CHAPTER NINETEEN

The prosperity of Jarrah knew no bounds, as the boom in the colony continued to defy economic reality. The yard now employed well over a hundred people, but still could barely keep up with the demand for bricks.

Over six months had passed since Kiri and Sky had vanished and Ben had all but given up hope of ever seeing them again. Ben lived with his anguish every minute of every day. From the very beginning, it had always been not knowing what had happened to them, that had been the hardest thing to cope with.

But with the passage of time, the angry hurt and bewilderment that at first had consumed him, gradually gave way to a brooding sense of loneliness and despair, which hung constantly over his heart and mind. Ben was thankful the demands made by the busy brickyard provided some escape from his despondency, by providing an avenue of release for his suppressed emotions, that at times threatened to tear him apart.

Ben stood on the jetty enjoying the midday winter sun. He was watching a river barge laden with bricks maneuver away from the jetty, when he noticed a small craft in mid-stream. As it approached thewharf,he could see it was a spit-and-polish naval launch manned by a dozen or more sailors.

When the launch came alongside, two crewmen jumped smartly onto the jetty with fore and aft lines. They quickly made the vessel fast, then lowered a small gangplank. As Ben walked down the wharf towards the launch, an officer wearing a smart white uniform stepped ashore carrying a long wooden box under his arm.

`Mr Luk,' the officer called out. `What a pleasure it is to see you again.'

 

Ben smiled as he recognized the fair-haired, blue-eyed visitor. `Lieutenant Lord Clive

