CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

Olivia began to come to terms with her loss. While she came out of her room and faced the world again, her grief turned inwards and became a private pain. Life went on and she went through the motions. But day by day it became a little easier.

Olivia found the morning walk to the foresh.o.r.e camp a calming experience. The day was yet to heat up and there was something rea.s.suring about seeing the luggers at anchor for refit and repair during lay up. The extraordinary colour of the sea never failed to amaze her, and the activity of the foresh.o.r.e camps was enchanting.

Chinese and Manilamen emptied their fish traps and hurried to the town with baskets of fresh fish hanging from a long bamboo pole across their shoulders. Crews were fussing about the luggers, storing everything that could be moved in tin sheds around the camps. Filipino carpenters were busy with makeshift slips nursing some of the luggers, while Malay sailmakers bent over the sheets of canvas, cutting and st.i.tching.

The men working at Star of the Sea's camp were delighted to see her. They all came forward, some with a little embarra.s.sment because of the cultural and social gap, to take her hand and offer words of sympathy and support. Olivia was greatly touched by the reception and responded with a smile and little more than a single word of thanks. It was too moving, almost too emotional to handle and she felt a little weak at the knees, but forced herself to carry on with an inspection of the shed and a boat on the slips, and to wave to Tyndall on the deck of a lugger moored in the bay.

Her equilibrium was shaken back in town when she climbed the stairs and stood outside Conrad's office. She took a deep breath and stepped inside. Doc.u.ments were spread in a disorderly fashion over his desk, and the top drawer of the oak filing cabinet was open, files scattered on files, testimony to Tyndall's attempt to keep the paperwork moving.

Her attention to the files was total and another hour pa.s.sed before she knew it. She was disturbed by soft footsteps in the pa.s.sageway and looked up as Ahmed stopped in the doorway.

'Selamat pagi, mem.'

'Good morning, Ahmed. Do come in.'

Ahmed walked to the desk and ignored her gesture to sit. His eyes burned with pain and sorrow as they looked at each other in silence.

'Mem ... ' said Ahmed, then paused unable to go on.

She nodded her head slightly in support then realised that he was really unable to put into words what he wanted to say.

Then he simply touched his kris, looked into her eyes, and whispered, 'Sorry, mem. Too late.'

Olivia smothered a small gasp with her hand, but recovered quickly. 'Thank you, Ahmed. Say no more.' He gave a small bow and left the room. Olivia covered her eyes with both hands and wept quietly.

Later in the morning, Tyndall turned up, pulled out a chair and propped his feet up on the now tidy desk. 'John, please.'

'I'm glad to see you here,' he said simply.

'Thank you. The men were very kind down at the camp.'

'They think a great deal of you. They respected Conrad, but they have a special feeling for you. You knew that, of course.'

'I really hadn't thought about it. I was greatly touched by their support this morning.' She stood and took a file to the cabinet, hoping the activity would somehow bolster her emotional strength. The morning had been more draining than she had antic.i.p.ated.

As she busied herself at the filing cabinet, Tyndall broke the silence. 'I've taken an option on a new lugger.'

Olivia spun around. 'A new lugger! But we haven't had a chance to talk about the future yet. That's rather a rash thing to do, isn't it?'

'Rash, but wise. It's a good deal and life and business must go on, Olivia. We've got to keep things on an even keel. Sit down and I'll fill you in on the details.'

Olivia sat and immediately began taking notes as she realised that his idea of keeping the business on an even keel meant sailing at full speed with the wind astern.

'I've made Yoshi the skipper and hired one of his relatives as number one diver on the Annabella. Yoshi will dive as well as be skipper.'

'That's a good idea. He's proved to be a good worker and loyal.'

'So far. Some of the other captains think I'm crazy. Can't trust the j.a.ps, they say. They'll steal the good pearls and sell them as snides. Say they think it's a prerogative that goes with the job.'

'Do you and Ahmed trust Yoshi?'

