Page 41

L ucy woke first the next morning. She lay recalling what had happened the previous night, unable to wipe the smile from her lips. Sebastian lay on his side, facing her, to her right. The bed clothes had fallen partly aside, and she lightly traced the scars on his chest.

He opened his eyes. “Morning, sweetheart,” he whispered.

“Hello,” she replied shyly. “I fell asleep.”

He grinned at her. “I noticed.”

“What are these?”

She ran a finger along some of the scars.

“Got them when I was sixteen. Long story.”

“Tell me.” She added, “Please.”

“My parents were living in Darwin.” He replied softly.

“My mother’s people, the Warlpiri , live around the Tanami desert in the Northern Territory.

During school holidays, I would stay with the mob, with my grandfather, and my aunts and uncles.

My grandfather insisted I learn their language as well as the oral traditions.

Because I was sixteen, I was a ‘clean-skin’, an uninitiated boy.

I couldn’t participate in a lot of tribal activities as I held no totemic responsibilities.

I felt like I was an outsider with my mother’s family even though they treated me as a son.

“Anyway, Grandfather brought it up. Talked about scarification and its meaning, so I wanted it done. At the same time, because I’d been circumcised as a baby, I accepted that I should have the septum in my nose pierced like all the other circumcised boys in the tribe.

Once I accepted and it was done, I was formally given weapons and could see my first Dreaming ceremonies. ”

“What’s that?”

“Our creation stories, cultural values, and social structures. Our Ancestral Spirits created life, the world and the Earth. The Dreaming, Jukurrpa , explains the workings of nature and peoples, the origin of the universe. Everything we need to live in harmony is handed down through Dreaming—our stories, our art, ceremonies, and songs.”

Lucy noticed a funny little grin on his face.

“I didn’t tell my parents what we’d planned.”

“You didn’t? Oh hell, were they angry?”

“It was the Christmas holidays when the ceremony was held. I stayed with Grandfather for the four weeks of the New Year and it was done on the first week. So by the time I came home, it was too late to do anything. It was a done deal. The scars had almost healed. Any earlier and they could have been cleaned out. They still would have scarred a little, but they wouldn’t be raised and noticeable like they are.

They would have eventually faded out. My father had a fit, but my mother was proud of my decision. In the end, so was Dad.”

“Did it hurt?”

“Bloody hell yeah!” He snorted. “My grandfather used a sharp rock to cut my skin. After, he rubbed ash into the wounds with sticks to make a permanent raised scar. The sticks stay there as each cut healed. My nose was pierced at the same time.” He grinned at Lucy wickedly.

“The scars and the nose are both supposed to make me more attractive as well.”

Lucy stifled a laugh, but as she ran her hands over the marks, she came to the realization they did make him more attractive. They were an integral part of Sebastian. They were who he was and without them, he would be a much different man.

“Are you happy you did it?”

“Yep. Like I said before, I love my heritage. I love my people.”

“So now you’re officially able to participate in stuff?”

“Yes. My grandfather told me he’d discovered through a Dreaming that my life was intended to help the tribe, and also all First Nations people.

That’s another reason why I joined the Outreach group.

I guess you may have noticed there are a few Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples staff in the night club and the restaurant.

You said your son-in-law’s a police officer? ”

“Yes, he’s here at Katoomba.”

“We have a lot of officers from the area that help with it, too. We try to work with the police. Try to get jobs, help out with housing. Somehow sort out problems with the police before they become major. Try to make sure none end up caught on drugs or in the alcohol hell.”

“I bet your grandfather would be very proud of you.”

“I think he was. He’s passed now, but he knew I took my responsibilities very seriously. I try and visit the mob, my relations, a few times a year. Jack loves it there.”

“How do they take your relationship?”

“Not good in the beginning, but they’ve slowly come around. Jack has a skin name now. They wanted him to pierce his nose and get scarred, but he politely declined.”

Lucy jumped as Jack spoke from behind her.

“Too much pain for my liking.” He kissed her shoulder. “Morning, Lou.” Then he stretched over to kiss Sebastian good morning.

Lucy said hello then looked back at Sebastian. “What’s a skin name?”