Waverley, the pleasure is entirely mine. Tell me, what brings the Navy here to Jarrah today?' Clive Waverley clasped Ben's hand and grinned. `It's Captain Waverley now Ben. But
never mind that. Today I'm just a fellow making a personal visit to an old friend—the Navy
has merely provided the means.'
The two men made their way up to the house. Half way up the hill, Waverley stopped and
looked around him. `I see you have built something far bigger and better from the pile of
ashes we stood in the last time I was here. It would seem the world is at last treating you more
kindly Ben.'
`Things are rarely as they appear in this life my friend,' Ben said solemnly, and as they
continued on toward the house he told Waverly of Kiri's disappearance. Waverley listened to
Ben's story in dismay, clearly saddened by the news, and the deep grief it caused his friend. Mrs Llewellyn was pleased to have such a special guest at Jarrah and at once set about
preparing a somewhat more elaborate lunch than she would otherwise have served. Clive Waverley laid the long wooden box he had carried up from the launch, on the
drawing-room table. Inside the box lay an immense broadsword, blocked and cushioned in
red velvet. The great sword had a shiny, sharply honed, double blade, a wide cross-guard
studded with gemstones, and long hilt with a huge pommel covered in solid jade. He held up the sword with both hands. `This broadsword has hung in the hall of our
ancestral home for centuries Ben. It has always been regarded as a symbol of our willingness
and determination to defend our property. When I returned to England with my brother's
ashes, I told my father of the kindness shown to me by you and your man Ho Lim. I also told
him of the great fire here at Jarrah.He asked me to give you this sword as a token of his
appreciation. He said he would be honored if you would hang it in your house, just as we have
hung it in ours for so long.
Ben took the sword in his hands and admired it. `I don't know what to say Captain. How
can I accept this magnificent gift, something which has been of such significance to so many
generations of your family.'
`Say nothing Ben,' Waverly said. `Just hang it above your fireplace, beside your carbine.
And may it see as many peaceful years at Jarrah as it has seen in my father's house.' Later, over lunch, Waverley explained how he came to be back in Australia. `I have been
stationed with the Hong Kong Squadron for the last year. Recently we received orders to send
one of our vessels to replace one which was lost in the Australian Squadron. I volunteered and
was given the command of HMS Harrier.' Waverley smiled apologetically. `I'm afraid she's
one of the smallest ships in the entire Navy.'
`But you are its captain.' Ben said. He reached for his glass of white wine. `And you must
enjoy this part of the world if you volunteered to come here.'
`Indeed I do,' Waverley replied enthusiastically. 'To me, the best of the warm water regions
are the South Seas—where the tradewinds blow. I have already applied for a command of one
of the ships presently being built for the new Australian Squadron which goes into service in
1891.'
`And what kind of ship's will they be?' Ben asked. ﾁ
`New cruisers and torpedo boats. The fastest and most formidable in the world. At present
many of our ships are like the Harrier, too old and weak to stand and fight, and too slow to
run away.But there are great changes coming. There have been more advances in naval shipbuilding over the past twenty five years than in the last two hundred. There is a new modern
Royal Navy coming and I want to be a part of it all.'
Ben smiled. `And I'm sure you will be. But in the meantime what are to be the duties of the
Harrier?'
`We are in Brisbane to take on provisions. Then we sail immediately for the New Guinea
Protectorate to resume the patrols in the Solomon Sea which ceased when the vessel the
Harrier is replacing was lost.'
ﾁ`How was she lost?' Ben asked.
`She was bound for Queensland from the Trobriand Islands when she ran into a cyclone.
She went down with all hands. They identified her from a few bits of wreckage found on the
Great Barrier Reef.' Waverley shook his head. `As I was saying earlier Ben, some of our ships
are old and none too strong. I'm afraid the vessel in question, HMS Superior was among the
very oldest.'
*
Charles and Vivian fell hopelessly and totally in love. Aboard the Southern Star, they were
just two young people, with similar wants and needs, brought blissfully together among
hundreds of total strangers, on a voyage so long, it seemed it would never end. Free from constraints imposed by society on lovers ashore, there was nothing to hold them
back. Their shipboard romance soon turned into an intense affair. What started with a touch,
then a kiss, quickly culminated in fiery, unbridled passion, which neither of them tried to
control for even a second.
It was only when the Southern Star left the waters of the Arafura Sea astern, and
approached the northern shores of the continent of Australia, that they were obliged to address
reality.
The ship neared the coast during the night. Charles, unable to sleep, left his cabin and went
up to the deck in order to witness the landfall and also to ponder the future.
Although it was the middle of the southern winter, the night air was warm and humid.
Charles stood in his shirt-sleeves near the stern rail. Below him, he watched the effect of
phosphorescent light on the water, turning the wake of the steamer into a trail of fire. He heard a movement behind him. He turned around and saw Vivian standing in the
moonlight. She was dressed in a long black skirt, white blouse, and a light red wrap around
her shoulders.
`I thought I would find you here Charles.' she said. She came and stood by his side at the
rail. Charles tried to take her in his arms, but she moved away and stared down into the water.
`You know it must all end now Charles. What happened on this voyage was just a shipboard
thing. One of those silly affairs that otherwise sensible people have when they are carried
away with the romance of the sea, and the moon, and the...'
`We can't just pretend it never happened Vivian,' Charles interrupted. `What we have is
real. I told you it's all over between Catherine and me. When we get to Brisbane I will ask her
to divorce me.
