Читать книгу The First Boomerang - Paul Bryden - Страница 9

Rob was soaking lazily in the spa bath after a busy day working in a native art gallery on East 57^th Street. Indulging like this was rare so he stretched out his long legs and relaxed completely. Suddenly a ringtone broke the silence, jolting him out of his watery bliss. Easing himself up he stepped out, dripping suds onto the marble tiles and picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

“G’day there. Is that you Rob? It’s Hugo catching up from Sydney.”

“Yes, Hugo. What a surprise. Great to hear your voice.”

“I’m really pleased you’re there Rob, and great to hear yours too. I did get your last email, but apologies, it’s been a while.”

“Yeah, for sure. But I understand. We all get busy.”

Rob Noble had been overseas for three years including the last four months in New York. The big city was fascinating but overwhelming, a total contrast to the vast emptiness of Patagonia and rugged terrain of Tierra del Fuego where he had recently been hiking. Rob and Hugo Ableford met in Australia five years earlier while bushwalking in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. Although not best friends they had a good personal rapport and shared a profound interest in Australia’s Aboriginal culture which transcended their age difference. Rob was thirty one and Hugo was sixty three.

“I’ve finally got that big trip to tell you about,” Hugo continued. “I’m taking a small group up the Tanami Track and into the Kimberley, then across to the Victoria River District in the Territory. We’ll record Rock Art, meet traditional owners, and be out bush for about a month. Are you still interested?”

A surge of adrenaline instantly transported Rob to the Outback’s rich red soil, endless wide horizons, and the vivid orange sunsets he loved so much. The spirit of that country meant everything to him. Painted and engraved figures on remote sandstone overhangs also flashed into mind, and he saw himself in the picture, reconnecting with Aboriginal culture.

“Yes! fantastic! Count me in!” Rob exclaimed. He was not going to miss this opportunity. “Give me the time and place and I’ll be there.”

“That’s great Rob, I knew you’d jump at the chance. We’re leaving from Alice Springs in sixteen days – that’s June 27^th. I know it’s short notice, but I’ll email all details including where we’re staying in town. How’s that sound?”

“Perfect Hugo, absolutely perfect. Thanks a million. Seeya later. Bye.”

Rob was ecstatic. He felt like running around the apartment, but sat on the edge of the spa trying to gather his racing thoughts. He had been dreaming about this for a long, long time. Now the desire to be there felt urgent. His love for Australia and Aboriginal culture lay deep in his bones and a rare chance to see Rock Art ‘face to face’ ignited both heart and soul.

Rob was well aware that a trip like this was not for the faint-hearted and home comforts would be left behind. The expedition would go far beyond the remotest towns on the map, on rugged dirt tracks or no tracks at all. But that was mere detail. He loved the bush. He was used to roughing it like he had just done in southern Chile and Argentina. But it wasn’t really roughing it. He enjoyed sleeping under the stars, much more than sleeping for too long in a big city apartment.

The Australian adventurer often day-dreamed about the Outback, especially when late Winter winds chilled Manhattan to its architectural bones and the snow in street gutters was crunched and blackened by constant traffic. Those were the times when Rob floated over vast red-brown landscapes in the ‘hot-air balloon’ of his imagination, marvelling at Ayers Rock (Uluru) and The Olgas (Kata Tjuta), two of the earth’s most compelling natural cathedrals. Still thinking non-stop, he wrapped a thick white towel around his waist and hurried to the bedroom to get dressed.

Rob was living with Clara Beaumont whom he’d met in Miami, Florida after arriving from South America and accepting her invitation to “come visit”. His feelings for Clara had developed quickly and he wanted to explain why the trip was so important without feeling guilty. Leaving her for a while would be hard, but he could not possibly miss this journey.

Clara was 5 feet 8 inches tall with dark eyes and long, straight black hair. Her good looks and warm heart typified her part-Chilean heritage, she had just turned thirty, and worked as a graphic designer in an advertising agency. Clara also freelanced her skills, completing projects for private clients, and rented the fifth floor apartment with the spa bath in midtown Manhattan.

