autumn, so the completion of the brickyard at Jarrah drew closer.
Jack Stark and his crew had stayed on long after the jetty was finished, speeding up the
building process of the entire yard. Even so, Ben was anxious to see the departure of the
construction workers and the arrival of brick-makers to assist Ho Lim with the production of
the first run of bricks.
Ben worked without let-up. He spent all the daylight hours in the brickyard, and each night
after the evening meal, he would sit for hours at the dining-room table with a small
rectangular abacus, attempting to calculate his projected costings against the current prices
being paid for bricks.
The days came and went. One week rolled into the next. But eventually the brickyard was
ready to start production, and by then, Ben had worked out what he thought was a workable
plan for its profitable operation.
One morning as Ben watched Ho Lim and his helpers fill the moulds of the initial run of
bricks, he thought for the first time in weeks of returning Kiri to her island. He was surprised
to find he had mixed feelings about seeing her go.
He knew Kiri was happy at Jarrah, he saw it on her face every day. And he knew she was
grateful for what he had done for her, it showed in her dark eyes every time he caught her
looking at him. He realized, like Mrs Llewellyn, Kiri had now become a part of Jarrah, part
of his home. But he knew it was not her home. It was not Kiriwina.
`Now the yard is in production, I shall need to spend time in Brisbane looking for buyers,'
Ben said to Mrs Llewellyn as she served dinner that evening. `While I am there I shall make
enquiries about a passage for Kiri to her island,'
Mrs Llewellyn eyed Ben apprehensively and moved quickly to close the dining-room door. `I have been meaning to talk to you about Kiri for some time Mr Luk,' she said, her voice
barely above a whisper. `Kiri can't go back to Kiriwina, even if it were possible to find a ship.
Not for some time anyway.'
`Why not, Mrs Llewellyn?'
`She's carrying a baby, Mr Luk.'
Ben looked at Mrs Llewellyn, dumbfounded.
`And Mr Luk,' Mrs Llewellyn said sadly. `It can only be Alexander Stonehouse's child.'
CHAPTER TEN
On the second of November 1884, Commodore J E Erskine, RN, arrived in the harbor at Port Moresby aboard the warship HMS Nelson. Four days later, on the direction of the Imperial Government, and in the name of Queen Victoria, he proclaimed a protectorate along the southern shores of New Guinea, extending from the western boundary of the Dutch East Indies to the eastern end of the island.
The proclamation ended eighteen months of Imperial dithering which followed Britain's repudiation of Queensland's unauthorized annexation of the territory in 1883. It also served notice on Germany, which annexed the northern half of the island, just ten days later, that Britain intended to maintain a presence in the region to ensure the well being of her Australian colonies.
The Union Jack was raised by Sub-Lieutenant, Lord Clive Waverley of HMS Nelson at a colorful ceremony ashore, where Erskine told the tribal chiefs, among other things, that it was the intention of the Queen's representatives, to bring Christianity and peace to her children in New Guinea. He also vowed to repress the wicked labor trade which had been responsible for the illegal kidnapping of so many islanders from their homes in what was now Her Majesty's Protectorate of New Guinea.
But the commodore's noble words meant little to the hundred or so blacks, who even as he spoke, were locked in the stinking hold of the Faithful as she sailed hell-bent for the Queensland coast under a rare early-summer nor'easter. And the proclamation meant even less to the brown-skinned girl who lay screaming in the agony of childbirth, over eleven hundred miles to the south of Port Moresby, at Jarrah, on the banks of the Brisbane River.
* Ben dropped what he was doing and ran up from the brickyard when he heard Mrs Llewellyn fire two shots from his carbine, the pre-arranged signal that Kiri's baby had arrived. When he reached the house he found Mrs Llewellyn standing outside Kiri's door with tears rolling down her cheeks.
`What is it Mrs Llewellyn? Is Kiri alright?' Mrs Llewellyn's tears were tears of joy. `It's a boy Mr Luk,' she sobbed. `A strong healthy boy.'
Mrs Llewellyn held the bedroom door open and when Ben entered she closed it softly behind him. Kiri lay in her bed with a light-skinned, dark-haired baby at her breast. When she saw Ben she opened her eyes just a little and tried to smile. He crossed the room and took her hand in his. She squeezed it as tight as she could.
