Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [207]
As he adjusted the throttle to catch up with his colleagues he remembered a photograph his father had on display all the time at home. It was a photograph of him as a young man in his diving suit on the deck of a lugger and beside him was the tall, smiling Australian captain. What was his name? Father was always talking about him. Suddenly it came to him. Ah yes, Captain Tyndall. And as he took his position in the formation, Takeo wondered what Captain Tyndall was doing on this day.
Broome 1995
In the reading room of the Broome Historical Society, Lily came to the last entry in Olivia’s diary.
June 24, 1953
It is now a week since Georgiana and Lily flew back to Sydney and I am missing them so much. Their visit was as bright as Broome sunlight in the dry season. Georgie is as flighty as ever, gushing with enthusiasm for everything and full of schemes and plans now she has settled there from America after the divorce. Lily is a beautiful child and has quite a serious streak and an intelligence that I think will take her far. She reminds me so much of Hamish. We had some lovely moments together, particularly in the garden. When I was with her, I felt so much younger and found an energy that I didn’t know I could still muster. Now all that energy has gone again and I’m left with only the memories …
Beneath it someone had printed ‘Died July 15, 1953’.
Lily closed the journal she had been reading for the past few days and rested her chin in her hands. The diary had told her much about the lives of people who were now a meaningful part of her life.
She felt utterly exhausted, yet at the same time exhilarated. So many thoughts, such emotion, an overflowing of love, pride and awe for the people whose journey through life she now shared. These women of her past were part of her but some of the knowledge was overwhelming.
About two-thirds of the way through the journal had come the first startling clue that she had Aboriginal blood. Confirmation of her link with Niah, through Maya, the grandmother she never knew, was a shock. The link was something that she still had not come to terms with. It was put in a holding zone in her mind until she had finished the compelling story the diary told.
That her name was mentioned with such affection in the final entry swamped all thoughts as she sat quietly amid the furniture and memorabilia of another era, the time of John and Olivia Tyndall. She was struggling to hold back a tear when someone bustled in.
‘I’ve shut the museum for the day and brought you in a cuppa. Just couldn’t wait till I was home for a boost.’ It was Muriel, the elderly and effervescent archivist.
Lily quickly dabbed an eye and forced a smile as she took the cup. ‘You’re a darling, Muriel. You’ve no idea how much I need this.’
Muriel sat down in one of the exhibition chairs. ‘Finished the big read?’ she asked, taking a sip.
‘Yes. It’s almost a bit much, I’m afraid.’
With a slight murmur Muriel signalled that she wasn’t surprised.
‘A lot of people often discover more than they anticipate. Not all good news at that. How about you? Something seemed a little sad, I rather think.’
Lily nodded.
‘Want to talk about it?’
‘Not now, Muriel, but thanks. I’ve just got to do a lot of thinking.’
Although bursting with curiosity, Muriel had a fine appreciation of the impact personal history could have on people when they delved into the past. She tactfully changed the subject. ‘I s’pose you’ll be rushing off back south now that you’ve finished the read. One thing, you’ve had lovely weather for it.’
Lily was grateful. ‘Every day has been a gem,’ and she chuckled at the double meaning of her response. ‘No, I think I’ll spend another couple of days here. One or two little things to clear up yet.’
Muriel rose and put Olivia’s journal on a bookshelf. ‘I’ll have a read of the diaries myself one day. Never got past the first couple of pages. There’s always too much work to do and not enough time to fully appreciate what we’ve got in here.’ She picked up the cups. ‘See you at the door in a couple of