The Golden Land (15 page)

‘I hope your Friends of Burma won't work you too hard,' said Mark as he walked out to the car with her the next morning. ‘Don't stay on your feet too long.'

‘No, I won't. I'm only helping for an hour or so.'

By the time she reached the shopping mall, Natalie was wondering if a famine was looming. She could see people milling about in shops under signs advertising specials and sales in order to generate a shopping frenzy. It all seemed a bit incongruous when she was here to tell these carefree shoppers about the deprivation and repression of the Burmese people.

She soon spotted the Friends of Burma stall set up in the open-air central plaza opposite the escalator. The stand was festooned with Burmese flags, placards and posters of Aung San Suu Kyi. Thi, Mi Mi and Vicki were handing out leaflets. There was a petition for people to sign and Thi was chatting animatedly to some bystanders. A banner strung across the top of the canvas stand read: ‘Help the People of Burma Achieve Democracy! Free Aung San Suu Kyi.'

Thi waved to her. ‘Hello, Natalie! Glad you're here.'

‘Hi, Thi. Are a lot of people stopping to sign and take pamphlets?'

‘Yes. The Lady's beautiful face makes them go, "Ah, I've heard of her." And that gives us an opportunity to give them a few facts about Burma.'

‘Is that enough?' asked Natalie.

‘It is never enough, but by getting people interested, we are raising awareness and that's a good step. If enough people ask the Australian government to put pressure on the Burmese military regime to release The Lady from house arrest, along with all other political prisoners who are held in Burmese gaols, the junta will have to listen. Eventually. We also want people to write to the Burmese ambassador in Canberra and lobby him to tell his military government to stop the dreadful human rights abuses that continue in Burma, not just to the Burmese and to the other ethnic groups. You know this also includes the systemic rape of women by the military? They use rape as a weapon of war,' said Thi, shaking her head.

‘Natalie, word of what we are doing will filter back to Burma and give moral support to those who suffer silently, to those who are unjustly arrested, and to those whose family members have been killed and tortured by a junta that imposed itself on a country against the will of the people. Our country has been in a state of suspended animation since 1962. The generals raid the country's riches for themselves, but we have never given up hope.'

Natalie struggled to absorb this passionate torrent. ‘How will people in Burma know what you are trying to do?' she asked.

‘People here in Australia have no idea how fortunate their lives are. People are starving in Burma, making do with very little, afraid to speak aloud, unable to meet openly with friends and discuss what they all hate and fear. But quietly, at night behind closed doors, Burmese people listen to their little radios – the Democratic Voice of Burma that comes from Norway, the BBC and Radio Australia – telling them not only what is happening outside their borders, but also what is going on in other parts of Burma. Brave people also smuggle news in from outside. There are organisations and groups and individuals helping those who have managed to escape and have become refugees.'

A man standing behind Natalie spoke up. ‘My father fought in Burma more than sixty years ago. He always said they were good people. I've read about what is happening in that country now and your friend is right. We don't know how damn lucky we are. Where do I sign?'

Natalie stood quietly, handing out pamphlets as people drifted past. The curious paused and were gently drawn into discussions. Natalie listened as well, absorbing the information that her friends were relating and the depth of passion and pain felt by all Burmese.

She had planned to stay only for a short time, as she wanted to get back to Mark and the children and Brad, but she found that listening to Thi, Mi Mi and Vicki talking to the ordinary shoppers was inspiring. Their message was conveyed without hubris, on a very human level. It seemed to touch most of the people who stopped to listen and Natalie was surprised at how many of them signed the petition and took a pamphlet.

Suddenly she began feeling weak, her head began to spin and she reached behind her for a chair.

‘Are you all right, Natalie?' asked Thi, looking concerned. ‘You look so pale. Mi Mi!' she called as Natalie swayed and then slumped in the chair.

When Natalie opened her eyes, she found she was stretched out in the chair with her legs propped up on another, a sweater rolled up behind her head and Mi Mi staring down at her with a calm, serious face.

‘What happened?' Natalie glanced around. ‘Did I pass out?'

