Kimberley Sun

by Di Morrissey

  ‘Yeah, good idea. It would be nice to have her company for the trip,’ said Bobby, grateful for Lily’s suggestion. ‘Do you want anything brought up?’

  ‘Oh, a few newspapers to catch up on things. Some fresh salad vegetables wouldn’t go astray.’

  ‘Okay. We’ll be up the day after tomorrow unless Mika has something else arranged.’

  ‘See you then, Bobby.’ Lily made a mental note to get accommodation ready for Mika. Bobby could bunk in with the boys. She turned her attention back to the charts and records Dave had kept of when batches of shell had been seeded, and turned from side to side to make sure the pearl sac formed evenly. She also wanted to check that all the panel sections on the dropper lines had been cleaned on schedule.

  They hoped the location Tim had found outside the Lacepedes would give them good quality wild shell, though their limit was ten thousand until they expanded and ‘proved themselves’, as the man from Fisheries had explained. Many big farms were having a lot of success with breeding shell spat in hatcheries and in transferring the small shell to the open sea to grow to seeding size. Maybe they should consider partnering one of the hatcheries as several pearl companies were doing, she thought. An ambitious idea, but another item to raise with the investors.

  Lily twirled her pen and looked out the window at the creek that led to their lease at the far end of the bay. Tim was convinced that too much fresh water had come down the creek and reduced the salinity close to their lease. ‘The water isn’t fertile enough. We need to look for new beds for the babies,’ was how he’d put it. Dave, who had been through many a cyclone season, was more concerned about weather conditions in the open water.

  She gave her forehead a firm, two-handed massage to ease the tension. There were so many things to consider. She’d had no idea how delicate the oysters were, how prone they were to bacteria and infestation that could prevent an oyster making a pearl, or kill it. She was due to write up a report for the investors telling them how things were progressing, with projections and plans for the near future. They should know about their proposed move to fish for wild shell in a new location. Perhaps Mika could write a covering letter in Japanese. That would be a nice gesture, thought Lily.

  She turned her attention back to the papers on her desk, then stopped, looked around and smiled. In just a few months she had completely rearranged her life – even the worries and stress. The challenge to get out there and do something new, prove she was capable of tackling a task most people thought was beyond her, to be entrepreneurial and assume corporate responsibility, was more satisfying than she could have imagined. Her old job, her old life, now seemed light years away.

  So did Dale. In frequent phone calls he was either pressuring her to come back to Broome or threatening to come up to the farm. Lily had been stalling, finding it easy to put off a trip to Broome given the workload at the farm. Something in her resisted the idea of Dale coming to spend time at Star Two, even just a weekend. It was so much her own space and demanded a close involvement with people who were not from Dale’s world. She realised that the basis of their relationship had changed, and she couldn’t tolerate the thought of him marching in to Star Two and running his critical eye over everything and everyone.

  Bobby picked Mika up from the backpacker hostel and they left Broome in his father’s old four-wheel drive. She was much more relaxed than when he took her out for the first time to hear the band at the pub. She had been back only a couple of weeks from a trip to the east coast, travelling from Cairns to Sydney before heading west through the Centre and Alice Springs.

  ‘I still can’t believe you wanted to come back here after seeing so many places over in the east,’ said Bobby as they set out. ‘That history stuff you’ve been studying at the museum can’t be that interesting.’

  ‘It is special for me because I come from a part of Japan that has a tradition in pearl farming,’ explained Mika. ‘I spent yesterday going through the Japanese cemetery. Very interesting, but very sad.’ At that point they ran out of bitumen and hit the red dirt road. ‘Ah, the real outback, right?’ she said with enthusiasm. ‘This is what my family back home cannot understand.’

  ‘What’s that?’ asked Bobby. ‘What’s so hard to understand?’

  ‘The special feeling that this creates.’ She looked around at the road and the bush. ‘So much . . .’ She paused to find the right word. ‘So much nothing.’

  Bobby gave a nod of understanding, then added, ‘But it’s not nothing, not empty, which is what I think you’re trying to say. There’s just so much out there.’ But explaining how Aboriginal eyes saw the country didn’t seem to fit the occasion. ‘Is this your first visit to a pearl farm here?’

