Chapter 6

 

Rebecca was not so sure though. The two women who had come into the homestead yard to be with Rebecca were the wildest looking women she had ever seen. She had no idea if they spoke English, and seemed oblivious to the sun on their near naked bodies. They were both charcoal black and their hair was long and straggly, sticking out from their head at impossible angles. Deep set eyes almost hidden under their thick bushy eyebrows made it difficult for Rebecca to read their expressions. Their mouths were set in huge grins though, and their teeth flashed as white as china in their dark faces. Rebecca was now standing in the shade of the wide veranda while the other two women stayed out in the sun at the bottom of the steps. She had no idea of protocols with these strange people. They made her think of aliens, so different did they seem to her. She looked out to the slight rise where she had seen the men, but could not see a soul. Nobody at all. The two women saw her looking and giggled. Rebecca couldn't help laughing in return. These women sounded rather like only girls, with that giggle. It was a universal language. She indicated to the pair to come join her in the shade. They hesitated, but slowly stepped up the few treads to the veranda, as though it was the first time they had ever been on steps. 'Maybe it was?' Thought Rebecca. As much as Rebecca was fascinated by the sight of these two women, it was plain that they were equally fascinated with her. They were obviously young women, now that Rebecca could get a good look at them. They whispered together in an incomprehensible language, pointing to Rebecca with hesitant fingers, and one of them came close enough to touch Rebecca's upper arm, and stroke her fingers across the skin. They were entranced by Rebecca's paleness, and one of them stood next to Rebecca so their arms could be side by side. They exclaimed over the difference for minutes, their language a complete mystery to Rebecca. Rebecca tried a little language teaching.

"Do you speak English?" She asked them both. The two young women stood silent, now staring at Rebecca as though she were the alien. "Hmmmm." Said Rebecca. She smoothed her hands in a downward movement over her breasts and said "Woman." Then pointed at each in turn, making the universal 'hour glass' shape with her hands, and repeating "woman". The two women nodded and giggled again lightly, all smiles. They repeated a word, at the same time indicating each other and Rebecca, but try as she could, she could not catch nor repeat the word. The language was beyond her. It was just too different. She had no idea what to do now, given that there seemed no way to communicate with these strange people. She decided to finish loading and checking the rifles. The two women could sit in here in the shade of the veranda if they wished, but Rebecca was not going out into that sunshine again, although she was now finding it easier to breathe. The shock of the hot dry air after hours of air-conditioning had been just too much. She would be ok now though. The two young women were already sitting cross legged on the veranda, looking quite comfortable, and watching Rebecca. She smiled at them and went back inside and finished loading the rifles. She put the safety catches on, and rested the rifles against the book case just inside the front door. She didn't think she would need them, with those tribal men out there watching for intruders. It was a mystery for the moment, as to where everyone had gone. That New World aircraft on the dusty runway said very loudly that people from that company had arrived, but there was no indication of where everyone had gone. Perhaps Cooper would find out. Rebecca hoped he would be safe. She had no doubt he trusted the aboriginal man, but she had had personal contact with those thugs from New World, and she knew without a doubt they would be big trouble for anyone who crossed their path.

Rebecca drew a chair up to the door and sat, gazing out into the day. What a desolate place this was. Not a blade of grass to be seen. Just red dust and sand, and a tufted, spiked grass that seemed to grow in clumps scattered randomly about the landscape. There was some evidence close about the house that the place had seen a woman's touch at some point in the past, but it had been a long time ago. She suddenly felt like weeping for Cooper, growing up in this stark loveless place, with no soft beauty around him. There were old garden beds in evidence, faded and peeled white paint on stones now scattered about only barely marking boundaries. Coopers mother had died when he was very young she knew, and it looked like his father never married again. Who could blame the few girls he had brought home for fleeing as fast as they could. Cooper was a lovely man, one who obviously appreciated the finer things in life, but didn't know how to bring those things into his life out here. She looked about the large lounge room, almost the full width of the massive house, and seemingly as deep. But she couldn't help thinking that it looked like a well kept workshop. Like a place where only men had lived for many years. Could she bring life back to this place she wondered? Could she make it a place of love and refuge for Cooper and her and their children? She flushed at the direction her thoughts were going. The two aboriginal girls looked at her and whispered between themselves. One got to her feet and came to Rebecca and softly patted the back of her hand, saying something softly in her own language. Rebecca knew she was being reassured, and smiled in thanks to the girl.