“It defines where you are in the tribe. When you have a skin name, a nyiya-nyiya, everyone knows who you are in relation to everyone else. When you know a person’s skin name, then you know if they are your uncle, your cousin, your mother, or from another family group.

You know immediately who’s related to who.

As well, you know a person’s heritage, know if you could marry them, or if they were cousins.

“My skin name is Jungarrayi and Jack is Jakamarra .

“We also have secondary names. There is great respect attached to names. We never say the name of a person who has passed this world, no matter how long ago. Even if we have songs with that person’s name in them, we have to omit that line.”

“Why is that? Is it a form of respect?”

“A bit, but also because it will disturb their spirit or prevent it from leaving the world safely.”

“So you never say your grandparents’ names or your mother’s?”

“Never, nor do we look at a photograph.”

“I think I understand, and I’ve seen warnings on television that images of people who have passed will be shown.”

“Yes, it’s good they warn us.”

Lucy was grateful Sebastian liked her enough to share his history. “This is fascinating! I love learning all about it.”

“You’ll have to come with us next time we visit. It’s amazing and my family are wonderful. You’d like them.”

“I’d love it!”

“Come on, time to get up. You shower first, Lou. Jack can fix us breakfast.”

“I can, can I?” Jack laughed. He jumped out of bed and bowed. “Yes, my master.”

“Oh, you’re pushing it, sunshine. Can’t think how many punishments you just racked up.”

Jack just laughed. He turned, wiggled his butt at them, and walked naked from the room.

A few minutes later, he was back with Lucy’s clothes which he put in the bathroom for her.

When he came out, he threw Lucy a towel so she could wrap it around herself.

She was grateful as she wasn’t used to wandering around naked like these two did.

After her shower, she walked into the kitchen where Jack worked and laughed.

He had an apron on but was still naked.

He snickered. “Don’t want to burn anything important.”

Sebastian banged on the wall so Jack left the kitchen, pecking on Lucy’s cheek as he went by.

Ten minutes later, they were all in the kitchen. Lucy sat on the kitchen bench after Sebastian lifted her onto it. It was a relaxed atmosphere as Jack organized their meal. Once he’d finished, they sat around the table to eat.

“You missed dessert last night, Lucy, or rather you were it. I’ll put them in a container and you can have them another time.”

Lucy blushed but thanked him.

Lucy thought Sebastian was attempting not to laugh at her embarrassment. He clamped his lips together with a huge smile on his face. “Love the way you blush, Lou. It’s so sexy.”

That caused her to go even redder, which made both men grin.

“You said you like bush-walking, Lucy.”

“Yes, although I’m not very fit at the moment.”

“We thought a walk through the bush near the Three Sisters might be nice this afternoon.”

“Okay. As long as you don’t attempt the Giant Stairway! I’d need an escalator to do those eight hundred or so steps.”

The men roared with laughter.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, we won’t subject you to that yet. Thought we could ride down the scenic railway and wander around.”

Lucy gave an exaggerated sigh of relief and pretended to wipe her forehead. “Had me worried for a minute, guys.”

“But we will do it, maybe in six months or so. When you think you’re ready to tackle it.”

She looked at Jack critically. “How much can you lift?” She pointed at him. “You’ll be giving me a piggyback.”

“I’m sure that could be arranged, Lou.”

Lucy noticed that both men had taken to calling her Lou when they didn’t call her ‘sweetheart’ or ‘darling’ and she smothered a grin.

Jack had an appointment at ten with a prospective client so Sebastian drove Lucy home.

He lifted her hand, kissed it, and put it on his leg while he drove.

Lucy loved it. Since talking to him this morning and learning about his life, she felt closer to him.

It was as if she’d delved into those hidden pools a little, and she liked what she was learning very much.

When they reached her house, he unlocked the door for her and arranged to pick her up early in the afternoon.

They had decided to definitely go bush-walking.

The kiss he gave her at the door was smoldering, making her cling to him breathlessly, her legs suddenly weak.

She was awashed with her emotions. Lust, excitement, and tiny tendrils of love—all worked their way into her heart.

“Lucy, you’re amazing. I’d better go before I end up dragging you upstairs. I’ve got to get back and get Jack. Otherwise, I would.”

She looked up at him . So he felt it, too.

“I can see what you’re thinking, Lou. I feel so excited. This is special. I just know it is.”