Kimberley Sun

by Di Morrissey

  The men studied the pearls, rolling some around in their palms, and Lily could see the magic had caught the imagination of even these hardened businessmen who knew a lot about pearls.

  ‘Our wives will be very interested to see these,’ said Toby.

  ‘We understand why Australian south sea pearls – pearls from Broome – are best in the world,’ conceded Kom, then added with a grin, ‘and so superior to what is being produced in Japan.’

  ‘Well, we’ve got a lot going for us. The big areas suitable for farming, our clean waters and the Pinctada maxima oyster. Only found here,’ said Lily. Seizing the opportunity, she went on to briefly describe the origins of pearl culturing, which she had learned from Bill Reed. How it was an Australian, William Saville-Kent, working on Thursday Island at the turn of the century who had made half pearls by attaching beads to the inside of the pearl shell. He claimed to have perfected the technique of making full round pearls but never published how. He died in 1906 but in 1904 two competing Japanese, Nishikawa, a scientist, and Mise, a carpenter, simultaneously announced they’d found a successful method. Mise’s stepfather and Nishikawa had both visited Saville-Kent on Thursday Island in 1901. Among Australian pearlers there was speculation whether Saville-Kent had succeeded with spherical pearl culture a decade earlier as he claimed, and then shared it with the two Japanese men who announced their findings so soon after. Lily had always associated the famed Mikimoto with pearl culture as he was the first to sell cultured pearls into Europe and was credited with pearl culture techniques in 1905. Olivia had written of Tyndall visiting his farm in Japan.

  ‘There has always been great co-operation between our two countries in the pearling industry,’ said Lily graciously. ‘I am very happy it is continuing.’ She gave a slight bow, having become conscious of just how often the visitors used the polite gesture.

  Both men gave a low bow in return, pleased with the compliment.

  ‘I will take you back to your hotel for lunch. Mika will escort you anywhere you’d like to go this afternoon. Tomorrow morning we will go to Star Two. I’ll drive to the farm and see you there. We have hired an air-conditioned minibus to take you all.’ Thank you, Bobby, thought Lily. He had stepped in to help out after an urgent call from Mika that the party was bigger than they thought. No doubt Bobby would run one of his many business ideas past them on the drive.

  ‘Very good, very good.’

  ‘We shall go to the beach today,’ announced Toby. ‘I want to swim at the Cable Beach.’

  Lily grabbed her gear from Rosie’s, filled her in on the meeting with Dale, the apparent success so far of the investors’ visit, hugged her and headed back to the farm.

  It was past sunset when she arrived, poured a drink and sat on the verandah to watch the last streaks of reds and gold fade to darkness. No lingering lilac twilight here.

  There was a tap at the door. ‘Who is it?’

  ‘David.’

  ‘Oh! Dave! Hang on.’ Lily unlocked the door. ‘I feel silly locking up, but –’ She stopped and stared at Dave in amazement.

  He ignored the reaction and stepped inside. ‘Are our guests here?’

  ‘Tomorrow.’ Her hands flew to her mouth. Dave was showered and shaved, and dressed in an ironed shirt. Clean shorts. Sandals. Combed hair. And the finishing touch – a rather cavalier silk kerchief knotted at his throat. And, was that a gold fob-watch chain hanging from his belt to his pocket?

  He handed her a dusty but cold bottle of champagne. ‘A small offering to welcome the yen men.’

  She glanced at the bottle and blanched. ‘Dave! This is vintage Dom.’

  ‘I shipped out a small cellar from the pile back home. I raid it occasionally. Bah humbug to those who say fine wines don’t travel.’

  Lily put it down. Carefully. ‘I hope it will be appreciated.’

  ‘In case they don’t, what say you and I polish it off now? To celebrate.’

  ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Certainly. In fact, I think this is the perfect occasion. There doesn’t seem to be anyone else around to share it.’ He picked up the bottle and began twisting the rusty wire.

  Lily poured the rest of her ordinary wine down the sink and reached for a glass of water. ‘You know, Dave, I think that is a splendid idea. It’s been a big day.’ They settled into their regular places on the small verandah.

  ‘This seems criminal, drinking such fine bubbly out of these glasses.’ Lily savoured the dry French champagne.

