Widderkin V. O. E. - 24. Chapter 24

WIDDERKIN VOE.

Chapter 24.

"Dad! Dad!"

The group in the shade house jumped at the excited yell and turned to watch Nathan running flat out towards them.

The Prime Minister, first on his feet, staggered as bodies met and he was held ever so tightly. He returned the hug and looked wonderingly at the head nestled against his chest.

"What?"

The head lifted and father and son shared a look. The Prime Minister was nonplussed at the sight of tears trickling against a backdrop of shining eyes and a wonderful smile.

"What? Nathan ... What has happened?"

"Rom’s better. He’s going to be all right."

Rom couldn't be all right. All three vets had said it was just a matter of time. These three lads must have given his son a false hope. The Prime Minister tightened his hug while he searched for the right words.

The hug ended and Nathan laughed a happy little laugh.

"It's true, dad. He drank half a bowl of water and gobbled three handfuls of treats."

"Gobbled? You mean proper Rom-gobbles?"

"Yes, Rom-gobbles that he hasn't done for ages."

The Prime Minister hesitated, suddenly aware of so many observers. To heck with them.

"Can we see him?"

"Yes, but not yet. He’s having a recovery sleep."

The Prime Minister blinked. The term sounded specific.

"We could peek."

"The window’s frosted and the door makes that noisy clunk. Be patient, dad. You’ll see."

The Prime Minister stared. In front of all these people his son was speaking with assurance.

"Nathan, you’re so certain. What happened in there?"

"It’s a secret, just for me."

Nathan finished the joint hug and moved next to Tan.

"Guess what? Tan asked me to go to Phillip Island. He’s friendly with a ranger there who might show us the Penguin hospital."

The Prime Minister understood instantly and, puzzling as it was, accepted his son's declaration of secrecy. The blatant change of subject was something else. Nathan wanted to visit with Tan? His introverted son wanted to visit after such a brief association? And Rhys and the quiet one were nodding agreement.

"By yourself?"

"You could come too. Except you’re always so busy."

"Nathan, we’ll talk it over with Gwen and see what we can do."

Nathan turned to Tan.

"That means yes. Mum loves adventures."

"It doesn't mean yes. There are all sorts of complications and problems."

"Rory will sort out the security and everything. He always does."

Rory laughed.

"Leave me out of this, Nathan ... Though a penguin adventure does sound like a great idea. How do you manage your accommodation, Tan?"

"We found a rental cottage that’s out of town with bush around it and walks to the beach. There are three cottages really, but you don't realise the others are there."

"Three rentals. John, that would work well for security accommodation."

"Okay! Okay! That’s an interesting interpretation of leaving yourself out of it. Work with Tan and see what you can come up with ... When would this be, Tan? Woorawa said you are returning to Mparntwe when you leave Canberra."

"Yes, it’s awkward. We’ll be back at our share house before college starts, but Nathan’s school starts weeks before that. A long weekend would work, but that’s also a problem because that’s when the crowds come and the rangers are extra busy."

Nathan interrupted.

"Any time suits, dad. School’s so easy a few days off won't matter."

"Days off school? Maybe! We’ll see what your mother thinks"

"Are you finished with the heavy talking yet? Tan said Auntie Arika and Uncle Burrimul might tell us a story about Mparntwe."

"What’s happened, Kieran? I thought Nathan might click with Rhys once they started talking about books, but it’s Tan instead."

"Tan kind of took over, Woorawa. He decided we should heal Rom and when we discovered Nathan was special he told us to work with him."

"Special?"

"Our kind of special, Woorawa. Nathan can see power."

"Opal power?

"Yes, and after some experiments and a little bit of practice he even started to see the power stored in the rubies. Tan says we’re going to look after him."

"Was it Oracle stuff?"

"No, it was Tan being himself."

"Wow! He’s amazing ... What will we do now? Auntie and Uncle are looking for my lead."

"Tan did suggest stories, so go with that."

"Prime Minister, would you like to share stories with us? Auntie has the most wonderful song stories and Uncle Burrimul could tell us about the Three Caterpillars."

"Of course, Woorawa. It will be a privilege, but what do you mean by share?"

"Everyone has stories, Prime Minister. You’ll think of something."

"I will? Well, I hope so."

Burrimul took the lead and the gathering listened, intrigued by the mix of storytelling, chant and language changes.

Auntie followed with a song only Woorawa and Burrimul understood till Woorawa, with a look of wonder, explained that it was about hard times in her childhood.

