Part 1 (2/2)

Bayview had originally been bought by her great grandparents more than one hundred years ago. Her grandmother, Margaret, had lived here and now her parents. Her mother Caroline said that although old Queenslanders were expensive to maintain, she had no wish to give up the comfortable and gracious home where little had changed since she was a schoolgirl. For Julie, the house had always been a constant in her life and, while she valued her career, social life and independence, the idea of not having this wonderful family home was inconceivable.

'Mum? It's me.'

'In the kitchen, Jules.'

'Not watching the news?'

'Listening from here. I had to get this out of the oven. Nothing special but as your father is going to be late I've indulged myself.' Caroline Reagan looked at her thirty-two-year-old daughter standing in the doorway and her heart warmed at the sight of her. She saw her regularly but occasionally, like now, she paused and couldn't help but think of what a lovely looking girl Julie was, with her thick, wavy hair, bright blue eyes, firm square jaw and large, happy mouth. But there was also something else about Julie that Caroline hoped others, meeting her for the first time, would also notice. There was a calmness, strength and warmth that radiated from her even before she spoke.

Caroline turned her attention to the dinner plates. 'Do you want to stay and eat?'

Julie dropped into her family home a couple of times a week and knew that it wasn't necessary to stand on ceremony, for her mother was always happy to feed her. Her parents' fridge was always full of tasty leftovers or the makings of a quick meal.

'I wasn't, but it smells good and that rain is atrocious. So I'll wait for awhile, if that's okay?'

'Do stay, sweetie. I've been hoping you'd call by.'

'Oh, why is that?' Julie could tell from her voice that Mother Had News. 'Heard from Adam and Heather lately?' Julie's mother was always hoping that Julie's married brother in South Australia would announce the imminent arrival of a baby.

'Yes. But nothing really exciting to report. Oh, they've found some fabulous old recycled timbers which they're going to use in their renovations, but no big news to speak of.'

Julie smiled to herself. It mightn't be news in big letters to her mother but she could imagine how pleased Adam must have been at finding a treasure for the mud brick home he and Heather were creating in the Adelaide Hills. 'So what news do you have?'

'I'll tell you in a minute. Pour us a small drink. How's work?' asked her mother.

'The same. Hectic. Trying to help get some new companies on the map is always hard.'

'Well, I guess that's what a marketing consultant gets paid to do. Give them good advice.' Her mother wiped her hands on a tea towel and led the way into the living room as Julie followed her with two gla.s.ses of chilled white wine.

Caroline turned off the TV and settled herself on the sofa. 'We'll eat in a minute. It's just macaroni and cheese and a little salad. I want you to read this first.' She handed Julie a letter from the coffee table.

Julie put down her gla.s.s. 'Is it from someone you know?'

'No. But it's an interesting letter.'

Julie scanned the letterhead of one of Queensland's universities and noted the signature, Dr David Cooper. Intrigued, she read the letter slowly. Intrigued, she read the letter slowly.

Dear Mrs Reagan,I hope you don't mind my contacting you, but I am an a.s.sociate professor in the Department of Anthropology, currently researching the Iban people of Borneo with a special focus on the changes to their methods of agriculture, social structure and lifestyle given their loss of habitat and resettlement from their previous existence as jungle and river dwellers in Sarawak. In the course of my research in Malaysia I came across a small book, My Life with the Headhunters of Borneo My Life with the Headhunters of Borneo by Bette Oldham, which was published in the seventies, and in which she recounts a period of time spent with a local group of Iban in Sarawak. The author was, I believe, your aunt. by Bette Oldham, which was published in the seventies, and in which she recounts a period of time spent with a local group of Iban in Sarawak. The author was, I believe, your aunt. I would, of course, very much like to know more about Bette Oldham and her work. If you can help me at all, I'd very much appreciate it. I can be contacted at the above address or email, or phone. I would, of course, very much like to know more about Bette Oldham and her work. If you can help me at all, I'd very much appreciate it. I can be contacted at the above address or email, or phone.Yours sincerely, Dr David Cooper 'Good grief!' exclaimed Julie. 'Is this the Aunt Bette that Gran was always so critical of? Did you know that Aunt Bette lived with the headhunters of Borneo? It sounds amazing.'

