Forest Spirit (7 page)

‘Jars,' Snook said to her back. ‘She's my cousin from the Northern Territory. She's gonna stay with us.'

‘Oh, my, is that so?' Mrs Quigley said over her shoulder. They came to the games room. ‘Yes, he's here.' She pointed to the far end. Jars noticed that her hand trembled. ‘He's over there on the lounge chair. He'll be examining the new camera his father gave him. Now, I expect my husband should hear the details of your excursion. I'll see if he's available.'

Both Jars and Snook watched as Mrs Quigley walked over to what looked like an office door. It was to their left, near the main entrance to the room. She knocked, then listened.

A deep voice came from inside. ‘Yes? Who is it?'

‘It's the Kelly boy and his cousin,' she replied, her voice quivering. ‘He's here to see you about the camping trip.'

‘Tell them to wait, I'll be out in a minute. And don't interrupt me again; you know I'm busy.'

Mrs Quigley bobbed her head up and down, more of a reflex action than a casual nod. ‘I – I'll leave you now.' She hurried from the room, her steps silent on the thick carpet.

‘Hey, Quigley,' Snook called across the room, ‘you still going camping with us?'

Quenton looked up, seeing Snook for the first time. ‘Yes, I am. And kindly don't call me by my last name. I don't like it. You know that. I've told you a thousand times, my name's Quenton.'

Snook laughed. ‘Anyway,' he said, walking across the room, ‘just get down to my place this afternoon with your stuff. We have to pack it on the trailer today. That way we can get an early start tomorrow.'

Quenton rose from the chair. ‘I got a new camera to take,' he said, holding it out for Snook to see. ‘It's a digital single lens reflex. Top of the range, my dad says. I'll really get some good pictures with this.'

Snook grinned. ‘Yeah, if you learn how to point it first.'

Quenton pouted and turned to place the camera on a nearby coffee table. ‘Oh,' he said, surprise in his voice, noticing Jars for the first time, ‘I didn't see you standing there. Who are you?'

Jars introduced herself.

‘What?' he said. ‘Snook's cousin? And you're going to live with the Kellys?' He turned to face Snook. ‘So, I suppose you'll be hanging around with her now instead of me. Well, I'll tell you something. She won't fit in around here. Look at her. Her skin's the wrong colour for a start.'

‘Now you listen here,' Snook said, taking a step forward, his voice rising. ‘Watch your mouth. One more word like you've just said and I'll …'

Jars held up her hand. ‘It's all right, Snook. Don't worry about it. He probably hasn't seen an Aboriginal before.'

At that moment, the door to the office opened and a large man dressed in a grey suit emerged. Hairless, except for small grey tufts behind his ears, and eyes that drooped like soft putty, he walked, or rather waddled, across the room. He stood, towering above them.

‘What have we got here then? Not causing any trouble are you Snook Kelly? And the girl with you? Must be your cousin your father was telling me about I suppose.'

‘We just come to tell you we're going to Timber Creek on our camping trip. Quenton will need to pack his gear this afternoon, so if you could bring him over to my place, we can …'

‘What? Timber Creek? Why there? I thought you would camp nearer to home. On the beach. Or down by the river.' Tiny white flecks formed at his lips as he spat the words out.

‘Nah,' Snook continued. ‘Dad knows the ranger who's gonna put us onto a good spot near the lake. It's all been decided.'

‘Humph, we'll see about that.' He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and took out a mobile phone. After a few rings, it was answered. ‘Listen, Kelly, your son tells me you intend going to Timber Creek. Why on earth go all that way when there are perfectly acceptable areas around here?'

Jars and Snook watched and listened to the phone conversation while Quenton Quigley continued to inspect his new camera. Grinning, Snook nudged Jars in the ribs. Mr Quigley suddenly began to splutter.

‘Now look here, Kelly. Need I remind you that I'm your boss and what I say …' He paused for a moment, scowling. ‘What? Yes, yes. I realise that you're having a few days off. I know your time is your own on those days, but all the same …' The knuckles on his hand whitened as he gripped the phone tighter. ‘Very well, if that's your attitude. But be assured we shall continue this conversation when you return.'

Mr Quigley's normally pallid face turned purple as he jabbed at the phone's off button. Then, without a word, he turned and made for his office. Slamming the door, he disappeared inside.

Snook prodded Jars on the arm. ‘C'mon, let's go. We're done here.' He turned to face Quenton. ‘We're off. See ya this afternoon … if you're still coming with us, that is.'

Quenton's eyes flashed. ‘Oh, I'll be there. You just wait and see.'

Without another word, Snook, followed by Jars, hurried from the room, leaving Quenton to his new toy. They opened the front door and stepped outside.

‘Told you they were a strange lot,' Snook said once they were outside.

‘Yes, but there were other things that puzzled me.'

‘Like what?'

‘Like why was Mrs Quigley so nervous? And why was Mr Quigley so upset when you mentioned Timber Creek? Oh, and by the way, there was a woman in Mr Quigley's office. There's nothing unusual about that, I suppose, but we didn't see her and neither of the Quigleys even mentioned that they had a visitor.'

‘How do you know there was some woman if you didn't see her?'

‘I could smell her perfume. Entirely different to what Mrs Quigley was wearing.'

‘So what?' Snook said. ‘There's nothin' puzzling about that. She's probably seeing him on business. And as for old man Quigley, I wouldn't take much notice of him. He always gets upset when he doesn't get his own way.'

‘But what about Mrs Quigley? She was really uptight about something.'

