Published: 1 Jan 2018

Both William and his twin Cameron were working together with the planting of the next season’s crop, while across the rows half dozen blacks mimicked their actions. They had been quickly schooled in the art of planting but the information had not sunk deeper than a millimetre into their grey matter. As for mimic, at this they were experts, taking each action with a good dose of humour.

William glanced across towards the natives to check their progress and was most dissatisfied with their labour. Quickly he crossed the rows to where they were working. “No no no; he shouted. Not vertical plant horizontal.” It appeared his helpers, realising that cane, as did trees, grew vertically so it was sapient to plant them so. William snatched a short length of seed cane from the closest hand and replanted it with much force. The natives stood by amused and confused and commenced to chatter in language.

“Christ where is Runt when you need him.” William took a deep breath and repeated, “Horizontally– plant them long ways.” The natives soon understood and commenced to lay them flat.

It appeared they well understood chopping down things but planting had never been necessary, if they exhausted their supply of edible plants in one area they simply moved to another, allowing the natural cycle to give regrowth. As for their wandering, forty thousand years of moving on had become so entrenched into their persona that a full week of work was somewhat distressing, while life at the camp on the edge of McBride’s fields was slowly consuming their spirits.

Now they were a people with song lines, verse how to travel from one watering hole to another, one food sauce to the next without a destination and sang their songs without purpose. Yet as they planted the lengths of seed cane they did sing and with more heart than they gave to the planting.

Success in having the natives help with the planting was once again down to Lachlan’s ability to understand their ways, convincing his father to pay them in stores rather than cash. The old man eventually saw the benefit but not until after the toweling Lachlan received for the incident of his initial raid on the store without obtaining his or William’s resolve.

It had been William who swung their father’s decision but this time they had to agree to work for a smaller quantity of flour, tea and tobacco, much less than the lad had originally supplied and did so in sympathy for causing their friend’s trouble. Sympathy or not it didn’t increase their rate of work and they needed constant supervision by William or their minds quickly wandered, followed by their bodies taking most of the day to find them, if at all.

During the mid afternoon Lucy brought refreshments, in the form of sandwiches and a pitcher of lemonade. The natives having acquired a taste for bread devoured the sandwiches but had no taste for the lemonade, thinking it bitter. When offered a pannikin they took deeply of the cool liquid but each in turn spat it to the ground, complaining bitterly in language and pointing to the creek some distance away.

Nervously Lucy smiled while keeping her distance. Their dark skin frightened her, wide eyes and flashing white teeth appeared to devour black faces becoming devils to be feared. Her knowledge of the black man had been gleaned from novels she had read as a child, or stories designed to frighten children, telling of flesh hungry cannibals with bones through their noses and large blacken cooking pots with children and missionaries on the menu and silent attacks on unwary settlers in the dead of night, black faces pushed against window glass while yellow canine teeth dripped with saliva as they peered with evil intent through settlers windows.

Cameron watched as Lucy left the field. There was a gentle swish in her behind and elegance at her neckline he could not describe. He would attempt to translate his thoughts into language but none would forth come, all he found was the commandment dissuading coveting of his brother’s wife.

“You fancy her don’t you?” William asked of Cameron, bringing his brother’s eyes back to his work and away from Lucy.

“You are lucky, she is very pretty.” Cameron declared.

“Do you think so?” William evoked.

“I’ve always thought so and Lucy has a soft nature.”

“If you were married to her you wouldn’t think such. She can be a right nag.”

“I’ve never noticed, besides Lucy is almost as good a cook as mother.” Cameron praised.

“Cooking isn’t everything.”

“I reckon it goes a long towards being most things.” Cameron answered.

“Well how about tonight, I’ve offered enough.”

“I don’t know.”

“It is my last offer.”

Cameron’s thoughts were elsewhere and refrained from issuing an immediate answer on the matter; instead supplied William with a new question.

“Why did you marry Lucy?”

