I landed on Hamilton Island on time. The sun was high and hot. It is the hub airport for the Whitsunday Islands. It looks just like the American sixties TV holiday island programme. Was it called Dreamboat? I need to catch a ferry. Excellent, my stop is fist. On get the actors of this weeks episode. There's a group of noisy teenagers, a tired single mother on her own with a baby, a silent uncommunicative couple and three important middle-aged buisnessmen. There are others but not as interesting characters for a storyline.
We land at our destination. Only the buisness men get off. The other characters seem to have failed the audition.
We are greeted by a cheerful Germanic sounding young lady. 'You are here for zee conference, yah?' The others nod. 'Ah well I ....' I began. 'Follow me please' she turned and headed towards the resort.
There's a nice cocktail for us, so I help myself. The others know each other by now and are looking at me quizzically. 'Here for the conference' one of them introduces himself. 'No' I replied sheepishly. 'Ah, he's a tourist, good on ya mate' he shouts across to the others. I shuffle away towards the reception desk to check in, reaching for another cocktail as I leave.
Oh joy, they are expecting me. 'Can we just take a swipe of your card?' asks the helpful girl. 'Yes of course young man' I jest. There is an awkward silence as I look around for a response, a smile would do. The first card has just expired. How stupid can you be? Never mind, 'try this one', I looked round and grinned at the gathering audience. A pause and a frown. 'I'm sorry this one is rejected as well' the now irritating girl says, slightly louder than she really need to. 'I'm going to have to talk to my superior'. Yes OK, keep your voice down and get on with it.
The manageress beckons me round the back of the desk. I scuttle round, head bowed. Now the crowd can't hear what we're saying, but can see us gesticulating behind the glass screen.
'Mr Benett' she sighs. 'Err doctor actually' I only think, and I wait for the call to the police, 'this machine often doesn't connect to Europe, so please just charge things to your room, and we'll try again tomorrow, sorry for the inconvenience'. Phew, ' I don't suppose you could say that to them out there' I thought as the faces look in to see the outcome. A stage smile from me I think conveyed the message.
My room is good, light and cool. I've had a look round and am going to the barrier reef tomorrow. The north beach, no more than thirty yards from the sliding door, is corally and white. There are mirmaids on rocks in the bay. Time for a beer at $8.50. Put it on my room please.
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