Donovan remembered all too well how his friend had given up his sacred heirloom for his protection.
“Thanks, but it belongs to the Bunitji’s. I didn’t do anything. You showed me the way and that’s how I made it,” he replied.
Neji placed his hand on Donovan’s shoulder. “We made it into manhood together,” he smiled. “That makes us one in the same. Brother’s remember?”
Donovan graciously accepted the spear and took his friend over to the assortment of wooden bats for the game.
“I bet one of these would come in handy if you ever get bored out there.., in the great empty,” he smiled.
“Yeah, mate,” Neji accepted. “We all got to take time for some fun now and then. But to tell you the truth, it’s not so empty out there.”
“Yeah, I know,” Donovan smiled with a full heart.
“Batter up,” yelled Yancey.
All of the men were divided into teams and arranged into position.
Elizabeth stood on the sidelines and cheered for Donovan, hardly removing her eyes from his cherished blonde head.
Viola pushed doll carriages with Marcy on the patio, glad that her brother had outsmarted the crocodiles.
All the while Preston reclined under an umbrella covered chase lounge, sipping iced tea and thinking what a strange turn of events had made them a family again. He watched the multicultural game of rugged masculinity as he reflected over the past.
In the thirty long years that he had served the Winthrop’s, he couldn’t remember seeing them so happy just being together. And to think, he had played no small part in it.
With a lazy smile he mumbled, “I might be an old cockney, but I still gots me wits about me.”
Then leaning back further, he pulled the gray cap over his eyes and sighed, “Even if it does require a little snooze now and then.”
Chapter Twenty Four
It was as busy as it had been five days before, but the Darwin International Airport seemed as good a place as any to say good-bye.
“Come ‘ere little brother,” Yancey gruffed, as he pulled Allister into a bear hug. It had been years since the two had actually embraced, but the simple sincerity of the gesture seemed to settle a lot of things that time hadn’t managed to heal.
“Can’t say that we’re going to be back any time soon, but we will keep in touch. Won’t we?” Allister remarked on the sly.
Yancey raised his furrowed brow as he teased, “I’ll have to ponder that one,” waving his hand in a deep laugh. “Nah, you can trust me. I’m an honest Joe even if my last name is Winthrop. I’ll make a good first for ya,” he nudged him in the shoulder.
“All right then,” Allister smiled, as he rubbed the bruise.
Everyone else exchanged their parting words as the flight was announced overhead, anxious to resume life back to normal again.
The land looked a lot different leaving than coming in. It wasn’t just a patch of coastal scenery that disappeared beneath him. There were mountains of rock with water rushing off the cliffs, wild green plains with kangaroos running free, and dark caverns where the soul got locked away somewhere in the wee hours of the Dreamtime.
It was life at its most primitive, and yet so painful that it left an unforgettable impression upon the solid places of his heart. He wasn’t leaving behind just another world, but a way of life, complete in its natural form, and yet contained by no man. And even though the wounds he had suffered were inflicted deep, Donovan knew that he was somehow better for having lived it.
As he leaned across the belly that had covered his arm rest just days before, he realized that the old man had lost some weight. He looked up at him with a perspective grin, and then pressed his nose against the glass to catch one last glimpse of the land that was fading from view.
“We’ve both changed this time around,” commented Preston.
Donovan remained fixed on what was below and held firm to what was inside.
“A well polished coin for your thoughts,” the guardian smiled, glad to have the troublesome lad at his side once again.
“Sorry, old fellow,” he replied with all sincerity, “I’m afraid they’re not for sale.” There was quiet satisfaction.
Chapter Twenty Five
With a swirl of his pen the contract was signed. Now all Dillinger had to do was to come by and pick up the papers. Allister placed the pewter pen back into the marbled holder. It was one of too many things that had belonged to his father, including the burgundy leather chair that hunched his shoulders. He looked around the library at the thousands of books and inanimate objects. It seemed ironic the manner of things that fathers left behind to be remembered by.
He reached for the extravagant paperweight that had sealed the loose pages to the desk, a gold vintage coin encased in glass. Then he turned it to catch the light coming through the octagonal window, and said to himself, “What shall it profit a man.., and what shall he give in exchange?”
Meanwhile, the mayhem in Donovan’s bedroom was somewhat chaotic. He was feeling much the rebellious sort, with his hair wet and in a disheveled upward rant, as he jerked his body about the room while dancing to a punk rock band. There was a knock at the door, but he didn’t hear it and kept on dancing. Miss Lucia opened the door and was amused to see him carrying on in such a fashion, although she was used to it. His tee-shirt was drenched in sweat and he looked at her with a grin and motioned for her to join in.
She walked over somberly and then began to dance around with him. He kept up the pace as though he was used to it, glad that she was joining him, but not the least bit surprised. Eventually though, she danced her way towards the stereo and turned the sound down before she stopped.
“What’d you do that for?” he protested.
“Your father would like to see you in his study,” she insisted with a smile.
“What for?” he asked, as though bothered by the request.
“I don’t know, but suppose you’ll just have to find out for yourself,” she added and walked back towards the door.
“As long as you’ll walk with me there,” he grinned, “so I don’t forget the way.” He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his shirt and went along beside her, with his head reaching the top of her shoulders. Then he placed his arm around her waist as they left the room. She started to pull away, but decided to let him have his fun.
“You know I’m a man now,” he said on the sly. “And I’ll soon be taller than you.”
