look after them and then help them go to school.'

‘They are very good people,' said Anna, nodding at the old couple. ‘But they don't own this house? What will happen in the future?'

The girl shrugged. ‘It is hard to say. We pray each day. We manage.'

‘Could I light some incense?' Anna indicated the altar. ‘I will say a prayer for them too.'

‘Thank you.' She called to a little boy, who ran forward with some incense sticks and shyly handed them to Anna.

Anna lit the sticks and placed them on the altar beside the small brass dishes holding pieces of fruit and some rice. She clasped her hands and said a small prayer. Warm feelings washed over her at the recognition of the great goodness people can do if they try.

The young woman escorted Anna to other rooms that contained sleeping mats and rolled bedding. ‘Upstairs are some beds and more spaces for mothers and their children.'

‘Is there anything the house really needs?' asked Anna. ‘Maybe my friends and I could help.'

‘You are kind. We can always do with sleeping things. Dishes and some toys, perhaps. My name is Loc.'

‘I'm Anna. I'm here from Australia with my friend Sandy. We have been working with Ho.'

‘Please, thank Ho for me. He comes once a week to cook a special dinner for us. He is a good man. He has no family anymore, so he cares for us here,' said Loc.

‘Really? I didn't know that.' Anna realised she knew nothing about Ho's personal life.

‘Yes, very sad. His wife left him and took away his children. He was not a good husband. He drank too much and was harsh to them.'

‘Ah, I see.' That explains a lot, thought Anna. ‘And you, Loc? You help here also?'

She smiled shyly. ‘These are my grandparents. I teach English and help them when I can. But I do not live here.'

Anna glanced at the old couple. ‘I hope things work out for you. And The Family House. I'll make sure Barney continues to support you, thanks to Ho.' She wondered if Barney knew what Ho was doing with the leftover food from the cafe. She felt sure Barney would be willing to help even further if he knew the full story. She'd talk to Sandy. ‘I have to go back and open the cafe. You should stop by and introduce yourself to Barney. I'll tell him about this.'

‘Please, do not get Ho into any trouble.'

‘Not at all. It's a shame to see food wasted. I think Barney and Lai will be very happy to know about you. Goodbye.'

The following evening, Anna joined Sandy at Jean-Claude's apartment for dinner. She told Sandy that Carlo was at a business meeting.

‘Isn't this a gorgeous place?' said Anna. She gave Sandy a sly smile. ‘So, you like Jean-Claude? Could it get serious?'

‘He's charming. He's French. But where's it going to go, Anna? He's locked into Vietnam and France. I'm due to go back to Australia to look for another job.' She shifted uncomfortably under Anna's scrutiny. ‘Now, show me what your dad sent.'

Anna spread out the scanned emails Kevin had sent her. ‘There's some letters and a photo.' Anna peered at the image of a family group. ‘That's my mother; she was about fourteen then. Next to her are my grandparents, Mum's brothers and sisters, and other people I don't know.'

‘That must be the brother who drowned,' said Sandy, pointing to the little boy holding Thu's hand.

‘Van,' said Anna softly. She pulled the chain from around her neck and touched the little gold crucifix. Her face crumpled. ‘Read the letter about what happened on the boat. And Van. It must have been so hard for my mother to tell that story to Dad. He's written it all down.' Anna shuffled some of the papers, picking up a printed email. ‘Dad also sent me this.' She handed it to Sandy.

My dearest Anna,

Here are the relevant documents and personal papers you asked for the other day. Your mother packaged them up with a note for you many years ago. She told me that one day you'd want to look at your family's Vietnamese background. In the meantime I was to look after the few bits and pieces she treasured.

Well, I wasn't surprised to get your email asking for info. I'd been expecting it, hoping for it, for some time and had everything ready to send – hence the prompt response.

It may well be a very emotional trip back to that distant past, so chin up.

I'm very proud of you, my dear girl.

Good luck, love Dad

‘Oh, Anna, how lovely,' said Sandy, looking at the tears welling in Anna's eyes.

