The Silent Country (26 page)

‘Nothing, as far as I am aware. It’s hard to get past the suits and wall of silence that surround the man. Very private fellow. And with his money he can make sure the screen around his activities stays in place.’

‘He must have very loyal retainers. Or he pays them well,’ said Veronica.

‘Or else they are no longer employed. Which can also be interpreted as disappearing,’ Jim said grimly. ‘Mind you, there’s as much myth as substance around John Cardwell and he probably perpetuates a lot of it to confuse people.’

‘I can understand why Colin got scared off,’ said Veronica. ‘But why? What does Colin know?’

‘And the connection between our meek and mild failed screenwriter and one of Australia’s most colourful businessmen is?’

Veronica hesitated, then decided to trust Andy’s friend. He might prove a helpful ally. ‘Cardwell was one of the people on the filming expedition with Colin back in the fifties.’

He let out a low whistle. ‘Then this story is certainly
worth pursuing. Definitely got legs. But I suppose you’re still scratching the surface, eh? How can I help?’

‘I’m not sure. Any contacts you can think of that might be worth talking to. And a suggestion of a good place for dinner?’ Veronica then ran through what she knew and the advice she’d been given by Collette at the archives.

Jim nodded. ‘The NT Library should be useful but the research will take some time. I know a couple of old timers who might be worth talking to. Just to give you some background on those times in the fifties. They were pretty rough and ready days back then and I assume you’ll need a few talking heads for a bit of nostalgia.’

‘You bet. That’d be great.’ Veronica shook her head. ‘I need as much help as I can get. Your good friend Andy has come up – thanks to our new CEO – with a change in the format of the show.’

‘What was wrong with it? Why do new execs feel they have to reinvent the wheel?’

‘Because they can, I suppose. Anyway, Andy has gone along with it as we’ve been given a bigger budget, hence my being here. But the uncomfortable thing is that I have to be on camera, which I loathe. I’m racking my brains to figure out ways to illustrate what I’m doing because digging into a story can be a pretty boring slog.’

‘Yeah, reading files and papers doesn’t make for riveting TV,’ agreed Jim. ‘You definitely need Bonza and Reggie.’

‘Bonza?’ laughed Veronica. ‘Who are these men?’

‘Bonza is an old croc shooter who describes everything as bonza. Or beaudy,’ Jim chuckled. ‘Reg is an Aboriginal tour guide. They’ll give you some local colour even if it’s got nothing to do with the core of the story.’

‘Great. I rang the chief-of-staff at Network Eleven, Darwin. The head camera guy is out of town on a story so he’s trying to get me a cameraman. But I’ll be okay with a stringer if he can’t. Where do I find Bonza and Reggie?’

‘I’ll put the word out via the pub. They have no fixed abode connected to a phone,’ said Jim.

‘Thanks heaps. Can I buy you a drink sometime as a thank you?’ she asked.

‘You can do that. But I’ll talk to my old girl and see if we can rustle up some friends for a barbecue one night. And bring along anyone you care to. Do you have friends in Darwin?’

‘No. Just you,’ said Veronica.

Jim looked flattered. ‘I’ll call your mobile when I’ve made contact.’

When Veronica received a call from Dougie, the junior cameraman from the TV station telling her that he was available, she asked him to come over and meet her at the Mantra.

Dougie was in his early twenties and eager to work with her. ‘I think
Our Country
is a fantastic show. I’ve often thought there are some stories around here that’d be worth doing.’

‘Well, why didn’t you put them up to your boss?’ asked Veronica.

Dougie looked uncomfortable. ‘Ah, who’d listen to me? I’m told to just point the camera and keep my mouth shut.’

Veronica nodded. ‘Yeah, it’s a tough business. But you’ve got to just keep hammering away, Dougie. One day someone smart will listen. Now, let me explain what I’m doing.’

Veronica didn’t want Dougie to know that this was a new concept, so that when the time came to unveil the ‘new look’ program, no-one would have any idea how the show had been changed. With this in mind, she outlined her idea that he should just follow her around while she researched her story.