`You can't Charles. Don't be ridiculous. Your whole life is at stake here. You must be
practical. You would be giving up your entire future. What would you do if you didn't have
your position at Stonehouse's?'
`I wouldn't care if I had you.'
`Oh Charles you're such a dreamer. Besides, what about me?What do you think the people
at Exeter Hall would think?They send me first class to Australia to report on the immorality
and social injustices of the South Seas labor-trade, and the first thing I do is run off with a
married man whose company is actively engaged in the trade.'
Charles said nothing. Vivian linked her arm in his, and they stood for a long time in
unbroken silence, staring out onto the night.
Soon the first streaks of dawn's light appeared over the port side. They walked toward the
bow, anxiously looking for the first sign of land. Up ahead a low rocky island slowly rose up
out of the sea.
`That's Booby Island,' Charles said, `It's named after its thousands of sea-birds. It's a part
of Queensland—less than twenty miles from the islands of the Torres Strait, which lie just off
the mainland. The island has always been a symbol of hope for all who see her. In the old
days, I've been told, passing ships left provisions in a cave on the island for less fortunate
wayfarers, such as the shipwrecked and distressed. And sailors in these far off waters would
leave letters for their loved ones in that cave, with the request that the first homeward bound
ship would take them aboard and see to their mailing.'
Vivian looked at Booby Island which was now directly over the starboard rail. She took
Charles' hand firmly in hers.
`Then perhaps this island can be a symbol of hope for us too my darling,' she said softly.
`Perhaps we may yet still find a way to be together.'
*
A few hours later, the Southern Star tied up at the wharf at Thursday Island in the Torres
Strait. The harbor, despite being exposed to the prevailing wind, was alive with small craft,
mainly pearling luggers and canoes of Torres Strait Islanders.
Charles and Vivian were among the first passengers to go ashore and feel land under their
feet for the fist time since leaving Colombo. They found the small island, like its harbor, to be
alive with activity. As Australia's most northerly settlement, it was a very important centre.
The remote outpost was crammed with people: traders, fishermen, soldiers from the island's
fortifications, native Torres Strait islanders, and Aborigines from the mainland. Charles went directly to a small office near the wharf. It housed the Stonehouse Shipping
Company's passenger and cargo agent on the island. He went in alone, and stayed just long
enough to instruct the agent to advise Silas Moser by telegraph of his arrival back in
Australia.
When Charles had finished his business, he and Vivian took a stroll up the main street,
which overlooked an emerald-green passage between Thursday Island and the bigger islands
of Horn, and Prince of Wales, to the south.
Soon a combination of the walk, and heat from the morning sun, began to tire Vivian, and
they decided to walk back to the steamer. On the way, they passed directly outside one of the island's numerous watering holes. Two noisy drunks, hanging out of a bar window, eyed Vivian lecherously and made lewd comments as she walked by. Angered, Charles turned to confront the louts. Just as he did, a big, blond-haired man, who was standing behind the
ruffians, cracked their heads together like a couple of coconuts.
`A lady doesn't have to put up with that kind of talk, now does she, Mr WorthingtonJones?'
The voice in the window was American. The big man looked familiar. An instant later,
Charles matched the face with a name.
`Why, Captain Christian Blue,' he exclaimed in surprise. `What on earth are you doing on
Thursday Island?'
`Just brought the Trader in from the Dutch Indies.' Christian Blue swung his long legs over
the window sill into the street. `And you?'
`We just arrived on the Southern Star—en route from London to Brisbane,' Charles said.
He turned to Vivian. `And this is Mrs Stokes—a fellow traveler. She is visiting Australia for
the first time.'
Christian Blue bowed slightly. `It's a pleasure to meet you Ma'am. And what took you all
the way to England Mr Worthington-Jones?' he asked without taking his eyes off Vivian. `I went to buy new ships.'ﾁ
Christian Blue turned his attention back to Charles. ﾁ
`Well since you're buying ships, perhaps this is my lucky day. I just happen to have one for
sale.'
`You're selling the Mendocino Trader?'
`Hell no. What I have for sale is a fine brig. Claimed her under the law of the sea after she
was abandoned off the Solomons. She was damaged some, but I left six men here from the
Trader to repair her, while I sailed on to the Indies.'
`A brigantine, Captain Blue!' Charles shook his head slowly. `No, I don't think so. I'm
afraid the Stonehouse Shipping Company is only buying steam vessels at the present time.' `All the same, I figure maybe you'd better have a look at this particular sailing ship.'
Christian Blue drew a telescope from his wide belt and handed it to Charles. From where they
stood there was a clear view across the channel to the neighboring islands. `Look over there,
across the reef.' The captain pointed toward a cluster of masts at the anchorage on Horn
Island.
Charles took the glass and looked through it. When he saw the four tall masts of the
Mendocino Trader, he adjusted the lens, and focused on the smaller vessel beside her. He
examined the brigantine for some time and then exclaimed, `Good God Captain, that's the
Faithful.'
As they walked back down to the Southern Star, Christian Blue gave his account of how he
had come into possession of the Faithful and of Bates' account of what had happened to the
rest of the crew in the storm. He was also quick to point out, he had documentation
confirming his ownership from no less than the captain of HMS Superior of the Australian
Squadron.
`Just as well I have it in writing Mr Worthington-Jones,' Christian Blue said. 'I just found
out the Superior went down with all hands only a couple of months later. Folks in these parts
are saying the cyclones of last summer were the worst in living memory.'
A few minutes later they were standing at the gang-plank of the Southern Star `We won't be leaving for Brisbane until tomorrow,' Charles said. `If I may, I'd like to come
