Despite considering his regalia appropriate for the significance of the occasion, Pearly prided himself on reducing undue formality in council affairs. In his speech he told a joke about Donald Trump applying for Mexican residency. After the photographer had taken the official group shot, he posed happily with the new citizens and their supporters. Several times as he moved around the room during the buffet supper to chat, he found a natural opportunity to mention the services provided by Rawleigh and Gates. Although he made no reference to it, he was struck by the disparity of physical types as he circulated. Among the Chinese and Indians he was aware of his height and breadth, while with the Fijians he underwent a sense of shrinkage unfamiliar to him.

He mentioned that when later he, David Congreve and Esther Hall sat in his office for an informal chat on the port development plan. ‘I played against some Fijian guys years ago. It was like running into a brick wall,’ he said. ‘But they were damn quick too. Just a bit disorganised at times.’ Pearly would have enlarged on his experience playing with and against Pacific Islanders, but neither Esther nor the CEO made any reply to encourage it. ‘All that sunshine and seafood for thousands of years, I suppose,’ he continued, but Esther just smiled, and Congreve shifted on his seat and fingered the folder on his lap.

‘Right,’ said Pearly firmly as a move to business. ‘So, port development here we come. How much time have you got, Esther?’

‘I’ve nothing else on tonight.’

‘Well, David’s got a full copy of the proposals for you, and I thought it might be helpful if he gave you a quick overview. Not all the councillors are enthusiastic, though I’ve easily got the numbers. Money, of course — impact on the rates. No surprises there. If we could have some definite expressions of government support that would help a good deal, I think. Surely the benefits are obvious enough. I’ve done my best, but you’ve got the ear of other people who matter.’

‘Everything I’ve seen so far seems positive,’ said Esther. ‘If we can get it up and running it’ll be a huge boost for the whole area.’ Congreve was opening his heavy folder with ominous gravity. ‘Perhaps if you just bring me up to speed on the latest developments rather than end to end,’ she continued hastily.