There were people like his parents who thought the forces shouldn’t have been involved. It was easy to sit back in the comfort of Australia and make those choices. In some ways coming home had been the hardest part for him. Most of the other blokes had wives or girlfriends or parents looking forward to their return. They had been busting to hand back their gear, get through decompression with its medical checks and paperwork, and get home.
Taking time to debrief was necessary. A lot had been learnt since Vietnam days when soldiers flew out of the pressure cooker of a combat zone and were home to their families in twenty-four hours. They were expected to pick up where they’d left off and forget about a war that had changed them forever. He and Gnasher had talked about the differences several times. Ethan didn’t want to end up like the Viet vet, trapped between reality and the scenes from war that still played over in the old man’s head despite the distance of time.
Ethan had tried to reassure Savannah but he himself wasn’t convinced it was a rabbit Gnasher saw through the sights of his gun. It could just as easily be an imagined Viet Cong soldier.
Ethan thought about the shot they’d heard and his own situation. Funny how something as simple as a can rolling out of a cupboard could evoke such a strong reaction while a gunshot didn’t faze him. The brain worked in strange ways.
He looked up at the starry night and thanked whichever lucky star was his that he’d done two tours and come home physically in one piece at least. There had been several close calls. He swallowed the last of his tea.
“Bed calls, Jasper,” he said.
The next morning he woke feeling refreshed. Maybe it was the chamomile tea – who would know – but for the first night in a few, he’d slept well.
He let Jasper out for his morning constitutional and busied himself making breakfast. Jasper was back quickly, a soft paw at the door asking to be let in.
“Bit chilly out there this morning, mate?”
The golden light of the sun, still below the horizon, was softly illuminating the trees but there was no warmth in it yet. Ethan ruffled Jasper’s ears, the fur cold under his warm hands.
“Let’s get you some food.”
Jasper gave a low growl and stared towards the back door.
Ethan listened. He heard the scrape of a footstep then Savannah appeared on the other side of the glass. That she was there at this hour of the morning was strange enough but it was what she was holding that brought a smile to his lips. He opened the door.
“Good morning,” he said and his grin broadened. “I don’t recall asking for home delivery.”
Savannah didn’t smile back. She shivered and clutched the large pack of toilet rolls close to her chest.
“I’m very sorry but I need to ask for your help again,” she said.
“Come in.”
She hesitated, glancing at Jasper beside him.
“Drop,” he said.
Savannah stepped just inside the door. He slid it shut behind her.
“Toilet blocked?” He raised an eyebrow.
“No,” she said. “I’ve had a call from the people on Tawarri. They’re nearly out of toilet paper and there’s no extra in the cupboards.”
This time Ethan raised both eyebrows.
“They’re camped at Old Man’s Landing, which they said I can get to by vehicle. Fred said it wasn’t far but I’ve no idea how to get there.”
“It’s a good spot. Not far.”
“I wondered if you could direct me?”
Wearing loose clothes, her shape was hidden. They made her look thin, and with her short-cropped hair she appeared waif-like, but he knew she was no weakling. She studied him with eyes that were alert, piercing.
“Or better still, could you come with me and show me the way?” she said.
Ethan scratched his forehead. He had planned to get back to Blake’s place early. He wanted to check on his brother before he started work on the machinery.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t like imposing on you all the time. I hope this will be the last thing for a while.”
Her tone was brusque. He knew she didn’t like asking. Ethan made up his mind.
“It won’t take long if we go by boat.”
“Boat?”
“By road it’s a long trip, in the tinnie about fifteen minutes.”
“You mean that little tin thing tied up by the houseboats?”
“That’s Jaxon’s. Mine’s a bit bigger.”
Her forehead crinkled and her fingers dug into the paper rolls. “I … I haven’t ever been in a small boat like that.”
“Best way to be on the river.”
“Are you sure you couldn’t just direct me in the car?”
“No time.” He reached past her and slid the door open. “You’ll need a coat. Meet me out the front of my place in ten minutes.”
