Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [41]
She took the baby and handed him to the women, who nodded with satisfaction, smiled and patted his round belly.
Conrad tried not to look at the swaying breasts of these women or the barely modest grass covering over their private parts. Some of them wore woven arm bands but they were, on the whole, totally unadorned and unclothed. But there was no mistaking the goodwill they exuded. He patted his son’s head, pointed to Olivia and then said carefully to the women, ‘Thank you.’
They laughed again and Olivia took Conrad’s hand and held it out to the oldest woman who had delivered the baby and joined their hands together. She understood the gesture and nodded solemnly. Then, picking up their string baskets and dilly bags, the women headed to the beach to collect the fish from the trap.
Conrad watched them and remarked, ‘Ingenious idea, that wall. Do you suppose we could get it across to them that we need to find fresh water?’
Olivia picked up the baby which had started to whimper and began to loosen her camisole. ‘Take the empty barrel to them and show them the water that’s left. I’m sure they’ll understand. Their camp can’t be too far away.’
‘Yes, I’ll do that.’ Conrad turned his eyes away from Olivia’s exposed breast, fetched the water barrel and carried it along the beach to the women.
Olivia closed her eyes as the baby suckled contentedly, then as she changed the baby to the other breast she heard a footfall behind her and turned to see if Conrad had had success with the water and found instead she was staring up at the tall figure of Captain John Tyndall, the man from the schooner.
He coughed discreetly and averted his eyes as she pulled her top about her.
‘Oh excuse me,’ he said a little awkwardly. ‘I saw the smoke from the fire and realised you were still here, so thought I’d see if you were all right.’ He looked down at Olivia seated on the ground, her bare toes peeping out from the now ragged hem of her petticoats, the baby at her breast, her hair falling softly about her pretty face. Bedraggled though she was, it was a heartwarming picture. ‘I see you are doing very well. Congratulations. How did you cope with having the baby on your own?’
She gave him a hesitant smile. ‘I had help. The Aboriginal women were wonderful … they just came out of nowhere to help me.’
He nodded and refrained from mentioning his talk with the elders on his previous visit. ‘And your husband, what news?’
‘He arrived back this afternoon, he is looking for water with the women.’
Tyndall looked about the camp and saw the wagon further along the beach. ‘I’m amazed he made it through. I believe the country is very rugged.’
‘Yes, he says it’s going to be difficult returning with us all. He arrived and started shooting at the Aborigines, which was an unfortunate misunderstanding.’
‘He didn’t wound or kill anyone, did he?’ asked Tyndall, looking concerned. ‘He could find himself with a spear through his leg or worse. They have a payback system.’
‘Oh, dear me. No, no one was hurt. Do you suppose he is all right?’ Olivia peered anxiously towards the beach.
‘I’ll go see,’ he said, striding away.
The two men returned together a short time later deep in animated conversation. When they stopped to inspect the wagon, Olivia laid her sleeping baby down and went over to join them.
‘Hullo there, my dear,’ Conrad greeted her. ‘What a stroke of luck Captain Tyndall found us. Saw the smoke, he said.’
‘Did you find water?’
‘The women showed me a small spring, very fortunate.’
‘And we made our peace with the menfolk,’ added Tyndall.
‘He speaks their tongue,’ said Conrad, impressed.
John Tyndall turned to the wagon. ‘I doubt that horse and wagon will make the return trip,’ said the Captain