  ‘Yes, apart from that touristy one near Broome. I went there when I first arrived in town. I’m looking forward to seeing Mrs Barton’s place very much.’

  Bobby was about to ask her if she had taken the hovercraft trip to look at the creeks, mudflats and the wreckage of the Catalina flying boat that was destroyed by Japanese planes in the Second World War, but changed his mind. Best avoid the war, he told himself.

  ‘Look, in the bush just ahead. It’s an emu.’ Mika reached for her camera.

  ‘I’ll stop so you can get a good shot. Hang on.’

  She rolled down her window. ‘My parents love pictures like that,’ she said as she checked how many shots were left on the roll.

  ‘Do you want to take a bit of a walk in the wild? You never know what we might find.’

  ‘Here? Now . . . in there?’ She looked at the scrubland doubtfully.

  ‘Come on. A five minute safari.’ Bobby pulled to the side of the road and they got out. ‘I’m glad to see you’re wearing sensible shoes.’ He glanced at her walking boots and slim legs. She was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, and her shiny black hair was tied in a ponytail that poked through the back of her baseball cap.

  He showed her a termites’ nest and, seeing signs of digging around a small log, he tipped it over to reveal an echidna that quickly rolled itself into a spiky ball. Mika was fascinated. ‘Ooh, look at those flowers. I must take a photo.’ She pointed to a wattle massed in sweet feathery yellow flowers.

  ‘Here, let me take it, you stand beside the bush. It’s what we call the wongai wattle. It has a nice smell.’ He focused the camera on Mika who lifted a branch to her face and smelled it. At the instant the camera went off she sneezed, and they both laughed.

  ‘Prize winning photo, for sure,’ said Bobby.

  He then took her along an animal track through the pindan, pointing out the markings left in the dirt by some of the creatures. She squatted down for a close look at a hole dug under another log when she was suddenly grabbed from behind by Bobby and pushed to one side. She gave a little scream.

  ‘Snake. Move back,’ he yelled as he stepped back himself. He didn’t take his eyes off the snake, which had come out from the tangle of dead branches at the far end of the log. ‘Okay. Keep still,’ he added as they both stared at the large olive-brown snake. He took her hand and squeezed it supportively. ‘It’s not going to attack now. King brown by the look of it.’

  ‘Are they dangerous?’ she whispered.

  ‘Very. It must’ve been asleep in the sun. They can be aggressive. Most snakes hear you coming and disappear. Come on, enough drama for one hike.’

  ‘Too bad I didn’t get a photograph. But I can tell the story of how you saved my life,’ she declared as they headed back to the car. Bobby resisted his immediate inclination to play down his role. It felt too good being a hero in her eyes.

  ‘Buy a postcard back in Broome. Here, a souvenir.’ He broke off a piece of shrub bursting with spiky pink flowers. ‘Mulla mullas . . . bachelor’s button. It’ll last for ages and ages.’

  ‘Then I’ll keep it. Thank you.’ They exchanged a smile and Bobby began to whistle as they drove north.

  After the lugger trip Ross and Palmer spent several days at the community and came back to the farm enthused abou
t their time with Sister Angelica. Over lunch on the verandah of Lily’s cabin they revealed details of what Ross introduced as ‘Palmer’s Grand Plan’.

  Palmer attempted to give a modest interpretation, but couldn’t help looking pleased as he elaborated on the ‘grand plan’. ‘When I came through last time, Sister Angelica told me how some of the young men about the place, who had few job prospects, got into trouble in Broome or wiped themselves out in Derby.’

  ‘Yeah, during the Boab Festival or whenever there’s a rodeo on, the kids go wild,’ said Ross.

  ‘As well as the boredom, lack of political will, health and literacy problems, there is the lack of opportunity with support to see some sort of education process through. It needs the money and support of dedicated people to make it happen,’ said Palmer.

  ‘So what’s the plan?’ asked Tim.