'Totally.'

'Then you have my support.' Olivia paused to put down the pencil and sit back. 'Now, about my future. I intend to stay in Broome and, if you agree, to become a more active partner. I'll take over Conrad's work. And I want to push on with Conrad's plans for diversifying the business on the providore side. There's money to be made in resupplying the luggers at sea.'

Tyndall smiled. 'I rather hoped you would. It will be tough on your own, but I'll give you all the support I can. You know that, Olivia,' he added warmly.

'Thanks, John, and thanks for being so firm with me. It wasn't easy to listen to, but it was what I needed to get going.'

Several days later Tyndall sent for Olivia and Hamish and asked them to meet him at Streeter's Jetty. To her surprise she found the crews of their luggers along with Ahmed, Yoshi and Taki gathered about the jetty. They welcomed her warmly and Hamish made straight for Ahmed, who picked him up and squeezed him in delight.

'Well, what's this all about, John?' asked Olivia.

'The new lugger. We thought Hamish might like to christen it. We've rigged up a bottle of champagne. He just has to let the rope go.'

'What a lovely idea,' said Olivia as she made her way through the group to the edge of the wharf. It was then that she clearly saw the stern of the freshly painted lugger.

In black lettering on the white hull was the lugger's name-Conrad.

Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Tyndall.

'We hope you approve,' he said softly. 'Maybe after Hamish has done the honours you'd like to bring him for a run across the bay.'

She had difficulty speaking. 'We'd like that very much.'

Hamish squealed in delight as the lugger heeled over, the water slapping the lee gunwale, sometimes gushing down the deck while Ahmed held him at the wheel of the forty-foot lugger. Olivia looked over every inch of her, from the air compressor for the divers, to the hold where the sh.e.l.l was stowed, to the two water tanks which each held two hundred gallons. Forward of the hold was the small fo'c'sle where the Koepanger crew slept. The crew was evenly divided between j.a.panese and Koepanger, a system that had proved safe and sensible. In the past many one-race crews had ganged up against the master to mutiny or steal pearls. Often masters had been 'lost overboard in a storm' when carrying crews of one nationality. The Conrad was ketch-rigged and towards the stern there was a cabin where two bunks were on a level with the deck. The vessel smelled of new canvas, fresh paint and pitch.

Olivia nodded her approval. 'She sails well, looks good. I think Conrad would be pleased.' It was the first time she had uttered his name without choking up. She gave Tyndall a grateful smile.

He smiled back and patted Hamish's fair head.

From the sh.o.r.e, Niah watched the new lugger skim across the bay. She was annoyed at being left behind-since Conrad's death, Tyndall had divided his life as if he had two families. She understood Mem Hennessy was part of his world of luggers and pearl sh.e.l.l, but now Tyndall was taking an interest in the boy, giving him more attention than Maya. His obsessive devotion to his baby girl had been diverted, as had his interest in Niah. He was preoccupied with work, the new boat, with Mem Hennessy and the crews. Only at night when he was sober and attentive to her, did Niah feel her power and place in his life restored.

Niah walked back towards Tyndall's bungalow. She looked down the length of the sandy street to where the ribbon of road led to the pindan and the coastal country of her people.

Changing direction, she went to the Hennessys' and found Minnie in the laundry sorting clothes for ironing. Niah sat on the steps, Maya sitting next to her.

Minnie glanced at Niah, stopped what she was doing and eased herself onto the step below her. She smiled at Maya and spoke a phrase in their language, then lifted Niah's hand and held it. She patted it gently, the gesture heavy with meaning to the forlorn young woman.

Three years pa.s.sed, and the relationship between Olivia and Tyndall tightened-their bond through the business giving them mutual ground and interests to share.

Tyndall's respect for Olivia's business ac.u.men, her judgement, and negotiating skills grew to the point where he admitted to her one day she was 'just as good as a man'. Olivia accepted the comment as a compliment but it irritated her. While she was one of only several white women who were involved in the business and professional world of Broome, she saw no reason why women shouldn't take their place alongside men if they had the inclination and ability.