‘Okay. Sounds easy enough. You tell me what you want and I’ll do it. You’re the producer,’ said Dougie sounding relieved that he didn’t have to make decisions. ‘Okay so we have the two blokes, Bonza and Reggie, I’ve heard of them. Then there’s you in the archives and the newspaper office. What else?’

‘Ah, I suppose we need some overview scenes of Darwin. How about you take me on a tour and we pick up shots of me wandering around the places in Darwin you think people would want to see.’

‘Yeah. Cullen Bay, that’s cool. What about the terrific aquarium or the Crocoseum? Get you in the cage. It’s the big new thing to do here. And there’s Mindil markets tomorrow night and Parap markets on Saturday morning. And the harbour . . .’

‘Whoa. Sounds like you have your finger on the pulse. Terrific,’ said Veronica.

She devoted the next day to the sights of Darwin with Dougie. She drew the line at the new tourist attraction of a wildlife complex where large ‘retired’ crocodiles had their own private domain and two people at a time could get into a protective glass cage and be lowered into the water for a very close encounter.

‘C’mon, Veronica, get in the cage, it’ll look great,’ said Dougie.

‘No way. Film that couple in their swimsuits,’ said Veronica, as a pair who were obviously on their honeymoon got into the cage, which was lowered into the water. ‘Have you noticed the gouges and teeth marks on the outside of the cage? But you’re right, this is a novel attraction in the centre of the CBD. Perhaps I could go as far as holding a snake or lizard.’

Veronica loved the colonial-style buildings along the seafront and the bustling restaurants at the wharf. Then they headed over to Cullen Bay with its expensive new
high rise apartments and cluster of eateries facing the sweep of the bay.

‘This is a great place for dinner, expensive though, sixty dollars for a mud crab meal,’ said Dougie. ‘I’d rather eat at the markets. We’ll do that tonight. It’s become an institution. Started out as a casual thing. Locals used to go to the beach to watch the sunset, bring a picnic and there were a few stalls and now there are hundreds. It’s huge.’

That evening as their taxi followed the stream of traffic past the big casino it seemed that everyone in Darwin was heading to Mindil Beach. They got out near a forest of thick trees covered in vines and walked to a beach fringed by palm trees. Already people were setting up chairs and picnics while the walkway was lined on both sides with colourful stalls. The lights, decorations, inviting cooking smells and mix of people looked, to Veronica, like a mini international gathering. There were musicians, tarot card readers, massages, cooking, crafts, art, gifts and children’s play and entertainment areas.

‘This is incredible. Best market I’ve ever seen and what a setting,’ she told Dougie. ‘I see what you mean about the food. Everything looks fabulous.’

‘I go for the Asian stuff, but there’s everything – Greek, to African . . . you name it,’ said Dougie. ‘Maybe you’d like a buffalo burger, or crocodile kebabs? Will I take some shots of you wandering through all this? Then we’ll set up for the sunset.’

‘Go for it, Dougie. I’m going to look around.’

Veronica bought a selection of foods, including the crocodile kebabs, which were delicious and a bottle of beer for herself and Dougie, who’d chosen a barramundi stir fry for his dinner. Sitting on the sand she ate from a paper plate as Dougie filmed the great red ball of the sun sinking into the Timor Sea.

The next day Veronica dropped her notes into Collette
at the archives, listing as many names, places and details as she could remember from what Colin had told her. Then, with Dougie in tow, she headed to her appointment at the library.

Parliament House, which housed the library, was a spectacular new white building adjacent to Government House and the Supreme Court, with views across the harbour. After passing through the security check Veronica and Dougie took the lift to the well-appointed library. Veronica explained to one of the librarians that she’d come to do some research and that she had been given permission to film her scrolling through the microfilm. When she located the microfilm section and started to look through the old papers, Dougie peered over her shoulder so as to get a close-up of the screen.

‘Amazing old stuff. Wish I’d been up here in the old days, bit like the wild west,’ he said.

‘Yes, a bit of a frontier by the looks of it. Pretty rugged country once you left Darwin. And it’s close to Asia – you can practically see Indonesia. Makes you realise how near our northern neighbours are,’ said Veronica.