"Well, there is no denying it." She said aloud and got up. "I had better make up my mind. I could love this man, but could I love this place?" She found the kitchen and located a large jug of water in the refrigerator and some glasses. These she took out to the girls and offered the water and glasses to them. They handled both very carefully, but quickly poured themselves a drink each and thankfully emptied their glasses. They sat down again in the shade, carefully placing the jug and glasses by them. They seemed content to wait. They were there to keep Rebecca company it seemed, and to watch for anything untoward. They were certainly doing that Rebecca could see. Their eyes were never still, scanning the surrounding plains constantly. She didnt know where the men had gone, but could only assume that Cooper was fine. He knew these people and would be safe with them.

Rebecca realised that her suitcase and laptop, everything she owned in fact was still in their aeroplane out there on the runway. The doors open and the heat haze shimmering like a ghostly water pool across the runway. She hoped it wouldnt destroy her laptop and other personal effects. The thought of laptops brought her back to earth. Cooper would surely have a computer system here in the house. She went in search of it. She found it in the office toward the back of the house. The room was large, and it was apparent that all of the station business was conducted here, Rebecca hoped that the computer didnt require any fancy start-up passwords. Sure enough, a flick of the switch and the screen came to life. She smiled with appreciation as she spotted the Skype icon on the desktop. She could talk to her associates and her researcher, and try to get a handle on what was happening. Fortunately, her researcher, Kali, answered on the first attempt.

Kali, what have you got for me? You wouldnt believe whats happening out here. You wouldnt believe where I am right now.Rebecca stopped as Kali held up a hand to silence Rebecca.

Thank goodness you called Rebecca.She said, You have to have nothing to do with New World. They are involved in some very shady dealings, and I have uncovered, that they are trying to get hold of that cattle property, not for cattle ranching, but nuclear waste storage - without the government knowing. Without any government knowing. Its worth billions to them if they can get the deal through.Rebecca was momentarily speechless.

How did you get hold of that?She asked in surprise.

You know that arms dealer I go clubbing with sometimes? Hes back in town. He really likes me.Kali smiled a cat-got-the-mouse smile and added. He really likes me. When I casually mentioned New World, he got real interested in them, and not me. So I uh, steered the conversation back to me, and in the meantime he kept talking in a distracted way about what they were up to. I have it all recorded.

Kali!Rebecca admonished her friend and researcher, You never had a recording going did you? Will I be able to listen to it…” Kali laughed and added?

Ill send you a transcript, edited of course. But I need your advice now. I havent told the other partners of course. This is your brief. But this is a matter of national security, for almost everyone. You know if the wrong people get hold of this stuff…”

Rebecca tapped her bottom lip with her finger. Kali, can you sit on this for a moment please. Just a day perhaps. Cooper has had to go and investigate something here on his property, and I think its to do with New World. One of their aircraft is here, but there was no one in the homestead when we arrived. Some local aboriginal men came and asked him to go with them to show him something. Meantime, prepare a…” She smiled broadly, sanitised transcript and make copies. Lock a copy of your recording in my safe, and put your copy somewhere safe. As soon as Cooper returns and hears this, I will call you back. Can you also let the partners know that I will be back when I can?” Rebecca sat back and thought. Kali watching her through the video-cam.

Rebecca, are you in Coopers office now? I can see its not your own laptop you are using, and its sure not a hotel suite. Whats he like?

Rebecca coloured slightly, hoping Kali would not notice, as the video signal was not very good. Kali was not her best ever researcher for nothing though.

Rebecca!She shouted, Youve fallen for him havent you? You have, I can see it in your face.Kali was grinning from ear to ear. Come on - tell me all about him. Do you have a photo of him? What about a photo in the house?Rebecca looked about the room. She hadnt noticed one in the main house, and there were no photos on the walls at all in this room, other than one of a huge bull over the fireplace. This was a mans house, and men didnt keep photos of themselves on the wall. How fitting, she smiled, that the only photo was a bull.

No photos Kali, but he isso gorgeous. Hes over six feet tall, dark hair and the darkest blue eyes, with long lashes that any girl would love to have. He is very careful of his appearance. I can see a mother’s influence there, and his clothes are the best. I mean, not fashions like we know them, but probably local Australian fashions that look very expensive. He is a working man after all, and until now has had very few women in his life. Weve just come direct from Brisbane on the coast, and my things are still in the aeroplane on his runway. Kali, I think I really could love him.

