Field Walking

by John Bishop

usually started, except at the height of summer; but he had a couple of small weed-infestations to attend to, and it would be good for the shire officers to see evidence of work if they chose today to check up on him. Then he’d take a slow run out past Banabrook and call on Adrian at Land’s End. Good bloke, Adrian. He had a solid knowledge of local botany and was a good spotter of noxious outbreaks. He was also good for a cup of tea and a yarn at nine-thirty. Hard to find at other times; worked Olive Sampson’s old property single-handed most of the year. Get him started on Olive and Land’s End Farm and he had stories to last a lifetime. Olive had gone long before Gavin came to the area, but she was the stuff of legend. This might be a good day for Adrian to be able to remember talking to Bill Smith, if somebody was to ask him later on. By ten, Adrian would be ready to jump on his tractor again. That would be a good time for Gavin to check out the Banabrook driveway. He must remember to mention his intention to Adrian; it would be an easy subject to introduce casually into their conversation. The Banabrook driveway had been included in his contract because of the vehicles carting visitors to and fro, which made it a likely spot for seeds to be deposited. He would call at the homestead and speak to the staff, to establish he’d been there. This being a weekday, Kingsley was unlikely to be around. Looking for Kingsley at school was going to be a problem. Trudy, the Principal, had asked Bill Smith to do any jobs in the vicinity outside school hours, in case spraying was required. Nice lady, Trudy; but not a person to cross. He’d have to give some thought to how he might check Kingsley’s movements. Meanwhile, he could take a drive out to St Mark’s. He’d seen Kingsley there on a weekday last week. It had been early in the morning. Perhaps Kingsley made a practice of calling in to attend to parish business before going to school. It was only a few months ago there’d been a patch of weeds to treat in the car park, so Bill Smith had good reason to inspect the grounds of the church.

  Eamon arrived at St Mark’s shortly after ten that morning. He’d made a point of visiting the shire offices first, to let the staff know the Anglican Diocese had asked for its boundaries to be checked after a dispute over church property elsewhere. This provided the opportunity for surveyor Ziggy to work in full view and to keep an eye on comings and goings along the road. It also gave Max something to explain Ziggy’s presence to the vestry committee. Eamon liked surveying as a cover, it allowed his team to be alert and move around the area they were watching. Megan was already well set up at Banabrook, looking through old files or wandering around outside locating markers on survey plans Judith had produced.

  Gavin was well along the access road to the church when he saw the man with the theodolite. It wasn’t what he had expected, but the worst thing he could do would be to stop and go back. He pulled to the side of the access road, got out of the truck, and took a mattock from the tray. He was close enough to the car park to observe what was going on, but too far away for the surveyor to think of starting a conversation. He dug out a clump of innocuous weed and threw it into the truck with a pile of genuine noxious plants he’d worked on earlier in the day. He made a show of walking back and forth looking at the ground, then got back into his truck and drove into the car park. As he got out of the cabin he called to the surveyor. ‘Will this be in your way, mate?’

  ‘You’re fine there,’ Ziggy replied. ‘I’m done for now anyway. I was about to phone the boss to come and pick me up.’

  ‘Bill Smith,’ said Gavin.

  ‘Ryan Marsh,’ Ziggy said extending his hand.

  ‘I better not shake hands. Done a bit of spraying earlier on. I wear gloves but I don’t touch anyone until I’ve washed up.’

  ‘That’s considerate. What brings you here?’

  ‘I need to check a patch I worked on over there. Make sure I got all the roots out. If you turn your back, this stuff pops its head up again in no time. What’s the survey for?’

  ‘Validation of boundaries, according to the work sheet. The boss says it’s something to do with the diocese getting into an argument over a property they own somewhere else.’

  ‘Well, I’d better keep moving. I see the Reverend Kingsley’s truck is here. I’ll duck in and give him a report before I leave. Don’t often see him out here this time on a weekday. It’ll save me giving him a bell later.’

  ‘Yeah. Right. See ya.’

  Ziggy took a few more readings before taking out his mobile telephone and making a show of calling. He knew the smallest detail could make or blow a cover. He punched in his own number and had a loud one-sided conversation with the engaged signal. When Bill Smith drove off twenty minutes later, Ziggy was sitting on a bench apparently waiting to be picked up.

