The Blue Fish and the Moon: an Australian Indigenous Story

Loolo was known as the unhappy man. As he lay next to the fire with his wife at night, he would tell her all the upsetting things he believed. He believed that the night was unfriendly. He believed that when they died, their spirits would walk through the unending night until they shrivelled up and ceased to exist. His wife would cry and he would try to comfort her.

Nullandi was known as the happy man. Laughter came from around his campfire. He liked the night and said it gave rest to the eyes after the fierce light of the day. His wife called him foolish and said that at night, one could not see.

Nullandi told Loolo that he could believe he would be a blue fish at the bottom of the sea when he died, if that was what he wanted to believe. He also told Loolo that he should not say sad things to his wife, and that he should let her be happy…