Kali clapped her hands like a school girl.

Has he kissed you yet?She was leaning forward toward the camera, and almost whispering, as though others might hear. When Rebecca replied Yesshe squealed with delight.

Kali looked aside for a moment to her iPhone and momentarily frowned.

Rebecca, that was Momo, the arms dealer. he just sent me a text. Hes remembered talking about New World, and he said, I quote If you have friends involved with NW, tell them to get out, now.Rebecca…” Kali was now looking worried.

Rebecca replied. Kali, I cant. I cant get out. I cant fly. Cooper is not here. No one is here except the two aboriginal women here to keep me company. Left here by the man who came to get Cooper.

Cant you drive out?Replied Kali.

I dont think so.Said Rebecca. I would get lost in a heartbeat. There is no where to drive to, and anyway, I dont think there are any vehicles here that I could use.

What do you mean, no where to drive to? Where are you?Said Kali.

Kali, Im in the middle of a desert I think. We flew in here. There is nothing for thousands of miles I dont think.Rebecca was feeling a little nervous now. She knew she had met with bad people now, but she hadnt realised what scale these people were operating on. She was starting to get a little nervous for Cooper too. She knew he could probably look after himself out here, but he had gone off unarmed after all. What if he met up with them?

She couldnt lose him now. She had waited all of her life it felt like to meet Cooper. His arms around her would feel like such a safe haven, his lips on hers, brushing them. Probing them with the tip of his tongue, his hands on her body. No, she realised with a start, what ever it took, Cooper was hers. She had been alone long enough.

Kali had been watching Rebecca, and could see what was passing across her face. She marvelled at how someone so inscrutable in the court and in business as Rebecca could be so transparent to her, Kali. Kali smiled and Rebecca noticed.
What is it Kali?She said.

Thinking of Cooper again were we? Rebecca, you are hopeless. The first man who comes along into your life and you appear to have fallen head over heels for him. I saw that look on your face, it was almost embarrassing to watch.Kali smiled hugely. He must be a real stunner to turn your head. You must put him on camera as soon as he returns, meantime, Im serious. Momo knows what he is talking about. If he says get away from these people, he means it.Kali looked at Rebecca for a moment.

Perhaps I should call someone to come help you. I know someone here in MI5 who can get the ball rolling. If you say so, Ill get in touch with them.Kali waited for Rebecca.

Just a moment Kali. Ill check outside.Rebecca flew from the desk, and looked out the front. The two girls were still sitting in the shade and turned to smile at her. There were no other people or even animals in sight. She ran through the house to the back doors and looked outside. Nothing and nobody, just the endless desert stretching away from the remains of an old house yard fence.

My God!She thought, This place is desolate. Oh Cooper, how can you live here?She went back to the computer.

Kali,she said perhaps you better had call your friends. I have no idea who to call from here. Can you stay online while you call? I need your company.Rebecca was feeling very vulnerable and alone. The two aboriginal women may have been right at home here, but this was a place she would never be comfortable in. There wasnt enough money in the world to alleviate the loneliness of this location. The house could be turned into a mansion with all the delights of a modern home - but it would remain an island in this sea of desolation. Kali had nodded and picked up her iPhone and stepped away from the video-cam and computer. Rebecca sat at the desk and fiddled with some papers on the desk. Numbers of cattle somewhere it looked like. Rebecca was not given to panic, but she was starting to feel a little unnerved. The silence of the place was total. Not a sound could be heard. No insects, no people, no animals. Not even any wind to rattle the blinds. Total silence and stillness. She got up and started to pace around the room. She didnt want to leave the sight of Kali on the screen in an animated conversation with someone. The sound was off while Kali made her call. She was very good at her job. Rebecca thought about a big fat bonus for Kali when she finally returned to London. Kali was a good friend, but she was also the best researcher Rebecca had ever come across. She could see her now, waving some sheets of paper in the air as though the person on the phone could see them. She was pointing in the direction of the video-cam, but of course the person couldnt see Rebecca. Suddenly Kali was there on screen, the iPhone still in hand.

Rebecca, can you go to Google Maps on that machine, and pin point your location for me.It was not a question.

But how Kali. I have no real idea…”

Rebecca, its an Apple Mac you are on. It has location software built in. Go to Google Maps and click on My Location- then send the map to this address…” Kali reeled off an email address for her.

