Published: 17 Nov 2022

Early summer was kind to Echuca and the Murray River. Winter snow had melted through the spring and swollen the river to capacity. All along the Echuca wharfs riverboats were delivering goods and taking away product, soon it would be the wool clip but year by year the railways were eating into the riverboat’s cargos.

Toby’s new ram was soon introduced to the flock and although a little late in the season appeared to know what was expected of him, possibly a little more as far as attempting mounting when the ewes were beyond season, bringing Mrs. Kemp the farm’s cook to tut in disgust.

“It is only nature Betty,” Toby laughed as she turned away from the protesting ewes.

“In broad daylight Mr. Nevis, I do declare.”

“I thought you are a country girl Betty?”

“Maybe so, Mr. Nevis maybe so,” the woman simply replied.

“I hear in South Australia woman have not only been given suffrage but can enter parliament,” Toby says.

“And about time,” Betty answered wondering where Toby’s conversation was heading, or how it could relate to the reproductive habit of sheep. “How would you be if elected to represent amongst a mob of rutting politicians?”

“Mr. Nevis language please,” Betty protest but weakly with a smile, as she was one who appreciated Toby’s sense of droll.

“The request for woman’s rights failed here in Victoria,” Toby reckons.

“Give it time Mr. Nevis; will you be going to the rally?”

“What rally would that be?” Toby asks.

“The Federation train is coming to Echuca and Henry Parks will be giving a speech.”

“Yes I must agree federation is a grand idea but what is your interest Betty?”

“Sir Henry is for woman’s suffrage and some are for giving the vote to the blacks.” Betty quietly proclaimed as her agreement for women’s rights was strong, although giving such rights to the blacks frightened her and many others. In some colonies the blacks still had numbers and could have control of the parliament.

“I think all that is a way off as yet Betty?” Toby dampens.

“Possibly so but please Mr. Nevis put a pair of pants on that ram,” She says with a smile as she returns to her kitchen.

It only took Dev half the first morning on the farm to find the stables and Benny, who was now a year older and full of spirit. “Are you ready for another riding lesson Dev?” Benny suggests.

“Lesson Benny,”

“From what I remember of your skills, you are in need of a few more.”

“Enough of you lip Benny,”

The lad laughs insolently but Dev accepts it in fun.

“How are your lot down by the river?” Dev asks remembering the number of times he had visited their camp with Benny.

“Your lot is my lot Dev; I hardly know anything of the old ways, besides they have moved further along the river for the summer. The old fellas’ call me coconut.”

“Why a coconut?” Dev simply asks.

“They say I’m black on the outside and white inside.”

“Coconut, how would they know of coconuts?”

“They heard it said from white fella’,”

“Have you seen a coconut?” Dev asks.

“Yes at the knock-‘em downs at the travelling show,”

Dev laughs; “what are your thoughts on the matter Benny?”

“I am simply Benny, the black fellas’ don’t want me and the whites ignore me.”

“What about here in Echuca?”

“Veronica and the farm workers are fine but in town women avoid me as if I’m about to jump them and men spit at me and mumble obscenities, so that is why I never go there alone.”

Dev gave a shudder of abhorrence towards such actions as although he had had little to do with the blacks in the city, Ilene had taught him tolerance towards all.

“It doesn’t matter – wanna’ go for a ride?” Benny disregards.

“That is what I’m here for, how is Patch.”

“Patch died.” Benny says.

“What happened?”

“He was old, you do realise like us horses don’t live forever. Never mind I have a nice quiet boy for you, he is called Lucy.”

“Why Lucy if he is a stallion?”

“Actually he has been gelded and Lucy is short for Lucifer,”

“That sound’s ominous,”

“Don’t concern it is because he is as black as night but don’t stand directly behind him as he has the habit of kicking.”

During the second night on the farm Toby and Veronica withdrew from company and appeared somewhat serious. At first Dev didn’t pay attention, as it was customary for Toby to withdraw from company when he had business to discuss but this time Toby appeared somewhat troubled and Veronica seemed to be instructing.

After a lengthy discussion during that evening, Toby came away quite cheerful without relating anything to Dev, who know better than to enquire.

“How was today’s riding?” Toby asked and invited Dev to take a walk in the cool night air.”

“Good and Benny is a fine teacher.”

“Benny is a smart lad,”

“What will happen to Benny?” Dev asks.

“In what way?”

“Later in life, you know seeing he is black and most whites won’t accept him.”

“He is half white,” Toby corrects.

“From what I understand that part of him is considered tainted.”

“Tainted,” Toby smiles, “another word from the dictionary of Dev but a fair question and one hard to answer,” Toby says.

“Why?”

“Veronica and James had adopted Benny as a child but not officially.”

“How do you mean?”

“Not through the courts but that shouldn’t matter as most accepted Benny as their son and technically so does the law. The problem is although Benny has been officially named in Veronica’s will as benefactor, possibly the law will not accept her wishes.”

“Again why?”

“There isn’t any law that relates to the blacks as they are thought of as part of the country’s fauna and are simply pushed aside, meaning they can’t own or inherit property. Even in Henry Parks’ federation papers there is little mention on how they should be included into his brand new world and those who wish to treat them as equal are mostly ignored.”

“That doesn’t seem fair,” Dev protested.

“Fairness doesn’t come into it. Might is right and has always been that way. If you study history you will discover that it has happened in every country, on every continent, Europe, Africa the America’s and now down here,” Toby pauses, “this is all getting a little serious, let’s leave it for the future to solve, possibly federation won’t happen.”

“Possibly so but that won’t help Benny or the blacks.”

“Veronica will do everything she can to keep him safe. Now I guess you wish to know why I’ve been a little secretive of late.”

