Flight of the Jabiru (10 page)

“It is. The kids are bored stiff so they get up to a bit of mischief sometimes, but now we have you, so that's going to change.”

Lara sensed he was playing down the ‘mischief'. “Indeed,” she said. “I'll certainly keep them busy. I suppose you've been giving your oldest children some lessons at home, to keep up their reading and writing skills.”

Colin looked startled. “No, I'm ashamed to admit my two eldest can barely write their names, like me. Betty and I just don't have time to help them with schoolwork because there's so much to do with the store.”

Lara was disappointed to hear this. She was going to have her work cut out for her. Even so, she was up for the challenge. “How many students can I expect?” By now they were travelling quite fast on the Arnhem Highway and Lara's hair was being whipped into a beehive in the open Ford. She tried to sink lower in the seat, but it didn't help. She would've tried holding her hair down, but Colin was driving so fast that she'd taken to clinging to the seat in terror. In contrast, Colin was relaxed and completely oblivious to her discomfort.

“I reckon you'd have ten students on a good day,” he shouted to be heard above the noisy engine, the flapping canopy, and the rushing wind. “The town has a small population, mostly fishermen and their families.”

“What about native children? Don't they attend school?”

“No, not if they're still with their families,” Colin said.

Lara wanted to ask what he meant by that, but suddenly, without any warning, he veered left off the highway, onto a dirt track where Lara got a glimpse of a sign indicating they were going in the direction of Shady Camp billabong. Unfortunately, he barely slowed. Dust flew into the air, and swirled around them. It became very obvious why Colin's vehicle was so filthy.

“I'll have to change that,” Lara said choking on the dust while trying to sound positive as the track narrowed and thick vegetation whizzed by.

“You won't,” Colin said. “The Abos don't run to schedule. To be honest, most white fellas in the Top End don't own a watch or clock and don't know what day it is. The black fellas certainly don't. They work on seasons because what season it is indicates what food source is available.”

Lara was intrigued but it was too hard to concentrate on holding a conversation while Colin was taking bends in the dirt track like a lunatic. They also kept hitting potholes, which only added to the danger. At one point she was almost hit in the face by a branch from a passing tree.

“Could you please slow down, Colin,” Lara finally had the courage to ask.

“If you're worried about your hair, it's too late for that,” Colin said.

That someone like Colin, who seemed to have little care for presentation, would pass such a comment had Lara worried. She put her hand up to her hair and groaned. It was stiff from the wind and dust.

“Does it look as bad as it feels?” she asked, thinking he'd probably say it was fine because he was a man and most of them didn't know a good hair style from a bad one.

“Have you ever seen tumbleweed?”

CHAPTER NINE

“Welcome to Shady Camp billabong,” Colin said with exaggerated cheeriness, as they came into a clearing in the midst of lofty trees and overgrown vegetation. It was perhaps half-a-mile square.

“This is it,” Lara whispered in disbelief. It was the opposite of what she'd had in mind for weeks.

“That's right,” Colin said, noting her dismay.

Scattered about the clearing were buildings ­— a tiny wooden church, a few houses that at first glance looked uninhabited and neglected, and what could possibly be commercial establishments. Tracks led out of the clearing into the vegetation, no doubt to homes that were hidden from sight or to fishing spots beside the billabong. Lara's heart sank as she'd been expecting a small but pretty town beside tranquil waters, not a haphazardly ‘thrown together' settlement.

Colin pulled up in front of a square wooden building with a veranda on the front that didn't look like it would survive a stiff breeze, let alone a cyclonic wind. Suspended top and center on the veranda was a sign that said Shady Camp Store. The two large front windows were covered with stickers advertising milk, ice cream, and soda pop. The open doorway was filled with plastic streamers to keep flying insects out, although they were no doubt ineffective because more than half of them were broken at various lengths. Without a breath of breeze they hung limp and sad.

“This is our store,” Colin announced with genuine pride. “It might not look much, but as I said, we try to stock everything the locals need.”

Lara made an effort to hide her disappointment and keep an open mind, but Colin could see she was already disillusioned with Shady Camp, a reaction not in the least unexpected.

“I'd really like to clean myself up before I meet anyone, Colin,” Lara said. “Is that possible?” She was carrying a comb, rouge, and lipstick in her handbag.

“I'm sure Betty won't mind if you use our bathroom,” Colin offered, jumping out of the vehicle.

They hadn't yet discussed where she was to live, but Lara understood that living quarters came with the teaching position. She wanted to ask if she could use the bathroom in what was to be her home, but after seeing the store she held back. One awful surprise at a time was all she could deal with.