Tyndall sometimes accompanied Olivia during the pearl sale negotiations with Monsieur Barat, but sat back and let her handle the delicate interplay and exchanges before agreeing on a price. Then Tyndall would step in and take over the social exchange. The friendship that had developed with the French pearl merchant was one that both Olivia and Tyndall valued.

Olivia had come to understand Tyndall's nature much better as she observed him through his working day-dealing with, on one hand, a bureaucratic, petty customs officer, barely controlling his impatience with the man's arrogance and obsession with unnecessary details, then displaying gentle humour and appreciation of craftsmanship in his dealings with a Malay sailmaker.

She didn't approve of, but tolerated, his occasional drinking bouts, accepting that in Broome the male-to-male way of doing business often involved a bottle.

They had become an effective business team but she had also come to treasure his emotional support and friendship. Tyndall continued his habit of dropping by for a sunset drink on Olivia's verandah as he'd done when Conrad was alive. Now it was Olivia and Tyndall who discussed business, made plans, and exchanged bits of news about people and events in the town. Occasionally some news from abroad and the southern cities provided fresh subjects for conversation but for most of the time the world beyond the magical waters of Roebuck Bay was barely acknowledged.

Niah and Ahmed seemed more laterally attached to Tyndall while Olivia had gradually become the core of his functioning life. Olivia came to rely a lot more on Minnie, who ran the house and watched over Hamish along with his amah, Rosminah, a young Malay.

Minnie had a daughter and a husband, Alf, an Aboriginal Asian. Alf was never sure which half was more dominant so he drifted between both worlds. He worked as a diver till a bad case of paralysis partially crippled him and forced him to stay ash.o.r.e, where he worked in the bakery run by his Chinese relatives. He delivered bread by horse and cart early each morning and spent the rest of the day sitting in the shade with cousin Wally down at Kennedy's camp on the knoll above Dampier Creek. Minnie's daughter, Mollie, was cared for by relatives and occasionally spent time helping her mother at Olivia's. Niah and Maya often visited when Olivia was at work and along with Rosminah and Hamish, it was a jolly group that gathered in the back garden of the Hennessy bungalow.

But increasingly Niah felt resentful of Tyndall's close a.s.sociation with Olivia. He dismissed her complaints about time spent with Olivia pleading 'business' and 'responsibility'. Niah felt insecure about her position in the household and about the fact that Tyndall was separating her more and more from Maya. He took the little girl everywhere with him and talked to her at length as if she were an adult. Yet he shared little with Niah. They weren't a threesome anymore. Niah's role as unofficial mistress of the household was diminished and she felt no more than Maya's nursemaid and Tyndall's bedmate.

The times Niah saw Olivia and Tyndall together at the shed, in the office, about the luggers, she instantly recognised the rapport and friendship between them. She also tuned into an undercurrent, a chemistry that bound them, and which neither recognised or seemed aware of. They could share things she could never share, the only hold she had on Tyndall was at night in his bed. And Maya, of course. For as long as she had Maya she had Tyndall.

Niah didn't voice her complaints-she had few to share her feelings with-but it was obvious to Minnie what was fermenting inside the young woman.

For many weeks Niah held her peace, then one evening she left the bungalow while Tyndall and Maya were at Olivia's. She had arranged to meet Minnie at sundown by the foresh.o.r.e camp.

She knew Tyndall and Olivia would be sharing their evening sundowners so had slipped out before preparing dinner. The older woman cast a sympathetic glance at Niah. 'You got troubles, eh?'

'Yeah, Auntie. I bin feeling sick inside for a long time now.' In the way of Aboriginal communities, Minnie had become 'auntie' of Niah soon after their Aboriginal links had been recognised. Minnie was from the same clan, but through marriage had become a town dweller. Niah tried to explain her dissatisfaction with life despite having a caring benefactor.

