"Well it's happened at last, the state authorities are going to send someone down to investigate you and your harem."
Matron was on her mobile. "Madison just rang me. She is one of the group that will report back after their enquiries."
"Don't worry," Dave said. "We are not doing anything wrong; if we are we'll stop. If we're not, then there is nothing they can do to stop us."
Matron assured him that his island met Council and State government town planning and building requirements, even though their island had not been included under the relevant legislation.
"We have had visits from council health inspectors and every health professional interested in public health. Our fish processing and crab cooking areas meet the highest health standards."
"We don't pollute the waterway. Our septic system is not overloaded. We pump our own water and have had it tested by the city council."
"They told me that because it is pumped up through 40 foot of sand and our pipes and tanks are brand new, it is to their mind better than town water."
"Look they are not interested in those physical matters they are interested in you. Madison says they will ask you to answer questions under oath."
What sort of questions?" he asked.
"Personal questions. They will ask very personal questions about your wives and the babies that live here. She thinks it will be a good idea if you let them inspect our living quarters, and let them attend one of our family meetings."
"Better still," Dave suggested, "Why don't we invite them to stay a few days and see how we live."
Dave poured himself a mug of coffee and wandered out on to the beach. He did not tell the others that he was worried about the visit by the government officials. It will be a bloody disaster if they try to stop us living together he thought as he ran his minds eye over what he had achieved.
Granny joined him as he sat under the Moreton bay fig tree. They sat quietly looking out over the rising tide. She startled him when she broke the silence. "Its jealousy you know. Their bloody jealous that one man can have twenty women live with him."
"They hate the idea that you might make love with a different woman every night. Their lives are so devoid of genuine spontaneous love and affection that they hate you for the love in your life."
Dave did not answer. Each consumed by their own thoughts, they sat watching the tide until dinner
Matron joined them as they sat down to dinner. She told them to listen while she read from a media statement. "The government has appointed a district magistrate Miss Hazel Green to investigate the Haven. The manager of the women's shelter and a police officer from the local station will assist her."
"The shelter manager, that's Madison isn't it?" Dave asked.
"Yes and the police woman is the one you met on the houseboat. Senior Constable Sharon Marriott."
"Madison will be helpful. She has been over the moon because you have encouraged women from the shelter to stay up here."
"If I remember correctly, you invited the policewoman up for a visit."
"According to Chloe she appeared to be willing to become another of your conquests. If Chloe's right, she won't be a problem."
Matron spied Dave staring at her chest where a button had come undone providing him with an unobstructed view of her breast.
She straightened her clothes. "Stop leering like that," she laughed. "You will have to learn to behave and concentrate your energy on winning over the Magistrate."
A few days later after a hectic clean up of the site and a series of lectures from Matron on how he should behave Dave stood on the beach. He watched as the first of his government visitor's Senior Constable Sharon Marriott jumped ashore. She waved and greeted Dave with a smile.
"When you invited me to come up and visit," she grinned, "I didn't think it would be an official visit."
He kissed her on the cheek, "you're welcome what ever the reason," She blushed when she caught him running his eyes slowly over her trim figure.
Donna and Betsy waved and strolled over their babies on their hips.
Both were topless, their breasts tanned from days in the sun. "You won't need your uniform on the island, most of us just wear casual gear," Donna said as they led her off to her room.
Once inside Sharon slipped out of her uniform. She studied herself in the mirror as she decided what to wear. She ran her hands up under her breasts and tweaked her nipples. They are a bit small but not bad, she decided as she discarded her bra and slipped on a shirt.
She smiled to herself as she recalled that the men at the police station called her "legs."
They really are my best feature she thought as she pulled her tiny shorts up over her long tanned legs.
She undid another button on her shirt and studied herself in the mirror before strolling outside. Right oh, let us see if Dave shows any interest, she though.
Dave was unaware that Sharon had gone to great lengths to seek his approval. He greeted her with a smile, "give us a hand to get the boat into deeper water," he cried as he struggled in the dropping tide.
