CHAPTER 1

All I could see were shadows. There was no moon. Nothing moved. Suddenly more
shadows appeared. It looked as if the shadows were dancing and slowly coming closer to
me. I could hear whispers coming from everywhere. Then a strong wind picked up. The
wind and the shadows were whispering together, telling me something. I tried to reach
out and touch the shadows, but they kept moving further away. I started to run after them,
but before I could reach them, they'd gone.
"Good morning, this is the seven o'clock news. You're listening to MMM FM Sydney.
Today's headlines are..."
As Richard switched off the radio alarm clock, his mother, Sonya, burst into his room and
opened the curtains.
"Rise and shine, young man," she said. "You don't want to be late for school, do you?"
Richard quickly put his hands over his eyes to protect himself from the light. "Oh Mum,
that's cruel!" he said to his mother.
Sonya smiled at him and left the room. Richard could hear her repeating the same words
in his sister's bedroom just down the corridor. Routine was an important element in
Sonya's life. She believed it made the world an easier place to live in. Richard did not
agree with his mother's approach to life, but he admired her determination and
persistence.
"Time to get up," Richard thought to himself. As he slowly dragged himself out of bed,
he thought about the strange dream he had had. He kept having the same dream lately and
it was affecting his sleep.
"Are you going to the bathroom first, or should I?" asked Richard's younger sister Judy,
who was standing by his bedroom door.
"No, you go ahead," replied Richard.
Richard went over to his desk and picked up a pencil. He wanted to write about the dream
he had had. A few minutes passed, but he could not find the right words to describe the
dream. He sometimes wished his life could be as clear-cut as his mother's. But it was not,
and the dream only confirmed this further. He dropped his pencil and went to the
bathroom.
“Richard, breakfast is ready," shouted Sonya.
As Richard was walking down the staircase, he paused and quickly went back to his
room. He was beginning to remember the dream. "Why is Richard taking so long?" asked
his father Joe. “I don’t know, but he looks like he has something on his mind," said
Sonya.
Later that morning, Richard and his brother Tom were sitting beside the railway tracks,
where they usually sat every morning before going to school. Tom, lying on the grass,
enjoyed these moments of laziness.
"Earth calling spaceship Enterprise. Do you read me?" said Tom jokingly.
"What? Oh, I was day-dreaming," answered Richard. "I've got a few things on my mind,
that's all."
"Tell me Richard, have you decided what you want to study next year at university?"
asked Tom.
"No, I haven't," replied Richard, "... and I have to see the career teacher today."
"Well, you'd better think of something now," said Tom. "The career teacher won't be too
pleased if you have no idea what you want to do."
"What about you, Tom?" asked Richard. "Have you decided?"
"I think I'll continue with photography," said Tom. "I find it very interesting and it's not
your usual nine to five job." He looked at his watch and got up slowly. "Come on now,
let's go, or we'll be late for school."
When they arrived at school, Richard went to the career office and waited outside until he
was called by Mrs. O'Grady. He entered the office and sat down.
"Richard McDonald?" asked Mrs. O'Grady.
"That's right," answered Richard.
"Well, Richard, your school grades are very good," said the career teacher.
"I try my best," said Richard.
"May I ask you if you are of Aboriginal descent?" asked the career teacher.
"My father was an Aboriginal," said Richard. "He died when I was two years old. I was
adopted by the McDonalds."
"The reason why I'm asking is because the government wants to help Aborigines
financially with their studies," said Mrs. O'Grady.
"That's very interesting, but I don't think so," dismissed Richard.
"Well, it's something you can think about," said Mrs. O'Grady. "So, Richard, what are
your plans for next year?"
"Well," answered Richard, "I'm interested in history, so I would like to study that at
university."
“History is an interesting subject," said Mrs. O'Grady, "but I must tell you, jobs are
difficult to find in that field. Maybe the situation will improve by the time you graduate
in three or four years' time."
“Yeah, I sure hope so," said Richard.
“Ok, Richard, do you have any questions?" asked Mrs. O'Grady.
"No, not at the moment," answered Richard.
"Well then, good luck," said Mrs. O'Grady and smiled at Richard. "If you have any
questions, come and see me, OK?" Richard thanked her and left the office.
<§>
That afternoon Richard went to the Arcade to play video games. He got on his bike and
rode through the back streets, to avoid the patrol car that was usually stationed on the
main road. If the police saw him riding his bike without a helmet, they would stop him
immediately. A quarter of an hour later, Richard arrived at the Arcade. As he entered the
building, someone called out his name. He looked around and saw his friend Bradley.
"Richard! Where were you today?" asked Bradley. "I didn't see you in class." "I was with
the career teacher," said Richard. "So you didn't hear about the end-of-year camp?" asked
Bradley. "No, what camp?" asked Richard.
"This year's senior class camp will be in Alice Springs," replied Bradley. "We'll be
staying there for five days."
"Alice Springs!" shouted Richard. "That's something new. It should be interesting."
"And hot," added Bradley. "They say temperatures can reach up to 35 degrees during that
time, but I'm really looking forward to it." "When will we know more?" asked Richard.
"In two or three days' time," said Bradley.
Richard looked around the Arcade. "OK. So, where's this new video game everyone is
talking about?" he asked.
 CHAPTER 2

