spots and a cream-coloured throat were the only markings distinguishing it from the background. Dink was perspiring heavily and felt a ponderous tiredness creeping over him as he strode past several elevated wooden vegetable gardens. These were carpeted with ridiculously healthy-looking plants; lettuce, beans, tomatoes, and herbs.
“Yes, Jules!” Ajay called out to announce them as they approached a rickety dwelling. He turned back to Dink to check on him. “You OK, man? You’re sweating pretty hard.”
“I’m fine. Big night last night,” he explained with economy of effort but was feeling vaguely faint from his exertions and was glad to stop in the cool forest.
Ajay turned back towards the house as a painfully thin man emerged from the doorway, clearly waking from a nap. He was bare-chested and was all ribs and pointed bones. He was completely bald but soft downy white hair sat in a neat triangular patch on his sunken chest. Squinting hard to get better focus, he recognised Ajay and smiled broadly, his face appearing almost to crack in half with pure joy. “Ajay! It’s so good to see you, son.” They hugged warmly. “I didn’t know you were coming to visit.”
“It was a surprise decision, Jules. I had some business with Gregoire at North Point. I want you to meet my friend Dink. He’s from Australia.”
Jules said hello, peering around Ajay to eyeball Dink intently. “Any friend of Ajay’s is a friend of mine. He saved my life, you know.”
Ajay was visibly uncomfortable with this praise. “Oh c’mon, Jules. I just gave you a few farming tips.”
Jules started to add an explanation but stopped short. “All you need to know, Dink, is this man has a good heart, and is a friend to all.” His voice broke slightly, and his yellowed eyes misted. “He’s like a son to me.”
“I can tell he’s a kind man,” Dink offered.
Ajay placed a hand onto Jules’ bony shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. He looked him in the eye. “Thank you, my friend. Can I introduce Dink to J-C?”
“Of course. He’s up behind the chicken yard.” He swished his arm in the direction past the rear of the house. “I won’t come up with you. I might go back inside to rest; I’m feeling my age today.”
“That old!” Ajay teased.
The old man smirked and shot Ajay a feigned irritated look before turning to Dink. “Nice to meet you, young man. I hope that you enjoy La Bajan.”
Dink was sure he would, already convinced of that after just half a day on the island. He was equally chuffed to be called a young man.
“And you, Ajay, come anytime, but the mornings are better when I’m more spritely.”
“Look after yourself, Jules. I’ll try to pass by in the next few days.”
Stooping lower than seemed necessary, Jules disappeared back into the darkness of his house.
“It was nice to meet you,” Dink directed the words into the lightless void as Ajay strode forward past the hut. Dink noticed that the chipped wooden doorframe was tilted at an angle, and there was no door. Despite entering only moments before, there was no sight or sound of Jules from inside.
“You’re going to love J-C,” Ajay predicted as he led the way. “He’s ninety years old.”
“Jules’ brother?”
“Kind of.” Ajay looked perplexed, seeking the appropriate explanation. “More like a soul mate.”
“Righto!” Dink was pretty confused but at least this cryptic adventure had given him renewed energy.
They passed a dirt chicken run with scruffy fowl scratching wearily in the corners and, beyond this, Dink could see a large redwood tree dominating the area. It was festooned with a pale-green fleshy vine that cascaded down towards the ground, stopping neatly about a metre above the ground in a defined horizontal line, like a professionally trimmed fringe. Below the fringe, Dink could make out a dark mound that appeared to move.
Ajay stopped short of this and announced, “This is Jean-Claude, or J-C for short.”
Dink was stunned. A giant land tortoise peered towards him with large, intelligent eyes. It was huge, at least a metre long and nearly as high, with adjacent hexagonal shell pieces as large as dinner plates. Extending a fleshy neck, it reached up to feed on the overhanging vine. Thick, strong legs supported the weight of the carapace whilst hefty black nails gripped the ground. Dink was reminded of childhood images from The Tortoise and the Hare story books. Aesop’s Fables indeed!
“That’s incredible,” Dink stated in disbelief. “I didn’t know these creatures still existed.”
“La Bajan paradise, man.” Ajay beamed with pride and satisfaction. He explained that the tortoises are native to the Sedois Islands, although only a few of the old reptilian creatures remain. These were mainly in the forest of Mont Centrale where human encroachment was minimal. Traditional island custom had been to gift each infant child a young tortoise so that they would have company throughout their life.
Thinking that, if this practice had continued, there would be a lot of tortoises running around, Dink queried, “As a pet?”
Ajay looked a bit disappointed and his voice rose in pitch as he explained, “Man, more spiritual that that. A friend. A permanent companion in life.” He stroked his chin as he informed Dink that these tortoises may live to be over two hundred years old, they were surprisingly agile, and clearly have intelligence. “You know that J-C will outlive Jules.”
“Sorry, Ajay. It’s just a lot to take in right now.” Dink was feeling as if he had fallen through the looking glass. What a place this is! He wondered if Kylie would believe him when he explained the afternoon he’d had.
Ajay was now softly caressing Jean-Claude’s shell, tracing the bands between the articulated plates. J-C responded to the touch, standing taller and stretching upwards to initiate firmer contact. Like a cat being petted. The popular local belief was that tortoises love being stroked but you must not scratch them, especially around the bands where nerves were highly sensitive.
Dink stepped forward slowly, aware of the sharp beak-like mouth of this giant tortoise. Tentatively, he reached to stroke the front portion of the upper shell. J-C rose to meet his hand and looked towards him to make eye contact. Dink was freaked out by this clear interaction. He had been exhausted before this day even began and this was an amazing experience. Outrageous, and overwhelmingly strange. But truly amazing.
“My wife, Kylie, would love J-C.” He smiled at Ajay. “Can I bring her another time to meet him?”
“Sure, man. It won’t be a problem with Jules.” Ajay subconsciously glanced at his watch. “I look forward to meeting her.”
They sat at peace with Jean-Claude for a few more minutes before Ajay suggested they start to head back. “I have some business in La Porte.”
“No worries.” Dink pondered whether Kylie was wondering where he was. She might still be asleep, he mused, as she had crashed on the bed as soon as they arrived on La Bajan.
Retracing their way back to the coastal road, Ajay retrieved his bike. He started as he remembered something. “Oh yeah. Man, I’ve got a spare phone
