Death of a Lake b-18 Page 3

  “And now the water has drained from the Lake?”

  “No. Evaporation took six or seven feet a year. Thenthere’s the birds. Ruddy thousands of birds from pelicans down to moorhens. And this summer there’s been millions of rabbits drinking at her. Cripes! No lake could stand for that.”

  “Do any fishingyourself?”

  “Now and then.”

  “Boat, of course.”

  “There was a boat, but she broke up on the beach one windy day. You hear about the bloke what was drowned? In the Adelaide papers?”

  “No, I didn’t read about it. Working for the Station?”

  “Yair. Bloke by the name of Ray Gillen. Goes to bed a hot night and then says he’ll go for a swim. Good swimmer, too. Usta go a hell of a way out and muck about before he came in. Boasted he’d swim across the Lake and back. Could swim, all right, but hegot himself drowned. About eleven at night, it was. Full moon. Left the quarters with only his ’jamatrousers on. Never came back.”

  Yet another gate stopped them, and after Bony had opened and closed it, and they were moving towards scrub-covered dunes which appeared an impassable barrier, he said:

  “The body was recovered?”

  “No, it wasn’t,” repliedDraffin. “There was no body come ashore, no ’jamas, nonothink. Ray Gillen just went for a swim and the next morning they wondered wot in hell had happened to him. Got blacks out from the River. Scouted around for a week. They tracked him down to the water but couldn’t track him out again. They nutted out the wind and drift of the tide and such like, and argued Gillen had to come ashore along the west end of the Lake. But he didn’t. He stopped right down on the bottomsomewheres. Funny about that. I always thought there was…”

  “What?” Bony softly urged, and it seemed that the noise of the engine prevented the question from reaching the driver. Louder, he added: “What did you think?”

  “Well, just between us. Tain’t no good stirring up muddy water, but I’ve always thought there was something funny about that drowning. You see, Ray Gillen wasn’t the sort of bloke to get himself drowned. He was the sort of bloke wot did everything goodo. Fine horseman. Make you giddylookin ’ at himride his motor-bike. Swim like a champion. Goes through Korea withoutbattin ’ an eyelid.”

  “And nothing has been heard or found since?”

  “Right, Bony. Not a trace. Trick of a bloke, too. Alwayslaughin ’ andteasin ’. Good-lookin’ and a proper skirt chaser. The young bitch out there was eyeing him off andputtin ’ the hooks into him, but I reckon he was too fly for her. Anyhow, badfeelin ’ worked up with the other blokes, and one evening therewas fireworks, Ray andMacLennon getting into holts. I wasn’t there, but Bob Lester told me they hoed into it for half an hour before Mac called it a day.”

  “But Gillen must have been drowned,” Bony argued. “Wearing only his pyjama trousers, he couldn’t have cleared away to another part of the State.”

  That’s so,”Draffin agreed.

  “Well, then, he must have been drowned,” persisted Bony, prodding the simple driver to defend himself.

  “Could of been, and then he could of not. George Barby told me he reckons Gillen went after a woman that night.”

  “Wearing only pyjama trousers?”

  “It was a hot night, and itain’t necessary to be all dressed up.”

  “Well, he went visiting, then disappeared. That it?”

  “Yair.”

  RedDraffinbraked the truck on a hardclaypan and silently cut chips from a black plug. Without speaking he rubbed the chips to shreds and loaded his odorous pipe and, still without speaking, lit the pipe and again settled to his driving. When they had covered a further three miles he voiced his thoughts.

  “Don’t know what you think about things, Bony, but I reckon booze is a safer bet than women. You can trust booze. You know just what it can do to you. But women! All they think about is what they can get out of a bloke. Look! Only theblacks get their women in a corner and keeps ’emthere. Do they let women play around with ’em? No fear. Theygives their women abeltin ’ every Sunday morning regular, and there’s never no arguing or any funny business during the ruddy week.”

  “There’s an old English custom. Are you sure the blacks choose Sunday mornings for the belting?” Bony asked, and RedDraffin, noting the smile and the twinkling blue eyes, roared with laughter.

