Tears of the Moon - Di Morrissey [89]
Little Hamish stood beside Tyndall watching the new baby with great fascination, sometimes reaching out to touch the small fist and grinning in delight when little fingers curled around his own. He beamed at his mother and stood without moving, afraid of disturbing the baby, but Tyndall scooped the boy up and made room beside him in the chair so he could be close to the beautiful olive-skinned baby girl. Tyndall’s show of affection further endeared him to Olivia.
At the Freemasons, Conrad had become very conscious of the raised eyebrows in reaction to Tyndall’s domestic arrangements.
Major Ralph White, ex-British Army, old India hand and pastoralist who ‘dabbled’ in pearling, had taken a shine to Conrad. ‘You picked an odd bod there to throw your lot in with,’ he declared, his waxed moustache unmoving as he waggled his head in mock dismay. ‘Decent enough chap, I suppose. Understand he helped out you and your good wife during difficult times, but I must say, Conrad, this baby business is not good form.’
‘Rather unusual to parade about with it, I agree. But then, Tyndall has always been a non-conformist I suspect,’ sighed Conrad.
‘He’s not the first and won’t be the last to keep a woman on the side, white or black velvet, but it’s rather throwing it in the face of everyone. Especially you and your wife. Very difficult. The women don’t like it. Rattles them when one of their own kind lets the side down.’
He spoke kindly but Conrad knew there’d probably been a lot of discussion about it and the Major had been nominated to talk to him.
Conrad felt a faint flush around his collar at the Major’s words but replied with some spirit. ‘Tyndall is my partner and I respect him for his honesty and professionalism, but it is his personal business and, frankly, all the talking in the world is not going to change that man. He tends to live by his own rules. However, I will of course point out to him—once again—the inappropriateness of his behaviour.’ Conrad hoped he sounded more positive than he felt, for he knew Tyndall would do just what he liked. He’d have another word with him and maybe Olivia could ask him to be more discreet.
The Major changed the subject and talked about his latest cattle venture which was proving very lucrative. ‘Might even consider going into wool, old boy. Mind you, it’s not a piece of cake. Blacks spear animals, damned weather is harsh, staff unreliable, but overall I seem to have a few runs on the board. Speaking of which,’ he slapped his thigh, ‘when are we going to arrange another cricket match? You’re an excellent bat, splendid addition to the team.’
They called for another round and chewed over the highlights of the last club game, when Conrad had enjoyed a moment of glory after hitting several boundaries to give his side victory.
Excesses of weather dictated life in the north-west and this lay up season was proving particularly trying. The humidity drenched the body and numbed the mind, tempers were short-fused and explosive, minor matters became major issues. Small conflicts at sea became magnified into huge injustices in the simmering boredom of life ashore.
Among the Asian community, in particular, there was a lot of tension. Ahmed conveyed this to Tyndall who warned the Hennessys and Niah to steer clear of the Sheba Lane area.
Sheba Lane, also known as Chinatown, Jap town, or the coloured quarter, was a collection of narrow alleyways that webbed from the original sand dunes where the enterprising Kamematsu Shiba had erected the first boarding house for the Japanese. Shanty dwellings, foodshops, sheds