On Saturday morning Richard, Judy and Tom were playing cricket in the backyard. It
was their favourite pastime on the weekend. Having two older brothers meant that Judy
had become a very good player over the years. The boys considered her their equal and
gave her no special treatment. Judy was aware of this and proud of her achievement. She
had earned their respect, which meant a lot to her.
Joe came out to the backyard and joined the children in their game. A few minutes later,
he said to them playfully, "I need three volunteers." "That's really funny, Dad," said Judy
ironically. "What do you want us to do?”
"Well," said Joe, "I was in the attic yesterday afternoon looking for something and saw
how messy the place has become, so I was..."
"Oh dad," interrupted Richard, "that'll take hours. I have planned something for today."
"Don't get upset over nothing," said Joe. "The three of you can clean it up in no time.
Anyway, I'm not asking for a perfect job. Just put some things In order. Besides, when
was the last time I asked you for a favour?"
"OK," said Richard, "we'll get the job done."
"Can we keep any hidden treasures we find in there?" asked Tom jokingly.
“Off you go now, wise guys,” said there father.
When the children got into the attic, they realised it was not an easy job. No-one had
tidied the place for many years.
"Oh no!" said Tom. "We're going to spend the whole day here!"
"No, we aren't," said Judy. "We'll first move these trunks and boxes to the back wall.
That will give us some free space near the door and we'll be able to move more easily."
The two boys agreed with their sister and got down to work.
As Richard was moving a box, he suddenly saw a strange package behind a trunk. The
package was wrapped in a colourful cloth and covered with dust. Richard was curious
and decided to open it.
"Hey guys, come and see this," said Richard.
"What is it?" asked Judy and quickly added, "It looks like an Aboriginal decoration."
"Of course it's Aboriginal," said Tom, "but what's it doing here?" "I don't know," said
Richard. "It looks very old. Someone must have put It here a long time ago."
"But who?" asked Judy. "Whose was it?"
Meanwhile, Joe was in his study working on the computer. Sonya came in with a cup of
coffee in her hand. She approached her husband and asked, “Where are the children, Joe?
It's very quiet for a Saturday morning."
"They're busy at the moment," he answered.
"Oh, doing what?" asked Sonya. "I can't see them in the backyard."
"They're upstairs cleaning the attic," said Joe. "I was up there yesterday and saw how
messy it was, so I asked them to clean it up a bit."
Sonya put down her cup of coffee, looked at Joe and said, "But Joe, what if Richard finds
the you-know-what? Have you forgotten?"
"Oh dear," said Joe, "it's been such a long time... I'm afraid I did forget. What do I do
now?"
"There's nothing you can do," said Sonya. "Just hope they don't find it."
CHAPTER 3

“Your mother and I have called a family meeting to discuss the Aboriginal carving you
found in the attic yesterday," said Joe. "This matter affects the whole family, but
especially Richard."
Joe liked holding family meetings. He believed they were a good way to get the family
together and discuss things. The children thought they were a waste of time, but knowing
how important they were for their father, they played along. However, the topic at today's
meeting was quite unusual and the children were curious to hear what their father had to
say about it, Richard couldn't help feeling that this carving was of particular importance-
to him.
"Could I just say something to Richard first?" asked Sonya. She then turned to Richard
and said, "Your father and I love you dearly, and whatever we have ever done has been
for your good. Please keep that in mind." Richard smiled at his mother awkwardly, not
knowing what to say or do. "OK now," said Joe, "the carving you found is called a
tjurunga and it is used in Aboriginal rituals. It has something to do with the Dreamtime,
which I know nothing about, unfortunately. Your father gave it to us before he passed
away, Richard, and told us not to give it to you until the time had come.”
"And when would that be, Dad?" asked Judy. "Well, we don't quite know," said Joe. "All
your father said, Richard, was that you would know when that time had come. The
problem is that you found the tjurunga at the wrong moment. Your father's wish has not
been kept and I'm to blame for that. I'm sorry Richard." "Please, Dad, there is nothing to
be sorry about," said Richard. "I don't see the importance of a carving. It's nothing. Let's
forget the whole thing, ok?” But he didn't really mean these words. He felt that the
carving must mean something for him. But what?
Richard found it difficult to sleep that night. Many thoughts were going through his mind.
He felt sorry for his parents. They felt responsible for the whole situation and their
sadness showed in their eyes. But why were his parents shaken about this matter? Were
they hiding something from him? And what could an old wood carving hide? All these
thoughts kept racing through his mind unanswered. He looked up at the time and saw that
it was late. He suddenly felt sleepy, so he switched off the light. That night he had the
dream again.
The next morning, Richard and Bradley were late for school. Their teacher, Mrs.
Peterson, gave the boys a severe look as they entered the classroom. Bradley pointed to
his watch to show that they were not late after all. Richard mumbled an apology and the
boys took their seats. "Quiet please," said Mrs. Peterson. "I have an important
announcement to make before we begin. It's about this year's camp to Alice Springs." The
class fell silent.
"The camp is in two weeks and will last five days," said Mrs. Peterson, "We will fly to
Darwin and then travel to Alice Springs by bus. All those interested can write their name
on this list, which will be on the bulletin board outside the staffroom this afternoon. “Any
questions?" During the break, Richard, Tom and Bradley left the school ground secretly
to go to their favourite place just down the road, but still close enough for the school bell
to be heard. They usually sat near the edge of the cliff. From there, they could see the
Pacific ocean below them. The beach attracted many surfers because the waves usually
exceeded two meters. The boys enjoyed watching the surfers battling the waves and
coming off second best! They sat down. "Are you going on the camp, Richard?" asked
Bradley. "Of course he is," said Tom, before Richard could answer. "Actually, I've been
looking forward to it," said Richard. "Alice Springs sounds like a lot of fun. I can't wait."
"It's going to be quite an experience," said Tom excitedly.
"Hopefully, one worth remembering," remarked Richard.