  ‘Provided it’s not altering the taste, fancy glasses are pretentious.’ Dave held his glass up to the light, admiring the golden bubbles.

  ‘I rather like the sensation of fine crystal on the lips.’ Lily twirled the glass.

  ‘Knew a chap who ate crystal glasses. It was his party turn. Followed by bread and cheese,’ commented Dave. ‘He had to be drunk to do it, but it sure got everyone’s attention.’

  They leaned back in their chairs in the darkness. The stars were beginning to glitter, the moon had yet to rise. The heat had gone, the air was crystal. They could hear the tide lapping at the edge of the bay and an occasional burst of distant laughter from the staff quarters.

  ‘This is the best part of today. Cheers, Dave. And thank you for, well, everything.’

  ‘You’re a grand woman, Lily. Once upon a time in my younger days I might have courted a woman like you if I’d met her. No such luck. I lived rough, played rough. A lady like you wouldn’t have looked at me. Yet you treated me kindly and courteously from the moment you first wandered in here.’

  ‘Why not? I knew nothing about you. But you were seduced by this place. As was my great-grandfather. We have something in common.’

  ‘I was thinking my days of being anything, doing anything were gone. I was going to drink myself into a comfortable grave. I staggered on ’cause of the kids that work here. And mainly because of Don and Serena.’

  ‘We’ll make Star Two something, Dave.’

  ‘I hope you do. And young Tim. He doesn’t say much but he’s told Don he loves this place. It’s not just a job.’

  ‘I’m happy to know that. About Tim. But hey, you’re a partner, we’re all in this together.’

  ‘Ah, I have my doubts, Lily. I waffle about, but this place would work as well without me – since you and Tim came in.’

  ‘Dave, that’s rubbish. You’re talking like you’re not equal. I don’t want to hear that kind of talk. You know heaps about pearling. You rescued this place. Come on, where do you want to be in two years, five years, ten years time?’

  Dave gave a twisted smile. ‘Sitting here. Yarning, looking at the stars after a good harvest. Knowing you and Tim and all the mob are around. What’re the odds on that?’ He sounded wistful, hesitant, even doubtful.

  ‘Pretty damned good, I’d say.’

  Dave drained his glass and reached for the long-necked bottle. ‘I got some news from home t’other day. Don’t hear much from the old family estate.’

  ‘Is everything all right? You’re not thinking of going back?’ asked Lily, upset at the thought that he might want to leave.

  ‘Mate, me brother died.’ He lapsed into his familiar Aussie slang.

  ‘Oh, Dave, I’m so sorry. I guess you have to go back for the funeral. We can manage but come home here soon as you can. We’ll miss you.’

  ‘Actually, it’s not that simple. I’m it – next in line. Thanks to some clause my father stuck in the will. Of course, not having kids I can hand the title over to my brother’s oldest son. I just don’t like the idea of the little rat-faced Chelsea yuppie swanning round the estate.’

  ‘Dave!’ Lily tried not to giggle. ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘Dunno. First thing, I thought I’d bring senior son out here, same as what they did to me. Make him work his arse off on the farm, find out what life is all about.’

  ‘It wouldn’t do him any harm,’ agreed Lily. ‘This place changes people. I even think Sami has mellowed and come to terms with things.�
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  ‘Might be a few more quid in the kick, but I don’t need it. I also thought I might donate some cash to Ross for that kids from the community scheme.’

  ‘Dave, that’s a brilliant idea. Maybe your nephew could put in a bit of time there too.’

  Dave topped up their glasses. ‘Seems we’ve solved a few problems of the world tonight. Don’t know if the nephew will agree, though. Who knows? You fancy a chop and a tomato? Serena has some fancy stew on in the canteen.’

  ‘To tell you the truth, I’m going to have a boiled egg and a piece of toast and go to bed. After this wonderful champagne, food is unnecessary. I need some quiet time. Might even do a bit of meditation,’ she added lightly.

  ‘You okay sleeping with that gold? Reckon we’re safe enough up here, but I’ll camp on the doorstep if it makes you feel better.’

  ‘Dave, you’re a dear, I’ll be fine.’ They cleared away the glasses and Lily put the empty bottle on the bench.

