LiTTLE CHERiNE Book 02 - post221
...I understood that this Eddie guy called to me, was the reason I had felt the need to travel. The fact that he is also the husband of my enemy was disturbing. Hearing that she comes to visit him still and that he loves her did nothing to instil me with confidence.
1266
“Are you a real goddam tourist?” He looked about fifty and was obviously tired. Without asking he pulled out a chair and sat at my table. “This fucking country is going to cause me a heart attack. Hey you! Bring me a whiskey on the rocks and made damn sure it is a Chivas. You have to be careful, if they think you don’t know the difference they pass off the cheapest rubbish on you.”
“Not my experience. I’ve found the people of this country to be one of the most honest I’ve met. I exclude politicians, priests and lawyers of course.”
“I’m Harry, Harry Westman, from Miami.”
“Robert.”
“Well Robert, what are you doing here?”
“Waiting for supper.”
He thought I was funny and seemed to be incapable of taking umbrage (δυσαρέσκεια- παρεξήγησι). If I’d met him in a zoo I might have mistaken him for a rhino, he shared a certain quality of skin with them.
“You don’t like talking about yourself, all you British are the same. You should learn to be open and friendly like us Americans.”
“Thanks, but I’d rather be shafted (απατήσει) by somebody who calls me mister, than by someone using my first name. My experience is that you Americans use your show of easy friendliness as a weapon.”
“My! You don’t mince your words do you? I like that. Does make it difficult to be friendly though.”
“I hope so.”
“Somebody stolen your wife? Or maybe you are in this mood because nobody wants to steal her?”
1267
“What are you doing here if you hate the country so much?”
“The country is great. Do you know how much potential there is?”
“Harry, you remind me of an old story. When Greece was still ruled by Turkey and the Greeks were fighting for independence, the British Parliament sent out a few men to report on what was happening and whether the Greeks should be helped. When they returned they were full of marvel at the antiquities they had seen, the strange beauty of the country, but their comment was, ‘what a pity it is occupied by Greeks’.”
He slapped his thigh in enjoyment. “They had it damn right.”
“I think you misunderstand. The story, which is true, does not reflect badly on the Greeks, it shows what complete arseholes that delegation were. If I needed a reason to dislike your politicians, your betrayal of your allies, Greece I mean, would be enough. Turkey sided with the Germans in the Second World War, whatever their official declarations were. Greece fought and suffered on the side of the allies. Yet your arseholes reward Turkey. You betrayed the people of Cyprus. Your presidents make speeches about your beliefs, but they do not give a shit about humanity. They will back any dictator if it serves their purposes, even if only in the short term.”
“I think you have your facts mixed up. I had not expected to find an anti-American. I better leave.”
“I am not an anti-American. The ideals the people believe in are my ideals. I just do not like your politicians. But then, to be honest, I do not like any politicians.”
He sat back again smiling. “I’ll drink to that.”
“So Harry, what are you doing here?”
“Trying to make these idiots understand how business is conducted. I come with millions to invest, offer to build a tourist resort that will stand out and bring them tourists and foreign exchange. You’d think they would jump at the opportunity. Instead, they are demanding they get fifty percent ownership, just because they have the land - and that they run the resort. Do you know the kind of comments I get? ‘You foreigners are all the same, you come here with the bible in the one hand and a pistol in the other.’ That is from the Minister of Finance. The Minister of Tourism has the cheek to say to me that they offer land filled with diamonds underneath and because we have the machinery to dig it out we think we must be in control and get the lion’s share. She’s goddamn right! The diamonds are worthless sitting down there.”
“Your machines are also worthless if you do not have diamonds to dig up.”
“There are diamonds everywhere. Our machinery is the capital we have. Why should we risk it here when there are so many places our money would be welcomed without us being at risk?”
“You are both right Harry. You need to understand these people and to have the patience to negotiate until you have an agreement that benefits both of you. Unfortunately you also have to know how to grease a few palms.”
He then told me something interesting, “Just kilometres away from here there is a game park. It is the only place in the world where animals, even giraffes, come down to the sea and go into the water. We are proposing a resort just by the border of the park. It would be a gold mine if publicised correctly. The problem is that a road of about two hundred kilometres would have to be built. No damn hotel can afford to build it. They would also have to bring electricity and water. They expect us to do all that. They are dreaming!”