“It isn’t my business to do so,” Dev says.

“It is Dev – I assure you it is,”

As the two reached the river the moon came from behind a cloud and reflected ripples of silver along its length. Toby sat on the bank while Dev stood close by. “I had a letter from Father,” Toby says.

“I did notice its arrival,”

“My parents will not be returning to the colony,”

Dev remained silent.

“They have sold Jolimont,”

“Oh!” Dev’s heart sinks.

“They have sold the property to an associate who was out her for business some months back and thought he may like a change from the dank of London.”

“Is London so dank?”

“London is but the counties are as handsome as you would find anywhere.”

“What will you do?” Dev finally asks the question that was bothering.

“Wrong question Dev, what will we do but I can’t seem to get through to you that we are joined for life,” Toby laughs, “come and sit with me,”

Dev comes close and Toby places his arm around Dev’s shoulders, “that is of course if you wish it that way.”

“You know I do,”

“Good, then I have a question for you.”

“I am listening,”

“How would you like to visit your name sake?”

“Devon?”

“Yes Dev, Devon. How would you like to live in England?”

“With your parents?” Dev cautiously asks.

“Not with my parents but in Devon, I have a cottage and some land near the village of Budleigh.”

“You did mention such a property,” Dev recollects.

“Then what do you think about my suggestion?”

“What would I do in England?”

“Horticulture, England is the home of horticulture, I think you would do just dandy but if you don’t want to travel, I could purchase a property somewhere up this way. So what are you thoughts on that?”

“Excited and frightened at the same time. I feel I don’t contribute to our relationship.”

“How do you mean?”

“You are always giving and I have nothing to offer in return.”

“But you do more than you can imagine,”

“How so?”

“By keeping me sane,”

Dev placed his arms around his knees then again lifted and walked to the water. His eyes are fixed on the glistering ripples as a tree branch floated slowly by; a dark shape upon brilliance as it bobbed up and down in the slight current.

‘I could be that branch,’ he thinks.

‘Ever drifting and going to an unknown destination.’

‘But isn’t that life in general, shouldn’t one take opportunities as they arise?’

Dev released a deep sigh.

‘If I agree would I be using Toby’s good nature?’ he thinks.

‘Then again – fuck I love the man,’

Dev returned to be seated.

“Well what do you think of my suggestion?” Toby softly asks.

“I have a dilemma Toby,”

“Out with it,”

“My nature would never take advantage of another’s goodwill,”

“That has been obvious of you since the first day you poked your nose through the Jolimont garden fence and that is what drew me towards you.”

“What would people say?”

“They would say; there goes Tobias Nevis a lucky man to have such a friend and partner.”

“Or there goes Devon Gooding a gold digger of the highest order,”

“You worry too much about others, don’t you think it is about time you worried about yourself and my feelings towards you; don’t my feeling account for anything?”

“I suppose so,”

“Just suppose?” Toby cuts in.

“Yes they do,”

“So what is your answer?”

“Yes I would love to travel to England with you.”

Veronica met the two as they returned from their walk, “who’s for a brandy?” she offered.

“I’d love a beer Veronica,” Dev admits.

“Same here,” says Toby.

“Well?” Veronica says.

“Dev said yes to England,” Toby shares with pride and a dash of excitement.

“There you go and you said he wouldn’t agree. What do you think of that Dev?” Veronica asks.

“I would say bewildered in the most.”

Some days after arriving home from Echuca Dev was in for a surprise. It was during Saturday’s evening when Toby returned from a meeting of his regiment. Almost as soon as Toby walked in the door he called Dev.

“You appear concerned; you’re not being called off to some war somewhere?” Dev asks.

“No nothing like that, firstly the regiment isn’t part of the British forces so we only act when the Victorian parliament deems it necessary.”

“What has happened?” Dev asks.

“It is Jack,”

Dev’s expression became sallow, “has he had an accident?”

“No he has deserted and as far as we can figure, Jack has taken a ship to San Francisco.”

“Why would he do that, he wanted to join the military.”

“He left a letter for you,” Toby offers up an envelope.

Dev slowly read the contents. “Have you read this?” he asks.

“I’m afraid under the circumstances it was my duty to do so.”

“He says he wasn’t cut out to obey orders and march all day and he’s gone to find his father.”

“Also your father?” Toby asks.

“No we are half brothers, Jacks father deserted mum when Jack was but a boy, mum married again and my father was killed in an accident on the wharf.”

“I didn’t know he was killed– sorry.”

“That’s alright, like Jack I didn’t know really dad either. What will happen now?”

“Not a lot unless Jack returns to Melbourne, even then we are nothing like the British regiments who shoot deserters, at worst he would be given a few months in the stockade and made to replay the cost of his uniform and kit.”

“If we go to England, Jack will never be able to find us,”

“Possibly so,”

“I’ll never see him again.”

“Dev it was Jack’s decision to leave without thought for your concern.”

“I won’t have any family left.”

“I can’t answer that for you Dev.”

Dev stood silently as if he had been struck to stone while remaining expressionless; his head turned towards the large window of the sitting room, beyond the last of the day’s sunlight was fading and small birds were finding roost amongst the foliage of the camellias.

Eventually Toby broke across his solitude, “Dev what do you want to do?”

“I don’t know,”

“You need time; maybe you should take a few days away to think this out.”

“What about our travel?” Dev eventually speaks but his gaze remains beyond the window within the darkening shapes of the camellia bushes.

“Not while you are like this, if we travel now you will never forgive me and I can’t live with that.”

Gary’s stories are about life for gay men in Australia’s past and present. Your emails to him are the only payment he receives. Email Gary to let him know you are reading: Gary dot Conder at CastleRoland dot Net

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