Traveller Probo
24. Indonesia

To Zak, it couldn’t have been easier.

The most difficult part had been in tempting Phil away from his busy schedule. It was only when Zak threatened to go to Nusa Lembongan without him that his friend finally relented. Zak had been amused at Phil’s initial reaction to staying at a surfers’ hostel on the small, Balinese island. The rooms had a comfortable bed surrounded by mosquito nets, and that was about all. Rattan ceilings played host to hordes of geckos that scurried and yipped throughout the steamy days and nights but the nearby surf had been worth it. Their arms had worked harder than they had for years and sunburn was their friend but the hours of sitting on their boards on the blue ocean swell, and even more hours at a beachside bar sinking ice-cold Bintang beers, had resulted in one of the best weeks of his life.

Work hadn’t even been mentioned until day five. Exploring the island on rented motor scooters helped them to replace the best places to eat and buy blended fruit juices. They became regulars at a beachside restaurant where prices best suited broke surfers. Most significantly, Phil vanished into anonymity. None would dare think that a high-profile Traveller guru would share their early-morning beach break. In fact, few of those on the island gave a damn about international politics or in sending teams back in time. Money was one commodity they didn’t have, sharing only the good times that a surf, beer, and their delicious girlfriends could offer.

Four days of not shaving or washing hair and wearing cheap Hawaiian shirts saw a return to the good humour of their days when the Test Area in Maroochydore was as much a place to store surfboards as it was to work on their research. Phil gradually became the joker of the pack and one of the girls from a surfing hen’s escape became a constant companion. Kylie was a gun surfer, surfed in a G-string, and wore the sexiest pair of cut-off jeans imaginable. Zak had become ‘Yeti’ again and could barely imagine how the girl could have any body-hair below her eye-lashes. Phil made it his mission to replace out and, before long, Kylie and Phil were inseparable. It was not uncommon for them to vanish for a while before their shameless return to the bar or beach.

On the fifth day, Kylie and her friends took off for a massage and beauty session that included having their hair braided with beads, so Yeti and Phil had a stint in the surf without her tagging along. They sat astride their boards as the morning sun rose in front of them, something Yeti had never experienced before this trip. He very much needed this escape.

As they sat silently on the rise and fall of the morning swell, Phil began to talk. It was as if a dam had suddenly given way and he talked, almost non-stop, about his workload, about how much fun he was having in Bali, and about Kylie who could, he suggested, breathe underwater. Yeti wasn’t sure what that meant but it sounded good.

It was after their surf, when they relaxed at their café for their breakfast fruit smoothie and omelette, when Phil began to really open up. “I dunno Yeti. How did it end up being like this? One minute I’m broke, just another surfer bum, and the next I’m dating models and I’m feted by the world’s rich and famous. You know what? These last few days have been more fun than sailing a gazillion-dollar yacht in the Greek Islands shagging the hottest porn stars. This is real! Just good fun! Shit, with the money I have, I could just throw it all in and maybe grab Kylie and live here for the rest of my life.”

Yeti just nodded and grunted in noncommittal agreement.

Phil continued, “It’s just the pressure mate. The pressure to perform, you know, like some kind of fucking juggling monkey or something.”

“But you’ve done very well, haven’t you? I mean you’re famous and rich. Isn’t that what you wanted?” asked Yeti.

“Yeah. Well, maybe,” replied Phil. “When you’re broke, that’s what everyone wants but when you’re there, it’s almost a disappointment, you know?”

“I remember you used to go off against big business and big government, about the military-industrial complex and all, remember?” reminisced Yeti with a smile.

Phil was silent for a few moments, his meal and drink forgotten. He looked unhappy as he gazed out to the turquoise glimmer of the sea, his eyes distant. He turned to his friend. “Mate, I have to tell you something. Something important.”

Yeti just waited and watched as a crisp line of waves crashed onto the reef while a few distant surfers bobbed in the ocean swell.

Phil sighed. “I dunno how it happened! I just don’t know! It’s this fame thing, you know? Everyone wants a piece of you, not because of who you are but because of what you are. Kylie, well she’s a great bird, and she likes me because of the fun we have together. I told her I worked in a factory, you know, and she doesn’t care. She just likes me! It’s like I looked down a moment and looked up and I’ve stopped being a surfer and I’ve become some kind of media tart, selling high-security shit to governments while I spout the Traveller line. I don’t know what happens to the gear my clients buy from Helguard. Hell, they probably use it against their own people. Actually, I know they do in some of those African countries who are using the Helguard gear. I know they do in the US and Britain. No-one cares and, you know what, neither do I. I mean, I do care if I think about it but I don’t get the time to.” Phil stopped a moment and took a breath.

“You should get away more mate, get some clarity,” suggested Yeti. “You’re not a bad bloke you know. You’re just starting to believe the bullshit people spout at you.”

