At the pool - who is watching?
Chapter 18
Morag and Robert at the Pool
As the car swept into and up the Embassy drive, Morag let out a gasp. ‘You are living here—in the Russian embassy?’
‘Yes, for the time being, to be near you. Wasn’t that kind of them?’
‘Kind of whom, Robert?’
My response needed more time, so I simply raised my finger to my lips. She gave me a quizzical look taking my silent instruction to heart.
Vitaly Karmanov stood at the entrance to meet Morag.
‘Delighted to meet you, doctor,’ he said shaking her unsteady hand.
‘I should say, First Secretary, that Morag is not quite a doctor yet, but her opportunity to experience tropical medicine here will take her further down that road.’
‘I’m very pleased to meet you and grateful that you are able to host Robert while I am here,’ she said, giving a generous smile.
‘Who am I to thwart true love?’ Vitaly said, with a smile as wide as an eagle’s wingspan. ‘Take her bags to the reception Samuel, and Robert go to the conservatory with your fiancée for a refreshing drink—I am sure Morag will appreciate that after such a long flight.’
Morag glanced at me on hearing the word fiancée. I opened my hand and waved her through the reception area to the conservatory, where several fans whirled away helping to keep things tolerably cool.
‘This is so palatial. Not what I expected.’
‘Nor I. I’ll tell you about it by the pool.’
‘There’s a pool?’
‘Out the back. You’ll love it,’ I said, seeing a servant arrive with our drinks. I stood up. The servant offered us two fresh orange ice-filled glasses from the tray. I took them both and passed one to Morag.
‘May I join you?’ asked Vitaly, entering the spacious room.
‘Please do,’ I said.
He sat opposite us.
‘I’m delighted that you were able to bring Robert down from Tamale,’ Morag said.
‘You are at Korle Bu for six weeks, not so?’ Vitaly said.
‘Yes.’
‘Then Robert will be here for the duration of your stay in Accra. He won’t be returning to Tamale.’
‘He won’t be returning to Tamale? Not even after I leave?’
Vitaly shook his head. ‘We are indigenising the factory. Letting the locals take over. They are ready for that. Robert did a fine job bringing them on. As I say, it’s time for them to take over.’
Morag sipped her orange juice, clinking her ice cubes as she did. ‘So, if Robert is not going back to Tamale, have you decided on another place, or will he be coming home?’
I saw the importance of her question. It made me uncomfortable, yet I needed to know what was on Vitaly’s mind.
‘Well, that’s a good question. I guess there are a few options. We could find him a job elsewhere, outside Ghana perhaps—we could offer you both a post if you wish? We could send him back to Europe too.’
Morag smiled. ‘You mean back to Scotland?’
Vitaly sipped his drink then placed the glass purposefully down on his coaster. ‘Europe is a big continent. Scotland is not out of the question.’
‘Vitaly, Morag has to be at the hospital later today. Perhaps there’s time to go to the pool soon?’
‘Yes, excellent idea and be back for lunch at 1 p.m.’ he said as he coaxed the last few orange bits out of his glass. Then he left the conservatory.
Each time Morag tried to ask a sensitive question, I placed my finger to my lips then I tapped my ear. She gleaned it was not always safe to talk openly.
At the pool, seeing it was only mid-morning, I lay out two sun loungers opposite where my afternoon position usually was. This was near a garden plot of herbs. I looked around. I lowered my voice as Morag laid her towel over her white shins.
‘Always suspect there is a recording device around.’
‘I can speak Glaswegian if you wish?’ she joked.
‘I think we are safe here. Not many swims in the morning. If there’s a microphone around, I suspect it’s on the other side of the pool. There’s not much cover for a mike around the sun loungers here.’
‘Well, wherever it is, I need some answers, Robert. What the hell is going on? You’ve lost your job and they bend over backwards for you here in Accra, just because I’ve arrived. It doesn’t make sense. Their generosity is outstanding. Why?’
‘You are right. It doesn’t make sense. I’ve been a fool. I’m caught up in something. There’s much to tell you but not here. Come on let’s get into the pool.’
‘Last one in is a sissy,’ she said.
I took a leap into the water after her. When I surfaced, I saw Vitaly at the window.
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