Danny sat and looked at the sky for a long while. ‘Django told me that story,’ he said finally. ‘But he’s a black fella, and they believe in all sorts of strange things.’ He regarded him evenly. ‘Do you believe my dad’s up there?’
He nodded as he answered truthfully. ‘Oh yes. He’s there, and when the sky is clear and you can see the millions of stars up there, you’ll find one that’s winking right at you to let you know he can see you. Then one day, when you’re an old, old man, you’ll take that boat ride along the Great White Way and be with him again.’
Danny chewed his lip as he mulled this over. Then he shrugged off the blanket and got to his feet. ‘Mum will be really worried,’ he muttered. ‘I’d better get home now.’
‘I’ll come with you as far as the edge of the trees. Then I must be on my way too.’
‘But I want you to meet my mum, and my mates George and Billy.’
He shook his head. ‘Not this time,’ he replied. ‘Perhaps another day if I’m passing this way again.’ He smiled at Danny and resisted the urge to push back the lick of hair that was flopping in his eyes. ‘I reckon you’ve done enough climbing for one day. How about I give you a piggyback ride down these rocks?’
Danny giggled and waited for him to squat down so he could clamber on to his back.
‘Hold on tight, and wrap your legs around my waist. Are you ready?’
Danny laughed. ‘Yeah,’ he shouted. ‘Let’s go.’
He felt his light weight on his back and the warmth of his skinny arms around his neck. It had been a very long time since he’d carried a boy on his back, and the memories were almost too hard to bear.
He determinedly concentrated on the job in hand and began the descent, his army boots finding the nooks and crannies in the rocks until they’d reached the bottom. Then he continued to carry Danny through the trees until he reached the large natural pond which lay only a few yards away from the dusty main street.
Danny slid to the ground. ‘I’ll never forget you, John Miller,’ he said shyly.
‘And I’ll never forget you either, Danny Jackson.’ He solemnly shook the boy’s hand and, after a moment of silence in which they looked into one another’s eyes, Danny turned away and slowly headed for his home.