“Yeah but you and Mel seem to have it together,” added Phil miserably. “You guys are happy, or at least you look happy.”

“Yeah we’re happy. Mel’s a great chick,” confirmed Yeti with a smile. “She’s changed my life. I couldn’t be happier!”

“See! You guys are happy and you’re also rich and famous.”

“Not as famous as you,” corrected Yeti.

“Yeah, well, you know what I mean,” muttered Phil. “I just want to be happy, you know? I feel like I’ve turned into the sort of person I wouldn’t like if I met me when I was at Uni.”

“Oh, you’re not that bad mate. Sure, you’re a bit full of yourself and can be a pain in the arse at times but you’ll get through it,” smiled Yeti.

“I dunno mate. I’ve got myself caught, you know. I feel I’m a bit over my head,” exclaimed Phil, his head in his hands. Yeti carefully glanced about but they were the only ones at the small eatery and none of the staff appeared to be taking any interest. “In what way?” he asked lightly.

“Helguard, it’s fucking Helguard! I wanted out, you know. Woomera was just placing too much pressure on me, pressure to come up with new things all of the bloody time! But most of all it was the negative shit the scientific and engineering types would throw at me. The media too. About the Transporter being an accident, that we couldn’t copy it, that we didn’t deserve the accolades and the recognition.” Phil paused to take a deep, shaky breath and then took a long gulp of mango and watermelon juice.

“Well, why did you go to Helguard?” asked Yeti.

Phil looked up, his blue eyes wide and his look hunted. “Oh jeeze! To be honest, it was because I wanted to prove that we could do it again, that we could make another Transporter. Peter Conti gave me an open cheque-book on the project but I started to become side-tracked. You know, all of that shit with Transporter Corp and such. Then, with the bad feelings between you guys and Conti, well, I just wanted to stay out of it, even when I was the cause of it. Now I feel like I can’t move.” Phil looked miserable.

Yeti looked back at the surf. “Surely you must be doing okay sorting out the Transporter. I think you and we are stuck at the same place, you know, the fused ganglion and such. One of us should get a breakthrough soon. I’ve never been able to figure out why we don’t join forces and work together on this. You know, share results and such.”

Phil grunted. “How would that work if Mel and Peter hate each other?”

Yeti shrugged as he replied, “You may not have heard but they’ve largely made up. We’re just keeping it from the media for the moment, just to keep everyone guessing.”

Phil looked up hopefully, “Really? That’s good news.”

Yeti smiled. “Yeah it is. Now we think there’ll be no stopping us, with most of the old team together at least. That is, if you want to of course. I haven’t said anything as I wasn’t sure if you were in the loop because we’ve been sorting out the details on it all with Conti. Allan is keen to help out too. We’ll be sure to knock it over.”

Phil looked uncomfortable. “Well, yeah. Good idea … sounds good. Is this what this week was about? To feel out if I was interested?”

Yeti looked across at his friend and frowned. “No mate! It was to see if you were okay. You seem to be a bit fragile. I wanted to get the old friendship on the boil again. Truth is, I needed a break as well. Mel told me to piss off for a week or so to get out from under her feet and to take you with me. Apparently, I’ve been a little intense of late.” He smiled at the recollection. “Mel threatened me with divorce if I didn’t go for a decent surf. She wants a bit of the old Yeti back.”

Phil didn’t respond. They silently watched the surf together. A waitress wandered out and took their order for more fruit smoothies.

“Umm, well here’s the full truth,” blurted Phil suddenly. “You just can’t tell anyone this, because it’s hush-hush. I’m serious!” He paused a moment and looked around before he leaned closer to Yeti and continued. “I’m also working with the US Government to research the Transporter. They’re another mob with an open chequebook and they can be very persuasive, especially when my participation came with a billion-dollar order for Helguard gear.”

“Wow!” exclaimed Yeti quietly. “That’ll add some pressure on you, old mate. How does that go when the Transporter is actually owned by Helguard and Woomera, which includes you?”

“I know! I know!” groaned Phil as he grabbed a handful of hair on either side of his head in frustration. “How do I go against a billion-dollar client, keep them happy, keep Peter Conti happy and keep you guys happy. The Yanks keep going on about how having another Transporter is for the good of humanity, for the good ol’ US of A. How is that? How can the US Government having a spare Transporter benefit anyone but themselves? The stupid pricks forget I’m a fucking Aussie. It’s driving me nuts! I have to reconcile this mate.” He strummed the old table-top with his fingers and nodded his head as if having made a decision. “Getting out here has cleared my head and reminds me what life’s all about, it’s about living it!”

Yeti thought a moment. “Ok mate, let’s finish this week off, have a great time, and then just mull it all over, you know. You’re a brilliant guy and we’re there for you. I’m sure both Mel and Peter will be fine if we approach this honestly and together, as a team. We’ll come up with a solution.”