CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Albert chose a restaurant renowned for its modern Australian cuisine not far from Kym’s hotel. Wanting to share his culture with Kym, what better way to do that than with food. The walk from the hotel meandered along a coastal promenade affording beautiful views of the beach in the golden afternoon light. At that time of year it was lovely and the girls stopped many times to take photographs.
Earlier on their way to the hotel, Albert and Mitch agreed the best explanation of the plate was telling the truth about it. The subject would be difficult to raise so they concluded Albert should start the conversation. The notion mightn’t be well received, or even believed, but it was about Albert and he had the better chance of success.
Being midweek the restaurant wasn’t full but crowded enough for diners not to be noticed. Music piped through the ceiling speakers helped create a low din facilitating any discussion remained private. Mitchell was pleased because tonight they needed discretion. He also knew the night would soon enough get serious so ordered champagne for his guests and more photographs were taken while they celebrated. By the time the entrees arrived the conversation progressed similarly to the one travelling from the airport. Albert told stories of the war, Kym of her life in Vietnam, and Mitchell and Thi listened intently. It was all very pleasant and everyone contributed to a lovely evening. At some point though Mitch knew Albert needed to speak and grew worried the opportunity might be missed. He reminded himself they only had three days for any trip to happen and the sooner they raised the matter the better. He didn’t want to dampen the mood, or coerce Albert, but Mitch had to raise the ante.
“Albert. Kym doesn’t know the detail of your accident, and I sense maybe too polite to ask. Perhaps you can tell us all what happened. If you’re comfortable with that?” Albert was clearly enjoying the conversation, his face rarely turned from Kym’s, and Mitchell hated taking that from him. But this needed to happen. It must happen. Besides, if everything went as planned Albert would soon be enjoying a far greater outcome than the dinner conversation right now.
Albert didn’t falter picking up Mitchell’s lead. He was right; time to have the awkward conversation.
“Of course Mitchell,” he started, “it has been a long time but I’ll happily tell you what happened.” If Albert felt any anger taken back to the day he didn’t show it. He described every detail of that morning in the South China Sea holding the table’s attention for the next ten minutes. Kym and Thi sat silent, hanging on his every word. Even Mitch was spellbound by the second telling noting how dramatic it seemed to his private hearing months before. Perhaps Albert overplayed the significance of his accident given what he’d be asking Kym Ho to do next. Or maybe just more truthful with his recollections. Did the love of his life sitting next to him for the first time in nearly five decades inspire a more truthful Albert? There was no need to be stoic, or wise. Just himself and expressed his emotions openly to the people he cared most about. Despite the eventual outcome Albert told the story so eloquently Kym and Thi Mai shed tears throughout the telling. No detail was omitted and they felt Albert’s heartache.
Thankfully a waiter broke the tension with the arrival of main courses. Albert built the drama purposefully and paused for the waiter’s retreat before continuing. He looked directly at Kym Ho, speaking words only for her.
“Princess. When I recovered they flew me straight from the Hanoi medical base back to Australia. I didn’t have time to contact you.” During wartime things ran with swift military precision. It was about getting the wounded off the front line and more soldiers in to take their place. The navy cared for the troops’ physical wellbeing but rarely considered what they left behind.
Kym Ho reached for Alberts hand pleased to have finally heard the truth. For decades many thoughts crossed her mind about Albert’s sudden departure and why he never came back. A mind turns imagination into fact, and for forty years, Kym’s made countless assumptions. She now knew the truth and happy to be with her quãn nhãn again. Like Albert, Kym had waited half her life for this reunion and held no grudges of the past.
“Albert, no apologies. I love you and always have. This was not your fault.”
“Do you still love me princess?” Albert asked leaving Mitch and Thi Mai a little uncomfortable. The question should have come privately.
“Of course.”
“And do you trust me?’ Mitch was astounded at how easily Albert worked his question into the conversation. He knew what was coming next.
“Bạn biết tôi làm” You know I do.
“Good, then I need you to trust me now,” Albert said calmly. He looked at Thi Mai then to Mitchell for assurance. Mitch nodded, but of course it went unseen.
Albert logically and fluently explained the plate. He described the process of standing with a past memory then of travelling to that time in a seemingly believable way: despite the lunacy of the statement. Albert spoke about the first time he unwittingly set foot on its surface and the surprise of his restored eyesight. Shock quickly giving way to addiction as he called it, as he went back to the plate every day to see the world again. Admittedly, Albert couldn’t explain how it happened but was truthful in the telling.
“Mitchell wouldn’t have brought you all the way to Australia if it wasn’t true” he said honestly. Kym and Thi listened intently, never interrupting or questioning what they heard. They believed him. The plate was Albert’s secret, and in time, his solace. A ninety-nine minute escape from his life of darkness.
