Paradise's Revenge!

We were both awakened at 3.00am by very heavy rain on the roof and we never really slept well after that.Will rose at 7.45 am with an upset tummy and the World began to fall out of his bottom.He thought it might be the fishcakes ha had had at lunch yesterday. It was not good at any time least of all the day you are travelling by plane.We packed our bags and took them over to Reception and went for breakfast. Will did not have anything to eat. We were served by a woman from the village that had helped look for Mary yesterday for me. She did not introduce herself but laid her hand on my shoulder and said,“You like massage?”“Yes, very good,” I said.Will watched me eat hotcakes with maple syrup and bananas.“You leave today?” She was back with her hand on my shoulder.I nodded.“Awww,” she said, squeezing my shoulder.“She likes you” said Will.“Well,” I said, “I would not be surprised if Mary has spread word of my fine body.” I stuffed some more pancake in my mouth.We went to the office to hand in our key and the receptionist said our car was waiting.We trundled down with our bags. The same car we had arrived in was waiting for us but no one was in it. So we waited for the driver to appear.He did eventually....from the back seat. He was lying down, having a nap. He had been up since 3.00 am. (We knew how he felt.) He was called Raj.We set off.“Ask me any questions, I am yours. Your driver,” he said, “only yours.”We had no questions. It was a quiet journey compared to the one down with Kasim.The air-con was freezing and eventually when he saw me shivering, he turned it down a bit.We got to Nadi just before lunch time.We thanked Raj...with a tip...I know....but he had his own sob stories and three children to provide for.Will went straight off to find the ‘facilities’ for awhile. There were lots of Fijian children riding around and pushing each other on luggage trolleys. I wondered if they were actually travelling or had just come in for the fun of it.We checked in fairly easily and knew that as she handed me my boarding pass that I was officially, finally entitled to stay in Australia indefinitely. There was no fanfare but there were three tuneless Fijian singers playing ukuleles in the departure lounge. Thankfully it was not permanently...it was only when a flight was boarding.Will got some water and we sat and waited. He went off to change our Fijian money into Australian dollars and to use the’ facilities’again. I looked up from my book and saw him standing at the currency exchange counter across the hall and went back to reading. Time passed and he didn’t return. I looked up and he was not at the currency exchange anymore. I couldn’t see him anywhere so just assumed he would be at toilets.“Excuse me,” said a man. “Are you Nick?”“Yes, “ I said.“Will is over there, he says can you come? He is not feeling very well.”I picked up our hand luggage and walked over with the man. Will was white and shaking and sat on a chair.“I think I need a doctor,” he said.I went all around the departure lounge looking for the information desk but could not find it. I went back to Will.“Ask at the shop then,” he said. I asked a girl in the cafe and she pointed out a security man.I told him Will was ill and if there was a doctor around. He asked which flight we were on and I showed him where we were sat and went back to Will. He did look awful.“I feel sick and my hands are numb, “ he said.A Virgin Australia steward came over. (He was definitely on our plane...if you catch my drift).He asked Will how long he had felt bad and what he had eaten. He said it was common for people to get sick from fish in Fiji. He suggested a sugary drink so I went and bought one. When I got back there were two stewardesses there as well.“We will have to decide if you are fit enough to travel,” said one. “You might have to go on a later flight. Have you been sick?”He hadn’t.“If you are sick on the plane,” she said, “we have to call quarantine when we get to Australia.” It sounded ominous and not the triumphant entry I had hoped for.Will had had some of the Gatorade I’d bought and was feeling a little better.She asked for our boarding cards and went off to see what she could do.Will lay down and had a rest and after awhile had perked up a bit but he still looked pretty dreadful. The stewardess came back to see how he was. He said he was a bit better. She said the flight was not full so she had changed our seats to the back where Will could lie down across the row if he wanted.We were allowed to go...it was a relief.They were so lovely on the plane. They brought him water and lemonade before we took off. He was given a cushion and a pillow and a dry bread roll...which had more chance of staying down. The stewardess who had been helping us was the leading stewardess on the flight and she also gave us express passes to get through immigration and customs in Brisbane. She offered to call ahead for a wheel chair...but he declined.“Oh,” I said, “That would have been so good for “Possum!”The flight was supposed to 3 hours and 25 minutes but we did it in only 3 hours.We flew in over the Aldi where I take Dulcie shopping. I took a photo for her.At immigration the woman officer looked at my card and passport.“You are moving here now are you?” she asked.“Yes,” I said.She stamped my passport and handed it back.‘Hmmpff’ I thought, ‘ you could have said ‘Welcome to Australia’.’We are back in Brisbane. Will is feeling a little better...he has even said he is feeling a bit hungry.Dulcie was glad to see us back.She is still outraged over the kiwi fruit from Italy.“Have you tried them,” I asked.“Nah, I’ll not!” she said.