CHAPTER 4

Two weeks later the campers left Sydney in a cheerful mood. Very few of the students
had travelled to the outback before, so expectations were high among them. The flight to
Darwin took over three hours. When they landed, the weather was hot and humid.
"Can you believe this heat?" cried Bradley. "It's terrible! I can't wait to get on an air-
conditioned bus."
"The wet season is the worst time to visit Darwin," said Richard. "The monsoon rains
make the weather hot and sticky."
"I'm not looking forward to an eight-hour drive to Alice Springs," said Tom unhappily.
"Hey, we're supposed to be having fun," said Richard. "Did anyone notice the landscape
from the plane? The view was incredible. Everything was so dry and rocky."
"Like the moon," said Tom.
"What?" asked Richard in a surprised voice.
"The landscape," said Tom, "reminded me of the pictures of the moon we see in books."
"Oh, yeah... that's true," said Richard. "It could just as well have been from another
planet."
"All I could see was the same landscape over and over again," said Bradley. "It
frightened me after a while. I couldn't help thinking what would happen if..."
"If what?" asked Tom. "Go on."
"If we had to make an emergency landing in the middle of nowhere and no-one came to
help," said Bradley. "I get the shivers just thinking about it."
"Well, thanks Bradley," said Richard. "You've really lifted our spirits now... good work!"
"All I said was..." Bradley started to explain.
"Never mind," said Richard. "Come on, we must get on the bus."
The campers arrived at the Gonwanda Land camp site in Alice Springs early in the
morning. The camp site was fifteen minutes away from the town centre. Their first task
was to set up their tents.
“Did you get any sleep on the bus?" asked Richard. "Yeah, I slept during the whole trip,"
replied Bradley. "How about you?
"Well, I got some sleep," said Richard, "but I spent most of the time looking out of the
window. With a full moon last night, I could see everything quite well. I was thinking
how unusual this place is, however I feel very close to this land. It's strange... I can't
explain it."
"I think the outback is a lonely, endless place," said Bradley. "It frightens me, but it has
its own, strange kind of beauty. It's not to everyone's taste, though."
"Breakfast will be served in five minutes," came the announcement from the loudspeaker.
"I guess we'd better start making our way towards the kitchen," said
Bradley.
The first day's programme included a visit to Alice Springs Art Gallery. There was an
exhibition of rare local Aboriginal art, which fascinated Richard. Every object seemed to
carry a special meaning to him, but there was one particular display that really caught his
attention. It showed various objects used in Aboriginal rituals. One of them looked like
the carving he had found in his parents' attic. He was surprised and felt he needed to
know more. He walked towards the reception desk and spoke to the receptionist.
“Excuse me," said Richard, "I need some information about an object on display."
“The curator of the gallery can help you," said the receptionist. "His office is down the
corridor, second door on your left."
A few minutes later, Richard was in the curator's office. The curator was an Aboriginal
man in his late thirties or early forties.
"Hello, my name is Richard McDonald," said Richard, introducing himself.
"Pleased to meet you Richard," said the curator. "My name is Paul Aranda, but everyone
calls me Aranda. How can I help you?"
"Well, I want some information about an object on display in the exhibition," said
Richard.
Aranda took out a folder with photographs of the exhibits. "Which particular work of art
are you interested in?" asked Aranda. Richard looked through the catalogue.
"This is the one I'm interested in," he said, pointing to one of the photographs.
Aranda looked at the photograph, glanced up at Richard and asked, "Is it for a school
project?"
"Actually no," replied Richard. "I have one at home."
"You have one at home! Is it a souvenir?" asked Aranda in a surprised voice.
"It was my father's," said Richard. "He gave it to my adoptive parents before he died."
"This all sounds very interesting, Richard," said Aranda. "Urn, do you know what tribe
your father came from?"
"I have no idea at all," said Richard. "The only thing I know is that I have a similar wood
carving at home. Can you tell me anything about it?"
"Well," said Aranda, "let me see. The tjurunga, as it is called, has to do with the
Dreamtime. It is still used by many tribes in a sacred ritual. Every male Aboriginal has a
tjurunga. When he dies, the tjurunga is buried with him, otherwise, his spirit walks the
earth until he finds his tjurunga."
"What should I do, Aranda?" asked Richard.
"I know an Aboriginal elder who can help you," said Aranda. "His name is Urandangi
and he lives in a small Aboriginal settlement just a few hours' drive from here. He can
give you more information about the tjurunga, Make sure you have it with you when you
go."
Richard was confused. "I just can't leave everything behind and go searching for
something I know nothing about!" he said.
"That's your decision to make, Richard," said Aranda seriously. 'All I can say to you is
that a spirit that calls you must be treated with respect."
"A spirit calls me?" asked Richard excitedly. "It all sounds very strange lo me. Why
would my father leave it behind anyway?"
Aranda stood up and looked at Richard. "Think carefully and you will understand," he
said firmly.
Richard realised that Aranda had nothing more to say. He said goodbye and left the
office. He felt uneasy for the rest of the day.
That night Richard had the same dream he was having lately. When he woke up the next
morning, the dream was still fresh in his mind. Now it was clear to him what it meant. It
was his calling.

CHAPTER 5

During the rest of the trip, Richard thought a lot about his dream, the tjurunga and what
Aranda had told him. By the time he returned home, he had already made up his mind.
But he felt he had to speak to his parents first. In the evening after the boys had returned
from Alice Springs, Tom and Judy went to the cinema but Richard preferred to stay at
home with his parents.
You seem very concerned, Richard," said Sonya. "Is there anything you would like to
talk to us about?"
Richard paused for a moment, not knowing how to begin. "While we were in Alice
Springs last week," he started, "we saw an exhibition of Aboriginal art in the gallery. I
saw a carving similar to the one in the attic. I asked the curator about it and he gave me
some important information, Dad” said Richard seriously, "when I found the tjurunga in
the attic, it was meant to happen”.
"What do you mean Richard?" asked Joe.
"It was a calling," said Richard. "My father's spirit is wandering the earth searching for
his tjurunga. He will keep walking the earth until the tjurunga is buried with him."
"But Richard, you found the tjurunga by accident," said Joe. "It was my fault."
"Nothing happens by accident," said Richard. "And the dreams about spirits are definitely
not accidental. It all makes sense to me now."
"What dreams, Richard?" asked Sonya. "You haven't mentioned anything about dreams
to us."
"I know," said Richard, "I wasn't sure what my dreams meant before. It's all clear to me
now."
"You're making me very nervous, Richard," said Sonya. "Please promise me you'll think
it over carefully before you make any decisions."
"Mum, I've thought it over carefully," said Richard firmly. "I must find my father's burial
ground. The tjurunga must be buried there. I see it as my duty."
"I see you're quite definite about your plans," said Joe in a concerned voice. "Your
mother and I are very worried about this matter, but we understand how important it is
for you to do your duty. You have shown that you can face up to your responsibilities."
"And when are you planning to do this?" asked Sonya.
"Once the school year is over, in a month's time," answered Richard.
"Until then, we want you to put all your effort into your studies," said Sonya. "We can
talk about your trip in more detail after your exams."
Richard agreed and promised to remain focused on his studies.
The next morning, Richard was looking out of his bedroom window when Tom opened
the door.
"Richard, have you got a spare moment?" he asked. "Yeah," answered Richard. "What is
it?"
"Well... it's about your trip," said Tom. "I was wondering whether you wanted me to
come along with you." Before Richard could say anything, Tom continued, "I know
you're trying to sort out a very serious matter and you're not going on holiday, but I think
it would be better if I came with you. Mum and Dad would also feel better. Besides, just
think of the great photos I can take."
Richard did not answer immediately. He was thinking. He finally looked at Tom and
said, “Of course you can come. I’ll feel a lot better if you are with me. Thanks Tom.”
"That's what older brothers are for," said Tom jokingly. 'Yeah, only just a bit older," said
Richard. "Two months to be exact." "Nevertheless older, my dear brother," remarked
Tom. "Come on, it's lime we left for school."
A bit later, Richard and Tom were sitting beside the railway tracks. They had a lot to talk
about. Their trip required planning and they quickly realised they would need good
advice. Bradley showed up after a while as usual.
"Hi Bradley," said Tom. "What's up?"
"Nothing much," said Bradley. "Isn't it a bit late?"
"Late?" asked Tom. "You've never been on time to school so far this year. Why break
with tradition now? Besides, today we're planning our trip for this summer."
"Oh, where?" asked Bradley. "Alice Springs," said Richard.
"What! Again?" asked Bradley in a surprised voice.
"You know about the Aboriginal carving I saw in the art gallery during our visit to Alice
Springs," said Richard. "Well, it's similar to the one my father left behind before he died.
I must find my father's burial ground and bury the carving with him. It's a sort of ritual. I
can't explain it now."
"Wow... you've got quite a situation there," said Bradley. After a moment of silence, he
asked, "Have you ever been to the outback by yourselves?"
"Well, no," answered Tom. "We must find help."
"But where from?" asked Richard.
"You're looking at it," said Bradley.
"What?" said Tom in a surprised voice.
"Nearly every year, my Dad and I go to explore the outback," said Bradley, quite proud
of himself. "I'm your man for the job!"
"Well, well, well, if it's not the boy scout himself," said Tom laughing.
"Give him a break, Tom," said Richard. "Would you really come with us?" he asked
Bradley. "We're going once school is out."
"Yes, of course," cried Bradley enthusiastically. "We're a team, aren't we?"
Richard and Tom looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.
"Alice Springs, here we come," said Tom happily.
CHAPTER 6