  Palmer said, ‘A wealthy corporate player I know in Perth once donated money towards a research project of mine. When I was down there a few weeks ago we lunched and got to talking about putting up money to help young Aboriginal people, and push the reconciliation cause. But without the bureaucracy of universities and government bodies. We need more corporate investment in indigenous communities, as long as it’s managed by the community and really fits their needs. So the company will support my plan.’

  ‘What about supporting a pearl farm?’ laughed Dave.

  ‘It’s not so far off the mark, Dave. The money is to be used specifically to help clearly targeted youth in this area. Rather than see the money get lost in a large project, on Sister Angelica’s advice and the advice of the elders here, they’ve established a training fund for Aboriginal youth in the Kimberley.’

  ‘Fantastic,’ said Lily.

  ‘Ah, and scoring points with God,’ remarked Dave a little cynically. ‘What kind of training? What’s he into, oil or mining?’

  ‘She. It’s a woman CEO. One of our few.’

  ‘She sounds innovative. Good on her,’ said Lily.

  ‘Good on Palmer for getting it moving. And guess what?’ Ross looked around at them, breaking into a huge grin. ‘I’ve got the job as administrator. In conjunction with Sister A. The council of elders will act as our board. Don will be one of them.’

  There was a chorus of congratulations.

  ‘Sister A thinks that as the pearling industry is so important to the area, that’s where they should be looking. Training and hiring our own local kids. From diving and marine work to carpentry and engineering, not just the grind of shell cleaning and stuff. Maybe even technician work if they have the aptitude.’

  ‘My God,’ said Tim. ‘That’s a pretty ambitious scheme.’

  ‘Just as well they’re all coastal kids. Many people from the inland communities hate anything to do with the ocean,’ said Lily.

  ‘Sister Angelica already raised that. A lot of the training can be applied to other industries. I was a bit daunted initially, but Palmer has convinced me I can do it. I’m to start pitching the idea to the pearling industry for support to get it up and running.’

  Tim looked at Lily. ‘I feel a pitch coming our way.’

  ‘I certainly hope so.’

  Ross drew a breath. ‘Well, first up the funding is for a pilot program. A small intake would start with twelve months training at one farm. If that works, some might move on to another farm, or some other job, and then a new batch comes in. Funding and support will hopefully expand if it all works.’

  ‘And who’s going to train ’em up?’ asked Dave who was chewing this over.

  ‘Ah, that’s where your expertise comes in, Dave,’ said Palmer. ‘And Don too. Tim, you must have had to do some training in Indonesia.’

  ‘Sure did. But these kids are going to have to want to come in and work. They’ve got to be motivated and pushed to achieve. That won’t be easy.’

  ‘That’s part of my job. And me being Aboriginal will help,’ said Ross.

  ‘Good that Don’s one of the local mob,’ observed Dave. ‘Don knows more about building boats and fixing engines than anyone. He’s a school all on his own. What you lot call a role model, right?’

  Lily was very excited about the project. It gave her new career yet more edge, more purpose. ‘It sounds great. I hope it includes girls as well as boys, though. What would Star Two have to put up?’

  ‘People to share their knowledge and skills, accommodation and food, a few basic essentials. The funds are there for all that, including travel for the kids and tools and gear. In return you get extra hands, and a lot of kudos for being the pilot for the whole concept,’ explained Ross.

  Palmer slapped him on the back. ‘Well said, you’re a natural salesman. Now, what does the board of directors think?’

  Tim gave it the thumbs up. ‘There’ll be some headaches but it’s a good idea. I need to look at the fine tuning, of course. What do you think, Lily?’

  ‘In principle – terrific. We’d be proud for Star Two to be involved, but as a board we’ll have to consider it in detail and then put it in my next report to the money men. Which reminds me, Bobby is due to arrive today with Mika. Do you remember, she’s a Japanese backpacker who has been in Broome for a while? I thought she could translate some of the info into Japanese as a courtesy to them.’

  As the group dispersed Palmer stayed behind to help Lily clean up. ‘So that’s what you were up to in Perth when we were down there,’ said Lily warmly. ‘I got the impression from what little you said that it was all about research.’

