Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [191]
Maya then told Olivia of how she learned, with Minnie interpreting, that she had a special relationship with certain rocks and trees along the way. She learned about features in the landscape that had significance for all women, sacred places. And then there was a rock overhang, not quite a cave, where there were some ochre paintings on the rock wall, paintings of strange figures. ‘It was the most special place, Olivia. I could feel it, right into my heart, my soul. Even before Minnie explained it to me I knew it was special, to them and to me. I can’t tell you everything that happened because it’s secret.’ Maya watched for Olivia’s reaction.
‘I understand, Maya, truly I do. I know why you must keep it secret. Over the years, Minnie taught me quite a lot about her culture. Remember, I, too, had a special relationship with the same people.’
‘Goodness, it must have been a really amazing experience. I mean you were fresh out from England, alone in what must have seemed like the end of the world. I really find it hard to imagine you sitting in that scrub, pregnant, waving a gun at Dad.’
They both laughed, then Maya went on to vaguely describe some of the ceremonies that took place at the sacred site of the women, choosing her words carefully and avoiding detail. ‘It was all for me, Olivia, all to make me totally one of them, one of the family, and with every hour memories of my childhood with them came flooding back. Those dreams I used to have in Albany as a kid, they weren’t dreams, but reality. I remembered places, words, names, recognised relatives and even some of the children I played with. They remembered me too. It was just so strange and exciting. And that night, back at the camp we danced in the light of the campfire.’
Olivia couldn’t conceal her astonishment. ‘You danced!’
‘Yes. I just had to. Something in me just took over and I had to dance. I was one of them. It was the proper thing to do.’
Olivia recalled the times she had seen the Aboriginal women dancing at missions and the occasional events staged for visiting government officials, but she had some difficulty putting Maya in the same picture. ‘You danced … in bare feet and … ’
‘Yes.’
Olivia gasped. ‘Maya, I can’t believe it. Weren’t you embarrassed?’
‘No. Can’t you see, Olivia? I was one of them. I am one of them. It just seemed so right, so natural to let them paint my breasts and shoulders and face, so natural to get up with them and dance. They understand that I live in another world so removed from theirs, but they know and I know, that we share a spiritual world and this is something really important. I can never deny it, Olivia, never.’
Olivia rose and they hugged. ‘I know what you’re saying, my dear Maya. I know. Thank you so much for telling me. I’m so proud of you.’
The next day the mailboat arrived and on the same tide many of the luggers returned to port, now towed in line behind a small steam tug. Maya and Olivia were there to welcome them back and Tyndall boldly jumped down from the gunwale onto the wharf even before the first mooring line had been thrown to envelop them both in a big hug. ‘My dear girls! I can’t tell you how my heart feels to see you both!’
‘How was the trip? Any pearls?’ asked Maya.
‘All in good time,’ Tyndall winked at Olivia. ‘And, my beauty, what news do you have? How is that scallywag granddaughter of ours?’
‘Raising merry cain at school. The Sisters say they