The Blue Seal of Trinity Cove by Linda Maree Malcolm

every direction in which they looked, as well. There was not much plant life except for a crop of gum trees a long way off in the distance. There were no other signs of life either. David swept up a handful of the red dirt and it sifted through his fingers like dust.
    â€œWhat!” he said, and Bobby could see how alarmed he was. “How could this have happened? We’re in the outback of Australia, if I’m not mistaken.”
    â€œHow could that have happened?” said Bobby and she stood up to fully take in her surroundings. She looked about with her hand held on her brow. That was when she noticed the heat. Sweat burst from every part of her, it seemed, and she thought she would do anything for a cold glass of water, some proper shade and maybe a fan.
    â€œIt’s sweltering out here,” said David.
    â€œI know,” said Bobby and she sat back down. The heat was so oppressive it made her feel faint.
    â€œLook, there’s an old shack over there,” said David. “Let’s go and see if there’s at least a drink of water in there.”
    â€œOkay, but I still don’t understand it, do you?” she asked. “I mean, we both held the thought of the island in our minds when we held the ball and said the words, so why did we end up here?”
    â€œGood question. I bet it won’t be long before we find out too,” answered David. They walked up the steps of the front porch of the shack.
    â€œBobby and David, I’ve been waiting for you,” said a low voice with a strange accent. Bobby nearly jumped out of her skin and David turned toward the voice with a start.
    â€œI – I – I’m sorry, sir; I see we’re on your land … It’s just that – oh you know our names!” David said as he took in this new turn of events.
    â€œI know your names and I’ve been expecting you for quite some time now. You don’t have to worry because I’m not going to hurt you. Come inside.” The tall black man stood up and walked towards them. Bobby recognised that he was a native person of Australia, an Aborigine. He wore very old clothes: old in the sense of worn-out but also old-fashioned. Bobby wondered what year they had stumbled into. He was very stately, almost regal in his posture but was definitely getting on in years as well. His mostly black hair was peppered with white and the skin on his face was worn, heavily wrinkled and deeply scarred in places too. She wondered if he was a chief of his people …
    â€œI give to you a drink of water and food,” he said as they entered the shack. Bobby noticed when she looked around inside the shack that it was literally one room with a curtained-off corner which she assumed was the bathing area. The simple and sparse furnishings were what she would refer to as antique; a single brass bed, a wooden table and chairs. Even the ornaments and crockery were definitely from another era; the 1800s, she assumed. Was it possible they had stepped back in time to the outback of the 1800s or was her imagination getting away from her? How strange. And yet, there the man was, ladling soup which was cooking on the wood-burning stove into two bowls for them. And he knew their names and was expecting them, so obviously this was where they were meant to be right now. She tried to relax a little.
    â€œPlease,” he said, “now is time for you to sit and eat and drink and then we talk about everything.” Not wanting to be rude, they both took their place at the table. He placed the bowls and glasses and some dried-up, old bread in front of them. Odd, thought Bobby. Who would think you could eat soup in this climate? But it was actually much cooler inside and the prospect of having a home-cooked meal cheered them both immensely. The soup was quite delicious. They each said so repeatedly. Bobby couldn’t make out any of the ingredients though. She imagined that maybe it was made out of