P etri took very little time off during the Christmas break. The summer heat made it too difficult to continue his work in the West Australian desert, so he went through the laboratory results. These were mixed, though promising. By plotting them on maps it was clear that some areas were worthy of further investigation. Further detailed sampling would be necessary at several points. One of the most important sampling sites lay on a sand-filled river channel that passed close to the old CSIRO station.

The results from the chemist were less promising. It seemed that the high salt content of the ground water was still causing problems with extracting dissolved gold. The report given to Petri indicated that the high salinity of the ground water was causing precipitation of magnesium salts in the pipes, which carried the gold-enriched liquids back up to the surface, more rapidly than anticipated. This encrustation in the pipes reduced the flow of gold-enriched liquids to a trickle. Petri took comfort in the final conclusion that ‘work is continuing and it is hoped that a resolution to the problem of precipitation of magnesium chloride and other salts in the pipes will be found in the near future.’

Prior to his next field excursion Petri he needed to find out more about the CSIRO station. The men at Cundeelee indicated that the occupants there were both armed and ‘unfriendly’. As a geologist on legitimate business Petri had every legal right to enter property, public or private. But having a legal right and overcoming local property owner’s aggression are two different things. Diplomacy is one of the skills acquired by most exploration geologists. Being armed with accurate information would prepare him for any likely debate in the field. He headed for the suburb of Wembley and the CSIRO laboratories. It took some time to find somebody who knew about the remote station at the edge of the western margin of the Great Victorian Desert. At last found an elderly scientist who knew something.

‘Closed it down in the 50s,’ Dr Davidson told him.

‘What was it all about?’ asked Petri.

‘I wasn’t directly involved and most of the team that worked there have long gone. As I recall it was part of the agricultural work of the organisation. For some reason the water in the bores there was a lot less saline. Some of the scientists in agriculture had an idea that the land could be used as part of a pastoral lease.’

‘Yes, it is good country in terms of vegetation cover for feed but there’s no decent water.’

‘The idea was that if the water from those bores was potable, at least for cattle, then a viable agricultural industry could be established.’

‘And?’

‘Well, the water was all right, not good but okay, certainly good enough to drink. The problem was the rate of delivery. As soon as they tried to pump out more than a couple of hundred gallons per day it dried up. The whole programme closed down after a couple of years. And anyway, it was running out of money because the director spent too much on the infrastructure.’

‘What happened to it?’

‘As I recall they left most of the buildings, just packed up and left. I think the place is leased now. It is very remote so God alone knows what the lessee is doing out there. I recall that someone once told me he’s a bee-keeper but that was some time ago and it might have changed since then.’

This was useful information. Petri knew that if he had to sample there he had a legal right. He also now knew that the water supply for any gold extraction would be limited, even if the salt problem were not as severe as elsewhere. He decided to pay a visit to the Department of Agriculture and find out more about the lease.

A few hours later he emerged from the austere government building armed with the knowledge that the lease was indeed for bees and production of bee products. Leases were granted over areas of crown land for specific periods and were renewable. Several had been granted to the same person over a number of years in the vicinity of the old CSIRO research station and never been contested. All of the paperwork was in order and the amount of honey, bee glue and beeswax produced had been reported as per requirements of the lease and the department. In addition, the lessee had filed reports for the breeding of disease-free queen bees, a profitable export business. In spite of its remoteness it seemed a successful, if seasonally highly variable, operation probably because of the proximity to the abundant wild flowers in the vicinity and the lack of other beekeepers in the area. The officers told him that the beekeepers moved their hives around over substantial distances to follow the blossoms. If the wildflowers failed in the north they could move to the forests down south.

After dinner that evening Petri put on a new long-playing record, a recording of Rigoletto. The singing of the young American tenor in the role of Count Monterone impressed Petri as his final notes of the aria reached the rarely achieved high D. A tale of abduction and seduction, murder and curses, Petri engrossed himself in the enjoyment of the music, fascinated by the cultured presentation of such an awful story.

* * *

Later that year, on his return from a visit to the West Australian Department of Mines, there was a telegram in Petri’s office. He tore it open. The message was brief and to the point.

