Purple Roads

by Fleur McDonald

  ‘Lovely bloke, but a bit like the name: odd. Hey, Anna, thanks for helping me with this. Sam just didn’t have time to do it with seeding. I need someone to help me get everything inside and with the rush of customers. You should see what it’s like when they first open the doors. People just swarm in. Sometimes the lines are three people deep. All the noise and bustle make it quite hard to hear what people want, so we’ll have to concentrate. It’s bedlam for the first couple of hours, then everything seems to settle down a bit.’

  Kate took a corner a bit fast and Anna heard a thud in the back as the eskies slid around.

  They followed the winding road until it opened to a long straight stretch near Adelaide and Kate pushed her foot to the floor. Still the old van wouldn’t go above eighty kilometres per hour, and it vibrated like crazy. Anna was sure she’d have a headache by the time they made it to the markets.

  She felt around on the floor for the thermos and cups. ‘Coffee?’

  ‘Yes please,’ Kate replied.

  ‘Why don’t you buy a decent van, Kate? You’ve got the money!’

  ‘Yeah, I know,’ she said above the roar of the engine.‘I think Sam wanted to make sure I was going to keep going with this business before he invested in a good van. I love doing this, though. It just gives me a bit of independence – and I love knowing that people like my product enough to keep coming back. It means I’m doing a good job.’

  The traffic increased the closer they got to the city, and when they reached the market grounds Anna stared in amazement. ‘Bloody hell, look at all these people.’ There were people blowing up balloons and setting out fresh fruit and vegetables. A lady was hauling jars of preserves out of boxes, others were setting up cooking demonstrations and firing up the barbecues to cook tasters on. There were trestle tables full of produce; one man had piled his table so high with carrots that Anna was sure that they would all fall to the ground the moment someone passed by or accidentally knocked them.

  The markets seemed to buzz with their own energy and the aroma of freshly baked bread and coffee made her mouth water.

  In the distance, Anna could see a busker holding a guitar. She wondered what sort of music he would play – his dreadlocks and goatee beard made her think it would be something rather alternative.

  ‘And these are just the vendors!’ Kate smiled. ‘Come on, we’re a bit late.’

  Kate parked the van and they hurried inside. Anna followed Kate as she pushed her way through the throng of people to a storeroom. Inside she grabbed hold of an empty meat fridge. ‘Let’s get this out to our bay. It’s over that way. She waved towards the southern end of the shed.

  Once at their area Kate handed Anna a striped beach tent and some banners.‘Get as much frontage with the signage as you can without the old bloke over there getting grumpy. He’ll let you know if you’re out too far.’

  Anna’s eyes strayed to the unshaven man wearing a terry-towelling hat selling flowers and she grinned. He had a mean look in his eye. She did as she was told and then together they returned to the van and began to lug in the large eskies of meat. Kate expertly set up the lamb chops, roasts, patties, sausages and other cuts of meat she’d brought, got out her cash tin and sat down.

  ‘Okay, we’re ready. Do you want to have a quick look around? You’ve got about . . .’ she checked her watch,‘fifteen minutes.’

  ‘Yeah, I’d love to! Do you want me to grab you a coffee? Which way is Tootles?’

  Kate pointed and settled back in her chair. ‘Just follow the crowd but don’t be long,’ she warned.‘You’ll get run over in the rush when it’s opening time!’

  Anna pushed her way towards the makeshift café, where she could see people lined up two deep waiting for coffee and something to eat. It was almost like a café on Rundle Street. The food was high quality and beautifully prepared and even though they were in a shed, Tootles and his staff had set up umbrellas above the outdoor seating. Anna could only imagine how gorgeous that coffee would taste.

  A stall selling handmade bags caught her eye and she went over for a closer look. The lady, who wore her hair in a braid fastened with a yellow ribbon, picked up a bright pink bag with a black cat sewn onto the front and asked if she had a daughter.

  ‘Yes, I do and she would love that,’ Anna answered, fingering the stitching.

  ‘It’s yours for twenty-five dollars.’

  Anna hesitated, then pulled out the money and handed it over. She would put it away for a Christmas present.