“To see again was enough for me but then I met Mitchell. And an immediate kinship formed.” Their love of scotch helped solidify the bond but Albert didn’t mention that. Mitch blushed at the comment but the girls weren’t focused on him. Albert credited Mitchell with discovering more of the plate than he ever did, “You are here because of Mitchell, not me. So, I think he should tell you the rest.”
That caught Mitch by surprise but he didn’t flinch in the least. He drew inspiration from Albert’s honest narrative leaning closer to the ladies gaining their attention.
“Kym, I don’t understand why Albert can see while standing on the plate. But he can. And I can’t explain the plate or how it works.” he didn’t mention Owen Hargreaves or his theory of the Caduceus Coil – that could come later. “But I’ve tested and proven two people can make a trip together. If you go back with him, Albert will see you again for the first time in forty-four years.” If there was any apprehension of the suggestion Kym didn’t show it. Mitchell took a sip of water from his untouched glass and continued, “Are you prepared to take a trip? For Albert?”
“I’m not sure Mitchell. I don’t think Albert will like what he sees.” Kym’s sarcasm was nearly lost on Mitchell who was normally appreciative of the nervous distraction. She laughed at his stalled response then squeezed Alberts hand which she’d been holding for the past ten minutes. Albert already knew her answer and squeezed back so Kym could answer for Mitchell’s benefit. “When?”
Thi Mai who to this point remained silent, turned angrily toward Mitchell and said,
“You should have told me.” Mitch’s vacant look and shrugged shoulders suggested; ‘How could I?’
The four of them looked to each other in disbelief. The women because of what they’d just heard, the men of how easily their offer was accepted. Mitchell ordered another bottle of champagne to celebrate their decision before detailing his plans for Kym and Alberts trip.
“Given we only have a few days, and I suspect Thi you might like to try this for yourself too, I think we should do it first thing in the morning. Maybe early before the street gets too busy.”
“I agree,” Albert said. “Why don’t we pick you up at 7.00 am and we can head over to the plate and show you everything.”
Walking back to the hotel, Mitch and Thi Mai allowed Albert and Kym some privacy. They had decades to catch up on and both knew their presence wasn’t needed.
“Mitchell is all this true. Can that plate of yours really time travel?”
“Unbelievably, yes. Thi, I have travelled many times myself and return each time trying to understand how it’s possible. In the end I gave up wondering and just accepted it for what it is.” Of course that wasn’t entirely true but Mitch sensed Thi’s concern preferring to quell any fears.
“Is it safe? Nothing will happen to my cô will it?” Thi asked very concerned. Mitchell stopped walking and turned to face her reassuringly.
“Yes, it is completely safe. Apart from Albert being able to see again, nothing else changes. You return exactly the same as when you left. And if you’re worried about Kym’s age, well, Albert is older than her and done this a hundred times. Look at him. Do you think he would let her do something dangerous?”
“No, of course not.” A long pause followed. “Ok. I trust you. But Mitchell, I am really disappointed you didn’t tell me about this before we arrived. You should have said something.”
“I am really sorry about that Thi but would you have still come if I told you about the plate? I don’t think so.” Thi Mai looked at Mitchell and her lack of reply said he was right. It was only after seeing Albert and Kym together, after hearing his story, that she’d opened her mind to any possibility. That would never have happened over emails and phone calls. “I know this is crazy, and I understand how hard it is to comprehend in only a few hours. But as a friend of mine once told me, ‘you must believe in the fantastic for the fantastic to be believable’.” Mitchell paraphrased slightly, but he’d made his point.
They walked a little further before Thi Mai stopped them again.
“So, after Albert sees Kym again, and they embrace and kiss for, what did you say, ninety-nine minutes? What happens next?”
Mitch really hadn’t thought that through. He was too intent on making Alberts dream a reality to have any idea what came from it afterward.
“I honestly don’t know Thi,” he replied. But in his mind he’d already thought of a possibility.
It ended up being a long stroll back, the young ones arriving almost an hour before Albert and Kym. The night though was getting late and all agreed to get some rest before their planned early start.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Albert said to Kym knowing the comment would be entirely true. He kissed her gently and walked to the car with Mitchell.
“You’re an old charmer Albert. I didn’t think you had it in you,” Mitchell mocked but the comment was ignored. Albert was deep in thought with most of the journey home made in silence. The thin silver chain reappeared from nowhere and ran silently through Alberts fingers.
“You up for a nightcap?” Mitch asked at the front of Alberts house.
“Not tonight my friend. We have a big day ahead.”