Monsoon by Di Morrissey Page A

asked Tom.
    â€˜She was from the south, that’s all I know. I don’t know which village or anything. I’m just being a tourist with Sandy.’
    â€˜Where’re you from, Tom?’ asked Sandy to shift the attention from Anna.
    â€˜Sydney. Northern beaches. What about you?’
    â€˜Anna and I grew up in Maroubra – we’ve known each other since kindy.’
    â€˜Nice one,’ said Tom, grinning and leaning back in his seat. He then turned to Captain Chinh. ‘How long have you been in the tourist business? Did you refit the Harvest Moon or take over a going concern?’
    â€˜This boat been in my family long time. We fishing people, do many things, always live near sea. Hung, my nephew, he learning tourist business at university,’ said Captain Chinh proudly. ‘His idea make this tourist boat. People better than fish,’ he laughed.
    The girls exchanged an amused glance at Tom’s hearty burst of laughter.
    â€˜You told me we’re having fish for dinner. Fresh, I hope?’ said Tom.
    â€˜Hung catch this morning. He lives in fishing village over there, you see tomorrow.’
    â€˜So he’s on university holidays?’ said Sandy. ‘Where’s he studying?’
    â€˜Number one university in Hanoi. He work with me, make money for next year study,’ said Captain Chinh.
    Tom excused himself to go to his cabin and unpack some of his gear. Captain Chinh went to the galley to prepare dinner. The girls moved to the stern to dip into the icebox near Hung.
    â€˜Can I get you something, Hung?’ asked Sandy.
    â€˜No, thank you. Help yourself. I put your drinks in there to keep cold,’ Hung added and Sandy opened the lid.
    â€˜The white wine is chilling nicely. Looks like Tom brought some beer.’ Sandy handed Anna a lemonade. ‘So what are you studying, Hung?’
    â€˜I’m in my second year of economics and business administration. I work with Uncle when I come back here in the breaks.’
    â€˜Where’s your family?’ asked Anna.
    He motioned over his shoulder. ‘In the village. It’s a fishing community; you’ll see tomorrow. Tourists like to go and look at it.’ He smiled.
    â€˜It’s a small village with floating houses,’ said Sandy, thinking he’d come a long way from such a remote village to study at university and speak English as well as he did.
    As if reading her mind Hung added, ‘I live with Uncle’s younger brother’s family in Hanoi. They took me in when I was young. I have brothers and sisters but I am first son so I was chosen to be educated.’
    â€˜Congratulations. You must have been a smart kid,’ said Anna and they all laughed.
    â€˜What is the word in English for too smart?’ asked Hung.
    â€˜Precocious? No matter, you made your mark early. What do you plan to do?’ asked Sandy.
    â€˜Tourism is big business in my country now. I would like to start my own travel company. For visitors coming here. But I would need much money. There are many places visitors never see. The national operators are good but I would like to make tours for small groups. Special trips to special places.’
    â€˜For the niche market, you mean?’ said Anna and Hung smiled, filing the phrase away.
    For the next hour he guided the Harvest Moon past the more spectacular monoliths, occasionally passing another tourist boat with an exchange of waves and smiles. He pointed to the paddle steamer in the distance.
    â€˜Those big boats cannot get so close, or go through some of the narrow passages,’ said Hung. He pointed out one huge outcrop that had a small forest on top spilling down one side where soil had collected over the years. There was a scrap of rough beach with a sampan pulled up onto it.
    â€˜There’s a roof in the trees. What’s that near the top?’ asked Anna as she glimpsed the late sun shining on a flash of