`He is a fine looking boy,' Ben said gently.
Kiri's eyes welled with tears. `Thank you Ben Luk, for all you have done for me and my baby, and for giving us a home here at Jarrah.'
Ben put a finger to his lips. `Shush Kiri. Do not talk now. You must rest. And it is not me, but you who has done all the giving. This day you have given the greatest gift of all. You have given life.'
He turned to leave but her grip on his hand tightened. He watched as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
`I only wish the life I hold at my breast had sprung from your seed Ben Luk, then I would truly have something to give you in return for your kindness.'
`It is not necessary for you to give me anything,' Ben said softly, `beyond the pleasure it gives me to have you under my roof at Jarrah.'
Kiri burst into tears. His hand brushed her cheek.
`Please Kiri. You must not cry.'
`But I want so much to have something to give. And all I have to offer you is that which others have already taken from me by force. All, that is, except my heart, and Ben Luk you must surely know, it has been yours since that first day on the wharf at South Brisbane.'
Kiri's eyes closed slowly, and when sleep overtook her, Mrs Llewellyn took charge of the baby while Ben slipped out quietly and walked back down to the river.
The brickyard was now a going concern, employing over two dozen local men, who arrived an hour after sunrise, six days a week, on foot or in small boats on the river.As the production of bricks increased, Ben had been quick to follow up on the contacts he had made with the assistance of James Whitworth. In a relatively short period of time, several of the businessmen the banker had introduced Ben to had become customers of the yard. In addition to finding markets, Ben also ran the day to day affairs of the yard, leaving Ho Lim to concentrate on ensuring the bricks they made were of the highest quality.
Ho Lim was fastidious to the point of obsession. His day began at first light and he worked without let-up until it was too dark to continue. Always on the run, he trotted around the yard all day, personally supervising the mixing, blending and drying of clay, and also the firing and cooling of the bricks. Ben tried to learn as much as he could from Ho Lim, knowing well that his expertise was responsible for the ever increasing demand for bricks from Jarrah.
Ben knew if the demand for bricks continued to grow he would soon need to expand the yard and try and find more workers—not an easy task in the boom times the colony was enjoying. He was glad he had the foresight to build the jetty large and sturdy enough to accommodate the ever increasing number of barges coming to Jarrah to transport bricks to Brisbane and Ipswich.
Ben also knew he was moving rapidly toward becoming a successful merchant, just as Ah Sing had wished him to be, on his death bed beside the Palmer River.
Things were moving along very quickly and very much in his favor, without any upsets or difficulties. And it had been a long time since any thought of retribution from Silas Moser had crossed his mind.
*
Captain Isaiah Cockburn used all his skills as a seasoned mariner to bring the Faithfulunder sail, and entirely unassisted, as far upstream as Kangaroo Point, or Humbug Point, as earlier wind-ship sailors had aptly dubbed it, before his p
rogress up the Brisbane river was finally halted.
From there, he ordered ship-boats to be lowered to tow the brigantine the last remaining mile or so to the Stonehouse Wharf in South Brisbane. As the boat crews strained to gain the short distance to the wharf, Cockburn went below to his cabin to change into his best uniform.
For once he was looking forward to his visit to head-office. It would give him the chance to sniff the wind in the capital. Since his last visit to Brisbane he had completed three labor cruises, and during that time there had been changes in the colony, and at Stonehouse's— changes which could well affect his future.
Just two months ago the Imperial Government had banned all labor ships from New Guinea, an embargo they were prepared to enforce with might of the Royal Navy. And rumor had it that Sam Griffith and his Liberals were already drafting a Pacific Islanders Act, which would eventually ban the labor trade altogether. For a man who had been involved in nothing else for over a quarter of a century, Cockburn now found his future more than a little uncertain.
As he struggled to clip the tight collar of his blue tunic together, he speculated on the changes he may find at Stonehouse's. Since Alexander Stonehouse's death, he had continued to receive his instructions from Silas Moser, the same as he always had. But he had seen an announcement of Catherine Stonehouse's engagement to Charles Worthington-Jones in the social pages of a newspaper in Bundaberg; and now with the wedding date drawing closer, he wondered if the running of the company would be affected in any way.