She opened her mouth then closed it again.
“Okay,” she said.
She gave him one last questioning look then stepped outside.
“See you in ten,” he called after her as she went down the stairs.
Back inside he hurried through his morning jobs, chomping toast and gulping coffee each time he passed the kitchen bench. It was the second time Savannah had interrupted his morning breakfast ritual but this time he didn’t mind. He had an excuse to go for a quick trip on the river. Even though there’d be no fishing at least he’d be out on the water again. He pulled on his coat and a thick beanie.
“You’ll have to stay here, mate,” he said to Jasper who waited at the door. “By the look of it I don’t think our Ms Smith would cope with you in the boat as well.”
Savannah was waiting for him. She wore Jaxon’s hi-vis coat over her clothes and her own version of a beanie on her head. The huge packet of toilet rolls was still clutched firmly to her chest.
“Let’s go,” he said and led the way down the path to where he kept his tinnie. The earlier golden glow had gone, leaving a pale blue sky littered with wispy grey clouds. There was no mist on the river this morning.
“This is a much better set-up than Jaxon’s,” she said as they walked the boards below the retaining wall to the small mooring where Ethan tied his boat. “Why doesn’t he do this?”
“Money, I’d be guessing. There was a flood a few years back before both of us bought here. It washed away the bank. The people I bought from had built the jetty but there were no houseboats when Jaxon bought his place.”
Ethan took the toilet paper from her and stashed it under the seat. He held out his hand. “Step into the middle of the boat and sit on the front seat.”
She looked from him to the boat then took his hand. She moved awkwardly and the boat wobbled but her balance was good. She moved easily to the seat on her own. He undid the rope, climbed in and started the motor.
They coasted out to the middle of the river. Savannah faced him from the other end of the boat. She glanced from side to side taking in the scenery. He picked up speed. She gripped the side of the boat.
“Beautiful time of the day on the river,” he called over the noise of the motor.
She gave him a small grin in response and turned her eyes back to the passing scene.
The water was like glass. The tinnie sliced through it. The noise of their progress echoed around them. Waterbirds sat on partly submerged branches, swooped around the banks or floated on the river, busy with their morning tasks. The crisp air burned his cheeks and made his nose run. He inhaled the fresh smell and savoured the taste of the river on his lips. This is where he loved to be.
They saw no other boats as they followed the twists and bends of the river. They passed a few places where houses and shacks lined the banks then came to high cliffs lining one side. Ethan couldn’t stop himself sweeping them with a searching look. The only danger from up there might be a tree branch toppling to the river but it was hard to break the habits learned in a war zone.
As they rounded the sharp bend a large sandbar stuck out into the river
opposite the cliffs and the houseboat came into view.
“There it is,” he called.
Savannah twisted on her seat to look. Ethan eased back on the throttle and turned the bow towards the bigger boat, then cut the motor so they gently nudged up against the swim deck at the back of the houseboat.
Fred came out of the back door as Ethan reached to hold onto the handrail. The older man was wearing a purple polo shirt over black and purple tartan shorts. A black and purple cap was jammed on top of his head. He looked more like he should be stepping onto the golf course than manning a houseboat.
“Ahoy, there,” Fred called.
A grin stretched his face but there was something about his eyes. Ethan didn’t like the man.
Savannah leaned forward and tugged the toilet paper rolls out from under the seat.
“Here you are,” she said and lifted the packet onto the platform.
“I’d invite you in for coffee,” Fred said, “but there are a few sore heads.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder and lowered his voice. “A couple of the ladies can’t hold their drink like they used to.”
“Thanks but we’d have to say no anyway.”
Savannah’s tone was crisp. Perhaps she didn’t like Fred either.
“Ethan kindly offered to run me out here but he has to go to work.”
