The last few days before the islands open day were full of surprises. Their campaign was gaining a momentum of its own. More and more community groups came out in support of Dave and his family and against the government.
Delfina and Lola had brought people up to the island so they could have their interviews conducted away from prying eyes. They planned to send their stories about the Premier and some of his minister's corrupt practices to people who were in positions of power. Lola had told them that she knew some ministers and judges were prepared to act if confronted with compelling evidence.
The visitors had provided what Dave thought was compelling evidence. They told Dave that they would do everything in their power to bring the premier down. "He's a bloody crook," One said as he studied Donna's brown body.
"I'll get Donna to show you around," Dave said noting his interest. "We want people to see how we live. The Premier claims we are a threat to society. The fact I call many of these beautiful women my wives makes him froth at the mouth."
"We have to show the locals that we are not an army of revolutionaries out to change the world. That's why we are having this open day. We know that when people visit our community, they leave knowing the rumors and attacks are all bullshit."
A few hours later Dave was downing a beer and daydreaming, he had been reminded this morning of the massive change to his life in the past twelve months. Harry one of his old mates at the fish board had stood with his hands on his hip watching Dave unload his catch.
"I hope you beat the bloody government. The things they are saying about you and those women up on the island are crazy. Harry shook his head, "Nevertheless Dave I've got to say you really are a sly young bugger. I would never have guessed that you would go from living like a bloody hermit to a guy they accuse of every sex crime in the book in twelve months."
He winked at Dave as he turned to walk away. "Don't take any notice of them mate they're jealous. In fact, I'm jealous myself. If you want to swap let me know."
Dave grinned to himself. Harry was right his life had changed when he invited three pregnant women Annabelle Donna and Betsy to live with him. What a change he thought. What a bloody marvelous change. My big mistake was calling them my wives. But I would do it all over again. I would not change a thing.
He looked over to where the three stood talking with their babies on their hips. "I wouldn't change a thing," he said out loud. They looked around when they heard him. He shouted again, "I would not change a thing."
His three wives sauntered over to where he was sitting. "We thought you were asleep," Donna told him as she sat on his lap and gave him a tongue-thrashing kiss. "We need your help," Annabelle growled when Donna kept kissing him. "Can you listen while she's doing that?"
Donna stopped the kiss. "It's important, we can continue later," she said as she rubbed her hand over his cock. "My god it must be important if you want to stop," he groaned. "What's up?"
"We have met this black African quintet. They are an all women folk group. They have heard about our cause. They told Delfina they would play at our open day but they will not play without a stage. They have had bad experiences performing whilst standing amongst white audiences in South Africa."
"Charlie and Ruby have gone down to pick them up. We have invited them to spend a couple of days up here with us. We think they are the right type of group to end our open day. We need a stage. Will you build one for us?"
Dave sat for a moment before responding. "I am sure there will have no problems with our audience but we can't guarantee that, given that we have issued an open invitation to the public" He shook his head. "You know I would help if I could, but we really don't have room for a stage." No one said a word their disappointment showing on their faces until Dave broke the silence.
"What about a barge. That old flat-bottomed timber barge that we used to move Albert's shop is beached around the back on a sandbank. We could move it around here and float it in the bay in front of our beach. It would need some dressing up but its solid and would set them apart from the audience."
When they agreed that the barge was the only possible answer, Dave told them to go find Albert and Salome. "If we move fast, we can bring it around tonight. The tides still rising so it will not be hard to float it off the sandbank. I will go and get it moving. Albert and Salome can bring a boat around to tow the barge back here."
Dave could hear the family laughing in the dining room as they anchored the barge; "You two go and have dinner," he told Albert and Salome, "I'll finish up here."
The tide was dropping as he manhandled the barge until it was square with the beach. He tied it off on each of its four corners and moved backwards out of the water to see what it looked like.
"What do you have that we can use?" a deep voice asked from behind him. Dave was startled and turned round. He gasped. Standing with the light behind her like a halo was a tall black woman. She was magnificent. Six foot if she was an inch with an animal magnetism, that hit him between the eyes.