Cockburn's thoughts left him abruptly when he saw the Stonehouse wharf looming up through his open port-hole, and he hurried up onto the deck to bring the Faithful alongside.
Silas Moser greeted Cockburn warmly when the captain entered his upstairs office.
`Good morning Isaiah. Please sit down.' Moser waited while Cockburn lowered himself into a chair. `Now Isaiah,' he continued, `you will be glad to know that wehave been the successful tenderer on two contracts let recently for the supply of Kanakas.'
Cockburn looked surprised.
`But I thought we were in danger of losing the labor trade, sir. You know... Griffith's Pacific Islanders Act and the new protectorate in New Guinea...'
Moser's face stretched in his tight smile. `Griffith may well try to outlaw the trade eventually. But my advice is that abolition is at least five years away—if ever. Kanaka labor is just far too essential to the sugar industry, and the colony's economy to risk doing it any sooner. And of course, it is a very lucrative enterprise Isaiah. As you well know, several politicians on both sides of the house own labor ships, and all of them to a man have declined our recent offers to purchase their vessels. From that I can only draw one conclusion— abolition is a very long way off yet.'
Cockburn grinned and asked, `And what of New Guinea?'
`Stay out of those waters in the immediate future Isaiah. We'll stick to the traditionally recruiting grounds in the Solomon Islands and the New Hebrides for the time being.'
Cockburn was greatly relieved by Moser's optimism about the future of the labor trade. Now, anxious to learn if there was to be any change in the pecking order at Stonehouse's, he leaned forward and said gravely, `My crew and I were deeply grieved by the death of Mr Stonehouse, sir. His passing must add even more weight to the burden you have always carried in the running of the company.'
Moser shrugged. `Mr Stonehouse, in his wisdom, offered me a substantial amount of stock in the company in return for securing my services as managing director for the foreseeable future. Of course, my loyalty to Mr Stonehouse and my deep concern for his family's financial well-being, left me no choice but to comply with his wishes.'
`The family must have been greatly relieved by your decision, sir,' Cockburn said with just the right amount of sincerity in his voice. `And speaking of Mr Stonehouse's family, sir, I was surprised to see the notice in the newspaper of Miss Catherine's engagement to Mr Charles Worthington-Jones.'
`No more than me Isaiah, I can assure you.' Moser looked the sea captain squarely in the eye. `But let me tell you here and now, that as always, you will be responsible to me and only me. Is that absolutely clear?'
Cockburn leaned back in his chair. `Of course, Mr Moser, sir. Of course.'
Later, as Cockburn prepared to leave, Moser said, `Just one more thing Isaiah. You remember the Kanaka who escaped from the Faithful at the wharf here last year.' `Yes sir.'
`Well, we caught her. But then the half-breed Chinese took her back by force. She now lives with him. He is a man of some means—no doubt ill-gotten. Anyway, he has established a brickyard on the river-bank a few miles upstream. It is not an enterprise I wish to see flourish Isaiah. Before you leave on your next labor cruise, I want you to pay that brickyard a visit. As it was you and your crew who created the problem with the Kanaka in the first place, I think it only fitting that I should look to you to rectify it.'
*
Ben sat on his veranda overlooking the river. It was Sunday, the day of rest at Jarrah. He was slumped, almost dozing, in a cane easy-chair. He was glad to be in the shade, out of the fierce January sun, and thankful of the cooling breeze wafting around the house. It was early afternoon and Mrs Llewellyn had just retired to her room to take her usual Sunday afternoon rest after serving the midday meal.
Ben heard a soft gurgling sound. He opened his eyes to see Kiri standing nearby. She was leaning against one of the veranda's supporting columns, holding her baby in her arms and staring up into the clear blue sky.
`What is it you see Kiri?' Ben asked.
She half turned toward him. `I didn't mean to wake you Ben Luk.' She pointed into the sky. `My baby and I were watching that great bird up there. Do you see him?'
Ben looked upward, squinting. After a few moments he saw an eagle hanging almost motionless high in the sky.
