The Explorers (58 page)

Ever since Wati Kudjarra had moved through the land creating the features on the landscape, there had been Aboriginal people in the desert. If tomorrow Warri and Yatungka decided to leave with us then, for the first time since the Dreamtime, there would not be a single Aborigine in the country of the Mandildjara or, indeed, in the whole of the Western Gibson Desert. That was a sobering thought, one that weighed heavily on me and one that greatly disturbed my sleep that night.

I wondered why our smoke signals, which certainly had been seen, had not been answered earlier. Was it possible that Warri and Yatungka did not wish to leave their country and had no desire to make contact with us? Our progress across the land could be gauged by our signals and it would be apparent to them that we were moving along the ‘main road' between waterholes, and that somebody was leading the party towards them, and who else but Mudjon would be guiding such a party? At his last meeting with Warri, Mudjon had told his friend that one day he would return to lead them out of the desert, that with advancing age they could not remain alone in their country. Was it possible that Warri and Yatungka feared Mudjon's return and refrained from sending up smoke to indicate their position? But surely they must be in dire straits if the country we had passed through in the preceding two weeks was any indication, there being little game of any kind, and not one of the waterholes we had encountered in well over 100 kilometres of travel had contained a drop of water. Mudjon believed they must be in very poor physical condition and would be prepared to leave the desert, at least until the rains came and the long drought ended.

Perhaps Warri and Yatungka were determined to spend their last days in their own country rather than be removed to a strange and, to them, frightening way of life. Was there a change of heart at the last minute and a decision made to acknowledge our last signal when they realised we were heading towards Ngarinarri and would find them even if they did not send smoke?

We had no wish to disturb them or to interfere with their way of life and should they desire to remain in their homeland and were in reasonable physical condition we would leave provisions with them and on our return to Wiluna would arrange for contact to be made at intervals to offer any assistance they required. However if they were weak and ill and wished to remain, could we just drive away and leave them, knowing they would surely die without adequate food and without medical attention? We sincerely hoped that such a situation would not present itself.

On the other hand, if they chose to go out with us, we would be haunted by the knowledge that we had removed the last of the nomads from the desert.

Those were the thoughts that weighed so heavily on me that night near Ngarinarri.

We rose early, for we were eager to make contact with the man or woman who had signalled us. Travelling almost due north on the bearing we had obtained the previous evening, we had gone eight kilometres when Mudjon called a halt and proceeded to fire spinifex once more. Almost immediately an answering smoke rose on a bearing of thirty-five degrees and we changed direction towards it. Two and a half kilometres on, our new course brought us to the crest of a long sand ridge which ran roughly east-west to the horizon and there, on the wide open plain between the sandhills, were flames and smoke rising from a long trail of burning spinifex.

From our observation point there was a distance of one kilometre to a sand ridge to the north, the intervening flat country being covered with spinifex and occasional low scrub. Almost due north of our position and about four hundred metres distant, another sand ridge, which had its origins away to the east, terminated on the plain. With binoculars I searched the plain for a human being amongst the burning spinifex, but without success. It was obvious that somebody was moving out there, for at intervals there would be a sudden burst of flame as a new patch of grass was ignited. A long trail of smoke rose slowly in the still air of the morning and a blackened strip of burnt country denoted the burner's progress across the plain.

Then I saw the figure, moving slowly eastwards, unaware of our presence on the sand ridge to the south. We were disturbed that only one person was visible. Was it Warri or was it Yatungka? A highly excited Mudjon said that, without doubt, it was Warri. We searched the plain and the sandhills beyond with our glasses but there was no sign of Yatungka. Had she perished, leaving Warri alone in the desert? Mudjon did not know but he intended to answer that question as soon as possible. He could contain himself no longer and plunging down the northern face of the sand ridge he strode briskly out to intercept Warri, who still continued moving eastwards, intently firing the country, still not aware that he was being observed.

As Mudjon walked rapidly through the spinifex he, too, fired the grass to attract attention, but Warri continued on to the east. It was not until Mudjon was within one hundred metres that Warri caught sight of him. During the time that Mudjon had been seeking to intercept him, Warri had moved off the flat country onto the southern side of the sand ridge which terminated on the plain, and it was from that elevated position that he first became aware of Mudjon's presence.

Through my glasses I saw Warri stop abruptly to stare at Mudjon, then move down off the sand ridge towards him. The two old friends met, but there was no demonstration of joy, no handshakes, no clasping of one to the other. Instead they faced each other from a distance of six metres for at least half a minute, each apparently making a quick appraisal of the other. Presumably some words were then spoken, the gap between the two men closed, and immediately they began to walk back towards our position.

There was still no sign of Yatungka, and Warri did not appear to be looking for her as he followed Mudjon through the clumps of spinifex. It was indeed strange that the two nomads had not been walking together that morning and I feared the worst.

On reaching the base of the sand ridge on which we stood, Warri halted whilst Mudjon continued up the incline to our position. Where was Yatungka? Was she still alive? we hurriedly asked. To our immense relief Mudjon explained that she was indeed alive and was, at that moment, gathering food out to the east where the quandong trees grew and would return to Ngarinarri later in the day.
^†

^†
Tragically, both Warri and Yatungka died shortly after leaving the desert.

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