The following month went by quickly. The big day Richard and Tom had been waiting
for had arrived. Sonya was nervous, so she kept herself busy with the packing.
"Water bottles, first aid kit, compass..." said Sonya. "Yes Mum, we've packed
everything," said Tom.
"I'm just making sure you don't forget anything important," said Sonya. "Oh, and call us
immediately if you get into any trouble. Please promise!"
Tom and Richard looked at each other with a grin on their face.
"Sonya dear," said Joe, "the boys will be in the outback. There are no telephones there.
Let's not get carried away now. They'll be fine."
Sonya looked at Joe with a confused expression on her face. Joe smiled reassuringly and
Sonya turned to Richard. "Is the tjurunga in a safe place?" she asked.
Before Richard could answer, Judy said, "I've wrapped up the tjurunga in a soft cloth and
put it in a cardboard box. It's in Richard's backpack. It's safe there."
"Thanks Judy," said Richard.
"I wish I could go with you," said Judy.
"Let's not go over the same things again," said Joe.
"I know, Dad, but..." Judy started saying, but Joe gave her a severe look and she knew it
wasn't the right time to cause a fuss. She quickly changed the subject.
"What time are you meeting Bradley at the airport?" she asked.
"In one hour," answered Tom.
"I think we should set off soon," said Richard.
"Everything packed?" asked Joe. "Good. Let's go."
The plane to Darwin left on time. Once in Darwin, the three boys decided to fly to Alice
Springs and avoid the long bus ride. They were impatient to get there. When they arrived
in Alice Springs, they headed for the art gallery to find Aranda, who was very happy to
see Richard and his companions.
"It's good to see you here," said Aranda.
"It's good to be here," replied Richard.
“I see you’ve brought some helpers with you Ritchard”, said Aranda. “This is my brother
Tom and our friend Bradley”, said Ritchard. “Hello boys” said Aranda. “It’s good that
you're here with Richard. He will need all the help he can get to complete his mission."
Tom and Bradley greeted Aranda. His words made them feel even more excited about the
journey.
“So, Aranda," said Richard, "we're here to find that Aboriginal elder you told me about
last time I was here." "You mean Urandangi," said Aranda. "He lives on an Aboriginal
settlement. I will show you on a map where to go. However, I must first contact
Urandangi and let him know you're here. Before we begin talking about details, you need
to rest and have dinner." "Where can we spend the night?" asked Tom.
"You can stay at my place tonight," said Aranda. "That will give us a chance to talk about
your trip."
"We don't want to cause any trouble," said Bradley. "We can always stay in a hotel."
"Don't be silly," said Aranda. "My wife will be pleased to have such good company."
"OK," said Richard. "We'd be honoured."
Aranda and the three boys drove out to his house, which was on a large farm. The night
was cool and the boys were very hungry. Aranda's wife, Catherine, was waiting for her
guests on the front porch. Aranda introduced everyone and they all went inside to have
dinner.
"Aranda has told me about you, Richard," said Catherine. "He knew you would come
back after your first meeting. So, it came as no real surprise to me when Aranda called
me this afternoon to tell me you're here."
"I must admit it was a decision I made overnight," said Richard. "Before that, I had no
intention of doing anything. I'm quite surprised at myself."
"It came as a real surprise to me when I heard about Richard's plans," said Tom. "He
hadn't told me about his discussion with Aranda during the camp."
"Tom offered to come with me immediately," said Richard.
"And how did you get involved in this, Bradley?" asked Catherine.
"Well," answered Bradley proudly, "I've got a lot of experience in camping and hiking in
the outback, so I offered to help my friends."
"My word, you are lucky to have such good friends, Richard," said Catherine.
Richard looked at Tom and Bradley. 'Yeah, they're OK, I guess," he said and grinned.
They all laughed.
After dinner they all sat outside on the porch. The night was quiet and the stars flooded
the sky. In the distance, the Southern Cross was shining brightly. It all seemed like a
dream to Richard. He had to pinch himself every now and again to make sure he wasn't
dreaming. He had begun something not knowing how it would end. That frightened and
excited him at the same time. Listening to Aranda gave Richard confidence and courage
to continue. This meant a lot to him.
Catherine walked up to the boys, put her hand on Richard's shoulder and said, "I think it's
time you boys got some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day."

