Chapter 15

I started running in that direction and saw David moving that way, too. He was carrying our swords. As we neared each other, he tossed me mine. I shouted in a low voice, "Now, what?"

He replied, "I don't know but we will be ready to be leaders." He continued to look at me as I ran. "Very nice." He smiled and I noticed he was looking at my chest where my breasts were jiggling under the tee shirt and light vest that I was wearing. I grinned back at him.

Myra and Tom drove up to us in the Humvee and we jumped in. It was still a long way to the end of 34L. Our sentry down there said, "There is a pier and docking area to your left. The perimeter road gets close to it."

David said, "Roger, we're coming in the Humvee. Should we expect a problem?"

He was answered, "No, it's men and women and they are waving excitedly at us. We're waving back. No weapons are readied. It looks good."

"Very well. We'll be there in under a minute." Myra was driving and she was driving rapidly. She slowed to leave the asphalt and go across to the perimeter road before it split away to follow the land as it jutted out. We pulled up at the dock and David and I exited the Humvee to wait at the dock.

SJ came on and said,"You are too far for Duck to back you up. What should we do, Sis?"

"Nothing right now. We'll keep you in the loop. What do the locals think?"

Jacob came on. "They think it's the Aboriginals from southwest along the coast. They have friendly though distant relations with them."

David said, "Very well. All stations and everyone. Be vigilant but we will view this as friendly until 'proven' otherwise. David is clear."

Myra and Tom took up a covering position after we got out. Our sentry couple, Morgan and Ed James, joined us standing at the dock waiting. Morgan said, "They saw Ed and began waving. I came up beside him and they waved more. We have waved back."

Three large canoes came around to the pier and were expertly docked. Morgan and Ed took lines and helped tie them into place. I could easily tell that these were not store-bought vessels though some of the paddles looked to be plastic. The natives clamored out and were directed to us. I use the word natives because these were aboriginals. They showed friendly faces and the men were encumbered with women and children. An older man approached us and said, "We are told that you are the leaders of those who fly."

David said, "Yes, Sir. This is my wife, Roberta Lewis, and co-leader. I am David Lewis. We are glad to meet new people. We have come from the other side of the world to explore."

The old man said, "I am called Mandu. I am the first speaker of this group. My son is Taree and his wife is Loorea. We are pleased to meet you. You are not Australian?"

"No, we are Americans and were sent my our communities to explore and meet new people."

He said, "That is good. The Americans have always done things in the world."

David responded, "We will be glad to give you a tour of our plane and show what technology we have. We carry radios to connect people again."

"That would be good, David. I notice that you and your wife carry swords. Are they ceremonial or are you able to use them?"

David smiled one of his slow smiles. "Bobbi took hers from a man who challenged her when all she had was a knife. She beat him and took the sword barehanded. I used hers to defeat a different man who would have taken it. I kept his."

"You are both warriors." He bowed to us. His son and his daughter in-law bowed to us, too. We returned their bows gravely. By then, some of the others had arrived including Reggie and Mary and Jerold and May from Camden.

Jerold came up and bowed to Mandu and said, "Well met, Mandu. I am glad you came. I had left a message at the tree before I came here."

Mandu said, "G'day, Jerold, May, it is a pleasure to see you again. I hadn't been to the tree but saw the airplane circle and head this way. I gathered a few people and we came to investigate."

Jerold said, "They are good people, these Americans. However, they can be fierce. Bobbi sent Basil packing barehanded."

Mandu said, "That is good. As you know, Basil is not permitted on our lands." Jerold nodded.

Reggie said, "I didn't know that. Mandu, was he stopped before damage was done?"

"Yes, but we don't want a man like him on our lands. If he returns, we will make an example of him."

Reggie nodded. "He has been told the same for the airport. Bobbi insisted that he be banned or she would kill him."

Mandu said, "There are now a number of places where he may not roam."

I looked Mandu in the eye. "I would have killed him had I known the entire story of his actions."

He stared back and slowly smiled. "You may be a beautiful woman but you have a warrior's heart. I see it in your man, too." He bowed to me again and then embraced me. "We will adopt both of you into our tribe tonight. We will be honored to include you in the Wanegal clan of the Eora." He moved to David and embraced him, too.

Our Australians gaped at what was happening. Apparently, it was without precedent in their experience. I tried not to show my shock but it was equally without precedent in my experience, too!

David and I flanked him and David said, "We will be honored to be part of your people. May we show you some of our things?"

He said, "I look forward to learning about you. This evening, we will have a short ceremony to bring you both in as part of the Wanegal." We nodded and walked to the Humvee. There was room for us, Mandu, his son, and daughter in-law. Other vehicles were there to convey the rest of his people to the terminal area.

Once there, everyone piled out and mingled. Our people had not seen aboriginals before but we had always welcomed new friends. SJ and Jacob were introduced. Most of the Australians were known. To my surprise, Eddie and Minnie were known as was Sophie.

Loorea went up to Sophie and asked, "Where are your parents, Sophie? You shouldn't be off on your own."

"G'day, Loorea. They sent me with Bobbi and David to give me time to know George better."