  Anna thanked the lady and moved on, finding it hard not to stare at all the people. It seemed that alternative was the norm here. Young groovy uni students were beginning to make their way through the gates along with older couples, who looked like they had given up their professional lifestyle and clothing choice and branched out into the organic, grunge style of life.

  Then she heard someone call her name.

  ‘Anna! Anna Butler!’

  She turned around to see Belinda Lyons walking towards her.

  ‘Anna, how are you? I wouldn’t have expected to see you here,’ Belinda said, smiling.

  ‘I could have said the same about you! I’m fine, thanks. I’m just here helping a friend. It’s great to see you!’

  ‘Ha! The same. My friend Jasmine – see the girl over there with all the braids and a nose ring? She grows herbs in the Adelaide Hills and dries them. I come every Sunday to give her a hand. Shane gets some quality time alone with the kids and I get some time just for me. It works really well. And I get to buy my meat for the week while I’m here.’

  ‘Well, that’s great,’ said Anna, feeling a tightening in her chest as Belinda talked about happy families. ‘Look, I’d love to stay and chat, but I was just on my way to get a coffee before opening. Kate’s warned me I’m not to be late back!’

  Belinda put her hand on Anna’s arm. ‘Of course. It can be crazy here at opening time. But listen, before you go, we were so sorry to hear about you and Matt. If there’s anything we can do, please tell us.’

  Anna couldn’t bring herself to meet the other woman’s eye, so instead she focused on Belinda’s bracelet. It was gold and engraved with two entwined letters.The symbol seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place it. Finally, when she felt sure her voice would be steady, she looked up and smiled tightly. ‘Thanks, Belinda, but I’m doing all right. Maybe we could catch up for coffee one day? Not sure when I’ll be back in Adelaide but you never know.’

  Belinda smiled. ‘I’d like that. Take care, hey?’

  ‘You too!’ She turned and walked back to Kate.

  ‘Where’s the coffee?’ asked Kate as Anna ducked in behind the display cabinet, tears in her eyes. ‘Shit, what’s wrong?’

  ‘It’s nothing. I just ran into one of Matt’s trucking mate’s wives, Belinda. She was just saying she was sorry we’d split. She was being too nice to me, when I need to crack hardy! Although I bet she and Shane had already talked about whether it was going to happen or not. Bloody hell, she saw what Matt did that night and Shane would’ve told her about his little outburst!’ She swiped at her cheeks.

  ‘Anna you’re going to have to get used to people offering sympathy. How else can they show they care? So many people do and you can’t be tough all the time. Uh-oh, look out. Doors are open.’ She stood up and handed Anna a pair of plastic gloves. ‘You pack and weigh, I’ll do the money.’

  Several hours later, Anna and Kate collapsed into their chairs, exhausted.

  ‘You deserve a bloody medal for doing this every Sunday, Kate!’ Anna looked at the eskies and display cabinet. There was not a single piece of meat left, just the parsley Kate had decorated it with.

  ‘Awesome isn’t it? I get such a buzz out of it. I love sharing what I grow with other people – and there’s a huge market for it.’ Kate’s eyes were glowing.

  ‘I think you’re on a winner,’ Anna said. Her eyes strayed over to where Belinda was helping her friend pack up and she nudged Kate.‘That’s her,’ she said quietly.r />
  Kate looked over. ‘What, the chick with the dreads?’ she asked, surprise in her voice.

  ‘Nah, the other one.’

  ‘Well they’re both a bit different. I can’t think of anyone I know who’d wear so much jewellery to something like this! She looks like she’d jangle every time she moved! Got a bit of money have they?’

  ‘Oh yeah. But they’ve got some costs as well: four boys, to begin with!’

  ‘Ah. Glutton for punishment.’ Kate tilted her head to one side. ‘I reckon I’ve seen her before.’

  ‘She comes here every Sunday to help out her friend apparently. It’s Shane’s time with the kids.’

  ‘Oh, that must be it. I could have sworn I’d seen her in Clare or somewhere else out our way. Well, let’s get packed up and get home so you can see Ella and Matt.’