  “Could be theymakes itSat’day night sometimesso’s not to miss out,” he conceded, a broad grin widening the spaced flame of hair on his face.

  “What makes you think Gillen mightn’t have been drowned?”

  “Well, you being a stranger, sort of, I can talk to you, and you can keep it under your bib. As I said, it’s no use stirring up mud. When you get a bird’s eye view of Ma Fowler and the daughter you might feel like me about Ray Gillen. Y’see, it was like this. Ray had a good suitcase, and one day I’m having a pitch with him in his room when he was changing hisunders. He pulls the case from below his bed, and he unlocks it with a key what he kept on a cord with a locket, what he always had slung round his neck. The case was full of clothes. He took a clean vest and pair of pants off the top of the stuff in the case, and he had to kneel on the lid to get it locked again.

  “That was a week before he went missing. I wasn’t at the Lake when he drowned, if he did, but George Barby was, and the next day, or the day after, the overseer got Bob Lester and George to be with him when he opened the case and made a list of what was inside. Andaccordin ’ to George Barby, the case was only three parts full of clothes and things. I never saidnothink to no one except George about that, but I’ve thought a lot of what happened to make the tide go down like it did.”

  “And did the overseer discover anything in the case, or find anything about Gillen’s parents or relatives?” Bony asked, to keep the subject before RedDraffin.

  “Not a thing. Ray’s motor-bike’s still in the machinery shed ’cosnobuddy’sclaimed it, and the police took thesuitcase and things. I’ll tell you what I think. I think Ray got wise to them women, or someone got wise to him, and that sort of started someone off. I tell you straight, I don’t believe he got himself drowned, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they come across his skeleton when the Lake dries up and find there’s bones broken what the water couldn’t of broke. So don’t gomuckin ’ about these women. Keep to the booze and you’ll be all right, like me.”

  “I will,” Bony promised, and there was no further opportunity to discuss the disappearance of Ray Gillen.

  So swiftly as to provide a shock, the ground fell away before the truck, to reveal the track winding down a long red slope, the buildings clustered at the bottom, and the great expanse of sun-drenched water beyond, shaped like a kidney and promising all things delightful after the long and arid journey.

  “Beaut, ain’tshe!” remarked the ungainly, uncouth driver, and added with genuine regret: “Just too crook her going to die.”

  Chapter Four

  ‘I am what I am’

  THETRUCKSTOPPEDoutside the store and Bony’s world was filled with sounds common to every outback homestead. Chained dogs barked and whined. The power engine chugged in rivalry with the clanging of the lazy windmill. Cockatoos shrieked and magpies chortled. People appeared and gathered about the truck.

  Bony opened his door and stepped out. To him no one spoke. He saw RedDraffin pass the mailbag to a dapper man and knew instantly he was the Boss of the out-station. The other men were types to be seen anywhere beyond the railways. He was conscious first of a big-boned woman with flashing dark eyes and raven hair, and a moment later was gazing into eyes as blue as his own. In them was reserved approval. His eyes registered points… deep gold hair, oval face, wide full-lipped mouth… and again his eyes met the eyes of the girl, and they were green and smiling and approving.

  “Now you two wash and come in for your dinner,” the elder woman told RedDraffin. “I’ve kept it hot for you, so don’t delay by gossiping.”

  Draffingrinned at her, and took Bony to the men
’s quarters where they shared a room. In the shower house at the rear of the building they washed and then Bony needs must return to the bedroom to comb and brush his hair.

  “Never mind makingyourself look like afillum star,” Red said.

  Bony was sure that neither comb nor brush had been applied to the red hair for many years, but his own lifelong habits could not be interrupted by Red’s impatience. He was conducted across the open space and into the men’s dining annexe off the kitchen. Mrs Fowler appeared carrying loaded plates.

  “Well, how’s things, Ma?”Draffin cheerfully asked as he slid his enormous buttocks along the table-flanking form.

  The woman’s dark eyes flashed and her mouth became grim.

  “You should have been smothered at birth.”

  “Now, now, no offence meant,” placated the driver. “Allwidders are natural mothers to me. You’re awidder, aren’t you? Hope so, anyhow.”