‘You're fine, Natalie. Your blood pressure is probably a bit low. Here, have a sip of water.' Mi Mi handed her a bottle of water. ‘Just rest for a few minutes and we'll get you home. Did you drive here?'

Natalie nodded, feeling embarrassed and rather shaky. ‘Has Vicki gone? She could have driven me home. But I'll be fine.'

‘Vicki had another appointment. You can't drive home. Thomas is due here any moment so I'll take you. Where's your car?'

‘Oh, that's all right. Thank you. I'll be fine in a minute. I can ring Mark.'

‘No, Natalie, let Mi Mi take you. She doesn't mind,' said Thi.

‘I'm fine. I feel so silly . . .'

‘You're pregnant, these things happen,' said Mi Mi, glad to see the colour start to come back into Natalie's cheeks.

‘This has never happened to me before.' As soon as Natalie tried to stand up she knew she still felt a bit odd. ‘You're right. I can't drive.'

‘That's okay, I'll drive you home. Are you up to walking to your car?' asked Mi Mi.

Natalie nodded. ‘Yes, it's not too far. I'm sorry about this, Thi.'

Thomas, who had just arrived, came and patted her hand. ‘You take care of yourself. We're so glad you came and helped us. Mi Mi will look after you,' he said gently.

Natalie didn't argue. She felt weak still and was glad of Mi Mi's firm hand under her elbow as they walked to the carpark.

At home and settled on her chair, Natalie glanced at her watch. ‘Mark and the children must have gone out. He has a friend staying and they're probably down at the park. Would you like a coffee or a tea, Mi Mi?'

‘A tea, please. You, too? I'll make it.' She bustled into the kitchen.

Natalie called out to her to tell her where the tea was kept. ‘Please excuse the chaos. We're renovating.'

Sipping her tea, Natalie thanked Mi Mi again. ‘This has been a bit of a shock. I've never had any problem with my previous pregnancies.'

‘It's nothing to worry about, I'm sure. But mention it next time you see your doctor. I understand that your husband is away from home a lot, and you must be very busy with your two small children. Maybe you need to have a bit of time for yourself. Is that possible?'

‘You're right. I don't seem to have any time at all to relax. I seem to always be on the go, organising the renovations or doing things myself. Actually, I covered the chair I'm sitting in,' said Natalie proudly.

Mi Mi looked at it. The chair was certainly different. Natalie had used contrasting swatches of fabrics, featuring flowers, stripes and tiny geometric sections to cover the arms, the ends of the arms, the wingback seat cushion, the back and front of the upright and the skirt at the base of the chair. While the patterns were different, because the colours were in the same range, the yellow, pink and green flowers, the stripes and the shapes all blended and married together perfectly making the deep, comfy chair almost a work of art.

‘That's really lovely,' said Mi Mi. ‘How clever of you.'

‘Thank you, Mi Mi, I enjoyed doing it. You should have seen it when I rescued it from my step father's farm! But you are right about my lack of time. When I have the chance to leave the children at preschool, I use the time to shop or pay bills, or for appointments. You know the sort of thing. The last time I had a day to myself, I went to Brisbane to see an antique dealer about my kammavaca and to buy bathroom fittings.'

‘You should rest occasionally. There is a place not very far from here where they teach yoga and relaxation exercises that are very useful to pregnant women. I recommend it highly and I think you will find it of great benefit, even if you can only get there for an hour or so each week.'

‘Thanks, that sounds great. I haven't done yoga since we moved. You'll have to give me their address and I promise to go, Mi Mi,' said Natalie, looking at her friend earnestly. ‘Today was fascinating. I have so much to learn about Burma, but I noticed today, when people heard about what's going on in your country, they tended to be sympathetic, didn't they? I mean, how could they not? It's funny, Burma seems like such a faraway country, a place we'll never see, a place we have no connection with, and yet it's just as close as the places Australians do go, like Thailand and Vietnam.'

‘Yes, Australians might feel they have more in common with countries like Britain and the United States, but South East Asia is so close geographically. I think that many Aussies only think of Asia as a stopover destination on the way to somewhere else, or as a cheap holiday to somewhere beautiful where they can get spoilt,' said Mi Mi.

