Vanishing Point

‘It wasn’t just battles. The civil war killed more people through terrorism and prison camps, massacres and atrocities. It was horrible and hardened attitudes between the left and right factions. All this killing made him a pacifist and I learnt from him.’

‘But he got involved in the war for the British Army. Why not the Finnish?’

‘I guess the defeat of the Reds in 1919 rankled with the communists so Stalin took the opportunity to invade Finland in 1939, the ‘Winter War’. They bombed Helsinki.’

‘I suppose that would be enough to make anyone opposed to war and battles. But wouldn’t that unite Finns against the invaders?’

‘You’d think so. Instead it almost reignited the civil war. Even though Russia invaded a neutral country at the time, he could not see how supporting Hitler helped the Finns. Anyone wavering could be thought to be supporting the invaders.’

‘It must have been a very difficult time for him.’

‘And all Finns. Although the Finns fought heroically, they could not withstand the might of the Russians. Severe peace terms were imposed, including the loss of much Finnish land. My father was opposed to any alliance with the Nazis. He disliked their policies and belligerence. He believed supporting them would just lead to more Finns being killed or maimed. At the university where he taught his was not popular, nor was his vocal opinion. I mean, you can see the problem. Finland was caught between occupied Norway, belligerent Russia and untrustworthy Germany.’

‘So what happened?’

‘In 1941, soon after Petsomo was bombed by the British, killing even more Finns, he secretly crossed the Baltic to Stockholm in an old fishing boat. There friends with links to British Intelligence contacted him. They persuaded him that assisting the Allies could end the war sooner. They helped get him to London where he was made very welcome in the cryptographic services of the British Army.’

‘Quite an adventure.’

‘Yes. So you see why I believe there are ways other than violence to solve problems!’

‘Is your father still alive?’

‘No. He met my mum in Glasgow, got married and had me within a year. When I was six we migrated to Australia and settled in Perth. They both died in a motor accident about five years ago.’

‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t know,’ Shelley said, patting his arm.

‘Yes, I’m sorry, Petri. I know how hard it is to lose people you love,’ Alec echoed. At least you know what happened and when.

‘Anyway,’ Petri continued, ‘Dad never forgot his homeland and throughout my childhood the music of Sibelius echoed through the house. From Sibelius and Finlandia I grew to like other classical music. So, talking of which, what did you think of the concert tonight?’

The conversation had been deftly changed.

Each time Karl visited he became more enamoured with Katherine. It was the longest time he had spent close to a woman and a beautiful one at that. As his lust grew so did his frustration. The problem was crazy Benjamin. He could not afford to cross Benjamin; he was so dependent upon him. His most precious possessions were in Benjamin’s name. Inside his utility, neatly hooked behind the seats, was his pride and joy, his Lee Enfield number one, Mark III rifle. It was old but, fitted with telescopic sights, it was ideal for shooting kangaroos, dingoes and even pigs. A .303 bullet shot out at a velocity of almost half a mile per second. But, like the Toyota, it was registered in Benjamin’s name. Even the radio’s call sign was not his own. He could not afford to get any licences for fear that the police might track him down. In anything official he dared not use Karl’s name and details because he was dead. He had to remain anonymous, a non-person. Perhaps he could work on Benjamin’s strange religious beliefs and so-called visions so he’d get access to Katherine.

He’d spent the past month away shooting vermin on a station in the north. Now Karl he was on the way to deliver some supplies to Benjamin, all the time thinking of how to resolve his problem: the woman.

The heat was unbearable. By midday even the hardy eucalypt mallee shrubs were wilting as waves of still air simmered above the baking red sand. From the veranda the perimeter fence appeared to move and bend like some exotic dancer. Silence surrounded the buildings.

Both Benjamin and Katherine sat in the shade of the veranda while Carolyn played at their feet. Apart from her bright pink cheeks she seemed oblivious to the heat. Benjamin wore only his shorts and, overcome by lethargy, sat staring into space. Katherine was dressed in one of her remaining short skirts, which was now slightly too large for her but better than nothing. On her lap was her shirt which she was repairing, again.

‘We really need new clothes. These are finished. I can’t see how I can fix this shirt again.’ She held it up for Benjamin to see the thin cotton and the patches. ‘I’ve got only what was in my case: they’re so old everything is falling apart.’

‘Yeah, reckon ya right.’

‘And Carolyn needs clothes too. She can’t just run around naked all day, like this. She gets burned. And what about when winter comes? And she’s growing —’

‘Yeah. Okay. Okay. Write down what ya want an’ I’ll get it. I’m goin’ south next week. Gotta take some hives down.’

In the early days Katherine wondered how it was that bees were successful out in the desert where the floral displays were so spectacular but erratic and short lived. She later discovered that Benjamin regularly moved the hives, sometimes great distances, to follow the blossom or for pollination of crops.

Benjamin continued. ‘Karl’s gunna be here today an’ he’ll look after ya when I’m gorn.’

This news drew very mixed feelings from Katherine. She’d hoped she’d be able to persuade Benjamin to let her travel with him on his next trip rather than being left alone for weeks. For ages she’d tried to behave as quietly and unobtrusively as possible to achieve this, even absorbing the strain of being friendly towards her captor, hoping to convince Benjamin that all thought of escape was forgotten. She now knew her efforts obviously failed. The idea that Karl would be there with her was disturbing. She did not relish the thought of being alone at the Factory with him. She did not trust him. In the past when he visited his behaviour in front of Benjamin was exemplary but, when Benjamin was out of sight, he made kissing faces at Katherine and, on one occasion, even put a hand on her bottom and breast.

Each time he grew bolder in his advances but always when Benjamin was out of sight. Katherine had not been sure how to deal with this. She tried talking to Benjamin. ‘Your mate, Karl, doesn’t behave properly towards me.’

‘Yeah? Wadda ya mean?’