Pearls by Colin Falconer Page A

it.
    He prised it from the reef with his knife and placed it almost reverently in his net bag. Suddenly there were oysters all around him. Where a moment ago there had been only coral and rock and weed he could now see a harvest of shell. He felt like a blind man who had suddenly regained his sight.
    His heart pounding with triumph and relief, he started to fill the bag at his waist.
     
    ***
     
    Simeon scowled as another bag of shell came up from below and was thrown on Siosuki's pile. Their new try diver was becoming more expert every day. Soon his pile would match, or even surpass, his own. The Japanese was going deeper, and staying down longer, than he ever could. At this rate he wouldn't be number one diver for much longer.
    These little yellow bastards would take over the whole industry one day.
    He got up from his stool. 'I'm going down for another spell,' he told Hassan, his tender.
    'You're still on your break.'
    'I'm going down! Do as you're told!'
    Cameron looked up from opening shell. 'Your shift's not due for another half an hour, Mister Espada.'
    'I'm all right, boss. I want to go back down.'
    Cameron smiled. 'He's keeping you on your toes, isn't he?'
    Simeon lowered himself over the coir ladder. A few minutes later he was descending through the dark green water into the deeps.
     
    ***
     
    It was a neap tide, and the water was crystal clear. When Simeon reached the bottom, he could see Siosuki quite clearly, almost fifty metres away.
    He was on good shell, his fingers busy among the weed and sponge. In his suit and helmet he lumbered along the sea floor like some ancient monster, the red rubber air hose and the thick manila lifeline snaking through the mists like enormous tentacles. His air bubbles spiralled upwards in sparkling silver clouds.
    Simeon lumbered after him.
     
    ***
     
    Siosuki worked feverishly, stripping the oysters from the rock. As he put the last shell in the bag, he looked down to see if it was full yet.
    It was almost empty.
    He grabbed at the bag and held it up, looking for a hole.
    Suddenly the comforting clack-clack of the air pump disappeared. His air hose! His air hose was cut! He grabbed for his air valve to close it and stop the water rushing in to his helmet.
    It was already shut off.
    His suit started to collapse under the pressure of the water. He groped desperately for the valve, adjusted it, and as his suit re-pressurised the crinkles in his suit smoothed out again.
    He planted his feet firmly on the sea bed, took a few deep breaths to settle himself. He could feel his heart hammering against his ribs. He tried to fathom what could have happened. All he could think of was that the valve must be faulty. Should he go back to the surface? If he was wrong they would all laugh at him.
    But what about the shell bag?
    Something hit him hard from behind. A shark! He grabbed for his lifeline and tugged hard. 'Pull up, pull up!'
     
    ***
     
    Siosuki clung to the rope ladder while Wes lifted off the helmet and started to unscrew the corselet. 'What is it? You see shark down there?'
    Siosuki could not speak, could barely make it to his stool by the main mast, his legs were shaking so hard. Wes had to help him. He wiped the sweat from his face with a towel and took a proffered cigarette and inhaled deeply.
    'Water spirits steal my shell,' he said.
    There was a silence and then the crew - mainly Koepangers - started to laugh. Cameron was the only one who did not seem to find it funny.
    'There's nae such thing.'
    Siosuki shook his head. Of course there were water spirits, even the smallest child in his village knew that. 'Water spirit steals my shell, turn off my air valve.'
    'Oh aye, and what did this water spirit look like.'
    'Green,' Siosuki said, improvising. 'Green, all rotten. Just skull for face. Perhaps dead diver. Maybe ghost.'
    'Get back down, Mister Hanaguchi. Mister Espada's sending up good shell. You should be down there with him.'
    'Not here. Another place more better. Dead