OF DREAMS AND CEREMONIES (19 page)

The men did their thing, with Dave at last discovering that maybe he had a feel for this after all. How awesome to be a part - no matter how temporarily - of this extraordinary community! The rhythm of the song keened through his blood and the melody grounded him as he stamped his feet and jumped, creating a pattern of tracks in the sandy ground.

Then the men pulled back again though they kept singing quietly with their thighs quivering - and at last there came the women, singing in counterpoint to the men, and approaching the
bora
ground in a united group with stamping feet and a sashaying dance step. And there was Nicholas, his beloved Nicholas, amongst them, singing right along with them, and dancing in his adorably clumsy way with every now and then a bit of show-tune pizzazz sneaking in there. Like Dave he was barefoot and wearing shorts, and like the women he had old dugs painted on his bare chest along with other patterns, and a broad swirling brim of feathers and leaves round his head like an earthly halo. He was all man, despite all or because of it. And Dave had never seen anything so beautiful, so wonderful before, and he faltered in his song, and just stood there for a moment, beaming at Nicholas - who glanced at him with delight kicking up the corner of his mouth - before Charlie nudged Dave, and he fell back into the rhythm and the joy of it with a full heart.

When the women retreated in their turn from the ground, then both groups renewed their songs and began approaching each other - Dave was one of the men approaching the women, dancing his way towards Nicholas, who was dancing towards him, too. And they met halfway, the men and the women, Nicholas and Dave - and it was probably horribly inappropriate but in that moment the love was everything, the love was all, so as the dance ended Dave took Nicholas's hands in his and he leaned in to press a kiss to his husband's mouth, and the whole camp erupted in laughter and a glorious cheer.

About the Author

I was born in England, and lived most of my life in Australia, before returning to the UK a few years ago; my dual nationality means that I am often a bit too cheeky, but will always apologise for it.

I have been writing fiction for almost thirty years, mostly for the enjoyment of myself and my friends, but writing is my love and my vocation, so of course that’s where my dreams and ambitions are. In the meantime, technical writing helps to pay the mortgage, while I also have fun with web design, reading, watching movies and television, knitting, and imbibing espresso.

Julie blogs at:
http://juliebozza.com/

Follow her on Twitter at:
https://twitter.com/juliebozza

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