Rob picked up the phone again and pressed a well-used contact.

“Hello sweetheart. Hope your work’s going well.”

“Yes honey, I’m busy but it sure is,” Clara replied.

“Listen, I’ve just had a call from Hugo, an old friend, and he’s invited me back home to join an Aboriginal Rock Art expedition.”

Rob heard Clara catch her breath as he continued. “I’ve got to meet them in Alice Springs in two weeks.” Sensing Clara’s anxiety he quickly added, “The expedition’s for four weeks and I’ll take a few days to catch up with old mates. I’ll be back in five weeks. It’ll go really fast.”

On the other end of the phone Clara was not convinced, but knew this was what Rob had been hoping for. “I’ve been dreading this call and I’ll miss you the whole time, but I know this is important to you. I can’t talk now honey. Let’s talk about it properly tonight,” she added affectionately.

“Okay, let’s do that. See you later. Love you.” Rob ended the call and took a deep breath, relieved that he had contacted Clara. He felt she did understand his desire to go, and would reluctantly give her blessing, and he admired her for that.

* * *

The thrilling long-distance call from Hugo reinvigorated Rob’s spirit. Years of imagining himself back in the Outback must have resonated in the Cosmos, and now the Universe had delivered.

Born in coastal Wollongong south of Sydney, Rob’s curious spirit compelled him to travel after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in which he majored in Oceania Anthropology. During 1991 he made the epic 3,000km train journey from Sydney to Perth on the “Indian-Pacific”, and explored Central Australia on a coach camping trip, his first in-depth experience of the Outback. Rob was inspired by the landscape’s raw, diverse beauty and the beliefs and stories of Aboriginal people. He felt connected spiritually to those worlds and knew he would return one day.

Rob was 6 feet 3 inches tall with broad shoulders and sandy-coloured hair, the product of an English-Scandinavian heritage. At university he won medals in Athletics and his stamina was a bonus when hiking in challenging conditions. His fascination with different cultures, customs and languages had taken him to many parts of the world. He made London home for a couple of years, working in various jobs and visiting regional museums, including the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, to view Aboriginal collections. It was surprising to him that so much material from Australia was hidden away in institutions, most not even having enough staff to catalogue the stored artefacts. Why don’t they send some of these precious items back to Australian Museums and Aboriginal Cultural Centres, he thought to himself at the time.

* * *

Aboriginal culture and its expressions in art, ceremony and daily life embrace the entire natural world, including stars and planets. Hundreds of clans speaking their own traditional languages occupied diverse climatic regions throughout Australia and adapted successfully. Across the Outback, where Winter temperatures can range from below freezing to 30 degrees Celsius in the same day, Rob would feel at home again. He had a keen interest in the links between Aboriginal life and the Cosmos, a perfect theme to pursue under Australia’s diamond-studded skies.

Rob could now give his imagination wings and explore canvasses of sky and earth called home by Aboriginal clans. He would walk the same country and feel the vibrations of Ancestors peering out from their resting places in the landscape. He would learn about Songlines, see where the Rainbow Serpent travelled, and watch stars and constellations sparkle into life as day turned into night.

Rob was totally thrilled. He had been offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help record the oldest art in the world, and as a result learn more about culture from local Aboriginal people he would meet in remote communities. The Universe had heard his heart calling.

* * *

Over the next week Rob prioritised his list of tasks. He first completed his bookings on American Airlines to Los Angeles and Qantas to Sydney, Ayers Rock Resort and Alice Springs.