Minnie listened, particularly noting Niah's concern about Tyndall's obsession with the child. She began idly to draw in the sand with her finger the pattern of the pendant Niah wore.

'Why you draw that one, Auntie?'

'That one woman's business sign, Niah. B'long our mob. Ceremony for girls is comin' soon and you 'n' Maya orta go, be in ceremony, eh?'

Niah smiled at Minnie, her eyes bright. 'How will I get there?'

'Wally is down at Kennedy camp. He take you when he go back. Long walk but.'

'That will be good. When will he go?'

'Dunno. When he ready. You pack few things.'

Niah walked in the twilight back to the bungalow feeling contented and purposeful.

She greeted Tyndall a short time later with a happy smile and took Maya to give her dinner, telling her how they were soon going walkabout and trying to explain what it meant in reply to the girl's eager questions.

As the wet season came to an end Tyndall again raised the idea of looking for fresh pearl banks and giving the new lugger a run. He suggested Olivia come along with Hamish. At first, she hesitated, as the young boy had never been to sea. She told Tyndall she would discuss it with Hamish.

'Captain Tyndall has asked us to go on a trip up the coast for a few days, how would you feel about that?'

'On the boat? Staying on it all the time?'

'Yes. You might get seasick. Or bored.'

'No, no. It'll be fun. Oh yes, do let's go.' His enthusiasm was infectious. 'I promise to be good,' he added for extra emphasis.

'We'll make it a short trip and you have to do everything Ahmed and Tyndall tell you, absolutely. Understood?'Tyndall explained the situation to Niah. 'Too cramped for you and Maya to come. And I want this to be a special event for Hamish. He misses his father and I'd like him to learn to know and love the sea. Just be a short trip.' He lifted Maya and spun her around in the air, making her giggle. She reached out and grabbed at his earring which always intrigued her. He hugged her to him. 'You be a good girl while I'm at sea.'

'Me come to sea.'

'Maybe next trip.' He kissed her hair and brushed his fingertips over Niah's cheek.

The Conrad Conrad slid away from the jetty and Hamish waved to Niah and Maya till his arm was tired. slid away from the jetty and Hamish waved to Niah and Maya till his arm was tired.

Niah had helped with the preparations for the trip but said little. Olivia tried to make her feel less rejected. 'Niah, I know you would like to come, but I just think it would be too hard on board with both children. Not just for s.p.a.ce but for safety reasons. It's for Hamish really.' She looked into Niah's large eyes and saw a depth of feeling that shook her slightly. A flash of envy, a quizzical questioning, but slowly she smiled with an openness and warmth that Olivia had never seen before. She returned the smile feeling comfortable that Niah understood. But what Niah saw and understood was something Olivia had yet to recognise.

After the Conrad Conrad was out of sight Niah decided to take a ride on the little train that ran from the wharf to Chinatown, and held Maya's hand as the old grey horse pulled the open rail car along the street. She got off close to the foresh.o.r.e camps. was out of sight Niah decided to take a ride on the little train that ran from the wharf to Chinatown, and held Maya's hand as the old grey horse pulled the open rail car along the street. She got off close to the foresh.o.r.e camps.

A dusty track wound above the mangroves to a small hillock where there was a makeshift camp.

An older man rose to his feet and lifted an arm in greeting. 'Hey girl. Me is Wally. Minnie said ya'd be along.' He grinned at Niah and rested his hand on Maya's head. 'We gonna take girlie meet family, eh?'

Wally had brewed a billy and handed Niah a mug of hot tea and proceeded to tear off chunks of a freshly made damper. 'Corned beef orright?' he asked. Niah and Maya nodded and he sliced slabs of the pink meat and put it on the damper and handed it to them.

'How far do we walk?' asked Niah.

He shrugged. 'Long walk. We go tomorra, orright?'

