The Painted Sky

by Alice Campion

  ‘What, that lame old story? Wild goose chase,’ scoffed Heath. ‘Did you call Lobby about the suction hose for the pump?’

  ‘I’ll text him. Listen, Heath, that engraving has to be a map to where old Barkin’ hid his nugget. We have to go there and check it out.’

  ‘Ben, chill, would you?’ said Heath. He looked at Nina.

  ‘This is actually a bit freaky,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘I’ve just found out that after Dad disappeared, Russell found his things, including his clothes, wedged into a tree near the waterhole. Russell never told anyone about it. Dad must have been there hunting for the nugget.’

  Heath looked puzzled. ‘Whoa, back up. Sit down for a sec,’ he said, motioning to the lounge. ‘What am I missing here?’

  Nina sat down. ‘So much has happened,’ she said. She told them about her father’s wallet and Russell’s diary and how Hilary saw her father after he went missing. But she kept the contents of Jim’s letter to herself.

  ‘Gee,’ said Heath, sitting next to her on the lounge. ‘What do you think it all means?’

  ‘Up until now, the only clue we had was the note he left us, that’s all. Said he was going away for a couple of weeks to “sort things out”. And that he’d be back.’

  ‘What do you think happened?’ Ben asked.

  Nina shook her head. ‘No idea. The police said they did everything they could, but they couldn’t find anything. At the time, Russell swore he never saw him. He never turned up in any morgue or hospital or gaol. He could have ended up in Darwin, we guessed, Indonesia, Lightning Ridge – any place where people hide.’

  ‘That’s rough,’ Heath said.

  There was a silence.

  ‘But then,’ Nina took a deep breath, ‘if the engraving on my locket is Goat Rock as you say, then I – I don’t know what to think. But I have to go there.’

  ‘No, Neens, we have to go to the waterhole together. Come on, Heath. You too,’ said Ben.

  ‘Well, I have to move the herd down to paddock ten,’ said Heath carefully. ‘The ground tank down there’s full and … and …’

  He looked at Nina.

  ‘Heath! Come on,’ said Ben, exasperated. ‘You have to go. I can’t get up there with the crutches, but you and Nina could go. Nina’s waited too long for this. Just come and check it out. I’ll help you move the cattle in the morning.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Heath.

  Ben looked at Nina.

  She shrugged.

  He tried again. ‘C’mon, Heath. Now’s our chance. How can you turn your back on a mystery like this? You’ll be busy tomorrow with Deborah coming back from line-dancing or whatever. And after that, it’s full steam ahead for the wedding. We won’t get another chance for weeks.’ Ben waited.

  Nina stood up. ‘Listen, thanks, you two, but don’t worry about it. I can find my own way.’

  Heath rubbed his hand through his hair. ‘There’s no way you’re going by yourself. Okay. Two hours.’

  ‘Cool,’ said Ben, manoeuvring his wheelchair into the hallway. ‘Just give us a sec while I grab some gear and we’ll go.’

  She turned to Heath. ‘This is getting exciting.’

  He paused. ‘Yeah. Sort of.’

  A shadow crossed his face and she felt her enthusiasm begin to ebb. Who knew what they would find.

  Nina sat between the two brothers in the old ute as it bumped along the furrowed dirt road, rolling from side to side over clumps of grass. She pulled the spotty scarf from her hair and wiped her face. Dust. God, it was hot, yet she never seemed to sweat out here. Dry heat.

  ‘Don’t worry. First priority’s a swim,’ said Ben, grinning. She was glad they’d swung by The Springs so she could grab her swimmers and towel.

  ‘Can’t wait,’ she said, but was silenced when they lurched and she was thrown against Heath. He gave her a reassuring smile.

  ‘Hang on, here we go,’ said Ben.

  Nina grinned and braced herself on the dashboard. ‘Whoo hoo!’ she exclaimed, in an effort to match his light-hearted tone.

  They approached the clump of bushes where Bach had met his end. Nina shivered.

  ‘You right?’ asked Ben.

  ‘Sure. Don’t worry about me.’

  Heath broke the silence as they drove past the spot. ‘You know this is a good sheltered spot for calving but there’s been no breeders down here for a long time now. Russell just ran a few steers.’