  Anna replied sharply, ‘I don’t need to see Matt, Kate. We’re not together anymore. I only need to see him when he picks Ella up and drops her off. He’d better have looked after her well. Especially after his last try.’

  ‘Rubbish. I can’t believe you’ve fallen out of love with him that quickly. And of course he’ll look after Ella really well. You can be a bit hard on him sometimes.’

  Anna shot Kate a murderous glance and started to haul the empty eskies back out to the van. Half an hour later they were on their way back to Spalding.

  Anna stared out of the window at the passing countryside, thinking about Ella. She couldn’t wait to get home to give her a hug. She might even give her the bag today. Of course, Ella might not be home; Matt had been planning to take her to his parents’ place – which was just as well, she reminded herself. It would be too painful to come home and find him there, even though she missed him dreadfully. Still, the thought of going home to a cold, empty house when she was tired and her back ached was depressing.

  ‘Anna, I’ve got something to tell you,’ Kate said in a low voice as she glanced in the rear-view mirror. ‘I’ve been trying to work out how to talk to you about this for the last couple of weeks.’

  Intrigued, Anna turned to Kate. ‘That sounds interesting,’ she said.

  ‘Matt came to tea the other night and we were talking about the things which have been stolen around here. He’s really put a lot of work into investigating it, Anna – and we’re sure he’s on to something here.’

  ‘You are kidding me, aren’t you?’ Anna stared at her friend.

  ‘No, I’m not.The amount of detail he has collected really . . .’

  ‘Oh far out, this has gone on long enough,’ interrupted Anna, unexpectedly losing her temper. ‘Surely he hasn’t got you wrapped up in his ridiculous obsession too.’

  ‘It’s not crazy. We honestly believe there’s a problem around here. Anna, we’re going to help Matt find whoever did this, whether it’s through active investigation or lobbying the police. I know you’re not going to like the idea, but at some stage, when you’re not as angry as you are now, ask me and I’ll tell you all the information we have and why we believe this is important.’

  ‘I can’t believe this.’ Anna crossed her arms. ‘It’s so stupid – you told me how hopeless it is yourself!

  You’ve seen Matt ignore Ella and I, not come home at night just to spend time investigating it. Time he could have spent with us. You know how much it’s hurt me. It’s the whole reason Matt and I split.’

  ‘Yeah, I know. And I do understand, Anna!’ Kate took a hand off the steering wheel and reached over to touch her arm. ‘I’ve changed my mind because of the facts.’

  ‘Facts? What facts? No, don’t tell me.’ Anna held up her hand. ‘I’m not interested.’

  Kate opened her mouth to speak, but Anna just shook her head. ‘I don’t want to hear about it, Kate.’ She turned and looked out of the window, not believing what she had just heard. Her friends who had stood by her through everything had just betrayed her.

  The rest of the trip back to Spalding was a very quiet one.

  Chapter 37

  ‘G’day, fellas, that your truck out there?’

  Matt looked up from the steak he was eating to see a young police officer looking at them enquiringly.

  Shane frowned and said, ‘Yeah, why?’

  ‘There have been a few little incidents with things going missing out of the trucks’ cabs, so we’re just trying to put drivers to rigs. Know who’s with what company and so on.’

  Matt looked at the police officer in surprise. ‘Really?’ he asked. He hadn’t heard anything about it, and it was the sort of news which would travel quickly around the community of truckies. They were always talking on the radio as they passed each other, telling of road conditions or experiences they’d had with good or stupid drivers. Of course there had been the conversation with Jimmy, Shane and Janey, but that was months ago now and they had been talking trailers, goods, and farms not cabs and personal items.

  ‘Yeah, it’s only been happening over the last week or so, but we want to put a stop to it straight away. No need to upset you blokes or the companies you work for. You guys bring a fair bit of money into our towns when you stop here.’

  ‘I thought you blokes were just around to make our lives difficult,’ Shane said rudely. He pushed his plate away and got up from the table. ‘If you want me, I’ll be protecting the truck,’ he said, and left the dining room.

  Matt stared in bewilderment then shrugged up at the policeman. ‘Sorry ’bout that. Don’t know what’s got into him.’