Fred bent to pick up the toilet paper. “Well, we couldn’t do without the necessities. There was no cling wrap or foil either. Luckily one of the ladies threw in her own. Jaxon usually provides it. He’s always run a tight ship.” He gave Savannah a patronising look and turned away to go back onto the boat deck.
She squared her shoulders. Ethan could see she was going to stand.
“Don’t,” he said. He put up one hand and held tight to the swim deck with the other.
Fred twisted round to look at them. Savannah stayed on her seat glaring up at him.
“We didn’t finalise the paperwork before you left,” she said. “Jaxon wouldn’t have let that slip either.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Fred’s stretched smile was back in place. “Jaxon knows we’re trustworthy. See you on the weekend.”
Ethan let go of the rail and they drifted away from the houseboat. He started the outboard and from the corner of his eye he saw Fred lift a hand in a lazy wave. Ethan turned their nose for home. In front of him Savannah remained rigidly staring over his shoulder. No doubt Fred and the houseboat were firmly in her sights. Neither of them had returned Fred’s wave.
Once they were round the bend, Savannah glanced back at Ethan.
“What paperwork?” he asked.
She drew in a quick breath through her nose.
“He didn’t sign the hire agreement.”
“At least you’ve got his money.”
“Not all of it. I didn’t get the bond off him either.”
Ethan raised his eyebrows but didn’t say any more. Her face was set in a grim look but the multi-coloured beanie gave her a comical air. Ethan could tell she was beating herself up about it. He decided it was best not to say anything. He shifted his gaze to the river ahead. They travelled the rest of the way in silence.
CHAPTER
12
The moment the boat touched the tiny jetty, Savannah prepared to get out.
“Thanks for taking me,” she said.
“No problem.”
She didn’t give him time to make any further conversation. She moved away along the jetty, clambered around the slippery bank to Jaxon’s side of the fence and hightailed it back to the shack.
She was cross with herself about the toilet rolls. Ethan had suggested she do one more check and she hadn’t. Jaxon had said the boats were ready to go. Worse than that, she was embarrassed about letting Fred take the boat without finalising the paperwork and paying the bond. Ethan hadn’t said anything but she’d seen the rise of his eyebrows and the twinkle in his eye. He must think her a right fool and useless to boot.
She knew nothing about boats, from the proper stocking of them to driving them. At this rate Jaxon wouldn’t have a business left to come home to and they’d both end up homeless.
Back inside the shack she paced the floor.
“Damn it, Jaxon,” she growled at the empty room. “Somehow I’ve got to make this work.”
She looked out the sliding door towards the three houseboats. From now on she’d be more focused. She would give each of them a thorough check. That at least was something she felt capable of doing and she’d start right now.
She took the three sets of keys and the page listing what should be on board each one and let herself out the back door. Over the fence she heard Ethan’s bike start and roar away. He’d done her another favour but she didn’t want to think about him beyond that.
She marched down to the bank, stepped carefully along the path and put the gangplank up to the first boat. On board she opened every cupboard and inspected every piece of furniture. This one was called Our Destiny and it was shipshape so far as she could tell. Plenty of toilet paper stashed in each bathroom cupboard as well as the toiletries supplied.
Jaxon had a huge supply of everything in a shipping container inside the shed. She’d had to take three keys to get into the shed to get the toilet paper. In the half dark of early morning she’d fumbled around with the padlock. It held a chain that connected the front sliding door of the shed to the side entrance door. Once she got that undone she needed another key to unlock the side door and then another key to open the door he’d made in the shipping container.
There was quite a bit of electrical equipment on the shelves along one wall of the massive shed. One bay was taken up with Jaxon’s ute and that was full of tools. There was also a battered squat-looking bike with four wheels. He no doubt wanted to leave everything secure while he was away but it seemed like a lot of locking up. Savannah had decided she wasn’t going to bother with the padlock. She’d left it with the chain inside the shed.
She climbed up onto the sundeck. Everything was dusty and leaves scattered the deck. That would have to be cleaned before the boat went out. She wondered if Tawarri had been the same. Too late to worry about it now.
