My mind went back in time. I was seeing Commonwood House again.
Adeline, looking through the window at the station fly, looking for Miss Carson; Estella, with that air of “I am not afraid’, which betrayed so clearly that she was. It was all hazy, part of a vague, unreal period. Everything would be very different now.
He did not wait for me to answer, but went on: “No, perhaps it would not be a good idea to go back now. We could get a place in Sydney.
Right on the harbour, where we could watch the ships come in. That would be best. “
“It sounds wonderful.”
“As for home-well, that was a long time ago, wasn’t it?”
“It would be strange to go back to Commonwood.”
“Oh, not Commonwood! It would be quite different there.” He was frowning.
“No, no. It will be that place on the harbour. Or, if we did go home because home always has a certain pull, you know I fancy a little place in Devon. On the coast … the home of the great Drake.
Somewhere near the Hoe. Or perhaps Cornwall. Well, the choice will be ours. From Land’s End to John o’Groats. “
“It will be wonderful to plan.”
“Carmel, I’m sorry. It could have been different. In the beginning, I mean. A nice home … with parents.”
“I have my parent.”
“I was thinking of your mother. She would have liked to have you with her. Well, it happened the way it did. She thought it was the best for you.”
“That was what Miss Carson said.”
“Miss … ? Oh, you mean …”
“She said that, soon after she came to the house. I wonder what happened to her? She was a lovely person.”
“How can we know?” he said.
“Anyway, it was all a long time ago.”
He was silent for a few seconds, frowning and staring ahead.
Then he said: “I saw your mother not very long ago. She wanted to hear all about you.”
“You saw her in England?”
“Yes. It would be good if you could see each other. Perhaps you will one day. I don’t see why not.”
“I remember her so well in Rosie Perrin’s caravan.”
“Yes. She told me about the meeting. She was most taken with you.”
“It must be strange to meet one’s own daughter for the first time when she is quite old.”
“Strange things happen in the world. We’ve got the whole world before us now, Carmel.”
I nodded dreamily.
No, I shall never forget the perfection of that night. I have often since felt that it is perhaps dangerous to be as happy as I was then, and it may be such perfect happiness is doomed not to last.
It was two days later. We lay off the island of Mahoo. I had awakened early and looked through my porthole window, and there it was-the perfect desert island, lush and green in that pellucid sea, palm trees swaying in the breeze, native huts scattered around the shore, and little boats rather like canoes coming out to the ship.
Toby had said that we should be too big to get close in to the island and it would mean anchoring just about half a mile offshore, and going in on the launches. First the cargo which was being taken to the island would be unloaded and taken ashore, and then we ourselves could follow.
While I was on deck watching the unloading of the cargo, he joined me for a moment.
“You and I will go ashore together. There’ll be something of a ceremony. I shall rub noses with the Chief and I shall introduce you to him. You will be amused.”
“How interesting!” I cried.
“I often think how lucky I am to have a sea captain for a father. How many people can travel the world and in such a way?”
He kissed the tip of my nose.
“You haven’t seen anything yet,” he said.
“Now, I must leave you. I just thought I’d have a quick word.”
Yes, I was indeed perfectly happy.
Toby and I were taken ashore with the Chief Officer and two of his men. As the launch scraped on the sand, we disembarked in about a foot of water and were immediately surrounded by naked children, all shrieking at the top of their voices.
They were welcoming us to their island.
Two formidable-looking men stepped forward and threw flowers, made into necklaces, about our necks. Toby saluted in acknowledgement, which made the children rock about with mirth.
Then the two men who had presented us with the flowers walked on either side of us. They were naked from the waist up, and the garments they wore were made of animal skins and feathers. The feathers had been dyed red and blue. The men had frizzy hair which stood out round their heads and in it they wore bone ornaments. They carried spears: and, but for the flowers and the giggling children, I should have felt like a captive.
Toby glanced at me and gave me a reassuring wink.
“The usual welcome,” he said.
“I’ve done it all before. They know me for a friend. The next step in the proceedings is presentation to the Great Chief.”
We walked up the gentle incline, the children surrounding us, laughing and shouting to one another: and there, in the clearing, the ceremonial greeting took place.
I saw the Chief at once. He was seated on what might be called a throne. It was indeed ornate. It looked most imposing, decorated with flowers and the skins of animals. Above it had been fixed a very fierce-looking mask. The mouth was a snarl and the expression menacing. It was bigger than the Chief’s face and he was a very big man. He wore about his shoulders a cloak of feathers blues, greens and red in colour. On either side of him stood two very large men with spears.
Toby stepped up to the Chief and bowed. The Chief inclined his head but did not rise.
Toby said something and the man who had taken him up to the Chief spoke too. The Chief listened. Then he stood up. The feather cloak fell from his shoulders, exposing bare flesh like shining ebony. Toby went close to the Chief, who seized him by the shoulders and brought their faces close together. This was what Toby called rubbing noses.
Some words were spoken. Then Toby turned to me and held out his hand.
I found myself looking into the large black eyes of the Chief. He had to stoop low to be on a level with me as his hands pressed on my shoulders and, for a moment, I felt as though I were being drawn away from all that was familiar into a different world as I stared into those pools of darkness. It was an uncanny sensation. Then I felt his nose touch mine. For a few seconds it moved gently. Then I was released.
I said to myself: So they really do touch noses. And then I felt normal again.
We were seated beside the Chief and Toby summoned the other sailors to come forward. They carried boxes which they had brought ashore. These were opened and revealed certain gifts for the Chief. The children crept closer and there were gasps of pleasure and excitement. There were trinkets of all kinds, and all the spectators, including the
Chief, regarded them with wonder. The object which aroused the most excitement and appreciation was a mouth organ. Toby played a tune on it, which sent the watching crowd wild with delight.
The gifts were, of course, a token of our friendship, and there must be a return of such tokens. A ceremonial presentation followed when the Chief placed a necklace of bone about Toby’s neck. Then I realized that I was to have one too, for I was the Captain’s daughter and to honour me was to honour the Captain.
The Chief himself placed it round my neck, and again those dark eyes looked deep into mine as though to read my thoughts. I hoped he could not. I was merely hoping that he would not touch my nose with his. He did, however, and then, holding my shoulders, looked deep into my eyes before releasing me.
Then we sat down and several of the warriors were presented to my father; and others came forward to perform some of their native dances, which were mainly stamping on the ground with their feet in what appeared to be a warlike manner, and uttering what I presumed to be battle cries. I was relieved that we were friends and not enemies.