  ‘He does have a point. We’ve been known to give you all curry at times. So listen, just make sure your trucks are locked up tight when you’re stopping for a sleep or a feed. It’s not actually the freight you’re carting being taken; it’s your own personal things out of the front. A bloke who drives for a stock-carrying company had his iPod, fridge and wallet taken from here a couple of days ago. Probably just young kids looking to make a quick buck, but you need to know.’

  Matt frowned. ‘Yeah, righto. I’ll keep my eyes open and everything locked.’

  ‘Good on you. Drive safe.’ The officer raised his hand in farewell and he walked away.

  Matt looked around the roadhouse and out through the windows to where Shane was pacing agitatedly around the truck. A bright yellow sign caught his eye and he realised it was new: Keep your vehicles locked. No responsibility taken by management.

  He snorted. Bloody typical. Nobody wanted to take responsibility for anything these days. Police included, in his experience.

  Matt finished up his steak and thought about what the police officer had said, then shook his head. It was just a sign of the times. Twenty years ago it probably never would have happened. Then he laughed at himself. How old are you again, Granddad?

  Out in the car park, Shane was pacing around the truck, Jasper following him. Matt went over.

  ‘What’s the matter, mate?’ he asked.

  ‘Bloody cops,’ Shane snarled.

  ‘Why? They were only giving us a bit of a warning about what’s happening around the place. Wouldn’t be too good if we lost our fridges or stuff from the cab. He was only giving us the heads up.’

  ‘Oh, it’s the cab, is it? Well Jasper wouldn’t let them in, would he? But yeah, yeah, I know. They pulled me up last week on the way to Broken Hill saying they wanted to check my tyres and paperwork. I’ve no problem with them doing their job, but they stuffed around, checking the rego and shit they don’t usually bother with. It made me run late for a drop-off for the train. Missed the bloody thing and then Jimmy gets an irate phone call from the station owners who were expecting something really important. Cops think they own the show.’

  ‘Yeah, well, this guy wasn’t the one who did it to you. Give him a break.’

  ‘You’re one to talk. You’re usually pretty cranky with cops in general too.’

  ‘This bloke was trying to help.’ Matt looked at Shane. ‘Mate, you’re really wound up. Is there something else the matter?’

  ‘No,’ Shane said forcefully, then he sighed. ‘
Not really. It’s just that I’m missing Tom’s birthday today.’

  Matt understood. It was never easy being away from home on a special day.

  ‘Ah, right. Well, we’re on our way home now, so let’s get a move on. You might be able to make it home before he goes to bed.’

  Shane shot him a grateful smile and turned back towards the truck. ‘You gonna take the wheel?’

  ‘Yep, you have a camp and get rested up for seeing your family tonight.’ He climbed into the driver’s seat and hit the key, feeling the truck tremble beneath his hands. He waited until Shane was settled and the curtains in the sleeper cab were drawn, then turned the music on softly, shifted the gearstick and let out the clutch. They were going home. And he would be seeing Ella in a day or two.

  ***

  An hour later, Matt was mesmerised by the white lines and, feeling a little sleepy, stretched out his arms, trying to get his blood circulating. He looked over to the side mirror and saw nothing. Slim Dusty’s song ‘Lights on the Hill’ slipped into his mind and he swore. That song only ever came to him when he was too tired to be driving. It had seemed a long run this time, not helped by his constant thoughts of the investigation. Gav had rallied and unexpectedly Matt had received a few phone calls with dribs and drabs of information. He’d been trying to follow up on all of it.

  Wishing he could turn the music up, but not wanting to wake Shane, he risked looking over his shoulder. The curtains were still drawn together. Perhaps he could, he thought as he leaned over to turn the volume up slightly. Just a little.

  A movement in the rear-view mirror caught his eye and a rush of adrenalin shot through him.

  A black car was hurtling up behind him. It had to be the same car. It was acting as erratically as the time when Kate had been run off the road.

  Matt’s heart started to beat faster. His hands tightened around the steering wheel and he instinctively took his foot off the accelerator, waiting to see what the car would do. ‘C’mon, you bastard, pass me – I want to see who you are,’ he muttered.