Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [186]
There were astonished gasps and several of the old women wept as they came forward to touch Maya.
Little Georgie, who was still sitting wide-eyed in the dinghy, was suddenly very frightened by the chatter of strange language and a wave of naked black children that fell into the boat all around her. ‘Mum,’ she screamed, but it was Minnie who rushed to her rescue and swept her up. She then shouted to the mob that the little girl was Maya’s daughter, and there was another outburst of excited cries, and more tears. And as the old women crowded around to touch Georgie’s fair skin, and look into her eyes, Georgiana began to howl. Maya pushed through the throng and took her from Minnie and with Tyndall’s help quickly quietened her.
Everyone then trekked up the beach, along a winding trail and up a small escarpment to the campsite beside a freshwater stream. Maya and Minnie walked hand in hand with some of the women, Minnie acting as interpreter of the unceasing chat. Georgiana rode on Tyndall’s shoulders, her hands tightly clenching his supporting hands.
They all sat under shady trees while a billy was boiled. Tyndall talked to a group of men while Minnie filled in the women with the full details of Maya’s life, a story that to Maya seemed to be of epic proportions, for Minnie liked nothing better than telling a good story, and the audience liked nothing better than hearing one.
Several women came forward with shells etched with designs similar to that on the pendant worn by Maya. ‘Your aunties,’ said Minnie, leaving the complexities of Aboriginal relationships to be explained later.
All the while Georgiana clung to her mother’s arm, but Maya was barely conscious of the child. She was completely overcome by a flood of confusing emotions. It was with relief that she heard Minnie announce that it was ‘time for a cuppa’.
With shouting and laughter several dampers were produced from the ashes, a tin of treacle that Tyndall had brought ashore in his pack of gifts was opened, and tea ladled into chipped enamel mugs. To Maya it tasted like the best food and drink she had ever had, and across the lip of her mug she caught her father’s admiring look and they both winked at each other and smiled. The smile from her father was all that kept back the tears, though her eyes were wet.
After the snack the women took Maya for a walk, leaving the children and men behind. ‘Gonna see some special place,’ was all Minnie would tell Tyndall, who knew better than to ask questions. Maya gave him a little over-the-shoulder wave as they set out and Tyndall waved back while Georgiana clung to his leg and began to weep quietly.
Tyndall crouched down. ‘Now then, Georgie, let’s go with the kids to the swimming hole and have some fun.’
The rock pool below a small waterfall which was downstream from the camp had a convenient fallen tree for a diving board, and rope hanging from another tree provided a fine swing over the pool. Everyone except Georgie had a great time. She was conscious of her white skin, hated the nudity of everyone and was embarrassed because she couldn’t understand any of the language. ‘I want to go back to the boat, Poppa,’ was her repeated demand.
As the sun set Maya asked Tyndall to send a swag ashore as she wanted to stay the night in the camp. She was happy to let Georgiana go back to the boat. ‘It’s all too much for her,’ said Maya as she gave her daughter a big affectionate hug. ‘You wait for me on the boat with Poppa. I’ll see you in the morning. Maybe you can catch a big fish for lunch.’ It was a prospect that delighted Georgie and she gave her mother a kiss.
That night, after putting Georgiana to sleep with his version of the story of Goldilocks, Tyndall sat on the deck smoking his pipe. He could see the glow of the campfires above the treeline, hear the chant of songs, the haunting drone of the didgeridoo and the throbbing of music sticks. He thought