‘And the Burmese military government has made it very difficult for people to enter our country, so the tourist trade is very weak. Also, The Lady has made it known that foreign visitors legitimise the junta, so she discourages tourism. So not many people come to Burma.' She paused. ‘You said that you have a kammavaca? May I see it? We had one made when my brother went into the monastery. He is still a monk; he enjoys the religious life. As I told you, the monks sheltered us when we were escaping the Burmese army. But I haven't heard from my brother in a long time.'

‘My kammavaca is on top of my desk, over there,' said Natalie.

Mi Mi picked up the little box and unrolled the kammavaca, studying it carefully. Eventually she looked at Natalie and smiled. ‘This is exquisite. Very unusual. What surprises me is the quality of the artwork. Burmese art tends to the religious and spiritual. It's not known for fine murals and frescoes. These little paintings are quite realistic. I feel that monastery must exist somewhere. Do you know where this came from?'

‘There's a bit of a story attached to it,' said Natalie and told Mi Mi the story of her great-great-uncle Andrew, the princess and the unscrupulous art dealer.

Mi Mi listened and when Natalie had finished she looked at the kammavaca again and said, ‘What a shame this has passed out of the royal family, but it's fortunate that it has been kept so carefully by your family.' She fingered the old manuscript carefully, looking at the beautiful work that had gone into making it. ‘I think the script is most likely prayers.' She folded it back up and returned it to its teak box. ‘Have you ever thought of contacting the royal family?'

Natalie raised her eyebrows. ‘I thought they were all dead. Didn't most of them die in exile in India?'

Mi Mi shook her head. ‘No, not at all. King Thibaw had children and grandchildren. The royal family was an extended one because King Thibaw had different consorts and their children had children. So there are many descendants. I actually know one of his granddaughters. She's quite a remarkable woman.'

As Mi Mi walked over to the desk to return the teak box to its place there was a clamour at the door. Mark called out as Charlotte and Adam dashed in, jumping on Natalie.

‘Hi, darling, Brad's just coming. We've been out entertaining the children. Are you okay?'

‘Actually, I'm feeling a bit fragile. I had a bit of a turn while I was handing out pamphlets for the Friends of Burma. Mark, this is Mi Mi, the friend I was telling you about. She drove me home in our car as I wasn't up to driving,' said Natalie. ‘I am so lucky she was there.'

‘That was kind of you, thanks.' Mark looked carefully at Natalie. ‘You still look a little peaky, Nat. Were you standing in the sun for hours or something?'

‘No, there was shade at the stand at Pacific Fair. I don't know what came over me. I hope it was a one-off,' sighed Natalie.

‘I'm sure it won't happen again,' said Mi Mi.

‘Mark, I showed Mi Mi the kammavaca and she told me that she knows a granddaughter of King Thibaw. Isn't that amazing?' said Natalie.

‘No kidding. But didn't the king die years ago?'

‘Yes,' replied Mi Mi. ‘In 1916, so his granddaughter is quite old, but she still, as you Australians say, has all her marbles. I'd better get back there and help them pack up. I'll ring for a taxi now.'

‘Don't worry about that. I'll drive you back to Pac Fair,' said Mark as Brad joined them. ‘Mi Mi, this is Brad, a friend from work. I'm driving Mi Mi back to Pacific Fair. Want to come for the ride? Right to go, Mi Mi?'

‘Yes, take it easy, Natalie. And thanks for your help today,' said Mi Mi.

‘I enjoyed myself. Thank you for looking after me and suggesting those classes.'

Natalie sat upright and stretched. It was wonderful having Mark home for a few days. After an hour sitting at the sewing machine running up curtains for the nursery, her back was aching. Natalie stood up and stretched, patting her ever-expanding belly. She made herself a cup of tea and checked her emails and was pleased to see a reply from the antique dealer in London.

Dear Mrs Cutler

Thank you for your enquiry. Your kammavaca is indeed interesting and appears to be of exceptional quality. As you are probably aware these sorts of manuscripts are still being made today on palm leaf. Taking your provenance at face value and without seeing the object myself, the best valuation would be between £800 and £1000, depending on its condition. My gallery is prepared to make such an offer to you.

I look forward to hearing from you.