“I'd appreciate that,” she said, suddenly overwhelmed with a wave of homesickness. It happened out of the blue, and usually when least expected. She sniffed, fighting tears. The last thing she wanted was to break down.

Colin noticed that she was struggling with her emotions and feared she was about to cry. He'd rather tackle an angry brown snake than a woman in tears, so he panicked. He retrieved her suitcase from the back of the Ford and placed it on the veranda. “That's the pub next door,” he said. “It was built of wattle and daub many years ago and survived two really big cyclones before Betty and I came to live here.” He was deliberately trying to distract her with facts about the town and prayed it worked. “At that time the store was little more than a small hut with a few tacked on rooms that were living quarters. We've made big improvements in the ten years we've been here.”

In disbelief, Lara looked at him, and then the store. “What attracted you to this place?” she asked before she could stop herself. If given the choice, it certainly wasn't somewhere she'd choose to settle.

Colin knew he had to pick his words carefully. “I've lived all over the Territory, but I found something here that I've not found anywhere else. A real sense of community. If you stay long enough you'll understand. All I ask is that you give us a chance.”

His words, which were heartfelt, touched Lara, but she wasn't sure she'd ever understand.

“Well, hello,” someone called to Lara in a friendly welcome.

Lara groaned, her hand going to her stiff hair self-consciously. She half turned to see a woman had come out of the store. The first thing she noticed was her hair. It was shoulder length and dark brown in color, and very curly and unruly. Quite obviously the woman made no attempts to tame it. Her figure was full, her breasts large, and she had the broadest smile that lit up her whole face and revealed a large gap between her two front teeth. Lara estimated her age at mid thirties.

“You found her then, Colin,” she said cheerfully to her husband. “Looks like you owe me a quid.”

Colin flushed. “This is Lara Penrose, our new teacher. Lara, this is my wife, Betty. I bet her a quid you wouldn't be in town today, but as usual Betty was right.”

“I'm always right,” Betty said confidently. “Welcome to Shady Camp billabong, Lara,” she added enthusiastically.

“Thank you,” Lara said, struggling to get up and out of the vehicle. “I must apologize for my appearance. I had my hair done at a hairdresser this morning, and it looked lovely, but...”

“Say no more,” Betty interrupted. “Colin should've told you that I keep a scarf under the front seat.” She waved a scolding figure in his direction.

“Whoops,” he said. “I forgot about the scarf.”

“Now there's something unusual, you forgetting something. Believe it or not, my hair can actually look worse than it does now if I don't wear the scarf in the car. It's the humidity! I've all but given up trying to look presentable.” Betty took Lara's hand while she perched on top of the car door, and Lara was immediately assailed with the strong smell of fish. Then Betty helped lift her legs over so she didn't have to pull her skirt up again, much to Colin's disappointment. It was so easy with a little assistance. “My husband keeps promising to fix the doors so they open, but for some reason he never gets around to it,” she complained. “As I do most of the work in the store, you'd think he'd find the time.”

Colin flushed with embarrassment for the second time.

“Come through to our bathroom,” Betty suggested. She could see how uncomfortable Lara felt and as a woman she completely understood. She could also see that she was a very beautiful woman, and her dress, while a little tarnished from the journey, was lovely. Unfortunately, she was not the type of person that would be inclined to live and work in Shady Camp. This was not unexpected as not many people qualified.

Lara followed Betty through the store, which was literally stocked to the rafters. There was barely any space to walk. Even the front counter was piled high with stock. Apart from foodstuff, there appeared to be a lot of fishing tackle and things to do with boats.

Apologizing for the children's mess, Betty showed Lara the bathroom in their living quarters, which were cramped and attached to the back of the store, and then left her to fix her hair and wash.

Ten minutes later, Lara felt like a new woman, almost. The ‘close' heat was draining. It had taken quite an effort to untangle her hair and make it presentable, but she'd also washed her face and hands and applied a touch of fresh make-up. When she entered the store she caught Betty and Colin having a heated discussion in loud whispers. Obviously they didn't want her to overhear what they were discussing. When they saw her, they smiled as if nothing was going on.

“Betty will show you around Shady Camp and get you settled while I pop next door to see how Monty is going on,” Colin suggested.

“In other words, he wants a beer,” Betty interpreted. “How about you, Lara, are you thirsty?”

“I am,” Lara said. “The heat is quite debilitating.”

Colin and Betty glanced at each other with worried expressions.

“I'm all right,” Lara reassured them unconvincingly. “I'm sure I'll acclimatize.”