‘Dunno what was up with her, but if I'm any judge, her old man has most likely upset her … somehow.'

They walked quickly away from the house. ‘There's something else, Snook. Something that's been happening to me.'

‘What is it?'

Jars hesitated. If she told Snook about the cave and the ancient being, he might think she was being stupid.

‘C'mon,' Snook blurted, ‘spit it out. Whatever it is, I want to know about it.'

‘You won't laugh?'

‘No, I won't laugh. I promise.'

‘Okay, you're the first person I've ever told. I was always too frightened to tell anybody. Not even Tom, who was my best friend on the cattle station. But I guess I can tell you, seeing as you're my cousin. It happened the same night I was told about coming to Tasmania. I had a vision where I met some sort of ancient man in a cave. He was like a human but I think he was more than that.'

‘You mean you had a dream?'

‘No,' Jars said, her voice barely a whisper. ‘It wasn't a dream and I think the man was a – a kind of spirit, and I think he needs help.'

‘Are you serious? Or have you gone and lost your marbles?' Snook, eyebrows raised, came to a halt. He stared at his cousin, waiting for an answer.

‘Yes, as serious as you can get. It's something I don't understand, but somehow I know it's very real. I just know it. Snook, this spirit keeps visiting me … with a message I don't understand.'

Snook scratched his head. ‘Awesome! Weird too. I can see I'm gonna have some fun with you hangin' around. That's for sure. Anyway, forget this spirit thing of yours for now. We have things to do back home.'

They hurried along, each silent with their thoughts.

The drive to Timber Creek took just over two hours. They pulled up outside an old weatherboard house. Jim Kelly glanced at his watch. ‘Eleven fifteen, not bad timing. You all right now, Quenton?' he said, twisting to face the boy, who was in the back seat.

Snook chuckled. ‘He oughta be, after spewing up all those potato chips and chocolates he's been pigging out on ever since we left.'

A groan came from the back.

‘That's enough Snook,' his father said. ‘Some people don't have the stomach for roads that bend and twist, that's all. He'll be okay in a minute. Anyway, everybody hop out; this is where my friend works.'

He got out of the car, walked up the drive, pushed open a screen door and entered Reg Carter's office. Snook, Jars and Quenton, who was still moaning and holding his stomach, followed.

Reg Carter was sitting behind his desk, leaning back as though deep in thought. A mountain of paper files partly hid him from view. At his feet, lying under the desk, was a German shepherd.

A huge grin spread over the ranger's face. He sprang to his feet and crossed the room. ‘Jim, great to see you. It's been a while.' He stood well over six feet, had sandy coloured hair tied in a ponytail, and wore a ring in his left ear.

Jim pointed towards Snook. ‘Remember Snook, Reg? He was only a little shrimp last time you saw him. He's changed a bit now.'

Reg laughed. ‘Snook. How could I forget him? Still getting up to mischief, is he?' Snook, who was standing next to his father, squirmed and smiled sheepishly. ‘Who are the other two?' Reg added.

‘That's Quenton over there leaning against the wall, and that's Jars, a niece of mine.' Jars, who was kneeling and patting the dog, glanced up at the mention of her name. For the first time she noticed the ranger's eyes – the greenest and most intelligent she had ever seen.

‘Nice to meet you both. That's Shadow down there,' said Reg, pointing at the dog. ‘He seems to like you Jars.'

At that moment, the phone rang. ‘Hang on, I'd better get that. I'm expecting a caIl.' Reg searched under a pile of paper for the phone. ‘Where is that darn thing? Always seem to be losing it.' He brushed some papers and files from his desk with a flourish. They fluttered to the floor next to Jars. ‘Ah, here it is,' he said, grinning as he picked up the receiver. ‘HeIlo, Parks and Wildlife, Reg Carter speaking.' He listened, nodding from time to time. ‘Okay, see you in about three hours. Right, till then.'

‘That's complicated things a little,' Reg said as he replaced the phone on its cradle. ‘I have to drive to Hobart this afternoon. For an interview. What a nuisance. I was going to take you out to the place I've been telling you about. Show you around. I won't be able to now. I have to leave pretty well straight away. But hey, never mind, that won't really affect you guys.' He gestured towards Jim. ‘Pull up a pew and I'll explain how to get to there. It's about a half hour drive from here. You can get yourselves settled this afternoon. When I get back, I'll call in to see you, make sure you're all right.'

‘When will that be?' Jim asked.

‘I'd say tomorrow afternoon or even the next day; it depends on the agenda they've set up for me. Anyway, here's how to get there.'

After listening to the ranger's directions, Jim asked, ‘What's this interview all about, Reg? Is it a job interview?'

The ranger nodded. ‘Yeah, they want me to take a research job with them. Trouble is, it's on the mainland. That doesn't thrill me. I like it here and I like what I'm doing now.'

Jim cast his eyes around the room, taking in several certificates displayed on the wall behind the desk. ‘Seems to me you're wasted here. I mean, just look at the degrees you've got – biology, genetics, speleology. Hell Reg, I don't even know what they mean.'

Reg grinned. ‘A permanent student, I was. I didn't know what I wanted to do with myself so I just stayed, taking these degrees. I guess they interested me. They're about plants and animals, and the speleology degree, that's to do with caves.

Jars began to gather the paper and files that had spilled onto the floor. Suddenly, she stopped. Her mouth flew open as she stared at the piece of paper she held in her hand. She could not believe what she was looking at. Her hand began to tremble. It was the thing she had seen in the cave – the drawing on the wall with its animal tracks and jagged dots.