Vanishing Point

The sun was just creeping up over the sand dunes, casting long morning shadows across the road and chasing the last moments of night, when Katherine and Alec finished their skimpy breakfast. Alec gave his wife a long, last hug and a lingering kiss, whispering in her ear, ‘I love you.’ He reluctantly disengaged himself, letting his hands slide down her body, feeling her soft curves beneath her pyjamas. ‘You were so good last night! I do so love you.’ Slowly, reluctantly he turned and headed across the road and into the bush.

‘See you soon,’ he called back to her as she waved.

‘Go carefully,’ she shouted, more loudly than she meant to disguise the quiver in her voice.

‘The scrub doesn’t go far,’ he shouted back. ‘In an hour or so I’ll be in wheat and sheep country so it’ll be quicker. It’s a good way to spend a Saturday!’

‘Good luck!’ Katherine called, quickly wiping a tear from her eye before waving once more to his departing back. Her good luck wish was quite sincere even though she felt certain that her husband would be back with help soon and they would be on their way once more.

Carolyn’s crying inside the Kombi indicated her need for attention. Katherine reluctantly turned and entered the vehicle to lift her from the bassinette and check her nappy. She had slept soundly through the night, oblivious of the predicament in which the family found themselves.

‘Typical baby,’ muttered Katherine. ‘Totally dependent, totally unworried. Don’t you worry sweetheart, she’ll be right. We’ll take care of you.’

Katherine removed the baby’s nappy liner before throwing the soiled nappy into a small bucket with a lid. She knew that rinsing the nappy would consume more of their precious water. It could wait until they got to Ceduna, smell or no smell. She cleaned and washed Carolyn using a minimal amount of water before powdering her dry. She put her gently on to the mattress of the fold-out bed and blew raspberries on her tummy, looking up to see the smile on her baby’s face. Carolyn’s arms and legs moved in jerky movements, testing their abilities. Katherine smiled to herself and at her baby.

‘I look forward to the day you will laugh when I do that. There’s nothing quite as infectious as the sound of a baby’s laugh!’

Carolyn gurgled back as if she understood every word. Katherine sat on the edge of the bed and fed her happy child.

Leaving her baby in the bassinette on the bed, she took the shovel and dug a hole in the loose sand near the fence, deep enough to bury the soiled liner and some other accumulated rubbish. She then put a match to it and watched the paper shrivel and burn, and the used tins scorch. When the flames finally died down she filled in the hole, leaving only the vaguest indication that someone had passed that way. Katherine settled her mind for a day on her own entertaining Carolyn and herself, knowing that it probably would be very similar to days spent around the Kombi while Alec was off collecting rocks.

* * *

Petri had very mixed emotions. AGO had been part of his working life since his graduation from the University of Western Australia five years previously. He was just twenty-one when he left with a first class Honours degree, one of the youngest but also one of the brightest students to do so. Petri was not only academically bright but also practical and, as a result, very successful in his chosen field of exploration geology. His father, a man of strong principles, would certainly have approved his actions, although he may have handled it more diplomatically.

Anticipating the outcome of his negotiations with AGO management, Petri had put in place an alternative plan for his future. Although he knew geologists were in short supply and jobs easy to find he had no intention of leaving a well paid permanent position to land up looking for work. The discovery of the Lunnon Shoot nickel ore body in January, followed by further major discoveries in March, initiated a mineral exploration boom and anyone with a geology degree, or even a partial degree, could find a position in any one of the many new junior exploration companies being listed on the stock exchange almost daily. They sprang up overnight like mushrooms, some more reputable than others.

When he decided that he might resign from AGO Petri made contact with the du Toit Group. It had come about through a chance meeting with Charl du Toit on one of the MMA flights from Kalgoorlie to Perth. Both men had been booked on the same flight only to find the aircraft delayed by yet another strike. During the annoying wait at the Kalgoorlie airport they had found themselves at the same table, sharing a drink. As happens under these circumstances they started chatting and du Toit was impressed with Petri.

Charl du Toit was an entrepreneur extraordinaire, with expansive and expensive ideas. Through some creative accounting, favourable political associations and a knack of raising capital through the overheated share market, he was associated with some of the major exploration programs in both Western Australia and Queensland. While most small companies had joined the rush for nickel, du Toit had encouraged one of the companies in which he was a major shareholder, Spinifex Exploration N.L., to look for new styles of gold mineralisation.

Just before the two men finally boarded the flight du Toit said, ‘I’ve enjoyed our yarn. If ever you decide you need a change of scenery give me a call. My direct line is on here. Please don’t spread it around as I don’t give this number to just anyone.’

He handed Petri his business card. Until that moment Petri did not realise that the ‘Charlie’ he had been talking to was none other than the Charl du Toit, whose name so regularly featured in the press. As the frustrations accrued at AGO he eventually picked up the phone and made the call. He was surprised to find that, in spite of the time gap of several months, Charl du Toit not only remembered him but also arranged an informal luncheon meeting that turned into an interview with the General Manager of one of his companies, Fred Cooper. That was only one month prior to Petri’s meeting with his managers.

Charl had left the luncheon meeting early but before leaving said, ‘If you decide to leave AGO we can put you on salary with Fred’s group or, if you prefer, organise a contract. Talk to Fred here, he’ll give you the details of what we can offer.’

What Fred offered was a long-term contract with generous funding to develop models for new styles of gold mineralisation. The meeting with his managers had gone badly. Now was the time to accept.

Petri made one last call from his old AGO Office. ‘Good morning, may I speak to Charl du Toit please … Yes, it’s Petri Koivu … Yes, I think Mr. du Toit will remember me.’

After a brief pause he spoke again. ‘Good morning, Mr du Toit … Yes, I’ve finally made the decision … I resigned this morning. Is your offer of a contract still open?’

The voice on the other end of the phone said a few words bef

ore Petri responded.

‘Good. Yes, thanks, Mr Cooper did give me an outline …’ He scribbled some notes on the pad in front of him. ‘Tomorrow morning at nine … Fine … I’ll be there … Yes, I know the place … Thanks … Yes, I am looking forward to it too … Thanks again. Bye.’

Over the past month Petri had set in motion all the processes necessary to establish himself as a consulting geologist, working out of a small office in his home. He rented a house in Mount Pleasant, not quite overlooking the Canning River, but a very appealing environment nonetheless. His accommodation was comfortable for a bachelor, with a spare room for visitors and another for a small office. It was also conveniently located for ready access to the large Garden Centre shopping centre at Booragoon, rapid access across the Canning Bridge to the city, and to parklands for jogging.

‘A new week, a new job, a new life,’ Petri thought to himself as he climbed into his recently purchased four-wheel drive Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser, started the engine and drove through Perth city. The car travelled down William Street, across the Narrows Bridge and along the recently opened freeway to Petri’s new office.

* * *

By the time Katherine had made herself something more to eat and drink, played a little with Carolyn and intermittently read pages of her novel, the sun was already high in the sky and the heat of the day penetrating the Kombi. She lay down for a sleep using the benefits of the peace and quiet while Carolyn slept. It took a while but she eventually dozed off, overcoming the permeating heat.

Katherine woke to the incessant buzzing of flies, and the feeling that there should be more to be done than just sleeping and staying close to the grounded vehicle. Perhaps she could explore the surrounds. From the trip so far she knew that what appeared to be boring uniformity of desert, on closer inspection was full of surprising little delights: strange creatures, new flowers or unusual rocks. Each day she found something different.