Chapter 26

Sam adjusted his clothing and went outside to call Sydney.

“It’s me.”

“I guessed that. Are you home?”

“Yes. Tessa, the twins and Lily are in the house.”

“Did you dream?”

“Yes. It was quite mixed. Ambiguous isn’t quite right. I saw Lily as Benzaiten ... more like a Japanese statue than an Indian one. She had a white snake on her head.”

“Interesting. A dream about a white snake isn’t worrisome. It is a positive thing. In fact, dreams about snakes usually have positive meanings. White snakes stand for transformation, wisdom, intelligence, patience, and integrity.”

“Mine or hers?”

“It was your dream. In mine, I saw you content in Gabbaitch. But you had two wives, like the Dreamtime Bunjil. The Python and the Eagle sent you to various places. But they were all in the West, though some were in NT. I was told you would make me a many times grandfather.”

“Many?”

“Yes.”

“Two wives? Lily?”

“Possibly. Perhaps likely. What is she like?”

“Not tall. Maybe 150 cm. A bit over 40 kilo. Short dark hair. Oval face. Complexion similar to mum’s, lighter than Tessa.”

“What about her physique?”

“No idea. I’ve only see her fully clad. Her grandmother was a pearler, she doesn’t know who her father was. My guess is a European or a mixed-race Abo. She said that she’s still a virgin, but she seems eager to lose that distinction. She made her way across from near Broome by giving oral sex to lorry drivers. She didn’t see that as sex. Apparently, that’s what boys and girls in the home did. Same sex and inter-sex.”

“Makes sense and guarantees no unwanted pregnancies. And that American president said that oral sex wasn’t sex.”

“That’s what Lily said.”

“Well, after the two you mentioned in Timber Creek and the two in Gabbaitch, what are your thoughts?”

“Well, first she’s just over seventeen.”

“That makes her legal throughout Australia.”

“Tessa has been quite encouraging. And I have to admit that I’d be looking forward to it. I doubt whether anyone would think Lily a real beauty. She is tiny. But the great part is that, like the previous two, she wants me to be her first.”

“Previous two?”

“The other two were childless widows.”

“Right.”

“So what do you think?”

“I know of only one way to produce children. The python told me I’d be a multiple grandfather. The twins plus four would be six. That’s hardly many.”

“True.”

“If Tessa’s OK, I’d say go for it.”

“Thanks. Tell mum.”

Sam went back in. Lily and Tessa were still chatting. The infants were asleep.

“What did Patrick say?”

“The python told him that I would make him a grandfather many times.”

“Did you tell him about Lily?”

“Yes. He said that if you approve, to go for it.”

“Well, I approve.”

Lily threw herself at Sam, kissing him on the lips. “Goody, goody!”