It had been a very different day from the one that Alec had anticipated when he woke that morning. He did not feel like eating and, after sitting alone in the hired caravan until sunset, walked around the town until his legs ached. On returning to the park he fell, exhausted and fully dressed, on to the bed. He slept fitfully, disturbed by dreams, waking often through the night and reaching out across the double bed to an empty space.
Katherine tried to initiate conversation. ‘So, Benjamin, what brings you to this part of Australia?’
‘I keep bees. Jist bringin’ some queens outta Queensland.’
‘That’s interesting. Where do you keep bees?’
‘Gotta property in WA.’
‘Oh, where abouts?’
‘Outback.’
‘I’ve never been to WA. Why do you come along the dog fence, I’d have thought the main road is more direct. Not that I mind! If you didn’t I’d still be waiting there!’
‘Quarantine.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Can’t bring bee stuff ‘cross state borders so I’m taking ‘em the back way. I sell honey, wax, bee products an’ even hire me bees for pollination but I needs new queens. Stupid law. Them Tassies sell honey in WA but the law says I can’t take in me Queensland queens.’
Katherine was genuinely interested in the bees but the conversation was difficult. After answering each question Benjamin remained silent, awaiting the next prompt.
‘That does sound a bit silly. How do you transport the bees?’
‘In the ute. Under the tarp in special boxes. Trailer’s got empty hives jist with pressed wax for makin’ honeycomb. Need to expand the business.’
‘Where’s your place, near Perth?’
‘Outback.’
‘Anywhere near a big town?’
‘Nope.’
They lapsed into silence. It was clear Benjamin was not going to be chatty. Katherine leaned back, closed her eyes and dozed. The monotonous hum of the engine and steady drum of the wheels on the dirt road was broken only by an occasional metallic clatter as a larger stone hit the underside of the vehicle. The narrow-set headlamps lit the road ahead, creating deceptive shadows that turned every small bump or hole into a boulder or cavern. With Carolyn fast asleep in her arms Katherine thought about the excursion with Alec and how pleasant it had been. What a shame that it ended like this!
‘Are ya religious at all? Do ya know your Bible?’ The sharp, unexpected question interrupted Katherine’s thoughts.
She sat up. ‘Ah, not very well. My Dad was a farmer, mostly sheep. He died a while back. We, that is the whole family, went to church pretty regularly and I got married in our local church. My father-in-law is a minister, Reverend David Thompson, so I guess we’re sort of religious.’
‘If youse religious you’d know your Bible. How well do ya know ya Bible?’
‘Well, I know bits of it. I mean, I don’t read it much but I believe in the teachings of the New Testament.’
‘So you believe in what the Bible teaches us. An’ God?’
‘Yes, I suppose I believe in God. Why?’
‘Ya supposes so. Well, ya should believe in the Bible, all of it, an’ the rules it tells us. Did ya know the Ten Commandments was the very first laws in the world? And God is real. He talks ta me. I ‘ave visions an’ he talks ta me then. If ya follow what God tells us an’ follow his rules there’d be no problems.’
This was more than an unexpected conversation. It was making Katherine feel uneasy. Fortunately, Benjamin settled into contemplative silence.
After a while Benjamin slowed the four-wheel drive and turned to Katherine. ‘I’m tired. We’ll camp for the night an’ finish tomorrow.’ Katherine almost expected him to say, ‘if that’s okay with you,’ but he said no more. It was a statement of fact, not a suggestion.
Katherine answered as if she had been given the option. ‘Yes, I suppose that’s wise if you’re tired. And it will be easier to find Alec in Ceduna in the daylight!’ She hid her disappointment. Her hopes of a hot shower and warm bed were to be denied. She also hid the germ of anxiety that perhaps, after his strange claim to have visions from God, Benjamin might not be all he seemed.
Benjamin pulled out a rolled swag from under the tarpaulin and threw it unceremoniously on to the ground. It landed with a dull thud. ‘Ya kin take the swag. It’s clean an’ it’ll be okay for ya an’ bubs. I’ve got meself a blanket an’ sleepin’ bag.’ He pulled out a second bundle from the back of the Land Rover, and after scraping the ground with the side of his boot, threw it down about two metres from the swag. He passed Katherine the torch. ‘In case ya need ta get up in the night,’ he explained.