bout de papier, Vol. 6, No. 2 (1988) — Summer 1988 // Été 1988, p. 28
Have you ever felt that fate had struck you several hard blows in succession? If so, you may be able to identify with the writer of the following letter written thirty years ago by a Fijian Ministry of Works employee at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base at Lauthala Bay on the outskirts of Suva (now the site of the University of the South Pacific).
“Respected Sir,
When I got to the Building (job No. 824)I found that the hurricane had knocked some of the bricks off the top. So I rigged up a beam with a pulley at the top of the building and hoisted a couple of barrels of bricks to the top.
When I got through fixing the building there was a lot of bricks left over. I hoisted the barrel back up again, secured the line at the bottom and then went up and filled the barrel with extra bricks. Then I went down to the bottom and cast off the line. Unfortunately the barrel was heavier that I was, and before I knew what was happening the barrel started down and jerked me off the ground.
I decided to hang on, and half way up I met the barrel coming down and received a severe blow on the shoulder. I then continued on up to the top, banging my head against the beam and getting my fingers jammed in the pulley.
When the barrel hit the ground it busted the bottom, allowing the bricks to spill out. I was now heavier than the barrel and so started down again at high speed. Half way down I again met the barrel and received severe injuries to my shins. When I hit the ground I landed on the bricks, getting numerous painful cuts from the sharp edges.
At this point I must have lost my presence of mind, because I let go the rope. The barrel then came down and struck me a heavy blow on the head, putting me in the hospital for three days.
Respectfully request for five days extension of leave.
(Sgd.) Villiame.”
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 6, No. 2 (1988) — Summer 1988 // Été 1988, p. 28. Read the rest of this issue →