“Father of course, his choice and his direction, I had my eyes on Tilly Ross from over Herbertvill way,” William’s thoughts began to wander as he visualized Tilly and her ample rear, oversized breasts, “now she did have good child bearing hips,” William recollected “and not some skinny bean pole that gets lost within the bedding at night.”

“Lucy has a fine figure.” Cameron protested.

“Maybe so but she would never have been my choice.”

“So why did you agree to marry her?”

“Father of course, he made some deal with Lucy’s old man and marriage became the product of the deal, besides he want’s grandchildren, as he believes that none he has sired are worthy of carrying on the family name.”

“What about our sisters, they have children?” Cameron suggested.

“Yes but they don’t have the precious McBride name do they?”

“Do you love her?”

“Cameron my dear brother, you have tried that question on me before.”

“You didn’t answer.”

“I root her don’t I?”

Cameron paused from his work as his brother’s suggestion sunk deeper into his assessment as a rise commenced beneath the cloth covering his crotch. Obviously, although his mind wasn’t in agreement with William’s suggestion, his body was.

“How would you arrange it all?”

“Leave that to me but you must be ready when I say so and practice my ways.”

“It’s not really right.” Cameron quietly protested.

“Why not you said you wanted to do so.”

“But isn’t marriage sorta sacred, sorta – I don’t know but not what we are suggesting?”

“I guess it is when two enter into such an arrangement on equal terms but when it is forced upon you, I feel it’s simply day to day living, with Lucy it is akin to living with our sisters but with bedroom entertainment.”

“Then you shouldn’t have agreed to marry Lucy.” Cameron strongly protested.

“As I said father wanted it and father got what he wanted, it’s always that way.”

“I wouldn’t marry because father demanded I did so.” Cameron bravely assured.

“Cameron father wouldn’t care who you married.” William paused, realising he was being insensitive towards his brother, “in father’s opinion as I am the eldest, I will inherit and my son will continue the name of McBride and inherit after me.”

“What about Robert and Daniel they are McBride’s?” Cameron questioned almost forgetting their youngest brother, “and Lachlan?” He footnoted to his question.

“Maybe they will marry and have children but father has all but disinherited them.”

“What about me?” Cameron asked.

“It wasn’t my decision, if you have a problem with it you should speak to father, besides he wishes to keep his estate complete and if it was shared five ways, no seven with the girls, it would fail.”

“I wouldn’t wish to inherit the farm anyway but I do think the others should have some share.”

“Again Cameron it is father’s decision; what about my suggestion for tonight?

Sunday’s end of the months gathering was held and had its usual intrigue. McBride issued his familiar rant on who was meeting potential and who was not, the general outcome being no one had or could rise to expectation. This night there appeared to be a lessening in the man’s manor, appearing somewhat distant while his demanding appeared to be more abstract than directed at an individual and once delivered he departed company without his usual bluster.

During the day William gave Cameron notice that it was now or never. So as the night concluded and as William and Lucy were leaving William excused himself, declaring he had forgotten something. Once back in the house he took Cameron aside to one of the disused bedrooms, where both men stripped to exchange clothes.

Once totally naked and standing before each other Cameron laughed, “We are still identical, even down to our dicks. Standing in front of you is like standing in front of a mirror.” He declared in amazement.

“Yes dear brother but do you know how to use it?” In William’s statement lay the problem to their game and Cameron’s inexperience with women may be their downfall. Even with Williams coaching, there was one act he could not teach his brother and that was technique.

“What if I make her pregnant?” Cameron gasped.

“It will still be a McBride and that alone will satisfy the old man.”

With their rolls switched, William followed Cameron to the stairs where Lucy was waiting.

“Goodnight William.” William bade farewell to Cameron as he descended the stairs with Lucy.

“Goodnight Cameron.” Cameron answered with the perfect pitch of his brother’s voice and no one appeared to notice.

“The walk! Get the walk!” William growled in a whisper on watching his brother descend the flight of wide white stairs. Cameron at that instant realised and switched his step and it was perfect.