  Palmer smiled, pleased that the idea had gone over so well with her. ‘I wasn’t sure it would come off. But when Sister Angelica gets the bit between her teeth she bolts. She had to run her involvement in it past the Church authorities, but as it’s a private thing they don’t have a lot of say. She sees it as a good way of giving hope to some very bored and lost young people. They’re the future.’

  ‘I think you had a lot more to do with pushing this through than you’re letting on,’ said Lily.

  ‘Ross is a good man. He mentioned to me that he’d worked with street kids off-duty when he was in the police force. I filed that away.’ He slapped his worn old leather hat on his unruly hair.

  ‘What else is filed away under that hat of yours?’

  ‘A few things. I have another plan fermenting – so I can hang around the Kimberley a bit longer.’

  ‘I don’t understand you academics. You seem to be on a perpetual holiday and call it research.’

  ‘You got it.’ He grinned. ‘Thanks for lunch.’

  She watched him walk down the pathway, stopping to straighten a big bleached shell in the row along the edge and felt rather pleased that he might be visiting the area on a regular basis. It was good for Sami and might encourage her to stay in Broome.

  The afternoon dive boat with six workers on board chugged back to the pontoon at the cove, waking Lily from a brief nap in the hammock strung under the palms at the side of her cabin. She also heard a car arrive, indicating visitors, but didn’t want to leap out of the relaxing slumber.

  ‘Hey, Lily, you around? It’s Bobby.’

  She sat up and swung her legs out of the canvas hammock. ‘Here, you caught me having a siesta.’

  ‘That looks like a good job you’re onto here. Mika, this is the boss. You met her at the pub, I think.’

  ‘Of course. Glad you came up.’ They shook hands and Lily went on, ‘I remember seeing you at the Historical Society, too. Did you enjoy the trip up?’

  Mika gave a polite little nod. ‘This is a beautiful place. Thank you very much for having me. Yes, a lovely trip, after we got past the big deadly snake,’ she said with a cheeky grin. ‘Bobby saved my life.’

  Lily laughed as Bobby looked awkward. ‘A story for later,’ he said, dismissing the subject. ‘I spoke to Pauline in Perth before coming up. Says she’s missing all her friends and can’t wait to get back.’

  ‘That’s good. I’ll call her again tonight. I think I might invite her up as part of her recuperation. N
ow let me show you where you’re staying. Mika, I hope you don’t mind sharing a room with Vivian – Vivi. She’s very nice and it’s a big room. With a view.’

  ‘I am very happy to be here. It’s not how I imagined it.’

  Lily walked with them across to the dormitory. ‘There’s not much to see. Most of it happens under the water. Just a few buoys bobbing on the surface. But we’ll make sure you see some action, if we can.’

  ‘I am happy to work,’ said Mika.

  ‘Well, I was going to ask you to write a letter in Japanese. For our Japanese partners who’ll be coming out soon.’

  ‘Of course. It would be my pleasure. I have done quite a bit of translating.’

  ‘Great. But first off, wander around and get the feel of the place. Tonight you’ll meet the staff. They’re young, from all over the world. There’s a dozen of them here.’

  She left them to settle in and explore the farm that covered some forty hectares inland from the creek, and leases on ten square kilometres out in the bay. It was a solid foundation for expansion. The pending visit of the Japanese investors set her thinking about the letter she wanted Mika to translate. The more she thought about the Lacepedes, the more she felt they should look at the possibility of taking up their second lease in good water. She knew a pearl farmer had done well on the other side of the King Sound. Perhaps Tim should sail up there and investigate. Many of the successful pearl farms had several leases. It would mean they’d have to set up a small base camp for the staff to stay in, so they could take shifts in checking and cleaning the shell.

  She found Tim working in one of the sheds and raised the idea with him. ‘Let’s not run before we can walk. But I agree it’d be good to get into a healthier location. I’ll take a run up there and do some serious looking.’

  ‘That’s another thing. We’ll have to decide when we’re going to start the harvest.’

  ‘And keep quiet about it. Security worries me. I might have a bit of a yarn to Ross about safeguarding the crop. Dave was very casual about such things.’