over to Horn Island later in the day and see what condition the Faithful is in. And as for
buying her back—well perhapsﾁwe may be able to come to some arrangement, but I will
need to see the ownership documentation you spoke of.'
Christian Blue smiled. `Maybe you and Mrs Stokes would care to join me for dinner after
you've seen the Faithful.' He turned to Vivian. `If so, I will have my ship's cook prepare
something special.'
`Thank you,' Vivian said. `But it really is just men's business. I'm afraid I'm not really
interested in ships.'
She started up the gangplank. `But tell me, Captain Blue, what kind of vessel is the
Faithful?'
`She's what Mr Worthington-Jones would call a labor-ship Ma'am. I call her a slaver.' Vivian turned in her tracks. Her wide brown eyes grew wider. `How interesting... Well, in
that case I would be delighted to join you gentlemen later.'
The sun was low in a cloudless sky when the launch carrying Charles and Vivian picked its
way through scores of Thursday Island pearling luggers. Once clear of the vessels, the launch
headed directly across the channel for Horn Island, passing over the coral reef between the
two islands with the aid of the high tide.
Christian Blue and Jackson the mate, showed Charles and Vivian over the Faithful, which
was now fully repaired and quite obviously seaworthy. While Charles inspected the vessel
from stem to stern, Vivian asked dozens of questions in an effort to understand the workings
of a labor-ship, and the conditions in which blacks were transported in them. Two hours passed before they boarded the Mendocino Trader and entered the large
master's cabin. Two dim lanterns cast a soft glow over a small, but immaculate table set for
three.As soon as they were seated, the ship's Chinese cook, helped by Christian Blue's cabin
boy, carried in several steaming silver dishes, all piled high with whole buttered rock lobsters,
rice, fresh vegetables and sauces. When all the food was on the table and white wine had been
uncorked, the cook backed out of the cabin, smiling and bowing as he went. During the meal Charles and Vivian sat opposite each other with Christian Blue between
them. Outside the cabin windows the lights of Thursday Island twinkled in the darkness
across the channel.
`What price have you got on the Faithful, Captain?' Charles asked.
Christian Blue rubbed his chin. `Today, as is, where is, and to the Stonehouse Shipping
Company—just fifteen hundred pounds.'
`That's far too much for an old brig Captain.'
`But she'll make more than that on her first trip in the labor-trade.'
`If I remember correctly Captain Blue, we had the Faithful insured for eight hundred
pounds which is much more like her real value. I can assure you, we would never agree to pay
a penny more than that.'
`And I would be more than happy to accept that, if I knew she would not be used as a
slaver.'
Charles smiled. `Unfortunately for you Captain, your personal views on the Queensland
labor-trade have no bearing on the market price of the Faithful. And I should point out, that
these days, most South Sea Islanders are brought to the colony of their own free will, under
the indentured laborers system.'
Christian Blue laughed out loud. `Which is the very same system under which Africans
were brought to the cotton plantations of South Carolina.'
After a long pause Charles said, `But I'm sure it's different here, Captain.' `I don't think so Mr Worthington-Jones. And let me tell you why.'
Christian Blue explained how he had found Kiri and Sky aboard the Faithful and how Kiri
had told him and the captain of HMS Superior about her kidnapping years earlier from
Kiriwina aboard the brigantine. He went on to tell them how she had escaped her captors in
Brisbane, then been recaptured and sold into a brothel, to be later rescued and taken in by Ben
Luk, an act which led to the razing of Jarrah and the death of Ho Lim.
As Christian Blue spoke, Charles sat wooden-faced, while Vivian listened in horror as the
story unfolded.
Christian Blue told them of Kiri's second kidnapping, with her son—Stonehouse's child—
on the instructions of Catherine Stonehouse and Silas Moser. When he had finished, the
captain pulled open a drawer beneath the table top and took out a number of leather bound
journals.
I have here the logs of the Faithful, and also the personal diaries kept over the years by her
master Captain Cockburn. On the voyage to the Dutch Indies I read these journals. It's all
recorded here. Everything the island girl said happened to her and this man Ben Luk is true.'
Christian Blue shook his head. `The worst thing is, the captain of the Superior said he would
take the matter up with the authorities when his ship reached Brisbane. He said he would
personally see to it that Ben Luk was told where the girl is, and those responsible for killing
his Chinese brick-maker were brought to justice. Now there's no chance of that, not with the
Superior and her crew lying at the bottom of the sea.'
As Christian Blue spoke, tears welled up in Vivian's eyes. She stared at Charles in
disbelief. When her lips began to tremble, she bit them hard, until she tasted blood. `I didn't know Vivian. Please believe me,' Charles said lamely.
`How could you not know. After all, Catherine is your wife.'ﾁ
Christian Blue's eyebrows rose in surprise.
Charles stared into the table.
Vivian drew a deep breath.
`Captain Blue. I am visiting Queensland as the official representative of the Exeter Hall
Society. It is an organization which is committed to putting an end to the exploitation of
Melanesians in the sugar plantations of Queensland. On behalf of the society, I am prepared
to pay eight hundred pounds for the Faithful, providing the ship's logs and diaries
substantiating all this go with the vessel. I shall give you a hundred and fifty pounds as soon
as you take me back to the Southern Star and the balance on delivery of the brigantine in
Brisbane. I can assure you the vessel will never again be used for the transportation of blacks,
but will become a symbol of the Exeter Society's fight for a permanent end to the labor-trade.
I will also undertake to tell the girl's husband where she is at the first opportunity.' Christian Blue rose from the table and took Vivian's hand in his. `Mrs Stokes,' he said
softly, 'what a pleasure it is to do business with such a dedicated and lovely lady.'