CHAPTER 7

The morning was cool and unusually quiet for someone brought up in a city and used to
noise. Richard knew the significance of silence in Aboriginal culture but he could not
quite feel it. He knew he would need to learn how to listen to silence.
"Good morning Richard," said Aranda.
"Good morning Aranda," said Richard. "Have you been up long?" "Before sunrise...
every day," said Aranda. Richard rolled his eyes to show his surprise.
"I spoke to a member of Urandangi's tribe earlier," said Aranda. "I told him about you
and he said he would contact me either this evening or tomorrow morning."
"So long!" said Richard in a surprised voice. "What do we do until then?"
"Listen Richard," said Aranda, "things work differently here. We are not pressured for
time. You must learn to be patient. You have a difficult journey ahead."
Richard thought how unprepared he was psychologically for this journey. He kept
repeating to himself, "Take it easy, take it easy, take it easy."
"I'll go and tell the others the news," said Richard. "I'll see you at breakfast, OK?" said
Aranda.
After breakfast, Aranda and the three boys left for Alice Springs. They spent most of the
day at the gallery. Aranda wanted to examine the tjurunga. It was twenty-two centimetres
long, ten centimetres wide, weighed about two kilograms and featured detailed carvings
of animals and strange figures.
"What are these strange shapes?" asked Bradley.
"Well," said Aranda, "I don't know much, but I think they are local spirits." "And these
symbols on the edge of the tjurunga?" asked Richard. "Let me see..." said Aranda. "I
think it's some kind of code, perhaps a map..."
"Of what?" asked Richard, interrupting Aranda.
"Oh, I guess of the many Aboriginal burial grounds in the area," said Aranda. "But only
Urandangi knows how to read these symbols."
''So only one person knows how to read this code?" asked Bradley. “Well his knowledge
will be passed down to a younger member of the tribe in time.” Explained Aranda. “Until
then, only he knows how to read the symbols."
"What do you mean Aranda?" asked Tom in a surprised voice. "How will he now when
his time is up?"
"Tom," answered Aranda, "Aborigines who have kept their traditional way of life
understand nature and respect its power. Nature will tell Urandangi when it is time for
him to die."
"That's spooky," said Tom. "I'm not sure I would want to know when my life is coming to
an end."
Richard wasn't listening. He was wondering what his father's intentions were when he left
the tjurunga behind. He knew it involved Aboriginal rituals and traditions, but why all
this mystery surrounding a simple wood carving? Why was the Aboriginal world so
complicated? There should be a clear explanation for all this, otherwise it made no sense.
"Richard, this is all so fascinating," said Tom.
"What? Oh yeah, it sure is," said Richard absent-mindedly.
The day went by slowly. Richard was anxious to see Urandangi, but it seemed as if
nothing would happen that day. It was quite late in the afternoon and the boys were
having a snack at a fast food restaurant across the gallery.
"Sorry guys," said Richard. "I know you're bored but so am I." "There's nothing to be
sorry about," said Bradley. "Besides, we've learnt a lot today about the tjurunga and the
Aborigines." "Yeah, it was interesting," said Tom.
At that moment Aranda came in and looked around for the boys. Richard saw Aranda and
waved to him. Aranda approached their table and said hurriedly, "Boys, pack your things
and load them on the jeep that's parked outside the gallery."
"What's the rush, Aranda?" asked Tom.
"I was told by Urandangi's man that he is expecting Richard," said Aranda. "He's over a
hundred and fifty kilometres away. We must set off immediately."
"But Aranda," said Richard, "we could find someone to take us there. We don't want to
trouble you any further."
"That's not possible," said Aranda. "Urandangi's man said that I was to take you there
myself. You don't know Urandangi like I do. His decisions are final and there is no
questioning them. That's how it is."
"Isn't it late to travel such a long way?" asked Bradley.
"Urandangi may want to see Richard tonight," answered Aranda. "So we must be there as
soon as possible."
The boys left quickly. They loaded their things on the jeep and within half an hour they
had left Alice Springs.
"So, where are we going Aranda?" asked Richard. "To a place where no white man has
set foot for over forty years," answered Aranda and pointed to a spot on the map Richard
was holding. "Hermannsburg Mission," Richard read out loud.
The three boys looked at each other. They didn't know what to say or think at that
moment. Everything had happened so quickly.
"Don't worry," said Aranda in a reassuring voice, "everything will be just fine."

Chapter 8

They arrived at Hermannsburg Mission late that night. The small town was in total
darkness and deserted. Aranda parked the jeep in front of a building that looked like a
town hall - or was once used for that purpose. A man came out of the building to greet
them. He looked at the boys in a strange way. Without saying another word, he showed
them to their rooms in the town hall. The rooms were dimly lit and the furniture was very
old and dusty. Tom, Bradley and Richard were put in the same room. Aranda was taken
to the next room. Before leaving the room, the man told Richard that he would be called
to see Urandangi later.
"What a strange place this is," said Bradley.
"It's as if no-one lives here," said Tom. "It feels so unusual."
Just then, there was a knock at the door and Aranda entered the room. "Have you settled
in boys?" asked Aranda.
"I suppose so," said Richard. "The man told me I will be seeing Urandangi later."
"Oh... yes, maybe," replied Aranda.
"What do you mean maybe?" asked Richard. "The man said so himself." "Something has
happened," said Aranda. "I was just told that problems have arisen among the members
of the tribe." "What problems, Aranda?" asked Tom.
"Well," said Aranda, "you're the first white people to come here after over forty years,
and some members of the tribe were not very happy. But Urandangi will speak to his
people and everything will be OK."
"Why haven't white people been at Hermannsburg Mission for so long?" asked Richard.
Aranda scratched his head and looked around the room. He saw a chair in the corner went
over to sit down and started explaining:
"Hermannsburg Mission was a sort of school created by white Australians and run by the
church. Its role was to educate young Aborigines and change their way of life. Before the
Second World War, many children from Urandangi's tribe were forced to learn English
and become Christians. As a result, they forgot their traditions and way of life. This
caused many problems in the Aboriginal community and many Aborigines didn't want to
send their children to these schools. Finally, after the war, the Australian government
realised the problems they were causing and abandoned the missions. Hermannsburg
Mission was given to Urandangi's tribe and no white person has been here ever since.
Tom and Bradley are the first white people to come here since then."
"I hope we haven't caused too much trouble," said Tom.
"No, don't worry," said Aranda. "It isn't your fault. Some members of the tribe were a bit
annoyed because they weren't told you were coming. Otherwise, they have no problem
with white people. The Aboriginal people are very kind and hospitable."
"So will everything be fine?" asked Bradley.
"Yes, yes of course," answered Aranda. "Urandangi's opinions are respected in the tribe.
He has no problem with you boys being here." Then he looked at his watch and said, "It's
time I left. Goodnight boys, I'll see you in the morning."
That night Richard dreamt he was travelling across a desert. Every time he stepped in the
sand, water would come up. Soon the desert had become large lake and he had to swim to
reach the nearest bank. As he was getting closer to land, he could see something strange
in the distance.
His dream was interrupted by a voice which said, "Richard, it's time you got up."
Richard struggled to open his eyes. He looked up and saw a stranger calling his name.
Then he realised he had been dreaming.
"Urandangi wants to see you soon," said the stranger. "Get ready and wait for me to come
and get you."
The man left the room. Richard looked over his shoulder. Tom and Uradley were still
asleep. Richard got up quietly, dressed and left the room. As Richard was closing the
door behind him, he heard Aranda's voice.
"Good morning, Richard," said Aranda.
"Good morning, Aranda," said Richard. "Where are you going so early?"
"My mission is over, Richard," said Aranda. "I brought you to Urandangi, Now I must go
back home."
"But I..." Richard didn't finish what he had to say.
"Listen Richard," said Aranda in a reassuring voice, "have faith in Urandangi and
especially in yourself. Everything will be fine."
Richard felt better. However, he still wished Aranda could stay with him. They said
goodbye to each other. Aranda left and Richard went back to his room.