'All right,' said Niah, and she felt confident and purposeful for the first time in ages.

They walked slowly back to the bungalow and Niah packed the small dilly bag she planned to take with her.

The following morning, at first light, she said goodbye to Minnie, who enfolded her in a strong hug, kissed Maya and rea.s.sured Niah this was the right thing to do.

Niah nodded. 'My heart tells me too. This Dreaming, important for Maya.'

'Important for you, too, Niah. You need proper family now.'

Wally was waiting for them. 'G'day. Gimme bag.' He took the dilly bag from her and they strode out.

A little later, when the sun had risen properly, Wally paused at a point on the track and signalled for Niah to wait. He went to a hollow log nearby and retrieved a spear, woomera and a large hunting knife.

The small party walked through the morning, rested in the shade during the hot midday and resumed walking in the stillness of afternoon and the coolness of twilight. Wally sometimes carried Maya, or she trotted ahead of them in little energetic bursts. They camped and caught food as they travelled, Niah learning much about the bounty of a land that appeared so barren. She slept peacefully beneath the stars, usually by fires in sandy creekbeds, with her daughter cuddled close.

The Conrad Conrad bobbed and rolled as the lugger tacked for a starboard run. The spray blew into Hamish's face and he shouted with laughter and licked the salt from his lips. He was holding tight to the tiller under Ahmed's strong hand. Olivia and Tyndall exchanged a warm grin at the boy's delight. Unlike his father, Hamish had taken to sailing with gusto. The weather had blessed them. At night they sat on the deck, the sea calm, and taught the boy how to spot the constellations and steer by the stars. Tyndall's knowledge of ships and sailing blended with Ahmed's mystical approach to the sea, the wind and the stars, and fascinated Olivia as the men talked to the boy. bobbed and rolled as the lugger tacked for a starboard run. The spray blew into Hamish's face and he shouted with laughter and licked the salt from his lips. He was holding tight to the tiller under Ahmed's strong hand. Olivia and Tyndall exchanged a warm grin at the boy's delight. Unlike his father, Hamish had taken to sailing with gusto. The weather had blessed them. At night they sat on the deck, the sea calm, and taught the boy how to spot the constellations and steer by the stars. Tyndall's knowledge of ships and sailing blended with Ahmed's mystical approach to the sea, the wind and the stars, and fascinated Olivia as the men talked to the boy.

Later, swinging in his hammock rigged in the small cabin Ahmed and Yoshi shared, Hamish listened in awe as they talked of the wonders beneath the sea, its strange creatures, great dangers and their many diving adventures.After several camps, Wally announced one morning, 'This country bilong us mob.' He grinned at Niah, 'Feet can feel 'im. You smell 'im. You listen good, hear 'im songs bilong you.' He paused and looked at the ground as if sensing some distant vibration. 'Mob comin' t'meet us,' he said with satisfaction.

When the Conrad Conrad returned to Broome, Tyndall left Ahmed in charge of mooring the lugger and escorted Hamish and Olivia to their bungalow. returned to Broome, Tyndall left Ahmed in charge of mooring the lugger and escorted Hamish and Olivia to their bungalow.

They were all pleased with how the boat had performed, and plans were afoot to dive further up the coast as it had looked promising. The trip had also successfully distracted Hamish from the loss of his father. Olivia doubted if his infatuation with becoming a pearling master would last, but she was grateful to Tyndall for taking them with him. She too had found the solitude and peace at sea healing and restful.

Tyndall waved goodbye at their gate and hurried home to Niah. He was a little surprised to find the house empty, even of staff. He bathed and changed, reflecting on what a happy time it had been for young Hamish who, once he had his sea legs and learned the shipboard rules, had really taken to life at sea. They'd taught him to fish and given him small ch.o.r.es like winding ropes into neat circles and polishing the compa.s.s bra.s.s. Tyndall looked forward to the day when Maya was old enough to do the same.