  ‘Bloody shame, it’s a good bit of dirt,’ said Ben. ‘Someone could really make a go of this place, you know, bring it back up to what it should be.’

  Steers, calving, pasture. Nina was touched. She loved the way the brothers had worked as a team to distract her.

  ‘Maybe, but that person won’t be me,’ she said. ‘I can afford three months out here to find out as much as I can about Dad and then as soon as I find a buyer who isn’t Hilary, I’ll be out of here.’ She saw Ben shoot Heath a sidelong glance.

  Heath stared straight ahead. They turned off the road to a track Nina vaguely remembered from childhood. Further along she recognised the rise of red boulders and stunted native pines sheltering the waterhole. She’d camped there with her parents and the Blacketts so many years ago – sausages cooked over the campfire, jumping in the water, the grown-ups drinking beer on banana lounges, just as if they were at the beach.

  Heath stopped the car in a shady spot. A hill crowned with rocky outcrops towered over the far side of the swimming hole. On the near side, a small beach with coarse reddish sand gave way to smooth rocks and water the colour of a cafe latte.

  Nina eyed the few gum trees, wondering which one had held her father’s belongings.

  ‘D’you remember that Christmas we camped here?’ she asked, to distract herself. She scrambled out after Heath, camera in hand. In her childhood memories, the area was covered with soft golden grasses and flowering bushes. A special secret place hidden in the plains. It looked so different now – so dry and unforgiving. ‘I remember how that sand used to take the skin off your feet,’ she said. ‘And the rope. There was a rope.’

  ‘Over there, see that branch right above the water?’ Ben said, pointing.

  Sure enough, a knotted rope still hung from it.

  ‘Ben, you used to swing out and bomb people,’ said Nina, excited as the images rushed back. She adjusted the lens to capture the delicate curve of gum leaves etched against the sky.

  ‘Yeah, well. I guess I won’t be doing much bombing today,’ he said cheerfully, leaning on his crutches.

  Nina felt a pang as he swung himself expertly closer to the water. This was the first time she’d seen him move around without the chair. A ‘partial’, Moira had called it. His legs could only support his weight for a few seconds at a time.

  ‘We made a bonfire after tea,’ said Heath, ‘and you guys had a big bag of marshmallows and bloody near burned down Russell’s tent.’

  Heath seemed to be thawing out here in the bush, thought Nina. As if reading her mind, he looked enquiringly, so she smiled.

  He quickly turned away.

  ‘Mmm …’ she said.

  ‘Russell was probably sneaking some sherry and dreamin’ of Hilary,’ laughed Ben.

  ‘D’you think there was ever anything between them, really?’ asked Nina, remembering the photographs and Russell’s rambling diary.

  ‘Nah, “Dillary” just liked stringing him along. And our Heathy’s the next victim,’ Ben taunted Heath. ‘Bet you a bottle of Bundy that you’ll be under that dainty little thumb of hers before you can say Jack Russell.’

  ‘Shut up or I’ll chuck you in fully clothed, I swear it.’ Heath flicked him with the towel.

  ‘Nice way to talk to your brother. Be different if Deb was here, Neens. She’d be chasing me with a hankie to wipe my nose and mooning at Heath and wondering out loud when Mumsie could possibly start redecorating Kurrabar.’

  ‘Piss off, Ben,’ said Heath, his face darkening.

  ‘It’s hot. Let’s go in,’ said Nina
. Things were getting too heated in more ways than one. Yet she couldn’t help smiling at Ben when Heath’s back was turned. She secretly enjoyed hearing this other side to the ‘perfect’ Deborah.

  ‘You know, your mum and dad used to go in starkers,’ said Ben playfully as he began pulling off his boots.

  ‘That sounds like them. They were such hippies.’

  Nina undid her top and pulled off her shorts, revealing a modest 1950s-style one piece in a loud floral.

  Heath stripped to a pair of faded rugby shorts that showed his strong, well-shaped legs. She glanced discreetly at the terrible burn scar that started at his neck and dripped down his chest like melting wax. It must have been agony when it happened. He sprinted to the water and belly-flopped a dive.

  Ben’s heavily muscled chest and arms contrasted with his slender legs in board shorts. He swung himself into the water and gently submerged, tossing his crutches expertly to the shore.

  Both these boys had scars, scars that ran deep. She would have to be careful with them.

