Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [192]
Maya raised her hands. ‘I give up. Trouble is her middle name.’
‘We have to bribe her with threats of not being a flower girl at the wedding,’ added Olivia with a loving smile.
‘Our wedding? The wedding? At long last?’ Tyndall clutched his brow. ‘How can I wait?’
‘You’ll wait. Now tell us, John, how was the trip?’
Stepping between them, Tyndall linked arms and together they almost danced along the jetty. ‘Tremendous. Hit a great patch of old shell. And, if I’m any judge, Toby is going to be very busy and Monsieur Barat very pleased.’
The postwar years were living up to expectations as a time of profit, progress and fun. There was an intensity of living that made everyone buoyant. The industry was booming again after the wartime slump, mechanical advances had brought engines for boats, cars to town and even a truck for the bush mailman, though anyone travelling north or south overland was considered a bit mad. The Bristols now flying an air service were faster, although their schedule was unpredictable. All this and the joy of having Tyndall back in port made Olivia feel like a young girl again, and with an enthusiastic Maya at her side she threw herself into the wedding preparations.
She was working on the invitation list on the verandah one morning when Stan announced that there was a ‘bloke from Alf’ at the back door. The ‘bloke’ was a young black from the mission at Beagle Bay, in town with one of the Brothers helping with shopping for supplies. ‘Me Tommy, missus. Alf told me t’give ya message.’
‘Thank you, Tommy,’ acknowledged Olivia.
‘Alf says he found grave bilong Niah. Says ya would understand.’
Olivia was stunned. Her hand went to her mouth to control her shock. ‘Tommy, can you tell me anything else? How does Alf know this?’
‘Me an’ Alf cuttin’ in old cemetery and he see some shell on a stone an’ ask the Brother. He lookit up in some book.’ The boy bobbed his head to reinforce his words. ‘Alf sure. Said youse were t’tell everyone.’
‘Yes, of course. I understand. Please give my thanks to Alf. Does he need anything up there, Tommy?’
‘Nope. He doin’ good, missus. For an old fella.’
Olivia broke the news to Tyndall and Maya when they came in laughing and exhilarated, after a day at the foreshore camp.
Tyndall took Maya’s hand. ‘I’ve always wanted to know … what happened … ’
‘I must go to her,’ whispered Maya, looking at her father.
‘Of course. We both must. We’ll go together. The weather is good. We’ll sail up to Beagle Bay. Olivia … ’
‘Of course you two must go as soon as possible. Just the two of you,’ urged Olivia.
Although they didn’t say it out loud, both Tyndall and Olivia realised the circle was closing, the loose ends being tied up before making their own commitment to each other.
Tyndall and Maya rowed to the rocky shore and walked through the scrub along a sandy track to the mission. Alf was sitting on an old chair on the verandah of a small shack. He greeted them with a cheerful wave, pushing himself stiffly to his feet.
‘I figured you’d be along any day. Good to see you, boss. Hey there, missy Maya.’
Maya gave him a hug. ‘How’re you managing up here, Alf?’
‘Good. Real good. Plenty t’do, they serve up decent meals in the mess hut over there. Lotsa friends.’
‘Mem sends her best. We’ll be getting married in a couple of weeks. Want to come down to the big day, Alf? Come with us and we’ll get you back here somehow.’
Alf rubbed his thinning, but still shiny, black hair. ‘I dunno ‘bout that. But I’m real pleased t’hear. Minnie would’ve been there with bells on.’
‘She’ll be there in spirit, we don’t doubt that.’ Tyndall took the old man’s arm. ‘Now how about we find the Brother and get him to tell us about Niah. Your young mate said you found the grave?’
‘Yeah.’ Alf pointed to Maya’s pendant. ‘Recognised that thing. The carving. It’s the same. I remembered Niah had one same as Maya. It’s all written down in the book the Brother’s got.’
They followed Alf to the whitewashed church. ‘Is it the same Brother who was here then?’ asked Maya. ‘I remember a Brother