Wait, wait, wait,shouted Rebecca, I need a pen. ok, got it, repeat that email please. And Kali - stay on line please.

Rebecca clicked on what look like a map on the bottom of the screen. To her immense relief up popped a map, but it was a map of some city centre.

Kali…” She called.

Rebecca click on the small arrow on the top, just near the address label on the left. Got it. Good. Has it located to where you are? It should be showing a blue circle. Good. Now click on the up arrow on the little box on the right side, send it as an email, and put in that address. My friend will have it in seconds. They will know what to do.Kali waited.

Within moments Rebecca had sent the map. This was very strange. She couldnt believe someone in London would soon know exactly where she was, down to the nearest centimetre.

Ok Kali. Done. What did your friend say to your request?Rebecca said.

Well, he was a bit cautious at first, but when I mentioned Momo, and Coopers remote property location, he became very interested. Theyrelooking into it.Kali sat back in her office chair.

Rebecca, are you going to be ok for a little while?Kali had things to do, and suddenly Rebecca realised it, and knew she should not be holding Kali online just to keep her company. She straightened her shoulders and sat up.

Kali, I cant keep you. Ill go back out the front and watch for Cooper with the two young aboriginal women. Well, Im presuming they are young women, because they areumbuilt like young women. Firm breasts still. They have no clothes on other than some sort of fibre belt thing around the waist. Id love to take some photographs of them, but my gear is still in the plane and Im not going out there unless I really have to. Its actually hotter now than it was when we arrived. I cant believe it.Rebecca was about to sign off and just waited for Kali to answer her phone.

Rebecca, Im told you will have company soon. Bye for now.Click - and Kali was gone. No further explanation. What did she mean, have company soon? Rebecca thought of the options. It was either New World coming back, Cooper coming back, or because she had seen Kali take that call, it was someone from the government coming. Only time would tell, and she hoped in any case that Cooper would have returned by then. There was absolutely nothing for her to do now but wait, so she decided to look through the house where Cooper lived. She was curious about living conditions in this remote place.

The house as Cooper had mentioned was very large. It was all on one level, and seemed spread out over a very wide area. Rebecca couldnt guess at the physical dimensions, because every corner she turned seemed to lead to another set of rooms. She soon discovered what could only be guest rooms set on one side of the house, and so self contained that they would allow guests to remain completely separate from the rest of the house if they wanted. Perhaps these were meant to be her rooms, the ones that Cooper had suggested for her. She hoped not, as she realised with a start that she would much prefer to stay with Cooper. There was one problem though. She was not sure that she could stay in this place long. She was beginning to feel some sympathy with the other girls that Cooper had mentioned, who had fled the place as soon as possible. However, it was not likely that she would be staying in any case. She had a busy practice back in London, partners to work with, friends to catch up with. It was also evident that if Cooper was not in the house, the house was eerily empty. I have only been here a few minutes, and already Im talking to myself.Rebecca said to no one in general. She completed her wander through the house. It was a beautiful place, or had been. But now it was tired, and worn by a lifetime of minimum care from men. First Coopers father, left on his own with only the boy, Cooper, and now Cooper himself rattling around the big old house, keeping a station property going for what Rebecca could see was no good reasons. If he stayed on out here he would wither and die like the sparse vegetation of the dusty plains and sand dunes. Rebecca resolved that she wasnt going to let that happen. She went back to the front door and out onto the wide cool veranda. She had already noticed, that if she wasnt actually in the sun, the heat was bearable. The deep shade of the veranda had to be quite a few degrees cooler than out in the open.

The afternoon sun was starting to throw long shadows across the yards from the various fixtures that seemed scattered randomly around the area, and the few skeletal trees that still stood, struggling for survival in this harsh place. Rebecca had earlier discovered the hat rack on the wall by the door, and now took the widest brim hat she could find and pulled it down over her hair and stepped out into the yard. Immediately the other two young women were on their feet and following. They appeared to be totally at ease in the hot sun, and their bare feet on the scorching earth made Rebecca winch just to look at them. The fierce heat of midday was now waning, and although it was still hot, Rebecca felt she would be alright now. She really needed to retrieve her things from the aircraft and get back inside to freshen up. She certainly didnt want Cooper seeing her all sweaty and dusty when he came back, regardless of how he looked. He would always look gorgeous!She thought with a smile, but she always prided herself on looking her best in any situation, so she set off for the plane.