‘My granddad talks about the war, reckons there were a lot more Japanese midget subs that came close to shore than they know about,’ said Dougie. ‘Well, I’ll leave you to it. Let me know how you get on, Veronica. Been nice working with you, if there’s nothing else you want me for right now.’

Veronica pulled her attention away from the screen. ‘Aren’t you going to be working with me anymore, Dougie? That’s a shame, you’ve been great.’

‘Thanks. Yeah, the chief camera guy comes back tomorrow. I hope I can get out on some of the trips he gets to do, sometime. I’ve only been up in a chopper once. Loved it.’

‘Good luck, Dougie. I’m not sure what else I have to film around here. Sorry it’s not been so exciting for you.’

‘My turn’ll come. Eddie moves around a lot.’

‘Eddie? The chief guy is Eddie? Eddie who?’ asked Veronica, her heart sinking.

‘Eddie Jarman. Used to work in Sydney, done a lot of documentaries. Do you know him?’

Veronica turned back to the computer screen to hide her confusion. ‘Yes, I know him. See ya, Dougie.’

‘Right. Well, see you then. Let me know what you want done with this footage or when you want to look at it and edit it.’

‘Yep. Thanks, Dougie.’

Dougie glanced back at Veronica as he left. She suddenly seemed very occupied at the computer and yet slightly distracted.

Damn you, Andy, she cursed under her breath. Surely he knew Eddie was up here. She was shocked at the unexpected news that her ex-boyfriend and colleague was working in Darwin. Why hadn’t Andy told her? Veronica sat still, her eyes closed, trying to calm herself and sort out how she felt about seeing him again. I’m over you, Eddie, she told herself firmly. So why was she feeling so rattled? Perhaps he was married or in a stable relationship, if Eddie knew what that was, which would keep some distance between them.

But creeping into her mind came memories of the fun they’d had together and the great working relationship they’d had – before they’d fallen in love and slept together. Or was that the other way around? She couldn’t help smiling as she thought about their trip to Norfolk Island when they’d become more than professional colleagues.

Well, maybe the story would fizzle out and she wouldn’t need a cameraman. When this ridiculous idea came to her, she realised that she wasn’t concentrating – skimming images on the microfilm were just whizzing past her eyes.

She decided to take a break and rang Andy.

‘If you tell me you knew Eddie was working up here and didn’t warn me, I’ll wring your neck,’ she said as soon as he answered the phone.

‘Veronica? Is that you? How nice to hear from you. How’re things going in Darwin? Is it hot? Have you caught up with Jim?’

‘Andy! You damn-well knew he was here! Why didn’t you tell me?’ she shouted.

‘What difference would it have made?’ he asked calmly.

Veronica was silent for a moment. ‘Well, I might have been prepared.’

‘So how is he? How’s the research going?’

‘I haven’t seen Eddie. He’s been out on a job. I’ve had a young kid who’s been great. In fact, I might ask to use him and not Eddie.’

‘That’s up to the head of the camera department. Who happens to be Eddie, I understand. How was Jim?’

‘Nice. Helpful. Does he know about me and Eddie?’

‘No, of course not. Why should he? Look, Eddie’s a great cameraman and you said you’re over him, so what’s the big drama, Veronica?’ asked Andy.

‘Men. You’re hopeless. I am over him. It’s just, well, a surprise. And I have nothing new to report. I’ll have to spend quite a few more hours poring over the newspaper records. But I’m going to meet a couple of outback characters, friends of Jim’s.’

‘Great. You can trust Jim. I wouldn’t go into too many details with anyone else about Cardwell though,’ said Andy.

‘If I’ve got a cameraman in tow, like Eddie, it’ll be hard to keep things quiet,’ said Veronica.

‘I suppose so,’ said Andy. ‘But be careful.’

‘Around Eddie? That I can guarantee,’ said Veronica. ‘But Darwin is interesting. Must have been a wild place in the old days.’

‘See if you can get some archive footage of Darwin in the fifties. Go out bush a bit. Try to capture what it must have been like for those innocents making that film and dealing with the loneliness and isolation of the outback after Europe. The landscape won’t have changed too much.’