Mr B stood up and embarrassed Rhys by telling a story about a quiet boy who defended his friend against a group of bullies.

The Prime Minister was next and had the whole group smiling about a yabby race and a mud bath at an old farm dam where he worked in his early teens.

Nathan particularly enjoyed that, and a peek showed Kieran this was a family story.

Woorawa liked it too and, while the Prime Minister answered questions about his time working on a farm, started figuring how to turn it into a yabby dance.

"Woorawa, am I allowed to tell a story?"

There was a puzzled silence because Woorawa had clearly meant that sharing included everyone.

"What do you mean, Nathan? Of course you are."

"It’s a story in my head so I don't know if that counts."

"Your head? You mean you’ve built a story of your own? A new story that no one else has heard? Wow!"

Nathan smiled at the go ahead ‘wow’.

"I’m nervous. I’ve never told a story out loud."

"Nathan, you have too. When you were little and Gwen read your bedtime stories she’d come rushing, all excited because you would tell them back to her with wonderful ideas added in."

"I did? I must have been too young to remember."

Woorawa made a soft chant for about ten seconds.

"Can my voice be a background so you can think about the words whenever you want to?"

Nathan's eyes widened, then he nodded.

"This story is about Rom, but not really."

The group listened as the story unfolded, hesitantly but with growing confidence, of the day a beautiful black puppy with the darkest eyes appeared as a ninth birthday present, of how the puppy loved and brought happiness to his new family, and how his dark eyes had magic which looked right into his master’s mind and helped to answer any question or problem.

The background chant broadened with the deep timbre of Burrimul’s voice, then became something else when Auntie added melody.

The curious mix of young teen and young adult language told how fire in the magic eyes dimmed and doggy life faded and the master wanted everyone in the world to leave him alone.

"Some new friends whispered the magic back into his eyes and his body and his tail wagged happily. The end."

The chant cut off and a soft sob broke the quietness.

"Dad?"

The Prime Minister opened his arms and Nathan rushed for another hug.

"Nathan, I wish Gwen was here. That is the most beautiful story I have ever heard."

"Gods, Kieran! How do all these amazing things keep happening to us? A dog with magic eyes? That’s unbelievable. He should – now what?"

Auntie Arika called as if summoning, and Burrimul and Woorawa moved with her to stand in front of Nathan and the Prime Minister. Each of them spoke a distinct phrase and bowed, then Woorawa explained.

"Your story spoke to our hearts, Nathan, and our words give you thanks and respect."

"I was going to tell a story about the fire sticks in the dark at the Fortress and exploring the rocks there, but it’s too lame after that."

"No, it's not, Rhys. It's not a competition."

"I suppose. I’ll say it after someone else."

"Prime Minister, would it be all right for Nathan to help me gather some sticks from that stand of trees?"

"Of course, Burrimul. Sticks?"

"Rhythm sticks will help Woorawa when he dances."

"I’m not ready, Uncle."

Burrimul laughed.

"Would you like to help me, Nathan? Woorawa is always ready"

Nathan leapt to his feet and the group watched them head for the trees.

"What do you mean, you’re not ready, Woorawa? That’s never happened before."

"I had some ideas, Mr B, but Nathan's story makes them kind of inadequate."

"Do the defiant Eagle dance, Woorawa. It is beautiful and powerful."

That was Malcolm and Woorawa went thoughtful.

"I'm thinking of something lighter, Malcolm. We’ll see what happens when Nathan and Uncle get back."

"Excuse me, Woorawa. I’m going to help them."

The group watched the Prime Minister hurry to where Burrimul and Nathan were experimentally tapping sticks together. Rory hastened to explain the abrupt departure.

"Nathan is a complicated boy, Woorawa, and his parents have been very worried about him. That first happy hug was like a ray of sunshine for him. Nathan sharing his story like that was extraordinary and the Prime Minister wants to be with him ... I don't know what you did, Tan, but Nathan has given you his trust and that is yet another new thing for his father to take in."

"All we did was talk and we liked each other. We did kind of click I suppose, and when he was so interested in the penguins I couldn't help asking him to see them with us."

"He’ll be devastated if these are false hopes with Rom."

Tan looked at Kieran then answered.

"Rom will be all right. You’ll see for yourself when he comes out of his recovery sleep."

"Recovery sleep? Nathan said that too. It sounds like a technical term?"

"It does doesn't it. I just said what Nathan said."

"Good one, Tan. Rory and Malcolm both noticed you look at me."

"Sorry! Does it matter?"