"We need to get Ruby down to the maternity hospital. The girls say we will have another addition to the family before nightfall." They worked together holding the houseboat. When Ruby was safely aboard, he called to Sharon. "Come on you can drive. The doctor will meet us at the hospital."
Sharon could not help being amazed at how calm and relaxed Dave made her feel. She watched as he moved to settle Ruby down. Cuddling her small body in his arms, he lifted her up like a baby, kissing her while he spoke quietly.
"I won't let anything happen to you love. I've been down here with Annabelle Betsy and Donna, three times in the last few months. I'm becoming quite a professional father and I know from experience you are in good hands."
He wiped her face with a warm cloth, "Trust me, the people down at the hospital are just marvelous. You already know the doctors and matron so you will be with friends. Sharon and I will stay and wait to see the baby. If there is anything you want, if you need me, just call and I will be there."
At the hospital, Doctors and nurses greeted Dave like an old friend. "Back again," they laughed, "you are becoming our best customer." I will be back again, in a couple of weeks," Dave announced. "Ruby is number four and we have one more that's due shortly."
Dave took the time to explain to all who would listen why he seemed more excited than usual. "Ruby is a young aboriginal lass who has had a hard life. I want this to go well for her. She really is a lovely young lady."
Sharon and Dave had time to talk while they waited. He learnt that her father had left her mother before Sharon was two years old. "Mum did it tough, she had to work and look after me. It was only when I grew older that I realized what a hard life she had. How much she sacrificed for me."
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly. "She would have really appreciated someone like you to provide her with love and affection when I was a baby. I nearly cried when I watched you with Ruby, you're wonderful; no wonder all those women love you."
Dave tried to lighten things up. "Well I couldn't supply the love and affection when you were a baby but I'm available now," he said as he squeezed her hand and cuddled her close.
A nurse came into the room while they were kissing. Laughing she called to Sharon, "Watch him, he can be dangerous,"
"I'm not scared of him. He is just a big cuddly pussy," Sharon responded.
"I think that may be the problem," the nurse replied. "Women around him become clucky and want babies. He brings out the mother in them."
Dave pulled Sharon up on to his lap. "A cuddly pussy eh?" He whispered as he kissed her. She did not reply she just wriggled deeper in his lap and kissed him back. As they continued to kiss Sharon felt Dave's erection grow against her thigh.
My god I have turned him on she thought. She smiled to herself. He is not the only one that's becoming excited. Her nipples were tingling and she felt her heart beat faster.
The nurse returned interrupting them. "It's a boy. He`s very tiny like his mother. Both are ok."
"Ruby is calling for you." Dave struggled to hide the lump in his pants. She laughed, "Just go in, I'm sure she has seen you with one of those before."
Within minutes, Dave turned the ward into a riot of fun talking and flirting with Ruby and the other mothers. Matron finally called a halt, pushing him out the door. "I have to settle the ward down," she whispered. "A maternity ward is not a place for larrikins like you. You create too much excitement."
Dave invited them all, mothers babies' nurses and doctors to come up to his island before they made their way back to the houseboat.
Sharon took charge of the wheel as they pulled away from the jetty, leaving Dave to tidy up the mooring ropes. When Dave finished, he came and stood behind her, placing his hands on her hips.
They stood motionless as they motored up stream. Sharon took one hand from the wheel and placed it over his. "This is nice," she whispered.
"Yes," he replied as he leant forward and kissed her on the back of the neck. "It's nice to get away from it all. The houseboat gives me comfort and privacy."
Sharon thought about Dave as he spoke. His lifestyle was a major topic of conversation in the local community. Stories of his life with a number of pregnant wives had become so exaggerated and fanciful that the State Premier had ordered an enquiry.
The attitude of the majority of officers down at the station had changed when the sergeant told them of his wife's experiences with the woman's shelter. "The shelter committee thinks he's a saint. The battered wives who have been up to the island love him."
