Opals from the Outback

Matti lay on her side and snuggled into Casey as if she were sitting in his lap. As his eyes closed, he caught the silhouette of a person standing at the edge of the French doors, peering at them. His eyes popped open, and he raised his head. The form disappeared. Melanie! He tossed and turned for an hour before giving in to an uncomfortable sleep.

He woke up with Matti nestled up and kissing his neck, her fingers caressing him. His beleaguered passion indicator tried to respond.

'Is it time to get up?' Casey asked, looking out into the moonlight.

'I 'ope so,' murmured Matti.

'What time is it anyway?'

'Time to make love?'

'Matti, what in the world am I . . . .'

The chilling, terror-filled shriek of a person in agony pierced the early morning stillness.

'Melanie!' Matti cried, vaulting out of bed. She grabbed her gown on the run, bolted out the French doors, and dashed toward Melanie's room.

Casey scrambled to find his shorts. When he entered Melanie's room, she was kneeling on the bed, convulsing with uncontrollable sobs. Her face was buried in Matti's lap. The wailing girl's hands covered the back of her head as if to protect herself. Matti, gently patting Melanie's back, was softly repeating, 'It's all right now, Melanie. You're safe. I'm 'ere.'

Melanie looked at Matti. 'Those things were after me again, Matti!' she shrieked. 'Fire was shootin' from between their legs.' She nodded her head violently. 'I saw it, Matti. I really saw it. And then I started burnin'.' She loosed a pathetic wail, buried her face in Matti's lap again, and pulled her legs tight beneath her. 'No! No more! Not again!' She howled in pain and scrunched deeper into Matti's embrace. Suddenly she softened her grasp and again looked up at Matti. 'I 'urt so bad,' she moaned. 'I 'urt so bad. Why won't they stop? What did I do to them? I promise not to do it again! Please make 'em stop, Matti,' she pleaded. 'Please make 'em stop.'

Casey felt his eyes welling. A lump constricted his throat. 'Is there . . . . anything I can do?'

Melanie snapped her head toward him. Her eyes widened. She jerked away from Matti and backed away from him. She crouched like a cat in a defensive position, keeping a steady gaze on Casey. 'Get away from me!' she screamed. 'Get away!' Keeping her wide, unblinking eyes on him, she slowly backed off the bed, shaking her head and steadily repeating, 'No more.' Her feet met the floor. She stood erect and defiantly glared at him, slowly retreating. Her back met the wall. Her body stiffened. 'Not again,' she screamed. Hiding her head in her arms, she slumped to the floor wailing, then methodically curled into a fetal position. Crying piteously, she implored, 'Please, just leave me alone.'

Casey looked helplessly at Matti. At her silent request, he backed from the room and sat on a porch rail where he stared up at the clear, night sky and listened as Matti comforted Melanie with soft refrains of 'Waltzing Matilda.'

A welcome silence finally engulfed the station, and Matti tiptoed from Melanie's room. She glided up behind him and laid her hand on his shoulder. 'I'm sorry I set her off like that,' he said. 'I had no idea.'

'That's the first time she's ever got off the bed.'

'What now?'

'Who knows? She usually doesn't remember anything about these nightmares,' Matti said, shrugging. 'This one, she might.'

'Something like that she doesn't remember?' Casey asked, stunned.

''Ard to believe, isn't it? Some doctors say her not rememberin' is more than likely the major problem.'

'Well, I think you ought to know something,' Casey said. 'After you went to sleep last night, I saw Melanie beside the door. She had been watching us from the veranda.'

Matti groaned and touched her forehead to his. 'Maybe that's what set it off.' Pain and fatigue etched her face. 'And it couldn't have come at a worse time.' He stood and embraced her. Wistfully, she looked at him, and burst into tears. She buried her face in his chest and clutched him. He softly held her, patting her back. When she regained her composure, she moved away and asked in a trembling voice, 'Melanie's goin' through somethin' terrible, but why did she 'ave to go and do that now, of all times?' Sobbing, she covered her face in her hands.

Casey stroked her hair, hoping to give her the comfort and affection she had unselfishly given Melanie. 'She is sick, love, and is lucky to have someone like you to care for her. You're a very special person.' He paused, then added, 'To both of us.' She hugged him tightly and relaxed.

But should I get permanently involved with this family? he asked himself.