"Not too much. Malcolm already figured I’m more than just the quiet one, which is how the Prime Minister thinks of me. Rory is perceptive and thoughtful too, and he regards us as an enigma."

"Enigma? Four college kids and Mr B?"

"He includes Burrimul and Auntie, Tan. And when Woorawa said we cheated he realised we had some way of influencing the media, and that was on top of us getting the secret documents from the mining company ... Answer him Tan. He’s wondering why you’re thinking so much."

"Evidently Rom has been drained of energy, so after eating and drinking and talking to Nathan he went to sleep."

"Talking?"

"That’s what it looked like. He put his head on Nathan's chest for a while."

"Really? He could manage that?"

Rory turned to Malcolm.

"That is a pattern they have where Nathan speaks and Rom listens."

"The magic eyes?"

"Oh my! It fits doesn't it."

Heads turned as Nathan's laugh sounded along with a burst of tapping.

"Burrimul is teaching them rhythms."

"Will we be doing the same?"

"I hope so, Rory. It works better when everyone joins in."

Rory looked to the trio by the trees, then to Malcolm again."

"Simple tappings? Is this how your incident of creative genius started in Mparntwe, Malcolm?"

"The tapping is straightforward, Rory, but involvement somehow becomes transformative ... I tried to explain to Rory and the Prime Minister how your inclusion ceremony affected me, Woorawa."

"I don't know what we’ll be doing yet, Malcolm."

Tan grabbed Woorawa's arm.

"I do. A version of the happy dance is exactly right. Nathan’s happy. His father’s happy, and we all smiled when we heard them a moment ago."

"Yay!"

Rhys's appreciative yell startled Malcolm and Rory. Everyone else smiled and nodded.

"Go for it, Woorawa! I want to see Nathan laughing his head off."

Woorawa's face lit up and then was overlaid with a twinkle of mischief.

"Hmm! Now you’ve given me an idea, Rhys. I hope you’re ready."

"Yikes! Do something, Kieran. He’s going to make me look silly."

"Suffer, Rhys. It’ll be the same for everyone."

Woorawa came to life and with a few iconic steps had everyone smiling.

"Okay, we’ll start with a bobbing chant. Join in with the rest of us, Rory and Malcolm, and then it’s your job to teach it to Nathan and his father."

Rory was startled but, smiling at Malcolm's enthusiasm, added his own voice and action to the peculiar chant and the silly bobbing movement at the end of each phrase.

"Now we’ve got the weird laugh chant. We all learn it, but it will be Tan and Rhys who do the teaching.

Auntie and Kieran, you’re the leaders for the yip yip chant which goes like this."

"He’s mad, Kieran, and Malcolm and Rory are loving it."

"It’s brilliant mad, Rhys. I think the action he puts with each chant makes it work."

"The Prime Minister’s going to think Rory and Malcolm have gone bonkers when they start teaching him their part."

"They’re coming now so we’ll soon find out."

Nathan was carrying most of the sticks bundled against his chest and when he arrived began sorting them.

"Burrimul helped us work out which ones sound best and who to give them to.

Listen to this pair, Auntie Arika. They make a really good sound we think you will like.

Tap tap tap. Tap.

Auntie gave Nathan the biggest smile and, seeing his expectation, repeated the pattern several times.

Tap tap tap. Tap

"These are yours, Uncle Rory. They’re good because of the hollow sound."

Tap tap tap . Tap. Tap tap tap!

Rory cottoned on instantly.

Tap tap tap. Tap. Tap tap tap.

"That’s it. Now, have a try with Auntie Arika and put the sounds together."

The first couple of attempts were a mess till Burrimul showed how to synchronise the timing and Nathan nodded happy approval.

"You’re next, Tan. You’ve got the deepest sound and you have to hit hard to make it work."

One by one everyone received sticks and instruction.

"He’s loving every minute of this, Kieran."

"He’s awed that Burrimul asked for his help to choose the sticks. Watch the Prime Minister, Rhys. He’s awed too, and he keeps looking at Tan."

Woorawa grabbed attention by combining his assigned tapping with Happy Dance movements.

"Prime Minister, we have a few chants for you, and Rory and Malcolm will start with theirs."

Nathan did laugh his head off.

***

Tan gave a gentle nudge. Mirth and merriment lingered in the ever so genial conversation but Nathan, sitting between his father and Tan, had stopped listening.

"Are coming with us, dad? It is time to check if Rom’s ready to wake up."

The Prime Minister leapt to his feet.

"Of course I am. Won't he just wake up naturally?"

