By the end of the four day walkabout, Zoe's body had adjusted to walking all day. Davide said little and Yileen did not press either of them to speak. Davide's aura often appeared brighter and Zoe wondered what was going on with him. Did he trust her enough to confide in her?
Back at Yileen's home, his grandmother also noticed the brightness of Davide's aura and glanced questioningly at Zoe. Zoe shook her head, indicating she did not have understanding.
Since their return had been during midafternoon, they spent the remainder of the day resting before enjoying a final meal together. As they parted that evening, Davide placed his arm around Yileen's shoulders. "Thank you, my friend, for guiding our walkabout. I know it wasn't a true one in the sense of your culture's walkabouts, but it accomplished something I have no words to explain. When I understand, I will write and let you know."
Yileen's eyes misted and he swiped at them. "Thank you for allowing me to guide you. I believe our journey was predestined."
Davide looked toward Pengana. "And thank you for such incredible hospitality."
Zoe approached to the old woman and gently hugged her. "Yes, thank you for opening your home and hearts to us."
Pengana swiped at her own eyes. "You special people." As they turned to leave the small kitchen, Pengana said in Zoe's ear, "You and Davide together; gold and purple—royal colors." Zoe leaned back and studied the old woman's eyes, but did not respond.
All night in her dreams, Zoe watched shades of gold and purple swirl in a mating dance. At the moment of awakening a symphony joined the ritual, its crescendo the catalyst merging gold and purple into a color she had never seen; a color that defied description. Physically and emotionally she experienced what could only be described as an orgasm. She moaned and felt Davide's hand on her cheek, and leaned her face into his palm. When she opened her eyes the blue fire of his irises burned into the core of her being.
"What were you dreaming?" he whispered.
Still feeling the effects of the dream, she reached to cup his cheek. He whispered again, "What did you dream?"
She started to say, "I dreamed of you," but caught herself. She blinked and came fully awake. To cover her confusion, she sat up. "I dreamed of the long drive ahead of us."
The moment was lost and Davide also sat up. "Yes, a long drive," he echoed her words. "It's about five hours to Alice Springs. Besides making some phone calls to my family to try and straighten out this credit card mess, there's something else I want to do."
Zoe waited for him to explain and when he didn't, she said, "You're not going to tell me what it is until we get there, are you?"
"That's right," he replied mysteriously.
By midmorning they had arrived at Alice Springs, a desert town built among scrub brush and surrounded on the east and west by the MacDonnell Ranges. Zoe listened to Davide's research of the town.
"The Camel Cup is held in Alice Springs."
She laughed. "What's that?"
"It's the annual festival of camel races, of course. Everyone knows that," he teased.
"Oh, my gosh, I never thought about camels racing."
They drove past a sign that read, Todd River, and she glanced around. "Where's the river?"
"We just drove over it, or at least the path it takes. Its origins are in the MacDonnell Ranges and I understand it practically flows through the center of down when it's active, which isn't often." Davide turned onto an intersecting road. "Let's see if we can find a motel."
Zoe pointed ahead. "That looks like a nice one."
Davide agreed and pulled into the entrance of the Elkira Motel. Within minutes they had procured rooms and he said he would return in an hour so they could go to lunch. She could tell he was anxious to make his phone calls.
Zoe heard a tap on her door and opened her eyes. She had drifted to sleep while waiting for Davide. "I'm coming," she called. She opened the door to a grinning Davide and said, "You look like you're the kitten that just found the cream. What's up?"
"I'll tell you part of what's up during lunch. After that, I'll show you the other part."
She studied his face a second, smiled, and patted the springy curls on either side of her head in mock vanity. "Okay, let me see if I can do something to tame this hair."
Unexpectedly, Davide reached and covered her hands with his, trapping them next to her ears. His mouth descended and he gave her lips a loud smack. "Zoe, I love your hair. I'll meet you at the van in five minutes." He closed the door.
Zoe placed her fingers over her lips. For Davide the kiss had simply been a gesture of friendship, but for her, any touch from him sent her heart into a marathon. Sighing, she searched her room for her ball cap.
Davide located a small diner and they ordered Outback Burgers. Curiosity was eating her up, so Zoe said, "Okay, Davide, tell me what's up. You're fairly oozing excitement."
"My credit card mess is straightened out."
"That's wonderful, but I don't think that's why you're so excited."
"You'll find out my other surprise after lunch. Not a moment sooner. Now, back to my credit cards…" A look of irritation passed across is face. "My father was the one to close the cards."