“Harry, so are you. This country cannot afford to put the infrastructure you need. You may have the ideal concept, but I think it is the wrong time for it. Come back in twenty years.”
“You know something? I think you are right. I’m going to cancel my meetings and go back home. I can use my money just as well back home.”
“At least there you know the rules, the people and your market. This country has been spoilt by countries like Sweden. They have for too many years been giving them money, helping them. It is about time Africa grows up, stops expecting others to care for them and begin to work to create something out of their own wealth. They do not need your fancy resorts Harry. They could put up simple stone and thatch huts with a few amenities and tourists would flock, even travel over their awful roads to get there. To the visitors it would all be part of the unspoilt Africa they came to experience and they would put up with it. It would be better for development to grow that way than by trying to leapfrog themselves into owning resorts of the kind you talk about. Unfortunately their Ministers do not understand that. They want the luxury trappings of the West and the prestige.”
1268
As annoyed as I’d been by his intrusion I had been helped to forget my own problems for a brief moment, so I became friendlier and we chatted a while longer. Once he stopped trying to bulldoze me he turned out to be fairly nice and showed me photos of his children.
“Are you married Robert? You look too young to have any children yet.”
“I am older than I look. I have a couple of daughters (if I’d told the truth he would not have believed me).”
“No son?”
“Not yet. Maybe in a hundred years or so.”
“You are wrong. My sons have been my joy. The girls, they are always close to their mothers. You need sons.”
“As the Arabs say, Inshalah! God willing.”
“What kind of work are you in?”
“The Internet, I design sites. I specialise in computer graphics. I also put my drawings on the Web.”
“You’re kidding! You said your name is Robert, is your surname Teller?”
“How did you know?”
“Goddam! You’re the one that did the Kaleidoscope World series? Shit! Just wait until I tell my kids and wife. They love your work.”
“I’m flattered.”
“Bullshit! You know you are good. How much to buy an original from you?”
“All my originals are on the web. You are welcome to copy and paste them.”
“I’m talking about an original. On canvas. You must have done some. What would you charge?”
“I’ve never thought of it.”
“Name your price.”
“You mean you want me to paint something for you?”
“That too. What I want is an original of the Kaleidoscope series.”
“Those are not for sale. They belong to my wife and daughters.”
“You tell your wife I’ll pay a hundred thou for one.”
“Harry, for what you have just done for my ego I owe you a drink. Another whiskey?”
“Why not. It’s not as if I have to get up early tomorrow to go to any meetings anymore.” He winked at me. “Let’s celebrate, get a bottle.”
“I don’t really drink. Just wine with my food.”
“Then you must join me for supper. We’ll get the best bottle of wine they have.”
I felt dizzy. What a day! I see my girls. Slit my wrist. Bring in two new Cherinians. Nearly make love. Meet the spider. Get sliced up by pangas Find out I came all this way to meet her husband. To top it all I meet someone who wants to pay this kind of money for a painting of mine. What else, I wondered.
Luckily the rest of the evening was pleasant. I was pleased to find John waiting and he stayed the night. I may sound like a little girl, but I really did not want to spend the night alone, just knowing he was in the house was a comfort.
Αλέξανδρος Ζήνον Ευσταθίου
(Alexander Zenon Eustace)16th April, 2019
* posted on Steemit: 16th April, 2019
@nikosnitza
Αυτός ο Harry από που εμφανίστηκε???.... Τι ρόλο βαράει και που ξέρει τόσα για τον Ρόμπερτ???
O Harry ainai aplos Αμερικανός εκατομμυριούχος pou emathe oti yparhei efkairia na dimiougisei megalo touristiko ksenodoheio stin Tanzania. Fenete oti einai apo aftous pou ehoun lefta kai agapane tin Tehni (Art). Opos eipe, i gynaika tou kai ta paidia tou, tous aresei to Kaladeiscope Series pou zografise o Robert....
Den to grafo sta vivlia, alla, poli liga erga tou Robert (se canvas) ehoun poulithi sto keno. O Alkis apofasise apo poli noris na kratisei olla ta erga tou gia tous Cherinians.
I have not mentioned this in the books, but Robert has sold very few of his paintings on canvas to the public, as Alki decided from early on to keep them all for the Cherinians (as part of their heritage).
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