Chapter 27

While Janna was pretending to be a ‘whirling dervish’, David was stacking nuggets on the picnic table bench. The pit was THAT close to the table. Alice, Myndee and I were carrying two or three nuggets to the back of the Land Rover 6X6 former Australian Army ambulance. We made a great many trips. The hole was getting deeper than Daddy was tall. Nuggets were falling out of the walls of the pit ... rapidly undermining the concrete slab of the rest area picnic table. The nuggets were unremarkable in all instances but one ... they were all the same size ... the shape varied in details ... the weight was the same. ‘Set up,’ thought Daddy, ‘We’ve been set up ... I wonder where all this came from?’

‘Yeah,’ I thought back.

OOPS

David thought, “Well ... Shit Fuzzy.’

And I thought, ‘Fuzzy shit? That’ll tickle.’

Daddy sort of ... broadcast, ‘Jim? Grandfather?’

I heard their reply, too. ‘Caught’ ... it was a duet.

A picture developed in my mind ... Grandfather ... I knew him instantly ... and Jim Mac sitting beside ... were grinning ... well Jim was grinning, I assumed that facial contortion Grandfather was making was his idea of a grin.

‘You might as well bring it all to me,’ Grandfather said.

Jim nodded.

I said, “Yes sir.”

Alice looked at me ... weirdly. Oh her look was alright ... she looked at me with the oddest expression.

“What?”

“Who are you talking to?”

“The voices in my head ... they spoke ... it’s ony polite to answer.”

“Daddy?”

“Yes?”

“Time to go,” I said.

He was climbing out of the pit already. Oddest thing ... the pit was filling in as he climbed. When he was dusting off the pit that was already there formed again.

“Janna?”

“What?” She was way out of breath and very dizzy.

“We have to go.”

She looked ‘blank.’

“Sydney.”

Still blank.

“Shopping ... my treat,” Daddy said.

The door was closing on the ‘tr’ of treat.

“Well?”

We all loaded up in the Perentie and headed.

When we arrived at Lithgow Daddy asked, “Bells or the Great Western Road?”

Alice and Janna hadn’t been to either. Alice said, “Mom?”

Janna said, “You know ... this is as far away from home as I have ever been. I have no idea.”

“Bells,” I said.

“Do you want to ride the train?” Daddy asked.

“The Steamer?”

“Yes.”

“It doesn’t go all the way.”

“I can pick you up.”

“Yes, please. Alice? Want to ride a steam train?”

Alice asked, “Is it pretty?”

“I don’t know ... but I want to go ... just think ... steam ... the way the europeans traveled.”

Daddy said, “Use your phone and see.”

Google...”Oh ... look Alice...”

Two heads ... one impossible red the other coal black ... buzzing in the back seat.

“Yes please.”

“Can I go too?” said Janna.