“And a very good night to you brother.” William again whispered as Cameron and Lucy disappeared into the night.

Cameron may have remembered to correct his walk but William did not and back in the house Daniel noticed the change in his brother. Smiling and with a touch of sarcasm bade his brother as Cameron good night, emphasising Cameron.

Daniel remembered the games he and Robert once played, also the fact that he knew that Cameron and William played the same game. He now understood what his older brothers had often whispering about and liked their style.

“So the switch is on.” Daniel mumbled as William passed.

“What was that?” William asked forgetting who he was supposed to be.

“Nothing Cameron and good night.

What made the switch somewhat easy for Cameron was the fact that William and Lucy didn’t converse to any extent, when they did it was mostly in answer to questions. This night was no different, except Lucy did seem to ask more questions than usual.

Cameron felt secure in his sham; he had answered all Lucy’s questions in a proper manor, of which none appeared to be personal or beyond his capability. All except one which he pretended not to have heard and seeing it was not repeated, believed he had survived its asking.

It was late and the lamp burnt low. Cameron doused the flame as he would, without knowing how William would do so and again he was not discovered.

“Will, are you working early tomorrow?” Lucy asked as they readied for bed.

“Why?”

“I have a little job around the house for you.”

“Yes I’ll be planting most of the day.”

Cameron sat on the bedside to remove his boots then remembered to drop them one at a time to the floor. He did so and each in its turn echoed on the rough uncovered floorboards, smiling he liked the feeling received from his sham and wished to repeat the action. He did not and sat naked on the side of the bed, his back towards Lucy and greatly aroused, surely such a state would give him away. He tried thinking of more banal thoughts but the image of Lucy’s naked body waiting behind him pumped even more blood to his crotch, until he thought it would explode. Lucy lay silent waiting for her husband’s almost nightly ritual. William would mount her without speaking place his head in the nap of her neck and in Lucy’s words – Do his business.

The brother’s plan was, once the act was done Cameron would remove himself from his brother’s marital bed on the pretence he had forgotten to attend to something and meet William outside, then as himself, William would return to his bed and surprise his wife by taking advantage of her for a second time. Oddly the thought of entering his wife after his brother had done so excited William, taking him back to that day by the river when Cameron shared his only sexual encounter.

Cameron paused at the gates of pleasure and became guilt ridden. He unlike his brother had respect for women and wished to stop his sham but the furnace that burnt in his head and his crotch would not allow recall. He entered and felt every nerve end from his head to his toes go into overdrive. Seconds later, as would William he was spent and like his brother rolled silently to his side to regain strength to finalise their fraud.

“What was that, I heard something outside?” Cameron declared as directed to do so by his brother.

“It’s probably only William.” Lucy answered.

Cameron froze, he was undone. What action caused Lucy’s suspicion? Could he ever face her again?

“You know?”

“Of corse Cameron, I have alway been capable of telling you apart. I knew it was you from the moment we left the house.”

“How?”

“Don’t you think a woman would know her husband?” Lucy spoke low but kindly, without anger towards the brother’s charade. “Besides I had already asked William to do that little job tomorrow and he refused and I never call him Will.”

“Why did you go through with it?”

“I suppose if the two of you can play your silly little game, so can I. Besides I have never really loved William, or he I and maybe I did it to get back at him.”

“Sorry.” Cameron spoke sincerely.

“Don’t be, when I first met you both, it was you Cameron I fancied but back then I couldn’t tell the difference and When William asked me to marry him I thought he was you.”

“Sorry.”

“There you go again, William would never apologise.”

“What happens now?”

“Nothing Cameron, I am married to William and that is that.”

“Sorry.” Cameron once more apologised.

“If you don’t tell William I won’t either but that is up to you.” Lucy declared “and if you say sorry once more, I will become very angry.”

“I don’t know how I will face you in the future.” Cameron spoke softly his head bowed from his discovery and shame.