  ‘You look splendid, Dave, and I appreciate your effort. It has been a memorable evening.’ She held out her arms and hugged the older man. ‘This is just the beginning, you know that?’ she said softly.

  ‘I reckon. God bless, Lily.’

  ‘Sleep tight. I know I will.’

  He gave a courtly bow with a flourish of his arm and turned to leave. ‘This is where we need Palmer’s bagpipes for the big exit.’

  ‘No we don’t,’ said Lily. But she looked at her bed and wished with all her heart Palmer was there. She knew soon enough he would be. Their time had come.

  The Japanese visitors turned the farm into a party and their enthusiasm was contagious. Their curiosity, their excitement at sailing on the Georgiana, a successful fishing trip, their banter with the young divers and staff, their constant questions and taking of videos, their fascination with the beauty and remoteness of the farm, delighted everyone and let even the old hands see the farm with new eyes. Everybody got a charge from the good vibes that the visit created. It was helped enormously by the controlled hilarity the staff shared with each other as they took in the image of old Dave dressed in his best gear and his smooth endorsement of the concepts for farm development. They smiled whenever Dave got a chance to secretly give them a little wink on the side. In response they made every effort to match his performance with polite and efficient work whenever the visitors hove into sight.

  The two investors spent time in Lily’s cabin cum office with Tim, Lily and Dave going through the books, seeing what it actually costs to nurture one oyster from spat to producing a pearl two years later. They looked at projections and the plans. Tim ran through the practicalities of needing a new lease in better water. He showed them an aerial video taken by the Broome Tourist Board of the Lacepedes, the Buccaneer Archipelago and King Sound.

  ‘Next year we must go there for holiday,’ said Toby. ‘Very wild looking.’

  ‘You can come up and look at the new Star Two lease, eh?’ said Tim, grinning.

  The men nodded, looking quite serious. ‘Yes, we must expand. Make more pearls,’ announced Toby.

  There was no doubt they were impressed with the way the operation was being run and the obvious dedication of the three partners. A further injection of capital was agreed to, and Lily breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

  The Japanese headed back to Broome equally content. Mika and Bobby organised a big dinner in town for the entire group, so they could try some bush tucker and fine Australian wines, and hear didgeridoo and bush music.

  Lily phoned Sami who’d arrived back at Rosie’s with Harlan to tell her the news.

  ‘I’m really glad for you, Mum. You’ve worked hard, it was a risk, and you’ve had a few bumpy moments.’

  ‘There’s always going to be the risk factor, I’ve learned. Pearl oysters are temperamental things. Bobby drove the mob back to Broome with Tim and Mika on the bus to do the farewells. Mika has been a gem. I’ve offered her a job as trainee technician, she has an aptitude for it. Long-term, I can see her going into international marketing for us.’

  ‘What about Bobby? Any openings for him?’

  ‘He’s got a lot more confidence in himself. He’s got to buckle down and get a few more skills. He’s decided to do a computer course. Once he’s done that and some sort of basic management course, I reckon his dad might come to the party and back one of his big ideas.’

  ‘Yeah, odd jobs here and there even with you aren’t going to get him ahead. He’s such a nice guy,’ said Sami.

  ‘Now, darling,’ asked Lily, ‘how did your trip go? What’s Harlan say?’

  Quietly and in a sad voice Sami told her about Leila.

  ‘Oh, how awful. Sami, please don’t feel badly, you tried. How desperate these people must be. I’m so sorry, darling.’

  ‘Me too. The end was like the legend of her name, so sad. She wanted me to have that woven bag and now I know why. It means so much to me.’

  ‘And the paintings, she inspired that wonderful work in Rosie’s gallery,’ said Lily.

  ‘The women aren’t doing it anymore. That collection is a one-off. Pretty valuable, I guess.’

  ‘You sound weary. Are you coming up here?’

  ‘I’ve promised Harlan and Rosie I’d babysit Lizzie tonight, they’re going to a friend’s party. Tomorrow I’m meeting Palmer to work out some ideas for the thesis. I have so much material. I’m thinking of including Leila’s influence of sacred stories reflected in her weaving.’

  ‘That would be an appropriate tribute. I’d better get going, darling.’ Lily paused and then said softly, ‘It seems ages since we’ve had a quiet meal together. I’ve missed you, Sami.’

