Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [85]
Olivia took her small son Hamish by the hand and led him along the track to the old jetty. The toddler jumped up and down excitedly as he saw the luggers lined up, all making ready to sail on the tide. Dropping Olivia’s hand, he scampered along the wooden jetty on chubby legs making for the Bulan. Spotting Ahmed, he waved and called, ‘A’med, Hamish come, me come!’
The Malay grinned in delight. He and the child had established a special bond, and he reached up and swung him down onto the deck.
Olivia smiled as she watched the two of them. Ahmed was a patient teacher with the child, slowly tying and untying knots, letting him turn the wheels of the pump, and teaching him Malay words and phrases.
‘All set, Ahmed ?’ she asked in Malay.
‘Yes, mem. All ready to go,’ he replied, pleased with her easy use of his language.
‘How’s the new lugger?’
‘Bagus. Yoshi is taking the new lugger, the Annabella, I’ll stay on Bulan, tuan will bring Shamrock for the mother ship. Reckon this one will be a good trip. I feel lucky.’
‘I hope so, Ahmed. Good luck.’ She lapsed back into English. ‘Hand that monkey back so we can say goodbye to Yoshi.’
Ahmed picked up Hamish, who flung his arms about the Malay’s neck and squeezed tight, then was lifted onto the jetty. Olivia walked a little further along to where the Annabella was tied up. Yoshi, his tender Taki and the second mate were standing on the jetty, Yoshi holding his precious copper helmet. He reacted in mock alarm as Hamish pounced, demanding he wear the helmet.
‘Too big, too heavy, little man,’ admonished the diver. ‘When big fella you wear the helmet.’
Olivia chatted briefly with the crew and wished them well. This was the first time a lugger was going out without either Ahmed or Tyndall on board to oversee operations. Yoshi had proved himself to be trustworthy and honest and while many divers secreted a pearl or two away from the owners to sell as a snide, Tyndall and the Hennessys had agreed to let Yoshi master a lugger this trip. Yoshi bowed respectfully to Olivia, who acknowledged the courtesy with a bob of her head and wished him well. Finally she and Hamish approached the Shamrock and called out to Tyndall, who appeared on the deck.
‘Ho!’ squealed Hamish as he saw him.
‘Ho yourself, Hamish.’ Tyndall sprang onto the wharf and picked him up.
The boy carefully touched the pearl at his ear. ‘Pretty.’
‘We’ll bring back lots more pretties I hope, eh Olivia?’
‘Ahmed says he feels lucky. Are you staying out on the grounds the whole time? Be difficult for Niah, won’t it?’
Niah was due to give birth in a few months. Tyndall had broken the news to them casually, but with great pride and genuine delight.
‘I’ll go south again and take supplies and water out to the fleet as needed.’
‘If you see my Aboriginal friends, tell them we are well.’
‘I will.’
They paused for a moment having run out of niceties and exchanged a glance.
Niah appeared on deck and waved to Hamish.
‘Good luck, Niah. Look after yourself,’ said Olivia. While Niah had not been invited into the Hennessys’ house as an equal, they had established a friendship of sorts. Niah had made herself useful at the foreshore camp while Olivia had taught her many things and in return Niah had helped her become fluent in Malay.
Olivia glanced at Niah who was wearing a long loose shift like those worn by the women of the South Seas. But there was no hiding the bulge of the child she carried with grace and ease.
‘I hope that baby doesn’t come early,’ said Olivia with genuine concern.
‘I be fine, mem.’
‘We’ll manage if it does,’ said Tyndall. ‘You did,’ he added softly, then regretted the remark in case it brought back past hurts. But since the birth of Hamish, Olivia had come to terms with the loss of her first son. It crossed her mind now that it would be nice to be sailing south