Over the course of the next few months, the manufacture of the wooden moons became a successful venture. Back in the States, the man named John received the first order and was so pleased with the workmanship, he placed a second order immediately, creating the need for Max to streamline production. Eventually, he realized that the only way to improve and maintain production would be to have a constant source of 110-volt current. Jordan would also need to start school soon. He discussed the situation with Alexis, and together they decided to put Emoyeni for sale and move into San Ignacio as soon as possible.At this point, Alexis was doing an outstanding business with the British Army. Between wholesale and retail, she was bringing home anywhere from a thousand to fifteen hundred Belize dollars per trip. On each visit, she sold first to the Officers' Mess, then the Sergeants' Mess. Then, if she had enough nerve to withstand the brazen catcalls, she went to the Corporals' Mess. She drew a line at catering to the "lads" however. Because the Privates obviously didn't see many white women, she felt too much like meat on the block. If they wanted her jewelry, they could buy it from the old Sri Lankan shopkeeper at the gift shop on the base, who was also her customer.
Surprisingly enough, the farm sold within a month. A group of five young Swiss expressed their interest and, for perhaps
the only time in Belizean history, a rapid transaction took place. Max encouraged the Swiss to buy the machinery that was an integral part of bush living, and although Hans, Franz, Moritz, and the rest of the gang were smart enough to take the piston pump, they refused to buy the lawnmower.
"You don't understand," Max told them. "You'll need this lawnmower to keep back the bush. You have no idea how fast it grows."
Moritz spoke for all of them when he made chopping motions with his hand and smiled good-naturedly.
"No, it's okay," he said. "We will use machete. We like, we make, we chop."
Max nodded cheerfully to Alexis as the Swiss people drove away after making the down payment. "They bloody well better ‘we like, we make, we chop.’
When they get out here, and they have no lawnmower, they'll be doing precious little else. By the way, Ntombi, I found a house for us to rent in Cayo, better than the one I was looking at originally. Up on the hill going out toward Benque Viejo. Not far from the San Ignacio Hotel. A guy at the lumber mill told me about it."
"That’s fantastic, Max! Is anybody living there now?"
"No. An old woman named Miss Carmen was living there, but she died and now her nephew wants to rent it out. It's a two-story frame building with a living room, kitchen, two bedrooms, and a work room for your jewelry. We can put the woodworking shop downstairs. I guess it was a mess while the old lady was living there, but the landlord's got it all cleaned up now. He'll even repaint it before we move in.""Did she die in the house?"
"Yeah, I guess so. So what? She had to die somewhere. But it's perfect, and the landlord only wants a hundred Belize a month. We'll have a flush toilet, with water and electricity twenty-four hours a day. Won't that be great?"
It did sound great. In fact, life was feeling pretty good again. Money was coming in from the moon manufacturing and the jewelry. The Swiss paid the balance for Emoyeni in cash and on time; they were ready to move in as soon as the Lord family moved out. Even the weather had been reasonable.
During the past year, they had experienced a dry wet season and a wet dry season, striking a pleasant and temperate balance. Once again, Max had made good his promise. There were still periods when he mistreated her, and fell into black moods, but overall, things were improving. It was an answered prayer for Alexis.