Nathan shook his head and eagerly led the way till they reached the laundry door.

"This bit is secret, dad, so you can't tell anyone."

"I can't?"

"Tan says Kieran is like an animal whisperer because he understands them so well, and Rhys helps him. Watch what they do."

The door clunk brought no reaction from Rom’s motionless body and the Prime Minister's fears returned.

"He’s too still."

"It’s a very deep sleep, Prime Minister. If you look carefully at his chest you can see the regular movement.

Steady his head again, Rhys, till I know if he’s ready to wake up.

Nathan, he’ll be extra excited so be ready."

The Prime Minister watched the quiet one sit on the floor, manoeuvre Rom’s head onto his lap, then begin to probe with curiously deft and gentle fingers.

"Rom’s good, Rhys. Give him an energy boost and then I’ll wake him."

"Everything feels great, Nathan, but he’s had a rough time and he’ll conk out easily for a few days. He’ll act like a greedy guts too, so make sure he gets lots of food and drink while he recuperates.

Wake up, Rom!"

The Prime Minister jolted by the sudden, strong call, watched Rom’s eyes open and focus. His whole body galvanised erect and he lunged to lick his kneeling master.

Who were these people, smiling so happily while Nathan laughed and wrestled the impossibly returned lick machine.?

"Talk to dad, Rom. Talk to dad."

Instantly responding to the accompanying gesture, Rom leapt to stand with forefeet on the Prime Minister's stomach and bark while his head and ears were fondled.

"Drink, Rom. Drink."

Half a bowl of water disappeared.

"Roll, Rom. Roll."

Rob hesitated with his head cocked to one side till Nathan rotated his arm in a big circle just above the floor.

"He’s not slow, Tan. It’s a fairly new trick."

"Shake hands, Rom. Shake hands."

With a funny dog expression Rom extended his left paw till Nathan took it.

"That’s unreal! Why is he looking at you like that?"

"He knows what comes next, Rhys. Watch this."

"Sing for supper, Rom. Sing for supper."

Rom’s head lifted while he made a kind of yelp and croon mixed together. The Prime Minister leapt for the bag of treats on the washing machine and tossed them to Nathan.

"Watch this, dad. He’s got the gobble quivers back."

"This is unreal, Kieran. No wonder Nathan was upset."

"That’s for sure."

Handfuls of treats disappeared till Rom suddenly trotted to the door and rested a paw against it.

"He wants to go outside?"

"That’s his signal that he needs to do his business, Tan. He used to leave scratch marks till we taught him proper manners."

Rhys was closest to the door and he opened it when both Nathan and his dad gave a nod.

Rom disappeared.

Nathan turned to his father.

"See how good he is?"

"It’s wonderful, Nathan but I don't understand. He was too weak to move and now he’s bounding with energy, and that’s not like any kind of whispering I’ve ever heard of ... Is Rom really better, or could there be some underlying condition that might cause a relapse?"

This was addressed to Kieran.

Kieran peeked and saw that the Prime Minister had no doubt in his mind that it was Kieran who’d somehow wrought this miracle and was probably as notable as Woorawa and Tan.

"He’s good, Prime Minister. Excitement is keeping him going at the moment. His stamina will rebuild over the next few days and I’m confident there’s no condition to worry about. Follow Nathan's lead for anything concerning Rom."

The Prime Minister nodded and gave Nathan a look of quiet regard.

"Has he worked out that you’re the authority, Kieran?"

"Sort of. He doesn't have a clue that it was really you who did the healing. He’s so overcome with everything that he’s just grateful. He’s amazed that Nathan showed us Rom’s training too. No one outside the family knows about it."

"What about Rory?"

"Rory knows. He’s part of the family."

Nathan moved to get rid of the treats and turned towards the door.

"We can go back to the others now. Rom will see us there when he’s finished. Are pets are allowed to stay at your Phillip Island cabin, Tan? Rom loves the beach."

"Hmm, Yes. As long as they’re house trained. I remember reading it in the rules."

Rhys started shaking his head.

"That might be a bad idea."

Tan, concerned by Nathan's disappointment, leapt to his defence.

"I think it’s a good idea, Rhys. There’s all that scrub to explore and we just saw how well Rom is trained."

"What if he eats all the penguins?"

Nathan and the Prime Minister just stared till Tan's hands grasped his head in mock disgust.

"He’s an idiot, Nathan. That’s his weird way of saying he’d like Rom to come with you and I fell for it."

Nathan laughed. The Prime Minister rolled his eyes in his own version of mock disgust.

***