Betty smiled. “You will,” she said. “Just give it awhile. Let's go next door and have something cold to drink before we do the tour of town,” she said.

“That might be a good idea,” Lara said. She needed fortifying. “But won't someone have to mind the store?”

“My customers know I'm not far away. They'll look in the pub if they can't find me in the store,” Betty assured her.

Lara followed Betty outside, where she took stock of the town, although using the term ‘town' was extreme flattery. She hoped her first impressions would alter after taking a second look. They didn't. Shady Camp was a very unattractive settlement. All she could see was a tangle of vegetation that looked like it might swallow up the few buildings in it's midst. In the distance, she could see water glistening in the sunlight through the trees. In the silence, she could hear different birds, though, and that was lovely.

“So, this is it,” Lara said with a ragged sigh. My home for two years. Colin ducked past them and went into the hotel.

“I know it doesn't look much,” Betty said apologetically. “But it's quiet, and peaceful, and everyone gets along. There's a real sense of community and that's important, isn't it?”

“I suppose so,” Lara said. She couldn't see a soul. “Where is everyone?”

“The kids are off playing somewhere and the fishermen will be out in their boats. Most afternoons about four o'clock they congregate in the pub and catch up. The kids usually turn up about five o'clock looking for their dinner.”

“So the children are gone all day and they just come home for meals,” Lara said in astonishment.

“That's right.”

“It must be nearly four o'clock now,” Lara said. She'd lost track of time.

Betty looked up at the sun. “It's only two thirty,” she said.

Lara consulted her watch and was amazed to see she was right.

“You can catch up with the locals later this afternoon,” Betty said. “They're all looking forward to meeting you.”

“Perhaps,” Lara said, thinking she'd like to settle into her living quarters and have some time alone to take everything in.

Betty thought she meant she wouldn't still be in town at four o'clock and frowned. “Let's go inside the hotel and get a drink,” she said.

“I'm eager to see the school house,” Lara said as she followed Betty.

Betty glanced at her with a worried expression, but made no comment about the school. “Monty Dwyer runs the pub. He's quite a character,” she said.

The hotel was a single-storey building with a veranda on the front that also looked flimsy. There was evidence the building had been whitewashed at some time, obviously many years ago because the walls were now stained and dirty. Strangely, the front was open but there were no windows. Shutters had been pulled to the side of where there would've been windows, presumably allowing as much ventilation as possible. On the veranda there were stools that looked like they'd been carved from local trees and several empty kegs that served as tables. It was all very rustic and primitive!

The inside of the hotel appeared gloomy. There were heavy wooden posts supporting the ceiling and the walls were dark and decorated with souvenirs that included horse shoes, hats, bull whips, snake's skin, buffalo horns, and post cards. There were many paintings of rivers and billabongs at sunset, and of fish, boats, and fishermen, as well as early settlers.

Colin had warned Monty that the new schoolteacher was about to join them. “She's a real looker and she's got the shapeliest legs I've ever seen,” he told him enthusiastically.

“How do you know that?” Monty asked. They were seated at a table near the bar.

“My car doors don't open, remember?” Colin said with a twinkle in his eyes. “She had to lift her skirt right up to here to get her legs over the door.” He gestured to his upper thighs.

Monty's eyes widened. “You're having me on,” he said.

“I swear it's true,” Colin said. “I offered to assist her but she insisted on doing it herself, so all I could do was sit there and watch.” Colin smirked. “And boy did I get a treat.”

“Now I know why you haven't fixed the door handles, you old dog,” Monty said with envy.

“Shhh,” Colin said as Lara and Betty approached.

“G'day, love,” Monty called, his gaze going straight to Lara's legs, before Colin nudged him so hard he nearly fell off his seat. “Welcome to my humble establishment,” he added while getting to his feet.

Lara's eyes were still adjusting to the dimness inside the hotel after coming in from the glaring sunlight outside. “Hello,” she said, extending her hand. Whatever she thought of the town, she couldn't deny that the locals were welcoming and very friendly.

Monty seemed surprised to be offered her hand, but he shook it gently. When Lara's eyes adjusted, and she took stock of him, she was startled to note he was the wildest looking man she'd ever met. Her tumbleweed hair had looked tidier than what inhabited the top of his head. It was brown, streaked with gray, about several inches long all over, and sticking out from his head as if he'd stuck his finger in an electrical socket. His face was covered in a bushy beard that hung to his chest, also dark brown streaked with gray. His arms were as brown as the earth, and as hairy as a monkey's. He was wearing an old t-shirt, loose trousers, and surprisingly, closed shoes — but even so he could've passed for a prehistoric man.