Chapter 9

When the man came back to collect Richard, it was still very early. It was also cool
because the sun had not come up yet. Richard followed the man outside the building.
They crossed the dirt road and entered an old wooden house. The floors creaked under
their feet as they walked to a room at the back of the house. The man, who hadn't spoken
a word, pushed the door open, looked at Richard and told him to enter. On entering the
room, Richard saw an old man sitting by the window smoking a cigarette. He looked
quite odd because he was wearing blue jeans, a colourful shirt and sports shoes; clothes
that young people usually wear.
"Hello, Richard," said the man. "My name is Urandangi. I am the tribal elder."
'Hello, Urandangi," said Richard.
'You have something important to do I believe," said Urandangi.
"Urn... I have a tjurunga with me," said Richard. He realised how silly that must have
sounded and quickly added, "My father left it to me. He died when I was very young."
"Can I see the tjurunga?" asked Urandangi.
Richard handed the tjurunga to Urandangi, who studied it carefully without saying a
word. He finally looked up and called out something in another language. The door
opened and two men entered. Urandangi said something to these men. They nodded and
left the room. Urandangi got up, wished Richard a long life and headed for the door.
Richard was shocked to see Urandangi leaving and didn't know what to do. He managed
to say, "Uh... what's going on here?"
"Those two men will help you find your father's sacred burial ground," said Urandangi.
"You will guide them there."
"Me?" asked Richard rather confused.
"Young man," said Urandangi, "the spirits have called you already. You must learn to
listen to them. Think carefully. All the answers to your problems are in front of you.
Open your eyes, Richard. Open your mind." Urandangi then left the room.
Richard was depressed. He sat alone in the room, thinking. He had believed Urandangi
would help him find his father's burial ground. Instead, Urandangi expected him to know
where to go. The whole situation seemed like a terrible joke. Suddenly, a thought came to
his mind. He stood up and said out aloud, "That's it, the dream!"
Richard left the room and went outside. The two men he had seen earlier were preparing
supplies for the trip. Richard went up to them and they introduced themselves. Their
names were Walpiri and Aratjara.
"Is there a lake in the area?" asked Richard.
'Yes, Lake Amadeus," said Aratjara. "But it's a dry lake."
Richard was silent. He was thinking about the dream he had had the previous night. He
remembered that the desert was turning into a lake as he was walking through it. "Is it
always a dry lake?" asked Richard.
"No," replied Aratjara. "Every ten years or so heavy rain makes it a real lake."
Walpiri looked at Richard and said, "The spirits are calling you to the lake. We must go
there."
"How are we going to get there?" asked Richard.
"By jeep," answered Walpiri. "It's over two hundred kilometres away." "But that's not in
the area," said Richard. "It's quite far." "The outback is a vast place," explained Walpiri.
"Two hundred kilometres is very close."
At that moment Tom and Bradley joined the others. "So," said Bradley, "where are we
going?"
"Oh, somewhere close by," said Richard with a grin on his face. "To a lake in the desert
that's only two hundred kilometres away."
"Two hundred ..." started Tom, but was interrupted by Richard, "Don't ask.”. They loaded
their things on the jeap and set off for Lake Amadeus.
The road was very rough and old and the drive to Lake Amadeus took over five hours.
Towards the end of the journey the road became a dirt road. They finally arrived at the
lake at midday. Aratjara and Walpiri got out of the jeep first and headed for the sand dune
in the distance. When they reached the top, they stood there for a while without moving.
Aratjara called out to the boys, who immediately joined Aratjara and Walpiri. Once at the
top, they were left speechless. The lake was visible for as far as the eye could see. There
was a moment of silence.
"It's absolutely beautiful," said Richard finally.
"A lake in the middle of the desert!" said Bradley astonished.
"Wow, who would ever believe such a thing possible," said Tom.
"Your dream predicted this," said Aratjara to Richard.
Richard felt a shiver down his spine. He wasn't comfortable with the idea that his dreams
could tell the future. But he knew that there was no other way of finding his father's
burial ground.
"We will camp here for the day," said Walpiri.
That night Richard dreamt he was walking in an endless desert. The quicker he walked
the slower he moved. In the distance a strangely shaped mountain was calling him. Or
was it the desert calling him? It made no sense to him. He woke up in a cold sweat.