  ‘You coming in or what, Neens?’ called Ben, dog paddling.

  Nina pulled the locket over her head and laid it on her pile of clothes.

  Ben watched Nina tiptoe rapidly over the burning hot sand into the water.

  She squealed. Under the thin brown sun-warmed surface, the invisible depths were freezing. She pushed out and began a rapid freestyle to warm herself up. Heath swam back and duck-dived in her direction.

  Please don’t come over here, thought Nina. Luckily, he surfaced and stood on a submerged rock in the middle of the waterhole, arms wide, face to the sun. His broad chest streamed with water.

  Nina swam a safe distance away and floated on her back.

  So much had changed for them in the years since they had all been here as young kids.

  Until she’d inherited The Springs, she’d been pretty much the same as the carefree girl they used to play with. No real plans, just living in her imagination and the here and now.

  She swam to the shade of a tree and balanced on an underwater rock.

  ‘Well, what do you reckon?’ said Heath, suddenly beside her.

  ‘The water? Gorgeous,’ she said.

  ‘Goat Rock, you goose,’ said Ben as he paddled up to them. ‘Up there.’

  Nina looked up. There it was – near the top of the little hill, unmistakable. ‘I see it!’ she cried.

  ‘It’s pretty hard to get to. It’s too steep and gravelly to climb up this side,’ said Heath. ‘We’ll have to go round the back of the hill.’

  ‘Well, I reckon that rules me out,’ said Ben. ‘But you guys’ll go, right? I reckon there’s gold in them thar hills,’ he laughed, paddling back towards the beach.

  ‘Easy now, Ben,’ said Heath.

  ‘Should we have a bite to eat and then head up there?’ added Nina, as they followed Ben. She got out of the water. The sun felt beautiful after its coolness but an undertow of apprehension pulled at her chest. A flat, wide rock provided a perfect seat while the boys lolled in the shallows. Nina shook her hair, grabbed her camera, focused on goat rock and the reflection underneath and took a few shots. She fidgeted with the settings but couldn’t shake her unease, so put the camera down and closed her eyes, her face to the sun. All was still.

  ‘Let’s eat,’ called Ben, flicking her with water. ‘Gotta keep our strength up for treasure-hunting. And conversation. Now, Heath here – he bores the socks off the ladies with his talk of cattle and cattle, and then there’s cattle …’

  Nina laughed and Heath joined in after making a show of splashing Ben to silence him. ‘Turn it up, Ben. No danger of enjoying any peace and quiet out here with that trap of yours.’

  Nina took a deep breath. ‘Better get on with it then.’

  ‘Okay,’ Heath answered. Then he turned to help Ben from the water and Nina made herself busy, picking up her clothes and the locket, grabbing her towel from the ute and wrapping it round her. A milk crate poked from the bulging canvas on top of the ute tray. It held a thermos, mugs and tea bags.

  ‘Cuppa?’ she called to the boys as Heath handed Ben his crutches. ‘Please tell me there’s hot water in the thermos.’

  ‘There’s sambos too,’ answered Heath.

  Nina poured the tea, and the three sat companionably, eating the cold lamb sandwiches Ben had made.

  ‘These are yum, Ben. You’re such a catch.’

  ‘Damn right. Catch of Wandalla. It’s nice to be appreciated. But after all this effort I think I deserve a siesta,’ he said, stretching. ‘Wake me up when we’re rich.’

  ‘You sure about this?’ Heath asked Nina in an undertone as they packed up the lunch.

  She nodded. ‘At least we can check it out,’ he said. ‘We can always come back if –’

  ‘Yeah. It’s okay. I’d rather get it over with.’

  ‘Okay then.’ Heath raised his voice. ‘Won’t be too long, Benny boy.’

  Nina and Heath pulled their clothes on over their swimmers, which were already dry.

  ‘Hold on a sec,’ said Heath. He reached into the back of the ute. ‘You’ll need one of these.’ He threw her an old drover’s hat to match his own and they left Ben to his nap under the shady gum.

  Nina and Heath walked in silence around the edge of the waterhole.

  ‘Whoa,’ said Heath. ‘Hang on a sec, just want to show you this.’ He pointed to the underside of a row of giant red boulders overhanging the water. White painted figures danced in a line.

  A shiver ran down Nina’s spine. They were so old, but they looked freshly painted.