Shelley and I are engaged. No date for wedding. Off to Royal School of Mines, London Wednesday next week. Can I spend weekend with you before flying out? Alec.

In spite of the two hour time difference between Perth and Melbourne, Petri realised there was still time to phone Alec before he left the university. He dialled the direct line and was relieved when his friend answered.

‘Well, congratulations, you dark horse!

Alec chuckled. ‘Well, hello Petri. Nice to hear from you.’

‘Yes, just got your telegram. Exciting news!’ His cheerful and positive congratulations belied his jealous disappointment.

‘What are you talking about: the post-doc at RSM or the engagement?’

‘The engagement, silly. I knew you’d applied for the post-doc. I knew you’d get that. But the engagement is a surprise.’

‘Yeah, I reckon I surprised even myself.’

‘I know we’ve talked about this and probably now is not the time to raise it, but how do you feel about Katherine now?’

‘Petri, I honestly thought I’d never find another love after Katherine disappeared, and I still find myself thinking of her all the time. But, after six years, I’ve finally given up hope. The law says that after someone has been missing for seven years they can be declared legally dead, so I suppose I have to accept the reality of that. Not knowing what happened is the most painful part. Shelley understands.’

‘Really? She’s is okay with everything?’

‘Yes. We’ve been going out for a long time, as you know, and have taken things really slow. She never pushed. But we get on so well together. In any event, we are not planning to get married for at least a year.’

‘It was obvious to everyone but you that she’s been keen on you for ages.’

‘Maybe. But I didn’t want to see it. She never gave any indication directly. Only lately have I realised my own feelings towards her. You know we’ve both had issues and I wanted to make sure it wasn’t something out of sympathy or on the rebound.’

‘Anyway, it’s good news. I hope you’ll both be wonderfully happy. And of course you can stay here whenever you come to Perth.’

‘Thanks, I appreciate that. It makes a bit of a change from your visiting here!’

‘I’m only sorry that it is for such a short time. Couldn’t you make it longer?’

‘Not really. I have to finish my course of lectures here before leaving, and the international flights are already booked. It’s a post-doctoral scholarship and I’ll be away for about six months, which is really a very short period of time for research. I arrive in Perth on TAA372. It arrives about six in the morning, an ungodly hour, so don’t worry about meeting me, I’ll just grab a taxi.’

‘No way. Wouldn’t dream of it. I’m an early riser so I’ll meet you at the airport. We’ll breakfast at Miss Maud’s on the way to my place. I’ll even take a couple of days off and show you around.’

‘Are you sure about that? I don’t want to interfere with your work.’

‘No that can wait; you don’t come this way very often and your visits over here have always been too short’

‘Well, that’s the nature of things. Always, busy!’

‘How do you fancy a trip to the forests in the south and the new wine areas? Or wherever you want to go.’

‘It all sounds great. We can make plans once I get there. There’s lots to talk about, and that’s not even thinking of the geology. By the way, how’s the Tertiary channel gold going?’

‘Not as good as I’d hoped. We’ll talk when you get here.’

‘Okay. I look forward to that. Cheers, see you soon.’

‘Bye.’ Petri put down the phone. He always greatly enjoyed Alec’s company and looked forward to his visit and the opportunity to talk shop. He was genuinely happy for Alec’s engagement but deep down he knew that, had he lived closer, Shelley would have been in his own sights for a long-term relationship, even marriage. Proximity was as important as compatibility and he lived on the opposite side of the continent. His frequent visits to Melbourne had been enough to establish good friendships but not long-term relationships. In any event he could not compete with and so betray his friendship with Alec. Poor Alec had suffered enough and deserved a second shot at life. Petri felt that he was going to be the eternal bachelor unless he changed career or made a substantial effort to socialise. He sighed and wondered how that could be done and still balance his. He met so few single women and those he could relate to seemed unable to understand his need for, nor his love of, the remote and lonely parts of the country.

He looked out the office window and gave another deep sigh before turning back to the maps spread out on the table. He tried to concentrate, but somehow thoughts of Shelley kept interrupting. She would have understood.