`How free he his,' Kiri said, `up there, away from thetroubles and dangers of the land and the sea, able to stretch his wings and fly anywhere he wants, whenever he wants.' She turned to face Ben. `I would like my baby to always be as free as that bird in the sky.' She looked down at the bundle in her arms. `Ben Luk, I think I shall name my son Sky.'
`Sky...' Ben repeated the word slowly. `Yes, it is a good name Kiri. Mrs Llewellyn and I were beginning to think you would never name him.' Ben's eyes began to close again.
A moment later Kiri called out urgently, `Look...look down there on the river,'
Ben sat upright. Below them on the river a small open boat had rounded the point into the Indooroopilly Reach. It skimmed along the river as graceful as a bird in flight as six oarsmen, all dressed in white, dipped their blades into the glistening water and pulled in perfect unison. Ben watched as a seventh man in the stern of the small craft pointed toward the jetty and the boat altered course toward it.
When the boat approached the river-bank Ben saw Ho Lim come out of his shack and run out onto the jetty. Minutes later Ho Lim came trotting up the paddock. A naval officer wearing a crisp white uniform marched stiffly up the hill behind him. When they neared the house, Ben could see the officer was just a youth, a fair-haired, blue eyed lad, barely out of his teens.
Ho Lim bowed and said, `Mr Luk, this young man says he wishes to speak with you.'
Ben rose to his feet. `I am Ben Luk. I am the owner of this property. Is there something I can do for you?'
The young sailor saluted smartly. `Sir, I am Sub-Lieutenant Clive Waverley. I am attached to HMS Nelson of the Royal Navy's Australian Squadron. My ship is in Brisbane en route to England from the newly formed Protectorate of New Guinea. I am the brother of Alistair Waverley who at the time of his death was the owner of this property.'
`I know only that a remittance man lived here before me Lieutenant,' Ben said. `I was told he was the son of an English lord.'
The young officer looked relieved. `Then I am at the right place. My father is the Marquess of Waverley.'
Ben beckoned to the young officer. `Lieutenant, I think perhaps you had better come up on the ver
anda out of the sun. And you too, Ho Lim.' Ben turned to Kiri. `Would you go and tell Mrs Llewellyn that we have company please.'
Mrs Llewellyn quickly prepared tea and cold lemonade served with freshly baked biscuits. Then she had Ho Lim run down to the jetty to fetch the six young ratings who had volunteered to row the lieutenant upstream to Jarrah. Mrs Llewellyn served the sailors refreshments in the kitchen. She was delighted to learn two of them were Welshmen from Pembroke in South Wales. While they enjoyed her treats, she sat enthralled as they told her all the latest news from her native land.
Outside on the veranda, the naval officer sat opposite Ben in a cane chair. Ho Lim preferred to sit cross-legged on the floor.
They listened as the sub-lieutenant spoke of his brother's abhorrence to warfare and the bearing of arms of any kind. His refusal to join the military had ended an uninterrupted tradition of service which had endured for centuries in the Waverley family. And for Alistair Waverley, it resulted in his father banishing him from the family home to the most distant colony in the empire.
`My father always felt that exile would eventually soften my brother's views,' young Lord Clive Waverley said, `he never thought for one moment it would lead to his death. Now, my father can't forgive himself. When he learned the Nelson might visit Queensland, he asked me to try and find Alistair's final resting place. He felt a visit by the family to the grave, may in some way, allowAlistair to rest in peace. I was hoping some one here could show me or tell me where it is.'
There was a long period of silence.
`Your brother showed Ho Lim great kindness in a colony which is not always sympathetic to Chinese,' Ben said at last. `Perhaps that was because Ho Lim also, was forced to accept a form of imposed exile. I know Ho Lim held your brother in great respect. And I have been told that he was the last man to see him alive, and also that he buried him on this property. Perhaps he will choose to take you to the grave. If he does not, I must respect his wishes, and will not force him to do so.'
All eyes turned to Ho Lim. He sat tight-lipped and expressionless, eyes lowered, staring into the floor-boards of the veranda.`Will you show me to my brother's resting place Ho Lim?' Waverley said gently. `My entire family would be most grateful.'
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