'Mother always said that her sister was wild and had shamed the family,' said Caroline. 'But I had no idea that she'd done anything like that.'

'And Gran never told you anything?'

'First I've heard of it.'

'Do you remember Aunt Bette?' asked Julie.

'Vaguely, when I was very little and still lived in Malaya, before Mother moved back here.'

Julie was thoughtful. 'Well, Gran hardly ever mentioned her sister to me but if she did she always called her names like, ”my dreadful sister” or ”the horrendous one”. There didn't seem to be much love there.'

'No, there certainly wasn't. Funny that this David Cooper should raise the subject of Aunt Bette. To be honest, I rarely think about our family in Malaya. Malaysia, as it is now,' said Caroline.

'Not surprising. We tend to get wrapped up in the immediate day-to-day stuff, don't we,' said Julie. 'Are you going to contact him about Bette?'

'No. What can I say? I hardly remember her and Mother clearly disliked her so much that she could barely bring herself to talk about her.'

'I'd like to know how this David Cooper tracked us down. Now, can we eat? I'm starving.' Julie folded the letter and slipped it into her pocket.

It wasn't until several days later that Julie had a few moments free to pull David Cooper's letter from her handbag and then ring the phone number he'd given.

'Dr Cooper? This is Julie Reagan. You wrote to my mother Caroline about my Great Aunt Bette ...'

'Indeed! How wonderful to hear back from you so quickly. Your aunt seemed to be quite a remarkable woman, if the book is anything to go by. I'd really like to learn more about her. May I ask if she's still alive?'

'Actually, I have no idea. I'd be surprised if she were, as she'd be quite old. But I have to tell you that although she was my grandmother's sister, they were estranged, so I know nothing about her at all and my mother barely remembers her. That's why we were intrigued to hear of her book. Is it possible to get a copy of it?'

'I doubt it. I knew of the existence of the book and I've been trawling the net for over a year looking for it. I was elated when I found it in the Sarawak museum shop in Kuching. You're welcome to borrow my copy. It's a slim volume but quite insightful.'

'Yes, I'd like that. Tell me, how did you track down my mother?'

'It wasn't very difficult at all. You see there is a dedication in the front of the book to Philip Elliott at the Utopia plantation in Malaysia. I contacted the plantation, it's well known, and his sons Shane and Peter, your cousins who run it. They gave me your mother's address. They did mention to me that they had never met your mother,' he added.

'That's true,' said Julie. 'My grandmother and my mother returned to live in Brisbane after the war, but Uncle Philip stayed on with my grandfather on the plantation, in Malaysia. So my mother has spent most of her life here, which is why she won't be of much help to you, I'm afraid.'

'I appreciate your contacting me. My email address is on the letter. Just in case anything does come up, or your mother recalls anything,' said David.

'I don't think she will. As I said, my mother left Malaya when she was very young and she had little contact with that side of the family, except for birthday and Christmas cards and that sort of thing.'

'That's a pity. I enjoy Malaysia so I try to find as many reasons as possible to go there.'

'Are you investigating the headhunters too?' asked Julie. He sounded youngish and she imagined he was probably a bit stuffy.

David chuckled. 'Yes, I've done a lot of research on the Iban tribespeople in particular. Borneo is pretty amazing. I've adopted several orangutans in a sanctuary because their habitat, like that of the indigenous people, is threatened. So I use both these reasons to keep going back as much as I can. If you ever plan a trip there let me know and I'll pa.s.s on some tips and contacts.'

'Thank you, but that's not on my agenda at the moment. Good luck with your research.'

'Many thanks. Julie, was it?'

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