  ‘Me too. Mum . . . I’m glad I came here. I’m glad you’re happy.’

  ‘It’s been good for both of us, hasn’t it?’

  ‘Yeah. Not what I expected at all. You know I’ll come back and see you whenever I can.’

  ‘I understand what you’re saying, darling. I think I should buy an apartment at Moonlight Bay.’

  ‘Sounds good. See you in a day or so. Love you, Mum.’

  ‘I love you too, Sami.’

  Lily hung up the phone feeling teary. Her daughter was leaving, to get on with her life, but she’d come home, in more ways than one.

  Sami tucked Lizzie in bed and told her the story of Doonbi the owl, her current favourite, then wandered through the beautiful old bungalow, looking again at the memorabilia associated with Tyndall and Olivia. This was her ancestral home and now the things in it meant far more to her. After her thesis was done, when she came back on a long holiday, she’d sit down and read Olivia’s diaries, get the whole story into perspective.

  The phone rang. It was Tim. She smiled at the sound of his voice.

  ‘Hey, have you unloaded the visitors? It sounds like it was full-on, according to Mum.’

  ‘Bloody circus. They were great fun, but smart and shrewd when it came to the crunch. The women bought out half of Dampier Terrace, so we’ve helped the retail industry no end. They went crazy for Pauline’s stuff. I think there might be some interest in doing an exclusive deal with her.’

  ‘Do you mean for designing?’

  ‘That and retail. I think they see a chain of Star Two or Despar Designs around the world or something. Have you had dinner? Do you want to go out?’

  ‘I was about to make something. I’m looking after Lizzie. Why don’t you come over here? I’d love to see you.’

  ‘Great. I’ll bring take-away Indian. It’s easier than cooking.’

  ‘Sounds good.’

  Sami went to tidy herself up, conscious she was making more of an effort than usual. She sprayed on perfume and tucked a frangipani flower in her hair. It would be good to talk with Tim at leisure, share her feelings about Leila.

  They laughed a lot as he opened the wine and she warmed up the food. ‘I can’t believe my mother still has that fortune sitting under her bed,’ said Sami. ‘Palmer has the story pretty well sorted out. Do you think you’ll get anything o
ut of it?’

  ‘A pat on the back. Anyway, the story is going to break tomorrow morning when the paper hits the streets.’

  After dinner they settled on the verandah and talked at length about almost everything it seemed, and there was a subtle acknowledgment of the close bond growing between them. He’d taken her hand and held it as she talked of Leila and cried a little. They talked of the relationship between Palmer and Lily. Tim told her of Dave inheriting a title and an income, and they could imagine the nephew’s reaction if he was obliged to put in time on the farm to secure his inheritance.

  ‘When I go back to Sydney you’ll have to keep me posted on all the gossip,’ said Sami.

  ‘We do have a lot in common, don’t we?’ said Tim.

  A silence fell between them as they sat close together on the old cane lounge. But Sami knew what Tim was thinking. ‘I’m obliged and I want to finish my thesis and see what opportunities open up for me,’ said Sami. ‘I’ll be back here as often as I can. It’s my home.’

  Tim looked round at the house, the history it held and at Sami’s profile in the moonlight. ‘It certainly is. And it will always be here.’

  ‘And you? Will you put down roots here? Or pick up and wander off somewhere exotic again?’ She turned and he reached for her and she for him, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He kissed her lips, her nose, her hair, murmuring, ‘I’ll always be around here. I have special reasons for hanging about.’

  Sami felt a great peace settle somewhere deep in her heart. As Tim’s kisses grew stronger and he let his feelings go, Sami responded with the passion and love she’d been holding back for so many years.

  Together they walked along the verandah to her room and curled in each other’s arms on the bed beneath the cloud of mosquito net.

  The front-page headline story of the Advertiser had the town in a total whirl: ‘Sunken Treasure Linked to Broome Break-ins and Murder’. The story was a mix of commonly known facts and ‘leaked’ unsourced reports that read more like the plot of a television drama than something related to the Broome scene and the local people. There were head-and-shoulder shots of Pauline, Bobby Ching, an Interpol-sourced picture of Matthias Stern, and a slightly murky shot of Hajid that had been lifted from the snap taken at the Bradley Station races.