The Lost Man(71)

No-one else came by.





Chapter 26



Nathan left it almost too late to make it home before nightfall and as he pulled up the windows of the house were glowing. He slammed his car door and stopped as his eyes fell on the large gum tree across the yard. Beneath it, hard to see in the growing dark but impossible to miss, was a gaping black hole.

Nathan walked over and stood at the edge. Cameron’s grave lay deep and empty, ready for tomorrow. There were no howls from the dingoes that night and the air felt hot and thick as Nathan turned his back and trudged to the house. The voices coming from the kitchen were muffled but urgent as he closed the screen door behind him.

‘You said – no, don’t give me that bullshit – you said we could try it –’

‘For God’s sake, I know, Bub, but I have a thousand other things to –’

Three faces looked up as Nathan walked in.

‘Great. Here come your reinforcements,’ Bub snapped at Ilse, who was sitting at the kitchen table. She was wearing the same clothes Nathan had seen her in earlier at the stockman’s grave, and was staring firmly into a glass of wine. Bub looked to have been pacing, his face set, while Liz hovered in the no-man’s-land between them.

‘Bub, just calm down. Please.’ Liz shot a glance at Nathan. ‘You’ve been a very long time.’

‘I was checking something at the fence line. What’s going on here?’

‘Nothing,’ Ilse said.

‘It’s not bloody nothing.’ Bub sounded like he’d been drinking. ‘I’m not bloody taking orders –’

‘No-one’s asking you to, Bub!’

Bub looked at Nathan. ‘You tell her. You thought my mustering plan was a good idea, didn’t you?’

‘Wait –’ Nathan felt lost. ‘That’s what this is about?’

‘Tell her.’ Bub’s voice was rising. ‘Tell her that I’m right about this.’

Nathan frowned. ‘I haven’t even had a chance –’

‘No. Of course not. Jesus, I bloody knew it would be like this.’ Bub closed his eyes. ‘This is bullshit.’

‘Why are you doing this now, mate?’ Nathan said. ‘Let’s talk about it later. We’re burying him tomorrow.’

‘Yeah.’ Bub opened his eyes and looked at Ilse. ‘Still, silver lining for some, isn’t it?’

‘Bub!’ Liz said. ‘Enough!’

Ilse sat completely still as Bub walked out, slamming the kitchen door. They all stared after him as the sound reverberated in his wake.

‘What’s his –?’ Nathan barely started before Liz turned on him.

‘You’re no better. Have you spoken to your son yet? He’s been worrying all day about you. He wanted Harry to take him out to search.’

Nathan opened his mouth. ‘I told him where I was going.’

‘You’ve been gone for hours.’

‘Well –’

‘Your radio was off. Again.’

‘Shit. Yeah, okay. Sorry –’

‘It’s not me you should apologise to.’ Before Nathan could answer, Liz looked at Ilse. ‘Are you all right, at least?’

Ilse, still sitting at the table, didn’t move and didn’t look up. ‘Yes.’

‘Good.’ Liz sounded defeated. ‘Then I’m going to see to Bub.’

The door swung shut behind her. Ilse was still staring at the glass in front of her. Nathan opened the fridge and got a beer, leaning against the counter as he opened it and took a sip. He could see traces of the red dust in the creases of Ilse’s shirt and jeans. He had the same on his own. Just ask her. Instead he nodded at the door.

‘I didn’t realise Bub was so serious about the mustering thing.’

‘I think it’s less about the mustering and more about who makes the decisions around here now.’

Nathan didn’t reply.

‘He called Cameron’s lawyer,’ Ilse said.

‘Bub did?’

‘Asking about the property split and what happens now.’

‘What did the lawyer say?’

‘That Cam’s share goes to the girls.’

‘Not you?’

‘Not technically. I’m just the guardian until they’re old enough. But the point is, it doesn’t go to Bub. Or you.’ Ilse looked at him properly now. ‘Please tell me you already knew that?’

‘Yeah. It’s okay.’

She looked relieved. She lifted her foot under the table, and kicked a chair out a little way. Nathan wavered, then pulled it over and sat down.

‘I’m surprised Bub even knew who Cam’s lawyer was,’ he said. ‘Let alone think to call him.’

‘Your mum said that too. I told you, though. Bub’s more switched on than you all give him credit for. Especially about property work. Either way –’ She sighed. ‘I guess he was really keen to know.’

‘Had Cameron promised him something different?’

‘I don’t know. But with the way it’s split now between you and me and him, I think Bub feels –’ She hesitated and took a sip from her glass. ‘Left out, or something.’