Protection and Preservation, Book 10
Chapter 21

Copyright© 2015 by radio_guy

Other than that one incident, our time at Cairns was peaceful. We wound up staying two days and did go out to the beaches. We shocked a number of the local folk, male and female. They did get over it but many eyes followed us as we went in and out of the water. I noticed that David caught some looks from a number of the women including Ian's wife, Nancy. George and Trina were watched by everyone. They look so amazingly beautiful.

Only once was the good time marred. David and I were about fifty feet behind them when leaving the beach. Two guys in their late teens were following the two but were close to us. One said, "I heard she has Abo blood."

The other said, "That makes her fair game for anyone."

I'm not sure what else they may have said but David grabbed each by a shoulder and spun them around. He said, "My wife is pure Aborigine. Why don't you try something with us?"

I'm glad David said something because I was going to kick their asses into the next century. Both began stammering.

David cut in. "The young man is my ward and under our protection. The young lady is treasured by both of us. We would take it as a personal insult if you said anything further to anyone. We might even decide to try you two on if you stay around the camp.

One said, "You can't stop us from going to the beach."

I stepped into his face and said, "Which arm?"

"What do you mean?"

"You have that nice, big knife and I'm unarmed. However, I'm going to break your arm. Which one?"

He said, "Look, lady. We didn't say anything to you or about you."

I responded, "You insulted a valued member of our group. That will cost you a broken arm. Which one?"

"Left."

I hit him as hard in that arm as I had ever hit anyone. It was easy to hear the snap. I said, "Tell people that you made a disparaging comment about an American and got caught."

The two of them left. We never saw them again either. The next day, Ian and Nancy approached us. Ian said, "I understand that one of our young men said something out of line."

I said, "That's true. He paid the price. Ian, it's okay to look but, when you comment, you have to be careful. Those two were building up to rape. If we had waited, there would have been a tragedy and they would have died."

Nancy said, "That's harsh."

I said, "It is but it's real. We officially got over prejudice before the Day. One of the heroes in the establishment of Protection was a black preacher. Many people have been named for him. Color isn't important. Character is and those two didn't show any."

David said, "Our position won't bend. Should we leave you to your situation?"

Ian said, "That sounds like you would just bail on our town over two knot heads."

I said, "If you plan to protect them or further the kind of thinking that they espoused, that is correct. We will."

Nancy said, "We would have to talk this over."

David said, "We understand. No problems."

They went one way and we went another. I looked at David and asked, "Gather the troops?"

"Yes. Just having to talk over a prejudice is more than I want to stomach. Those two would have caused our two lovers physical and emotional damage and might have had help. We go."

We quietly gathered everyone and carpooled out to the Duck. We had the last group and were shackling down the Humvee when Ian and Nancy and two other couples came galloping to the Duck.

Ian asked, "What are you doing?"

I said, "We're leaving. We didn't need to talk to anyone or get any approval. We are moving on. Good luck."

Nancy said, "We decided you were right."

I said, "That's good. We can be in touch by radio. Good bye." The ramp was lifting. David grabbed my hand and pulled me into the back of Duck. They backed off as the engines cranked. We took off for our next stop though I was ready for Sydney. We landed at Goldcoast Airport. We took a poll of our party. Everyone was ready to go to Sydney. We took off without further delay and landed again at Sydney. Taree and Jerold were waiting when we landed.

We came off the plane and hugged the two men. Trina came off last with George. Taree bowed to them. "You are even more beautiful than my wife predicted. You are truly Alina Pangari." Trina gave him a hug.

Jerold said, "Blimey. Taree is so very right. It is a pleasure to welcome you to Sydney, Miss Trina."

Trina gave Jerold a hug. "Take her back, George. I'm too old a man for her!" Everyone laughed. "Truly, Miss Trina. I look forward to attending your wedding with May. You two make a wonderful couple."

It was late in the afternoon. Everyone including Taree and Jerold spent the night in the terminal. I noticed as I had before that Trina slept next to but not with George. Once asleep, they didn't move but held hands all night.

Early the next morning, I woke up to a noise of someone crying. Sophie was standing before them crying. I went to her and gently guided her away from the sleeping couple. She calmed. "That could have been me, Bobbi. I blew it. I wasn't honest to George and didn't respect him enough."

"Sophie, sometimes things aren't meant to be."

She nodded. "I know now that it could have been. I knew what George was like but I didn't think through what that truly meant. I have always gotten what I wanted from men. George walked away from me."

I said, "You seemed happy with Ted."

"Ted was just casual. I sent him away and haven't seen him since the Duck left me here."

"Sophie, I don't know what to say but George has found someone who loves him and who he loves. He will marry her tonight at Mandu's camp. I will be there to celebrate their joy." She nodded and left quietly.

[Ed. Note: I didn't find what I had hoped to find on an Australian Aboriginal marriage ceremony. I made most of this up. Be nice.]

Taree took George and Trina with him. He allowed David and I to go with them for George. Earl and May came for their daughter. The rest of our expedition would join for the ceremony this evening. While riding with Jerold, I was told that many from their communities would be present. George was popular in his own right but was also our ward which enhanced his standing.

 
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