Rob then turned his attention to clothing and equipment. He knew how to travel light, and unless going to extreme locations, the same range of gear suited most conditions in most places. The key was to dress in layers, adding or taking off when wind and temperatures changed. The gear he used in the southern Andes in late Summer and early Autumn would be similar for Australia’s Outback Winter. He packed his favourite pair of charcoal-coloured hiking shorts, two pairs of khaki long pants that zippered off at the knees to convert to shorts, one pair of running tights for extra cold days, and high quality walking boots with vibram soles and leather uppers for easy cleaning. Also, two vests and tee-shirts, two long-sleeved shirts, a rainproof, waist-length red and green jacket, and a thin but tough orange plastic poncho to cover body and backpack if caught in the rain, was all he needed.

Rob’s other gear was just as important, especially because he would be recording at Rock Art sites. He made sure his still camera and camcorder were clean and ready to shoot vast and varied landscapes, sunsets and sunrises, time-lapse star trails and engraved and painted images on stone surfaces. He checked all batteries, made sure he had the correct adaptors for Australia’s 240 volt electricity supply, finally double-checking his laptop which he used for emailing and storing files of research notes.

Clara had projects on the go but arranged some time off so they could be together before departure day. Rob particularly wanted to see the Hayden Planetarium again and because it was close to Central Park they planned to combine the two venues.

Occupying a part of the American Museum of Natural History the Hayden Planetarium is a beacon for lovers of the Cosmos. Rob and Clara hailed a yellow taxi outside her apartment building, and after a direct but lengthy drive uptown, enjoyed two virtual hours beyond earth, marvelling at nebulae, galaxies and constellations that dwarf our blue planet.

They followed these spectacular journeys in the cosmic wonderland with a walk in Central Park, holding hands playfully and admiring trees and gardens that provide oxygen to a hectic and non-stop Manhattan metropolis.

At the end of the day they returned to the apartment a little tired but happy and sat together sipping a favourite wine and talking about Rob’s plans and hopes for his trip. He was excited by the prospects, yet also feeling very relaxed at this stage of the day and shared a personal story with Clara.

“I’ve had a recurring dream for years now, even once down in Tierra del Fuego. It always involves an Aboriginal elder handing me a sacred object called a tjurunga or churinga, as part of my initiation into manhood. I’ve never told anyone. You’re the first to know.”

“Thanks honey, that’s real special,” Clara said, squeezing his arm as they snuggled closer on a cosy, fashionable lounge.

“The other part is quite gruesome because the elder and other men use sharp pieces of quartz to cut lines into my chest and upper arms. It hurts like hell, but I’m not allowed to scream, and blood flows everywhere. I usually wake up when the pain really bites. But overall it’s positive, because I feel I belong.”

“That’s so powerful Rob. Is it the same elder each time?”

“His face is never clear, but I think so because his voice is always the same.”

“That helps me understand why you’ve talked so much about Aboriginal culture. You’re so deeply connected. Now I really get your excitement for the trip.”

Rob was happy and relieved that Clara fully realised how important the trip was to him. They hugged and kissed the long kiss of lovers who have just reached a new level of understanding. Clara had learned more about Rob, and he felt more deeply appreciated. Their last night together was a beautiful, intimate expression of how much closer they had become.

* * *

The next morning arrived too quickly and Clara was trying to keep the mood light-hearted as they said their farewells at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

“Does the water really flow down the plug hole the opposite way Down Under?” She asked without any enthusiasm. They had both been quiet during the taxi ride out to the airport and Rob knew that Clara was close to tears.

“As long as I’ve got enough water to drink on the expedition, I don’t care which way it goes!” Rob chuckled weakly.

They kissed and held each other tightly. Rob responded warmly but his mind was already speeding through visions of Outback landscapes, his anticipation beginning to burn inside as he added, “You know, I might even find that Aboriginal elder! Wouldn’t that be fantastic. See you later sweetheart.”

“Bye honey, take care,” Clara replied, tears now visible on her cheeks. She clung to his outstretched hand and brought it up to her lips for a final kiss.

Then he was gone. Through the main entrance of the customs section, on his way to Australia with mixed feelings about leaving Clara behind, but barely containing his excitement about the adventure that lay ahead.