Anna nodded. ‘I love my dad,' she said simply.

Sandy swallowed and didn't speak for a minute, then, more briskly, said, ‘Right. Now the big question is where was she from?' ‘Dad says Mum left Vietnam from a village on an island just off the very bottom of the country. Phu Quoc.'

Sandy answered, ‘Yes, I've heard of it. We've been planning to go south to Saigon so we can jump off from there. Now, what are Carlo's plans? Have you told him yet?'

Anna looked uncomfortable. ‘Not yet. I thought I'd wait till we had worked out where to go, what to do. It's not like we have an address or anything. He'll tell me it's a wild goose chase. He's going to Hoi An. On business.'

Sandy felt she should have probed a bit more about Carlo's activities. She didn't like the sound of the businessmen he'd been mixing with, but she'd been so busy with the cafe. Now Anna's quest was more important. ‘Okay then, let's start making plans. We'll go down to Saigon, maybe get a local flight from there.'

‘What about your dad, is he coming over for that reunion thing?' asked Anna.

‘I don't know. Tom sent me an email to say they'd done all they could, and now Dad'll have to make his mind up. But he'd better do it soon. Anyway, I really don't think he'll come.'

‘But Tom is coming? Is he bringing his wife?'

‘Yep, they're leaving soon. Maybe we can hook up with them in Saigon. You might have a story for him,' said Sandy with a grin.

Anna rubbed her eyes. ‘I don't know. It seems a long shot, but if I could at least see the place my mother lived, maybe even find their house . . .'

‘One step at a time, Anna,' cautioned Sandy. Surely an island village was a small place. She hoped there'd be someone alive who knew the family and could give Anna some information. The photo would help.

That evening Jean-Claude rang Sandy to see if she was settled in and she told him about their plans to visit the village where Anna's mother had lived.

‘After all this time, do you suppose she will find any answers? A pity she waited so long. Her family here probably don't know what happened to her mother and the little brother,' said Jean-Claude.

‘Sure, it's a long shot and Anna isn't expecting to find anyone living, but she's quite excited. She just wants to see where her mother lived. That's important.'

‘It is. It's how I feel when I go down to the river house where my grandparents lived,' said Jean-Claude.

Sandy recalled the beautiful old terrace restaurant as well as the lovely house in Hue. ‘Do you miss your family? You seem so settled here.'

‘Ah, but I go to France very often. For business and to see my family. The world is a small place now, eh?'

‘If you have money. The global village doesn't always extend to the poor,' said Sandy.

‘The internet has shrunk our world though. When are you coming to Ho Chi Minh City?'

‘Fairly soon. Carlo says he is going to Hoi An. Anna doesn't think he'll be interested in coming along to trace her family.'

‘Call on me if you need me,' said Jean-Claude. ‘I like Anna and she's your friend. So I want to help you.'

‘Thanks, Jean-Claude.'

‘Let me know your plans so I can adjust mine. I hope you're comfortable?'

‘Of course I am. You must let me buy you dinner as a thank you.'

‘I'm happy to help you but I won't say no to the dinner offer.'

‘Terrific, Jean-Claude,' said Sandy, and felt a surge of affection for him. ‘I'll let you know our plans.'

Sandy called in to the HOPE office and told Kim about their plans to try and find Anna's family.

‘I've never been to that part of the coast down south, but it sounds like a fishing village. Is that where the refugee boat left from?' he asked.

‘Most probably. That's the sort of thing we hope to find out. I just had an email from Tom and he's very keen for us to follow it up. He's very fond of Anna, I think.'

‘Didn't Anna's mother have any documents, like a birth certificate and such? Surely they'd have a few more details,' said Kim.

‘No, they probably went without papers or they were taken off them. They were robbed by pirates. And worse,' said Sandy.

Kim was thoughtful. ‘I've started to wonder about my family history. I'm a mixed-up Hawaiian. I suppose some of my family were sent there to work in canefields and pine apple plantations. It's never bothered me: everyone I knew was the same. Well, I hope Anna finds what she's looking for.'