  Dark Clouds

  Tuesday 18th August 1992

  Shortly after nine on Tuesday morning Gavin took another drive along the highway near St Mark’s. Dark clouds were building over the ranges to the east; there would be rain before the day was out. A kilometre or so past the church access road, Gavin turned his vehicle in the crossover to a neighbouring property. He drove slowly back along the highway. He had not told Tom Jones his intentions lest his suspicions prove unfounded. Jones was an experienced operator whose praise for Bill Smith’s contribution to a successful exercise in the field would enhance Gavin’s standing in the underworld.

  From the top of a small rise, he could see the church car park. As he had suspected, Kingsley’s vehicle was there. Without stopping, he continued his slow run back into town. A farmer on a tractor in a paddock gave him a friendly wave, acknowledging another Arajinna resident going about the work of the community. As soon as he was well clear, he abandoned his pretence of inspecting the verges and headed home, keen to report his findings.

  ‘I’ll bet me shirt on it, mate; Kingsley’s living in the church,’ he told Tom. ‘I thought as much when I went in for a chat with him yesterday, so I went back for another look. His truck hasn’t budged. I think he’s hiding out there.’

  ‘Not hiding, sunshine. Waiting. Otherwise why would he leave the truck for us to see?’

  ‘You think it’s a trap?’

  ‘Possibly. He’s a bit of a rum cove, I’m told. He went the biff with one of Lenny’s boys some years ago, messed him up real bad. So we know the reverend gentleman is not above a bit of a stoush. Living on a farm, he’d have access to guns wouldn’t he?’

  ‘I’d expect Banabrook would have quite a collection.’

  ‘If we’re reckoning Brody worked out what Mad Charlie was doing up here, it wouldn’t be too long a shot to suppose Kingsley might set himself up to attract attention. He might even be planning a self-defence shooting to show Lenny he’s not to be messed with. Do you think the other locals know anything?’

  ‘I doubt it. Like I told Lenny, the whole district would be buzzing with a story like that. I haven’t heard anyone mention Charlie’s accident on my rounds. Adrian who works Land’s End is always up with the gossip, and he hasn’t said anything.’

  ‘If Brody is aware what Lenny’s up to, we have to wonder where the fuzz is. There’s a long history between those two.’

  ‘I haven’t seen any strangers, except for the surveyor.’

  ‘Reckon he’s legit?’

  ‘Looked all right to me.’

  ‘I’d reckon there are two possibilities. One is, the fuzz isn’t taking much interest—no funds, other priorities, too far away from home, admin SNAFU, whatever. The other possibility is they are active, and we don’t know how.’

  ‘So what do we do now?’

  ‘I’m going in.’

  ‘When?’

  ‘Today.’

  ‘Just like that?’

  ‘In my experience, sunshine, whatever risks we face are likely to get worse every day. The best time to act is usually now, while everyone else is still thinking. It’s already a week since Charlie bought it, so Kingsley’s had plenty of time to clear out if he was planning to. Us sitting around wondering what they’re up to won’t pay the bills. And I’m on a bonus from Lenny if I get the job done qui
ck. When you were at the church yesterday, Kingsley was there and you saw the surveyor; nobody else, right?’

  ‘I made an excuse to go in and see Kingsley. He was working at a table near the main door. I didn’t see anyone else.’

  ‘Was the surveyor taking more than a passing interest in you?’

  ‘Didn’t appear to be. When I left, he was sitting out the front waiting to be picked up. Gave me a wave. No sign of him this morning.’

  ‘Well if he did turn out to be a minder, that’s only two blokes to handle. I’ve dealt with worse. I’ve had a good look at the maps and stuff. There’s a sketch of the church somewhere. Let’s see what we can work out.’

  ‘I managed to persuade the secretary of the vestry committee there isn’t any business that can’t wait until next week.’ Max switched on the kettle and handed Ziggy the biscuit jar. It was shortly after four. ‘I think the storm clouds helped.’

  ‘Well it sure looks like we’re in for a ripper of a storm. We may as well get my gear in and shut the place early. I’m getting to the gritty part of my book.’

  ‘What’s this one?’

  ‘I’d never read The Godfather and somebody said I was missing something. He was right. There’s a lot more to it than they got into the movie.’

  Tom Jones looked out at the gathering clouds. ‘I don’t know what local