“The same way you would have if I had not discovered your game.” Lucy said running a finger down Cameron’s naked back as he sat on the side of her bed. The touch once again brought blood to his member but it halted there without the urge to continue.

“William will be waiting outside, I should go.”

“Are you going to tell William?” Lucy asked once more.

“No.”

“You realise, this can never happen again.”

Cameron agreed and left.

“Well what did you think?” William asked. The hot sun on his back as he hoed weeds from between the rows of quickly growing cane stretching in every direction as far as the eye could see. He worked with the realisation that once the end of the row had been reached, it would be time to start once more at the beginning of another; again and again the procedure would be repeated until the day was spent.

Across the rows a number of Aboriginal workers mimicked the white man’s toil, chatting in their own sing song language, filled with humour and in continuous wit. Occasionally a hoe would slip; slicing a healthy stalk of cane, bringing the culprit to raise his head, then assured he was not discovered would replant the broken stalk to hide his error.

“I feel strange talking about it.” Cameron finally answered.

“Did you like it?”

“I did but I don’t think it was fair on Lucy.” Cameron explained from his deep well of guilt.

“Do you want another shot eh?”

“You shouldn’t have married Lucy, you don’t love her.”

“You are persistent with that brother, as I said I wouldn’t have if father hadn’t forced me to do so.”

“Best not too, eventually Lucy may work out the difference.” Cameron declined.

“She wouldn’t have a clue but it’s up to you and most probably the only way you’ll get a root.” William continued with his work, “A perfect sham and I can’t enjoy it with anyone.” William shook his head and laughed loudly, while Cameron thought that the sham was on his brother, seeing they had been discovered.

Daniel had held his information to himself for most of the week but could no longer refrain from exploiting his news. He could have divulged it at one of Lachlan’s rare visits to the big house but he wished to savour its telling, wishing to extract every morsel of value from his brother’s expression. Now seated in Lachlan’s kitchen, he was ready to share the twin’s secrete.

It was late and the lamp burnt low casting shadows around the room, painting an impish impression upon the face of Daniel.

“You said you have something to tell me?”

It was time Daniel could no longer hold back, his eyes opened wide and his smile as wide as he spoke.

“Do you remember me saying that William and Cameron were up to something?”

Lachlan admitted he did but showed little interest in the antics of the twins, as they were always up to something clandestine and usually it was Lachlan at the receiving end.

“They changed places as they did as children.”

“So did you and Robert, what’s so different it that?” Lachlan answered.

“Yes it was from them Robert and I got the idea but we were never as good as they were.” Still Daniel held back while savouring each line.

“I thought they would have grown out of childish games.”

“It happened after last Sunday’s meal.” Daniel paused then continued. “They switched identity.”

“Why would they do that?” Lachlan asked now showing a morsel of interest.

“Sex silly, Cameron went home with Lucy pretending to be William.” Then Daniel broke into his Gatling-Gun laughter before continuing with his story. “I followed William to his cottage garden after Cameron had left with Lucy, where he waited. Some time later Cameron appeared totally naked,” again a pause and a laugh, “he then changed into William’s clothes and William went inside, as naked as Cameron had come out.”

“What were they up to?” Lachlan innocently asked.

“Come on you can’t be that dumb.”

“I’d rather be considered dumb than believe what I think you are suggesting.” Lachlan soberly answered.

“So believe it brother, I saw it with my own eyes.” Daniel assured.

“Poor Lucy, I don’t think that was a civil thing to do to anyone. Do you think she would have realised?” Lachlan’s sympathy was real, while Daniel lacked any sign of empathy for his sister-in-law.

“Couldn’t say; I wouldn’t have realised the switch except for Williams mistake after dinner, when he came back into the house as Cameron.”

“If what you say is fact, what if Lucy becomes pregnant?” Lachlan asked.

“That could be interesting; I wonder if William thought of that?”