Chapter 10

The next morning Richard woke up early. As he got out of his tent, he saw Walpiri
preparing his backpack. "Good morning Walpiri," said Richard and sat next to him.
"Good morning," replied Walpiri. "Where's Tom?" asked Richard.
"Oh, he went to collect fire wood with Aratjara," said Walpiri. At that moment Bradley
joined them. "So, what's the plan for today?" he asked.
"I'm not sure yet," said Richard in a worried voice. Walpiri sensed Richard's
awkwardness and gave him a reassuring pat on the back.
"Last night I dreamt I was walking in a desert," said Richard, "but I wasn't filing
anywhere. The quicker I tried to walk, the less I moved."
Walpiri was staring at Richard silently. "Were you walking towards something... say, a
mountain or a river?" he asked.
Richard thought for a moment. "Not that I can remember," he replied.
Aratjara and Tom returned. Aratjara and Walpiri nodded to each other. Then Walpiri
turned to the three boys and said, "Boys, we're leaving after breakfast. We will be
travelling on foot, so pack only essential things in your backpacks."
Richard was relieved that the little information he had given Walpiri had helped.
Within an hour the team had set off for the Valley of Distant Spirits. Walpiri and Aratjara
didn't want to take the jeep because the valley was considered a sacred area. The noise
from the jeep would disturb the spirits.
"We haven't taken much food with us," said Tom.
"The land will provide us with whatever we need," replied Aratjara.
"The Aboriginal people have lived on this land for forty thousand years, added Walpiri.
Walpiri walked at the front and Aratjara at the back. After two hours of walking over
desert landscape in the burning heat, Walpiri called for break. Aratjara walked over to a
dry plant and began digging around it. When he finished digging, he pulled the plant out
of the ground with tin roots undamaged. The boys observed Aratjara and did the same.
"So, what do we do now?" asked Tom.
"You chew on the roots," said Aratjara. "They contain water."
"Does that mean you can never go thirsty in the desert?" asked Bradley.
"Not in this part of the desert," replied Aratjara. "These plants are everywhere." They all
sat down to eat and chew on the roots. The water tasted sour, but that didn't stop Bradley
from digging another plant. He was fascinated with the idea, of finding water in plants.
Secretly, he was ashamed. He had considered himself an experienced outback camper,
however he didn't know this basic survival skill. Suddenly, he realised how ignorant he
was about the outback and vowed to learn as much as possible from Walpiri and Aratjara.
The next time they stopped for a rest, it was late in the afternoon. They had walked over
forty kilometres that day and the boys were very tired and hungry. Walpiri said they were
camping there for the night. The boys started setting up camp and Aratjara began
preparing dinner.
Walpiri was standing on a large rock staring at the sunset. Richard went over to him and
asked, "Where is Ayers Rock?" Walpiri pointed to the right and said to Richard, "The
Aboriginal people know it as Uluru. It's a sacred area."
"Uluru," repeated Richard, "I've heard that name before. Let me think." He concentrated
hard. "Of course," he said. "It was Ayers Rock calling me in my dream. It kept humming
the word Uluru, Uluru."
Walpiri looked at Richard. "Our journey into the Dreamtime ends tomorrow," he said and
patted him on the shoulder.

Chapter 11

The next morning the group were up and ready at sunrise. They were all looking forward
to the day's events, but they were also sad owing their journey was soon coming to an
end.
After two hours of walking they reached Uluru. The boys looked up at the gigantic
sandstone in amazement. They had never seen anything like it fore. The rock was
hundreds of metres high, soaring into the sky. It seemed out of place in the flat desert
landscape. Maybe that's what made so impressive. The rock was a deep orange colour at
that early hour of the morning, but Walpiri told the boys that Uluru would change colours
many times before the day was over.
Walpiri studied the tjurunga carefully. After a while he looked up at the others and
pointed to the direction they would head towards. He set off without a word and the
others followed.
They came to a cave at the base of Uluru and all went in. The cave walls were covered in
Aboriginal paintings showing animals and men with spears and boomerangs. Aratjara
pointed to a painting of a kangaroo that was over twelve thousand years old. "The
kangaroo," explained Aratjara, "is a symbol of nature and its diversity."
"Richard," said Walpiri in a serious tone, "this is your father's burial ground."
Richard looked around, saw no tomb stone and asked Walpiri, "Where exactly was my
father buried?"
"That's not important to the Aboriginal people," replied Walpiri. "What matters is the
sacred area. This area is sacred because it's part of the Dreamtime. Oenpelli, your father's
tribal name, is now part of that world."
"What exactly is the Dreamtime?" asked Bradley.
Walpiri tried to find the right words, "Well," he said, "the Dreamtime began at the
beginning of time. Everything on earth was created by human or animal beings. Some of
these beings changed into rocks, deserts and even tjurunga. The spirits of the unborn live
in the Dreamtime, and when people die, they go back there. All these spirits and their
powers are still alive today. These spiritual powers showed Richard the way here.
Although Richard grew up in white society, he is still an Aboriginal in his soul. It's in
him! The tjurunga brought this to the surface. Oenpelli was a wise man. He left the
tjurunga with the McDonalds, so that Richard would have to confront his past one day.
That day has come."
Richard was paying close attention to the conversation. Suddenly he realised something.
"You knew all along where the burial ground was!" he said to Walpiri and Aratjara.
"That's right," said Walpiri. "But Urandangi wanted you to find out for yourself. It was
your father's wish."
Richard was confused. He walked away from the group.
Tom and Bradley looked at each other in amazement. They didn't know what to say or
do. This topped everything that had happened over the past few days. Tom sensed a
change in Richard. His background had been locked away somewhere inside him for so
long, and he was now beginning to face up to his past. This was affecting him and he was
becoming unpredictable.
Tom went up to Richard. "Richard," he said, "you look so confused. Your father did this
to make things clearer, not to confuse you. You must face up to who you really are. I now
know that Mum and Dad did the wrong thing by not telling you more about your
background, your father, your heritage. I suppose they were afraid you would leave them
one day. But you have to come to terms with your new world."
Richard looked at Tom. He was happy to hear these words from his brother. It made it
easier for him to tell Tom about his plans.
"Tom, you're absolutely right," said Richard. "I've never really faced up to who I am or
where I belong. I was afraid of the unknown. But I'm determined to face up to reality
now. The problem is I will hurt the people who have treated me so well."
"Why, Richard?" asked Tom. "What do you mean?" "I'm thinking of not going back
home," said Richard without looking at Tom. "I want to stay here. It makes sense to me.
The dreams and this journey had a purpose, and that purpose was to help me discover
who I am. I feel at home here on this land, among my people." "Have you told anyone
else?" asked Tom.
"No, only you," said Richard. "I'll tell Urandangi when we get back tomorrow night."
Tom tried to find something to say to Richard. He finally gathered his thoughts and said,
"Think it over carefully. Do what you want to do and not what you feel you need to do."
That evening Walpiri and Aratjara performed a “corroboree” in honour of Oenpelli.
Walpiri explained that a corroboree was a song performed by Aborigines to awaken the
spirits of the Dreamtime. Aratjara sang in a very low murmuring voice and Walpiri
chanted occasionally. The corroboree was very melodic and moving. In the background,
Uluru was flame-coloured. The silence of the outback created an eerie feel to the whole
performance. It was a magic moment for all of them, especially for the Richard.

