Walkabout Woman by Michaela Roessner

Author:Michaela Roessner [Roessner, Michaela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9780553275452
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 1988-01-01T16:00:00+00:00

Retracing her roundabout way automatically, she was lost in thought. The old men played cards interminably, and, like their decks, her life was shuffled before her. Events fell into place: the enigma of Huroo’s birth and the lurking menace on the edge of her dreams. The old barrier between her and Huroo now had a name: Numada. She understood now that Huroo’s old avoidance of her had been deftly planted aversions.

She felt ill with fear. The solidity of waking-life twisted, distorted, laughed at her unsteadiness. Did Djilbara know? Raba remembered the night of the Emu feast and the unknown demon that the Wuradilagu battled then. She saw clearly the fine machinery that set in motion the request for her to be married off to Talbiri. Djilbara had known. Why hadn’t Djilbara told her?

Raba cast her memory like a spear-thrower. It came back with a possible answer. She remembered a lesson Djilbara had given her in building spells to hide. She’d rebelled, preferring to fight or flee if the need arose.

“There are birds,” the Wuradilagu told her, “that camouflage their young by having them simply hold very still when danger threatens, so that they seem part of the landscape. The chicks do not look at their enemies, nor think of them, so they won’t smell of fear. Then the mother leads the hunters away. These spells are the same. You will hide by denying your enemy any power over you.”

Was that what Djilbara had been doing? Hoping to leave Raba invisible through ignorance, while she, Djilbara, dealt with Numada? If so, Djilbara was wrong. It hadn’t worked. It couldn’t. Raba saw that Numada had been interwoven in the fringes of Huroo’s life since his birth. Raba and Numada were bound to collide with each other, each of them so intertwined in Huroo. Her confidence in her teacher was shaken.

Should she tell Huroo? Was it fair to leave him in ignorance the way Djilbara had left her? All alone by herself climbing through the gullys, Raba shook her head. Huroo didn’t have her resources of power to protect himself, and Numada’s lie was the very foundation on which Huroo’s life was built. He’d be shattered. Better to get him away from here first, away from Numada’s influence.

Raba’s anger at Djilbara was still unabated. But, shuddering, she had to admit to herself, that now that she knew about Numada, it was as if she’d drawn his gaze to her more clearly.

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