35 - Spring Pottery, Bequia, February 2002
Jean-Marc had excelled himself in the kitchen once again. The Thai fish soup with basil had been followed by red snapper baked with ginger, chillies and lime and swordfish curry.
The swordfish had been caught the previous day by local fishermen in Lower Bay on the other side of the island. They had left to retreive their nets at dawn and the huge fish was tangled up in the net. The animal was bigger than their boat and already dead - they suffocate when they cannot move through the water. The rough seas did not help and inevitably the little boat capsized. Fortunately the dawn ferry to Saint Vincent was passing by and picked up the fishermen who prompty returned with the Coast Guard to retreive their boat.
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That afternoon the old fisherman went out alone in another attempt to retreive his nets. Dusk came and he still hadn't returned, then we heard the sound of an approaching motor - a fishing boat from Saint Lucia was towing the local fishing boat which was towing the net. The huge swordfish was dragged up onto the beach and weighted - 450lbs!! The party began ! Jean-Marc tried sushi first, with a gentle lime and wasabi dressing. Then he grilled some more on the barbecue with some herbs. Then he fried some fish chunks in batter... The following day, it was a Sunday, as Jean-Marc made the fish soup and curry for lunch - he was starting to think that he had cooked enough swordfish for a lifetime. |
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Spring is on the Atlantic side of Bequia, a beautiful spot with coconut plantations and the only fresh water spring on the island. Denis had previously lived in the hills nearby but his house had long gone, destroyed in a storm many decades earlier. Now he lived nearby in a huge rambling stone house at Crown Point just up from the beach at Spring.
Denis enjoyed living in Bequia where he had so many memories from this life and his previous existences. He spent more and more time here since Adrienne had parted in the mid-1980's and he somehow knew that he would find her again one day. His passion for flowers and dyes remained a major occupation for him and he sometimes climbed into the hill to find species that he had found 3 centuries earlier.
He painted a lot, using paints made from his own dyes and this had brought him close to his neighbour Mike who had restored the old sugar mill in the valley and converted it into a pottery. Together they created the most beautiful jars, pots, dishes and sculptures which could be found in the islands.
Jean-Marc and Mike had inevitably become great friends over the years and on this Sunday, after the swordfish party, they inevitably found themselves eating lunch at the pottery.
Jean-Marc's children were there, Gil who would soon start a thriving computer business on the island and help the Grenadines move into the internet era while working hard to bring eco-tourism and sustainable development to the islands, and Lottie who had started her studies in alternative medicines using plants and fruit. Lucie was there of course, Nolly too and their other friends from the island.
But there was a guest of honor that day. Denis had brought his friend Rosa from Montgomery Alabama. She was frail and tired but Denis had persuaded her to take the aeroplane with him from Atlanta, some of his energy giving potions made from plants had certainly helped. They had known each other for nearly 50 years and Denis had always remained in contact with her. Around the table, only Denis knew the impact that this humble lady had made on 20th Century society, indeed he was part of her story.
The conversation mostly centred around the swordfish incident but Denis was in a melancholic mood. He was apparently in good health and he still appeared as if he was sixty something, despite the century or more that he had lived in this life.
He silenced the gathering, many of whom were still recovering from the prevous night's party, with an uncharacteristic line of conversation. " When you can see into the future for others, it is so sad sometimes that you can't help yourself. It's only the giving that makes you what you are. My time here is up, I'll be moving on soon...."
A jeep drew up outside and Mick Jagger walked into the pottery. "Anyone here?" he shouted.
"Out here at the back". Mike responded.
Jagger came out onto the terrace. "Good afternoon, I've come to buy some pots for my house in Mustique". He noticed Jean-Marc in his chefs hat at the end of the table. "Hey don't I know you from somewhere?"
And Denis and Rosa were gone...
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