Chapter 12

They returned to Hermannsburg Mission the following day. The journey had drained
them physically and emotionally. Richard went to see Urandangi immediately. Tom and
Bradley took their things to their room. They wanted to leave for Sydney the next day.
"Ah... Richard," said Urandangi. "Walpiri told me your mission was successful. He said
your help was invaluable."
"I did what I could," replied Richard. He paused for a while unsure how in say what he
wanted to say next. "Hm... I've decided to..." "Yes, I know," interrupted Urandangi,
"Walpiri told me." "But I didn't say anything to Walpiri about this matter," said Richard
in a surprised voice.
"He has his way of finding things out," said Urandangi. He paused for a moment and then
he said calmly, "Richard, have you thought this over well? You've grown up in another
world. Things work differently here."
"I know," replied Richard. "I've thought it over well. I feel at home here." Urandangi
looked at Richard and saw a determined look on his face. He saw no point in insisting.
"OK, Richard," said Urandangi. "You're more than welcome to stay, besides, who knows
what the future holds?"
Tom and Bradley were lying on their beds talking. When Richard entered the room, they
both looked at him.
"So, Richard, will you be leaving with us tomorrow?" asked Tom. "Don't make this more
difficult than it already is, Tom," said Richard in an agitated voice. "No, I'm not coming
with you." But he quickly regretted his abruptness and added, "I'll probably stay here
only for a while anyway." Richard felt guilty for lying. But, what other option was there?
He didn't want his parents to learn the truth yet. They would need time to adjust to the
new state of things.
"How will you get to Alice Springs?" asked Richard in order to change the subject.
"Aratjara will drive us there tomorrow morning," answered Bradley. "You know you've
both been a great help to me," said Richard. "I couldn't have done this without your help.
Thank you for your support."
"I don't know if I was any help to you, Richard," said Tom, "but these last few days were
an experience for me. I must admit, though, that many things are still unclear to me.”
“We’ll have time to discuss everything when I join you in Sidney”, said Richard, trying
to sound convincing.
Tom and Bradley left early the next morning.
"Please tell Mum and Dad not to worry," Richard said to Tom as they were getting into
the jeep. "I just need some time on my own, to sort things out." Deep down, Richard was
unsure exactly how long this would take.
"No worries, brother," said Tom and waved goodbye. "Just take care."
Richard spent the next two weeks helping with odd jobs around the Mission. He was
shown how to mend the fences which enclosed large areas of the Mission to keep the
cattle together. Aratjara was particularly helpful and took the time and effort to show
Richard around the Mission. The small Aboriginal community was tightly knit and
showed no signs of tension or stress. Richard enjoyed the simplicity of these people’s
lives. However one question kept going through his mind and agitated him. Why couldn’t
he be like them?
One morning he decided to call home. The only telephone in the Mission was a pay
phone which only accepted coins. He checked his pocket for some coins and realised he
had only enough money for a couple of minutes on the phone. He paused for a moment
before picking up the receiver and dialling his phone number.
"Hello. The McDonald residence," said Sonya's voice on the other end of the line.
"Hi, Mum," said Richard.
"Richard, dear!" said Sonya in an excited voice. "How are you?" "Fine, Mum," said
Richard. "When are you coming back home?" asked Sonya. "We all miss you so much."
Before Richard could answer he suddenly realised that he would be with his family soon.
"It won't be long now," he answered. "I'll be coming home soon." "Have you got enough
money for the return..." The line disconnected. He had run out of coins.
"Damn," said Richard and replaced the receiver.
That night Richard dreamed he was standing alone in the desert. He could hear voices
from all directions, telling him stories of their lives, their people and their tribes. Stories
that had never been told before or had been forgotten in time. It was as though his
presence brought these stories up to the surface again.
When Richard woke up the next morning, the dream was still fresh in his mind. He sat on
his bed thinking, certain the dream was the answer to his problem. He just had to
unscramble it.
After thinking for a while, he began to realise the significance of the dream. The voices in
his dream were narrating stories about past legends and significant events in Aboriginal
culture. Of course! His role was to record and analyse this rich oral culture and preserve
it for future generations. He jumped out of his bed and yelled at the top of his voice, "It's
crystal clear."
He quickly got dressed and packed his things. He went straight to Urandangi's home,
knocked on the door and entered.
When Urandangi saw Richard, he said calmly, "Things have worked out for you."
Richard was not surprised at Urandangi's ability to predict the future. He remembered
what Urandangi had told him two weeks before and said ironically, "Who knows what
the future holds! Ha! Only you knew all along what the future held in store for me!"
“You did all the hard work," said Urandangi and patted Richard on the shoulder. “You
can now rejoin the world you left behind a new man. I know you are destined to help our
people, in your own way. I have confidence in you.”
Richard thanked Urandangi warmly.
While waiting for his flight at Darwin airport, Richard looked at the date on his watch.
He immediately got up from his seat to search for a public telephone.
"Hello operator," said Richard.
"How can I help you?" said the voice at the other end of the line.
"Can you please connect me with the University of Sydney," asked Richard. "One
moment please," came the reply. A few seconds later he heard a voice saying, "University
of Sydney. Can I help you?"
"Yes, could you please tell me when enrolments close for the Department of Aboriginal
Studies?" asked Richard.
"Of course," said the secretary. "Let me see... Tomorrow afternoon at four o'clock."
"Thank you very much," said Richard.
"Oh, before you go, I need your name so I can put you on the register," said the secretary.
Richard paused for a moment. The last three months, from that Saturday morning when
he found the tjurunga to his father's corroboree at Uluru, went by him in a flash.
"Hello, are you still there?" came the voice from the other end of the line.
"Richard Oenpelli McDonald," he said.