"My god you're beautiful," he whispered. She smiled, her pearly white teeth standing out against the black of her skin and the night. "I've hear a lot about you," she replied. "They say you're dangerous." "Don't believe all your told?" he laughed.
"I don't. I generally find out for myself," she growled as she walked to the waters edge and stood looking at the barge. "Will the tide be in when you want us to perform up there?" she asked.
"It will be rising all afternoon. It will be high tide about six thirty. That means that there will be six or seven feet of water under the barge when you start. Then the tide will slowly run out just as it is at present. By the time you finish there will be very little water in this bay.
She turned and walked back up the beach passing Dave without a glance. "Let me know when you have it set up properly. I will need to look it over before we agree," she said as she headed for the dining room.
Dave could not believe the effect she had on him. My god she's like a big black panther, a black goddess, he thought as he watched her stalk up the beach.
He went to the cold room and took a box of oysters and a carton of beer back to the barge. Propping a ladder against its side he climbed upon to the deck and sat eating his oysters.
It won't be hard to make this safe and presentable he thought. I'll replace a couple of boards, sand it down, paint it up and connect power and lights. He stood up and looked out up the beach. Pretending to have a microphone he sang," I did it my way."
"Don't give up your day job," a voice called from the gloom. It was his black goddess she had returned with her friends. They stood laughing and joking in the shallows.
"How can we get out there handsome?" one called. "Take off your shoes and wade out. It's not deep," he called "the tides half out. I have a little ladder around the side. Come on, I'll give you a hand up."
Five tall black women emerged from the gloom. "What are you doing on your own out here in the dark?" they asked as he helped them up on to the deck.
"I have to move this big bugger on the top of the tides," he replied. "We only brought it around here today. You will be performing at night so I need to get it set in place on a night tide so the electricians can run power and we can clean it up."
"I'm Dave," he said as he shook their hands. Do I get to know you names or do I give you nick names like the black goddess over there." "Who are you calling a black goddess?" she cried, "my names Lisha."
Before you start creating more nicknames, let me introduce my sisters. She pointed in turn. "Ama, Layla, Imena and Latifa. We are from Africa. In our tribe our names have special meanings, for example Latifa means gentle, Imena dream, Layla means born at night and Ama born on Saturday." "What about you?" he asked. Ama laughed. "Lisha means mysterious."
Dave dragged a few pieces of loose timber over and invited them to sit down. "I'm impressed," he whispered, "what a beautiful custom. I don't think we have anything like that in our culture."
"Can I offer you a beer and some oysters, as a fisherman I promote oysters. They are the cause of many jokes in my country because oysters are supposed to improve a man's sexual performance. I hope they are good for women too."
They sat and talked about his island and the people who he now called his family. Suddenly Ama leant over and kissed him on the cheek, "we think you are wonderful. We were told about you and wanted to visit and see for ourselves. Its even better than we thought." She pulled him to his feet and slipped her arm around his waist, "tell us what we can do to help."
Erection of the various stalls brought a swarm of people from the various churches charities and religious groups to the island. Dave spent most of his time away from the island fishing. Matron her stomach now showing her growing baby accused him of going fishing to escape from the scrum of workers and visitors.
He defended himself, "We need lots of fish for the fish fry stalls if we are to make any money for the trust. Anyway, someone must do it," he laughed. "And it might as well be me."
"The African women want to go fishing with you," Debbie told him as he dropped her off at the shack on the oyster lease. Debbie had blossomed in recent weeks. She had been thin and drawn when she joined them after her husband was lost at sea. She had put on weight and lost the worried look that hid the beauty of her smile.
"Set you nets and come back for a cup of tea," she said as she waved him off. Dave finished setting his nets along the mangroves and motored back to the oyster banks. Debbie saw him coming and lit the BBQ. By the time he had negotiated his boat through the racks of oysters to her hut she had the kettle boiling and a few pieces of fish on the Barbie.