  “Eat your dinner. And don’t waste your time. I told you last time you were out that you haven’t a chance.”

  “So you did. Never mind. Next time I’m out here you won’t. Or it might be the time after.”

  Mrs Fowler sat on the end of the form nearest the door to the kitchen and regarded Bony with slow appraisement. He was supposed to be a horse-breaker and to be casual in manner and careless in speech, but he was too wise to adopt in the beginning idiosyncrasies which with the passage of time would be difficult to maintain. As, ultimately, he would be judged by his acts, he decided to be himself.

  From glancing at the man of cubic proportions and slovenly habits he studied the woman. That she was the mother of Green Eyes was very hard to credit, for there was no hint of the matron about her figure. She smiled at Bony with her lips and not her eyes.

  “D’youthinkRed would have a chance, Mr…er…?”

  “Call me Bony,” he replied, beaming upon her, and noted the fleeting shock he gave. “I cannot believe that MrDraffin has the merest ghost of a chance.”

  “Chance of what?” asked Joan Fowler, who appeared at the kitchen door and came to sit opposite her mother. She sat slightly sideways, that she could the better see Bony who was sitting on the same form.

  Bony hesitated to explain, and was glad when Red took the lead.

  “The chance of marrying your mother, Joan. What do you reckon?”

  The smoky blue-green eyes were insolent and the girl smiled. “Not a hope, you would never be able to fix her.”

  The mother rose hastily, saying:

  That’s enough of that.” Then she looked at Bony, her dark eyes casual, but incapable of masking her mind. “You’ll like being here, Bony,” she said. “How long are you staying?”

  Although returning her gaze, he was conscious of the girl’s eyes.

  “It depends,” he replied.“A month perhaps.”

  “Where have you come from?” asked the girl.

  “Down fromUradangie,” Red gave the answer.“Up atUradangie women neverarst questions.”

  “You hurry with your dinner, Red, and get out,” Joan told him.

  “I’m not leaving without Bony,” Red stated. “I like him too much to leave him alone with you two.”

  “Bony can look after himself,” snapped Mrs Fowler.

  “Not with you, he can’t. Heain’t old enough yet to hold his own with either of you.”

  Mrs Fowler gathered the plates on a tray and departed to bring in the sweet course. Red winked at Bony, and tore a crust of bread with teeth able to smash walnuts. The girl watched him, a sneer on her face, and determined to ‘sit’ him out. Her mother reappeared to ask:

  “Do they bake better bread up atUradangie, Bony?”

  “Madam,” Bony gravely began, “neither atUradangie nor elsewhere in Australia do they bake better bread than yours. And, please, permit me to compliment you on your cooking.”

  The woman’s smile of appreciation was almost tender, and thenDraffin intruded.

  “Talks like Ray Gillen, don’t he?”

  The smile was wiped from the woman’s face.

  “He does not, RedDraffin,” she said, venomously.

  “Something like,” purred the daughter. “We are going to like him, too.”

  Bony almost bowed sitting down, andDraffin had to toss in the final spanner.

  “Well, well, it won’t be long now ’fore the Lake dries out and we can collect poor old Ray and find out if he did die from no air. Wouldn’t be surprised if…”

  “Stop that kind of talk. Red,” commanded the elder woman.

  “All right! All right! Don’t go crook at everything I say,” complained Red and lurched to his feet. “Come on, Bony. Let’s go ’fore there’s blood spattered all over the walls.”

  “Do you play cards, Bony?” asked the girl. “Come over one evening. You’ll be welcome.”

  “Thank you. Yes, I like a game of poker now and then.”

  “I like poker, too,” the girl said, sleepy green eyes challenging alert blue eyes. But Bony smiled at both women and followed RedDraffin out into the sunset.

  Red introduced him to the other men, and they were not greatly interested, superficially, in the stranger. The two blacks had withdrawn to their own camp, an old hut farther along the lake shore, and the whites were excusably engrossed in their mail and papers, which were irregularly delivered. He felt their reserve and decided it was too soon to worry about the precise classification of their attitude. The only man with whom he had conversation was called EarleWitlow, middle-aged, rotund, grey and cheerful, and the subject of mutual interest was horses. Another, elderly but alert and addressed as Swede, invited all and sundry to play cards and received no co-operation. He didn’t meet Martyr until the following morning when orders were issued for the day, and by then he had summed up this small community.