She glanced down to him and smiled, “Seems you’ve still got a lot of growing up to do. In the meanwhile, I’ll take it as a compliment that you are so smitten with me.”
He arched his eyebrows at her with a grin as they continued down the hallway, and purposely slipped his hand from her waist and onto her backside. She stopped at once, pushed his hand away, and pointed her finger in his face.
“Let’s not get carried away now. I still haven’t forgiven you yet,” she reprimanded. “By the way, whatever happened to that picture? It seemed to have disappeared as soon as you gave it to me?”
“I don’t know what you mean?” he lied. “Maybe it will pop up when you least expect it.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” she hissed at him again.
However, it didn’t seem to put a damper on his spirits. “There are other ways that I can woo you,” he added with a confident grin again. “I’ll not give up until I have you for my own.”
“Oh bother,” she huffed in an exasperating way when they met the entrance to the library. Then she knocked twice, opened the door, and announced him in. Then she slipped away with a wink to him and went about her duties.
Donovan’s expression was filled with intrigue and pride.
Allister waved to his son and motioned for him to have a seat on a leather sofa in front of the window.
“Come on in, my boy,” he said.
“What’s up, Father?” he asked, and assumed he might be in trouble.
Allister returned the paperweight to its resting place on top of the contract and suggested calmly. “I thought we would simply go for a stroll around the grounds. Care to go riding?”
“Sure,” Donovan shrugged his shoulders. “We haven’t been on the horses in a while.”
His father seemed amused by the response, but for an unknown reason. Then he changed the subject and asked. “How would you feel about taking an actual vacation somewhere together sometime soon? We haven’t actually done that in a while. We could do something with a sense of adventure for a change.”
Donovan’s interest was peaked. “That sounds awesome, but where would we go?” he asked.
“Oh, we’ve plenty of time to decide that. Why, we could go climb the great mountain Machu Picchu for an Inca trail experience, or we could take a trip on the Orient Express. The possibilities are endless really. I’d say let’s put our heads together and decide,” he added.
Donovan looked curious, as if there was more to the situation. “It sounds great, but why the change all of a sudden? What are we doing besides?” he asked.
Allister gave a confident smile when he said, “We’re just going to take some time to enjoy life for a while. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Oh no,” he answered. “But do we have to take Mother and Viola with us?”
“That’s yet to be determined,” he replied. “We can’t leave them out of everything, but we’ll include them when the time is right.”
“Sounds perfectly awesome. Can’t wait,” Donovan snapped his fingers as if there was rhythm in the air.
Then Allister walked over and opened a tall cabinet door that was attached to some book shelves and removed two old leather bomber jackets with colorful air patches on them.
“Whoa,” Donovan jumped up and went to inspect them. “These are so cool. Where’d you get them?”
Allister smiled, “Believe it or not, these belonged to my father and I. We wore them when we would go flying together.”
“But Dad,” Donovan replied wearily. “You don’t know how to fly a plane,” there was nervousness in his tone.
“Well, perhaps we’ll put them to another use. I’ve got a surprise in the garage. Come along and let’s see” he pulled his jacket on, and nodded for Donovan to do the same.
A few minutes later and they were in the six stall garage, with an assortment of cars and a boat. However, Allister walked around a corner, where some boxes were stacked high and what met Donovan’s wide expression was a classic vintage chocolate brown and tan Goulding LS 29 motorcycle with a sidecar attached.
He shook his head in disbelief. “You mean we’re going to ride this?”
“Well it would be a lot more fun than standing around and staring at it, don’t you think?” his father laughed.
“But do you actually know how to ride it?” questioned Donovan, as he was already getting into the sidecar.
Allister handed Donovan a pair of goggles, and he strapped on a pair as well, and then took a black helmet from a shelf and gave it to him to put on.
“I’d say today is as good a day as any to learn,” he grinned and swung his leg over the seat, before starting the engine. Then he popped a red button on the wall next to him and the garage door raised open.
“By the way son,” Allister added as he revved the engine some more. “That man with the corks, he didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“Oh, no,” Donovan shook his head and was eager to get the show on the road. “I didn’t let him.”
“You know what we’ll be doing next?” he questioned.
“No, what?” asked Donovan.
“We’re going to take some real swords and do some fencing. And we’re going to learn how to fight like men,” he replied.
“Alright! This is getting good!” Donovan shrugged with an off-handed laugh. “But what are you saying? That we’re not already men?”
“Why, heavens no! Of course, we’re men, you silly goob! I’m just saying that we can become better men. That’s all!” he answered.
Donovan nodded in agreement. “This is getting better all the time! Let the games begin!”
Then Allister revved the engine again and they were off, somewhat unsteady at first as they inched out over the cobblestone street, but then managed to even out the glide once they met the pavement of the street.
From the backdrop of the estate was a perfect view of the green fields and stable, and beyond that an open road with the wind behind them.
About the Author
Anita Melillo lives in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, Tony. Together they have two grown children and two others in different stages of growing independence. In addition to writing, she has a nursing career, and both she and her husband are volunteer Firefighters in the town they reside in. Anita also has a great love for nature, off-roading on forest trails, motorcycle riding with her spouse, and enjoys traveling. One of her greatest passions in life has always been writing.
Her inspiration for writing, “The Great Empty,” came when her children were young, along with her love for exploring the outdoors. A sequel to “The Great Empty” will be forthcoming entitled, “Villages North of Here”.
She has also written another fictional novel, entitled, “Ford at Valverde,” a civil war era adventure, and is currently working on a psycological suspense thriller.
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