I glanced at the group gathering, with the young man with the fervourish gaze stood among them.
"The sad man's brother, Gavin Hoyte."
"The dead man?"
Alexis turned back to me.
"The trawler sank, only Justin's body recovered."
She jerked her head and stared at her beverage.
"Sorry."
She shook her head again.
"A terrible misfortune."
"Sudden."
"Yes, not the same as the rest."
"Others?"
She gazed up, startled, unaware she spoke aloud.
"I meant nothing."
She breathed out.
"Working as the neighbourhood doctor. I am closer to it."
"Tell me what happened."
"Coincidence."
The doctor took a sip of her wine.
"I don't believe in them."
"The vet died last month." She sighed. "An allergic reaction, but remains a problem for the farmers, along with the fishing communities, they suffer."
"Deaths, plural?"
"People who caught coronaviruses are now protected."
"Yet they died."
"Yes."
"How long ago did this start happening?"
"I don't understand?"
"Do these coincide with something else?"
She rested, thinking for a few moments.
"The Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, moving on to the spit, taking over the old military base."
Doctor Fawx left her chair.
"Better put my medical hat on and talk with the families."
"Of course."
I sat for a while finishing my beer, contemplating, and when I reached the bottom of my tumbler, I decided on another one.
As I approached, the ardent young man stood nearby, watching me. He pretended not to, but angled his glass as he drank, so his piercing blue eyes tracked my progress. I disregarded him.
"Another one, please?"
I sensed the deceased's brother take a step in my direction.
"We don't have strangers here."
I turned and Hoyte shouldered his way past several people, so he now stood beside me.
"Not now." The landlord said.
"Sorry for your loss." I offered
The eyes widened, the stare became more profound.
"I don't want sympathy."
My eyes narrowed with an inability to believe.
"Compassion for his loss?"
"I meant nothing-"
"Why?"
He shouted.
"Well, he doesn't need a stranger's sympathy, and nor do I."
He put his brew on the bar and took a movement forward and squeezed his fists at his sides and his intentions obvious.
"My brother's wake and think I will accept false support."
He raised a clenched hand.
I reacted with disbelief instead of anxiety.
"My apologies."
He gave a snarl of rage and lunged at me. His fist stopping midway, held firm in Garth Stylez's enormous hand. The landlord pulled the young man back and pushed him away.
For an instant, he paused, his face crimson with fury. Stylez leaned over the counter.
"That's enough Gavin?"
He squinted, looking at Stylez, followed by me. I stayed stock-still. He turned on his heel and started pushing his way through the other mourners. They stood backwards to let him pass. On his way out, he twisted and checked. Staring at me, his eyes a physical trepidation, examining before walking out.
Silence followed.
The conversation began gradually, muted, and quiet, but soon escalating to the earlier level.
I turned towards the owner to thank him, but he started serving someone else. Shyla Stylez stepped forward and suggested she show me my room.
She prepared a single bed. A towel in the shower room. I made to close the door, but someone gave out a stifled shriek. I pulled the door back, and Ms. Fawx glided into the room.
"God, made me jump."
"Sorry."
"How can I help?"
"Reverend McNally might be the one to ask."
"Why?"
"He mentioned an incident in the Church Tower the other week.
"What happened?"
"Intruders."
"Youngsters trying to steal the lead off the roof?"
"A bit more, from what I believe. I overheard at my surgery."
"I thought doctors remained bound by patient confidentiality?"
"Not from a sufferer from my receptionist, and the biggest gossip in the township."
"I might pay him a visit."
"What do you think?"
"What?"
"This place?"
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Not sure yet?"
"Not ready to make a snap judgement."
"Why?"
"Nothing. Just a feeling."
"We are both tired. I better get back to the caravan park before they lock the gates."
"Tomorrow."
"Yes, see you in the morning."
Alexis smiled and closed the door behind her.