  The two aborigines, of course, were a section to themselves. EarleWitlow and the Swede appeared to be joined in some kind of alliance, and the remainder were peculiarly individualistic. These individualists were Lester, MacLennon and Carney. They were the ‘old hands’, who, with George Barby, had been working here when Ray Gillen was drowned.

  MacLennonand Carney were sent out for the youngsters and half an hour later their whips could be heard like exploding rifles, and soon a spear of dust speeding down the slope to the homestead became a river of horses, and ultimately the head of the spear was rammed into the open gateway of a yard. They emitted a cloud of red dust for a minute or two before the restless animals quietened.

  Men sat on the top rail of the yard and watched the horses-the overseer and Bony, Lester andMacLennon and Carney. No one commented, and Bony quickly felt he was being appraised rather than the youngsters.

  Fifteen taut-eyed younghorses who had never known bridle and saddle, or the caress of a rope, stared at the men on the rail, and the men rolled cigarettes or filled a pipe and waited. They would have to be satisfied that he, Bony, could break in horses, for they must be made to accept him as such, and so enable him to fit into their own background.

  Without being a horseman one could watch the change from the exhilaration of the open gallop, to the uneasy fear of the trap which held them, to the acceptance of the trap and men immobile on the top rail. And then when Bony slid to the ground within the yard, fifteen pairs of eyes pricked and fifteen pairs of nostrils whistled wind.

  Martyr and his three stockmen moved not a fraction. Their faces were blank, but their eyes were quick and hooded, as though eager to detect errors. And although he hadn’t handled horses for years, Inspector Bonaparte fancied he could disappoint them.

  Standing in the centre of the yard, he clicked his tongue, and the horses could not choose a corner where they might be safe. He sauntered after them as they rushed from corner to corner, deliberately taking time to judge their points and sum up their characters. For a little while he leaned against the yard rails and slowly rolled a cigarette, like a man unable to make up his mind which horse to back for a race. He put on a good act, but at the same time shrewdly chos
e the animals most amenable to begin with.

  Then with slow deliberation of all movement, which is the greatest weapon in the breaker’s armoury, he opened a gate to an inner yard. A bay filly made a hesitant step forward, hoping that through that gate lay freedom. A black sister nudged her, and as one the fifteen sprang for it. Twelve got through before the gate barred three.

  With the patience of a row of Jobs, the rail-sitters watched for thirty minutes Bony merely sauntering after those three horses, round and round the yard walls. They could hear his tongue clicking, and the seemingly careless slapping of hand against a thigh, and they watched as the three animals slowly tired and became bored with this seemingly endless roundabout.

  When Bony finally stood in the yard centre, the three horses also stilled to watchhim, ears thrust forward, nostrils quivering. He moved quietly towards them, talking softly, and they stiffened and shivered and whistled through pink-lined nostrils. Then they would break and rush to another corner. The watchers lost count of the number of ‘tries’ before one horse stood, forefeet braced, nostrils flaring, muscles trembling, and waited for man’s next movement.

  Bony walked to this horse, his eyes upon the eyes of the horse, his voice low, crooning, himself creating the impression of irresistible power. The horse became as of hewn marble. The gap between it and the man narrowed till but two feet separated them. The horse couldn’t back, for the yard wall was hard behind it; it could lunge forward, but it didn’t dare. Instead, it brought its soft muzzle towards the man, and its body seemed to lean forward over the braced forelegs.

  “He’s hypnotizing the bastard,” hissed Lester to the overseer, and Martyr ignored the comment.

  Bony’s right hand rose slowly to touch the animal’s jaw. The horse shivered violently. The human hand slid from the jaw to the rippling shoulder muscles, and the watchers witnessed fear die away and muscles gradually calm. They saw Bony patting the shoulder, slip a hand under the horse’s throat, pass up the arched neck to the ears. Then Bony slowly turned his back to the horse, remained in that position for half a minute before walking away.