"What!"
"That's exactly what I said, and how I said it."
"Why?"
"That was my response, too. The only answer I got was, 'Thought you needed the challenge.' My dad loved the fact that you stepped in and saved the day."
"Davide, that's crazy."
"Tell me about it. I don't know what's gotten into my family. It's like they've turned into people I don't recognize. Anyway, my dad said the cards have been reactivated." He shook his head. "How he did it, I haven't the faintest. I couldn't get the credit card company to budge when I called them. It must have something to do with his security clearance. Hell if I know."
After lunch Davide drove to a building with a sign that read, Centre for Arts and Entertainment, and parked in the parking lot. Zoe looked curiously at him and followed him around to the back door of the building. He knocked hard several times. Finally, a tall and thin elderly man with stooped shoulders responded to his persistent knocking. The sun-weathered old-timer stepped aside and waved them inside using the broom he was holding. "Where's the fire, matey?"
Davide ignored the cranky man's sour expression and reached into his pocket. Pulling out several bills, he handed them over into the gray-haired, gray-bearded caretaker's arthritic hands. The man sniffed. "Right-o. Follow me."
Zoe glanced questioningly at Davide as he placed a hand on her elbow to guide her behind the broom-welding Aussie. They followed him to center stage and a grand piano. He then returned backstage. Davide sat on the piano bench and lightly fingered the ivory keys. He said seriously, "At this moment, I'm eternally grateful to my mother for insisting I take piano lessons."
Zoe knew that while Davide was not accomplished in the sense of being a professional, he could play very well. Distracted by a noise, she glanced up to see the caretaker return carrying an instrument case. She recognized the shape—a violin. "Davide, what's going on?"
He didn't respond until the elderly man had handed him the case and left. He held it out to Zoe. "Go ahead, tune it up."
"Not until you tell me what's going on." She set the case next to him on the bench.
He acquiesced. "Okay. Remember when we were in the cave and I said I heard the music of nature."
She nodded.
"Now I want to play that music…"
Zoe's eyes widened.
"…and I want you to play it with me."
"How can I do that?"
"I'm going to attempt to pick out the melody so you can improvise. Let's just see what happens."
The pleading in his eyes kept her from arguing. "Okay."
Davide smiled. "That's my sweet Zoe; always game for new things."
While he fingered the piano keys, she removed the instrument, and even though the violin was not top quality, it was certainly adequate. She ran the bow over the strings and then plucked them to tune them. Finally, she waited.
"Listen to this," said Davide. "I heard it in the wind." He lightly pressed the keys, practiced, and then with more confidence, played a melody.
Zoe was astounded at the beauty of the sound.
"I heard this in the rain." He added to the melody. "I heard this in the bird songs." He added again.
Spellbound, she listened to music that could only have originated in heaven. Lifting her violin, she closed her eyes and let the notes soak into her soul and then her spirit. Finally, they reached her body and she moved the bow, lost in Davide's melody. There was no effort required in her playing. It was as if angels guided her strokes. Her breathing slowed, her heart rate slowed, her mind lost consciousness except for the music…always the music. She never wanted to return to earth, she wanted to stay in heaven with Davide.
A muffled sound distracted her and she whooshed back to earth's realm. She blinked and looked at Davide. He was staring at her with glazed eyes. She heard the sound again and they both turned toward backstage. The cranky caretaker stood in the shadows leaning against his broom and as he lifted a hand to his eyes, a sob wrenched his aging form.
Unable to bear the sound, Zoe set the violin on top of the piano and rushed toward him. "Are you okay?"
The old man looked down at her with tear-filled eyes. "I've never heard anything so beautiful in me life. It's like…it's like the angels descended. It's like all the loved ones I've lost was with them. I…I didn't feel the loneliness while the music played. I felt…peace. I felt…happy. Thank you." He sniffed and reached into his pocket for a wadded handkerchief and loudly blew his nose.
Zoe turned to see Davide standing behind her. She questioned him with her eyes. What happened?
He walked back to the piano and replaced the violin in its case. Nodding a thank you to the old man and placing a comforting hand on his shoulder when they walked past, he led Zoe to their van. They didn't speak on the ride to their motel.
Davide followed her into her room and heaved a sigh. Sitting on the edge of the bed he placed his head in his hands. Zoe rushed to him. "Davide, are you okay?"
He looked up at her. "Zoe, I don't understand what just happened. I've never, never, felt like that. It was exactly like the caretaker described."