  ‘Oh my god, they’re amazing.’ Nina peered at the tiny figures. Were they running, hunting, at war? She looked at Heath, who smiled back broadly.

  ‘It’s my favourite place on the property,’ he said. ‘The stone country mob did those. Moira knows the story. Dad knew all about them too but I was never interested back then.’

  Heath seemed animated. Happy. It was the first time she’d heard him mention his father.

  ‘They are beautiful. Thanks for showing me. They’re really special.’

  He smiled at her again, nodded and turned his attention back to finding the track.

  Nina followed him with a lighter heart.

  The climb was steeper than it looked and she felt a bead of sweat drip down her back. The round red rocks radiated heat like living creatures as they followed the narrow sheep track that zigzagged to the top of the hill. Nina, wishing she was back in the cool water again, kept her eyes on Heath. He strode on ahead, barely pausing as he negotiated slippery gravel and clumps of thorny vegetation. Rounding a large stone outcrop, they startled a flock of wild goats, which scattered, bleating, down the slope. Finally they reached the summit. The wide plains stretched out to a hazy horizon in all directions.

  ‘Wow,’ said Nina, pivoting to take in the panorama. ‘Wish I’d brought my camera.’

  They could make out The Springs and, further away, the trees around Kurrabar’s homestead. Beyond that the white of Paramour’s cotton fields rippled in the heat haze. Three wedge-tailed eagles wheeled around on hidden currents of air.

  ‘Yeah,’ said Heath. ‘It’s really something.’ He undid the canteen of water from his belt and handed it to her. ‘Look, there’s Ben. It’s a wonder we can’t hear him from here. He snores like a freight train.’

  She made no reply. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

  Nina hesitated. ‘Yes. Guess so.’

  ‘What is it?’ His blue eyes focused on hers.

  ‘I think I’m finding out too much too quickly,’ she said. ‘I didn’t tell you everything back at Kurrabar.’ She sat down on a sun-bleached log, and he squatted on his haunches beside her. ‘I know we just climbed all this way, but …’

  ‘What’s up?’

  ‘I keep thinking about Dad. I found a love letter he wrote to Harrison. That’s why I came back, to talk to Harrison and find out what the hell’s going on. There’s a different twist every time I turn around. I just don
’t know what I’m going to find.’

  Heath scanned the calm wide plain and sighed. ‘Geez, Nina. That’s …’ He shook his head. ‘We knew Harrison was gay, but Jim Larkin? Did you know he was gay?’

  ‘Not a clue. Mum might have, though.’

  ‘D’you think it’s got something to do with his disappearance?’

  ‘Maybe.’

  Silence.

  ‘I remember your mum. She was cool,’ said Heath.

  ‘She was. Thing is, there were a lot of secrets in my family. Too many. Like, Mum wasn’t my birth mother.’

  ‘She wasn’t your what?’

  ‘Julia adopted me. I knew from when I was little, but it seems like Mum and Dad kept it a secret from everyone in Wandalla. I don’t even know if Russell knew. So I want to know about Dad, but as Mum used to say, you have to be careful what you wish for. That’s what I’m finding out. She wasn’t even my natural mother but ended up raising me on her own.’

  ‘Jeez.’ Heath was taken aback. ‘Who …?’

  ‘Dad had a fling with a Norwegian girl just before he married Mum. So my birth mother left me here with Dad and Mum – with Julia – and moved home. She was very young, and her family never knew about me.’

  ‘Really? Have you met her since?’

  Nina shook her head. ‘She died in an accident years ago. Anyway, I wasn’t fussed. Julia was the best mum. So, I’ve lost two mothers – careless of me.’

  Neither laughed.

  Heath shifted closer to her. She could practically feel the hair on his arms brushing hers.

  ‘Nina. Even if the end is bad, you’re not alone. You’ve got me and Ben.’

  His warm solid body smelled good and Nina found herself wishing she could sit there all afternoon, feeling safe.

  But Heath stood up abruptly. ‘Well, if you’re ready?’ He held out his hand to pull her up. She gave a nod and took it, letting go at the first possible moment.

  Heath picked his way ahead through a patch of native pines. Soon they stood on the goat’s rocky head.

  ‘I can’t see anything,’ said Nina, looking around. ‘I don’t even know what I’m searching for.’