“I know if it were me I would wish to know if the child was mine.” Lachlan spoke most emphatically.

“Would you wish for children?” Daniel asked.

“You know Daniel I believe it would be the most wondrous experience in a man’s life, to hold his new born son.”

“Or daughter,” Daniel interrupted.

“Yes, or daughter and to hear its first cries realising it came from the union of your body and that of its mother.”

“You would have to marry first.” Daniel suggested.

“I guess so.”

“Do you want to marry?”

“Part of me yearns to do so but a greater portion rebukes the idea. I guess it will never happen.” Lachlan appeared to drift away towards the reality of his life and his developing preference.

“Why wouldn’t you marry,” Daniel asked, “then again you may not have a choice as it was with William, father appears to make those decisions in this family.”

“I think you already know why Daniel and as for our brothers’ antics – well you know my opinion.” Lachlan concluded.

“I think it was a great scam.” Daniel as usual showed his lacking in what was considered to be social conduct.

“Well no matter what, in my opinion it wasn’t a nice thing to do to anyone. As for you brother it’s late and I’m off to bed.”

“I’ll stay if you like.” Daniel offered.

“No, I don’t like sharing my bed.”

Daniel stood to leave, remembering one more item of interest he returned to his chair, “I heard something about Ralph Williams our teacher.”

“I saw him in town last week and he still whistles any word with an s in it.” Lachlan unconsciously released a smile.

“I never liked him.” Daniel freely admitted.

“That was because you never shut up long enough to learn anything and that is why he picked on you.”

“Did he ever try anything with you?”

“In what way?”

“Well you know, touch you.” Daniel appeared to be relishing his information.

“No but he did make me uncomfortable with his eyes, why?”

“Do you remember Rodney O’Brien?”

“Not really.” Lachlan impatiently answered, finding Daniel’s latest morsel of gossip somewhat drawn and lacking conclusion.

“He was that skinny kid with freckles and pimples.”

“Yes, I remember – somewhat a mummy’s boy, he cried a lot, you used to tease him.”

“No I didn’t!” Daniel protested.

“It appeared that way – go on.”

“Well he has a younger brother who is still at school and Rodney has accused old Williams of tampering with him.”

Lachlan appeared taken by his brother’s gossip. “Do you think it’s true?”

“Probably not but that’s not to say the old goat would like to do something. I reckon he would if you offered.”

“Why Daniel, did you offer?” Lachlan asked with a mocking smile.

“Shit no, I’m not like that.”

Ralph Williams lived in a Cottage at the end of the School Yard, surrounded by a neat garden and an ample vegetable patch to the rear, to catch the morning sun. Williams did enjoy the vegetables provided by his patch but didn’t do the gardening himself, instead he had his pupils weed and water at a few pence for a Saturday afternoon’s work.

In the early years Rodney O’Brien was William’s regular gardener but when he finished his school years, his younger brother took the roll. With this interchange Rodney became somewhat peeved to think he had been overlooked, creating a bout of jealousy that ending with him spreading a rumour the teacher was molesting his charges.

“Has anyone reported the matter?” Lachlan asked, yawned then stretched his arms towards the ceiling.

“I don’t think so I only heard it from Billy Thomas today and he heard it form Reg Maloney.”

“Maloney is full of it, I wouldn’t take anything he said serious.” Lachlan appeared somewhat doubting.

“Maybe but I reckon so.”

“It sounds something like some put up job to me.” Lachlan suggested, stretched once more, yawned again and standing walked to the door opening it wide. “Goodnight Brother.”

“What do you think of William and Cameron’s switch?” Daniel asked as he commenced to depart, wishing to squeeze one more drop of delight from his story.

“I think it’s disgusting, I like Lucy and believe she should be treated with a measure of respect. She is much too good for this degenerate family.”

“Don’t blame me brother, I’m only the conveyor of stories.” Daniel protested.

“Yea, goodnight.”

Let Gary know what you think of his story.

51,995 views