Voices in the Desert

Story ID:	1910
Written by:	Virginia Allain
Organization:	none
Story type:	Travel
Writers Conference:	$500 2007 Family Memories Writing Project
Location:	Alice Springs NT Australia
Longitude:	133.87 E
Latitude:	-23.7951
Year:	1992
Person:	Betty Allain

The red craggy walls rose vertically on each side of us. Australia’s hot sun beat down on our heads. I kept an eye on my mother-in-law as she picked her way through the sandy, boulder strewn route. Only a few days ago she’d broken her wrist while visiting Ayer’s Rock. Now as we trekked into Standley Chasm near Alice Springs, I worried that the heat and rough terrain might prove too much for Betty.
Just the day before, she snapped lots of photos of the parade of athletes for the Masters Games, like a senior olympics. Teams from all over Australia and even as far away as Papua New Guinea had marched in the parade proudly showing their uniforms and carrying their flags. She cheered her son playing baseball on the team representing Alice Springs.
Now we were hiking into the narrow chasm formed over the centuries by erosion. Despite the pain of her wrist, she didn’t want to miss a moment of this once-in-a-lifetime Australian trip. As a New Englander, she wasn’t used to 100 degree and higher heat that was common in central Australia. It was mid-day and the sun radiated around us even though the high rock walls towered on each side. As her son snapped photos, we took advantage of the meager shade along the way.
Suddenly the sound of voices singing in lovely harmony filled the chasm. The sound resonated, contained by the rock and channeled up as though in a vaulted cathedral. Just ahead we saw a group of women in red-orange and gold matching clothing. It was the New Guinea team. I complimented them on the beautiful song and asked what they’d been singing. It is a folk song from our country, one singer replied.
Betty and Al returned to Maine with lots of photos and wonderful memories of their special trip. Despite the passing of fifteen years, that special moment lingers in my memory and I am thankful to have been there at just that moment when the women raised their voices in joyous harmony.