She moved on to the next boat and then the third. They were fully equipped as well. There was cling wrap, foil and paper towel in each kitchen. It must have just been an oversight that Tawarri didn’t have the extras. The only thing was the sundecks. All of them needed cleaning. There’d be little point going over them now though. She’d have to do it the day before they were due to go out.
Her stomach grumbled. Fred’s phone call had woken her from a deep sleep. She’d thrown on clothes and set out on her mission to get the toilet paper to him without stopping for breakfast. The few supplies she’d bought on her trip to town were low or gone. She had plenty of time and nothing else to do but get back in the car and head into Riverboat Point.
Savannah turned left out of the driveway onto the dirt road. Then she stopped and reversed until she was level with Jaxon’s elaborate letterbox. She hadn’t ever looked inside. It was dirty and full of cobwebs. He must get mail even if it was only junk. She wondered where it was delivered.
Back in her car she drove slowly, peering left and right. Not far from Jaxon’s gate on the opposite side of the road was a rough driveway littered with white rocks. There was a gate in the wire fence with a tree at either side. A sign hung on the gate stating Private Property, Keep Out. Savannah braked and peered past the gate. The track on the other side disappeared from sight into the bush beyond. It didn’t look like many vehicles drove along it. She assumed that was the entrance to Gnasher’s property.
She wondered how Gnasher lived. How did he get his groceries? What if he took sick? Who would know? She looked again at the sign and remembered the gunshot. He obviously didn’t encourage visitors.
She drove on, looking to the left this time. She had meant to ask Ethan if he knew who lived over Jaxon’s other side fence. After a while she came to a gate. It was a fancy white iron gate
like you’d see on a house yard in the city. Once again the sign wasn’t friendly. Bold black letters on a white sign declared, Private Property, Trespassers Prosecuted, and underneath, Beware Dog. Savannah didn’t like the idea of going in there to find out who the owners were.
So what did Jaxon’s note about the neighbours mean? None of them encouraged contact so there appeared little for her to worry about. Even Ethan was aloof in spite of the help he’d given her. The whole area wasn’t conducive to neighbourly relations. Savannah shrugged her shoulders against the shiver that prickled down her back. The perfect place for anyone who was antisocial or not wanting to be noticed. Maybe it was just that all Jaxon’s neighbours weren’t the friendly type and he’d been warning her to keep away. But then he’d known she’d have to ask Ethan for help.
She slapped the steering wheel with the flat of her hand. Maybe that was it. He knew it was unlikely she’d have contact with Gnasher or whoever lived over the other fence but she’d have to work with Ethan. Jaxon had thought it necessary to warn her. But why? What could there possibly be about Ethan she needed to watch out for? She shook her head and kept driving.
When she reached the T-junction she stopped. Old Man’s Landing Road went right towards the main road and left towards she knew not what – the river? Fred had moored Tawarri at Old Man’s Landing. Perhaps this road would take her there. Ethan had said it was quicker to go by boat but she decided to check it out for herself. Savannah turned left. She had nothing to do and she might as well see where this road led.
The dirt road twisted and turned but gradually took her north. If she’d remembered the name of it this morning she could have driven herself here and not asked Ethan for help. As she rounded the next bend, a tyre hit a pothole and the car thumped below her. She eased back on her speed. The road ahead was uneven and dotted with holes. By the time she reached the next bend she was crawling from one deep rut or well-worn hole to another and her hip was beginning to ache from the jarring.
Finally the road ended in a huge clearing. Permapine railings defined the area between parking space and trees. In a gap, a sign pointed through the trees to Old Man’s Landing. Savannah pulled up close to the sign and got out of her car. She stretched and bent her body, twisted from side to side and rolled her shoulders. The last few kilometres had been extremely rough going. She wondered about the ability of her little car to make it through such a rough road but she was here now. Ethan had been right about the time. It was almost a half an hour since she’d left the shack.
Riverboat Point Page 8