The Silent Country (59 page)

‘I’ll come and see you as soon as I can, I promise. I might even bring a special friend to visit.’

‘Really?’ Sue was interested. ‘How come you’ve had time to date when you’ve been away so much? You are the dark one.’

‘Actually he’s from up there. He’s coming to Sydney for a conference and we might go down to Melbourne. He’s originally from Melbourne.’ Veronica had just decided that she wanted her sister’s approval of and admiration for Jamie.

‘A conference? So he’s not moving down? You can’t have a boyfriend in Darwin, for God’s sake. We’ve met some lovely, lovely men here in Melbourne. So much easier to socialise and meet people here than in Sydney. We’ll have them lined up. Better leave the Darwin man behind,’ advised Sue.

Veronica just laughed. ‘No chance. Wait till you meet him. Have you got your house organised?’

Sue launched into their latest plans and Veronica’s news was pushed to one side.

In bed that night, when she phoned Jamie, she talked about the differences between her family and his.

‘Veronica, you can’t compare them,’ he said calmly. ‘Your family has different priorities, but it doesn’t mean they love you any less.’

‘It’s hard to explain. I hate to say it but I feel I have more in common with your mother than my own. I really admire my mum, she’s a hard worker, but I guess I’m more interested in what Doris is doing.’

‘That’s okay, Veronica. Like I said, it doesn’t mean that you don’t love them any less, do you?’

‘No,’ said Veronica slowly. But she was thinking of the warmth of the interaction between Jamie’s family and the superficiality of her own.

‘Anyway, I’m glad you like my mob. There are quite a
lot of us, when you take in my extended family and as you know that can mean a lot of obligation and responsibility.’

‘I understand, Jamie.’

‘How’re things going?’

‘I’m off to see Valma tomorrow. I’m hoping to wind this up fairly quickly. I want to have some free time when you’re here.’

‘I can’t wait to see you, Veronica.’

‘Me too.’

She hung up the phone, the thought of seeing Jamie uppermost in her mind. The strength of her feelings surprised her. Their lovemaking was passionate and tender. They enjoyed each other’s company. They had common interests. Veronica knew that Jamie was very, very special.

The next day she went into work, fighting for a parking spot at the production office and found Andy.

‘Hi. I’ve just seen the stuff you shot finding the body. Great pictures. Like a movie!’

‘I hope viewers realise it is for real and not a set-up,’ said Veronica, suddenly worried.

‘We’ll have to reiterate Marta’s description of what happened so that this just confirms it. I’m keeping the footage under wraps, everyone working on it is keeping mum.’

‘Yes, I told Dougie the same thing. His stuff is good, isn’t it?’ said Veronica. ‘I’ve arranged for him to go over and chat to the students at the Indigitel School. He’s young but very enthusiastic.’

‘Oh, that’s the indigenous media school you mentioned? Very good idea. Next time I go to Darwin, I’ll offer my services. Do you think that they’d want to hear from an old bloke like me?’

‘Andy, when were you last in Darwin?’ Veronica laughed. ‘But seriously, they’re hanging out for contact with other professionals. I promised I’d do a workshop next time I’m up there.’

Andy raised an eyebrow. ‘Next time? I thought this story was nearly finished.’

She looked embarrassed. ‘You know, that just slipped out. I’m assuming I’ll be going back up there. Gosh, Andy, the thought of not seeing Jamie, Billy, his family, I can’t imagine it.’ She looked stricken.

‘Well, if this show is a success you can ask for a raise to pay for all the trips to Darwin,’ said Andy shortly. ‘Now, grab Tom and get over to Valma Konstantinova’s.’

Veronica, Tom and a sound man were ushered into the house by Valma, who was still what Veronica’s mother would call reserved. While not unfriendly, she was businesslike.

‘You’ve started something. But not before time. I had no idea the rubbish my mother had stored upstairs in the attic.’

‘I hope we haven’t inconvenienced you,’ said Veronica.

‘Not really. Now, there’s a suitcase and a carton marked “Maxim”, so could your fellows bring them down?’ said Valma.

‘Certainly. But, er, would you mind if I took some shots of them in situ?’ asked Tom.

‘Valma, would you mind if we’re all in it? You showing me the box and then perhaps me opening it?’

‘Please yourself. Take anything you want. There’s nothing I want to keep of his.’

‘Too bad we know nothing about his family. If he had one,’ said Veronica as she followed Valma upstairs, Tom trailing behind with the camera, two portable lights and the sound recordist.

Veronica and Tom exchanged glances as they saw the upper level of the house with its long dark panelled hallway and tantalising glimpses of crowded bedrooms behind ornate doors. Veronica did notice the contrast of a near-empty bathroom, cavernous and cold with an
old-fashioned claw tub in the centre of a black and white tiled floor and large curtainless windows. Tom hoisted the camera and turned on the camera light to film Valma and Veronica as they headed up yet more stairs.

The narrow flight of stairs led to the smaller third floor, which was mostly a storage attic although there was also a maid’s room and kitchenette in one corner. When she looked around, Veronica was reminded of old films with haunted attics. The casement windows, the sloping eaves, the trunks, a rocking horse, dark paintings, an overstuffed chair and piles of boxes couldn’t have been arranged better if it had been part of a movie set.

‘I see what you mean. This is quite a collection of memorabilia,’ said Veronica.

‘Most of it is junk. Mother bought us everything a little girl could ever want, but when my sister and I came back from France we were young ladies and had outgrown the toys.’ Valma pointed to a large suitcase and a box. ‘They are the things I found relating to Topov.’

Veronica knelt beside the dusty, battered suitcase running her hands over it. A tag was tied to it with ‘Maxim’ pencilled on it.

‘I haven’t opened it,’ said Valma.

Veronica glanced at Tom to be sure he and the sound man were ready.

‘Rolling,’ said Tom quietly.

Veronica opened the suitcase as Valma watched.

There was a bulky jacket, some sweaters and trousers and a tailored jacket, which Veronica held up. ‘There’s a small gold pin in the lapel, don’t know what that is. I hope it’s not just old clothes.’ Beneath the clothes layer were some old books, a pair of black shoes and then a series of notebooks filled with handwriting. ‘These are notes. I think it’s about the film, a sort of script. It’s in terrible English. I’ll go through them some other time.’
Reluctantly she put them to one side. ‘Ah, photographs. This is good.’

‘Do you know who they are?’ Veronica asked Valma as she handed her several of the pictures.

‘These look to be when he was young. And here’s one with my mother. I wonder where it was taken?’

Other than a few more personal effects there was little else of interest in the suitcase. Veronica then pulled the cracked tape from the carton and opened the flaps.

‘What’s this? Oh, heavens, it’s a camera! What a funny old thing.’ She pulled it out and read, ‘Bolex. Let’s see what else is in here.’ She delved some more and pulled out a larger, bulkier camera. ‘This must be the professional camera. And another box. What’s this thing?’

‘Looks like one of those old geiger counters,’ said Tom.

Excitedly Veronica felt to the bottom of the box and came up with an envelope. ‘This was on the bottom.’ She opened the envelope and pulled out a printed form.

‘What’s that?’ asked Valma.

Veronica skimmed through the document. ‘It’s a fossicker’s licence. A permit to stake a mining claim in the Northern Territory. So he really was serious about looking for minerals.’

Veronica put the licence to one side with the notebooks. ‘Can I take these away to study, please, Valma?’

‘Take them all. None of it is of any use or interest to me. I can’t imagine why Mother kept them, especially after she knew he was dead and wouldn’t be coming back to claim them.’

‘Yes. Like everything to do with Topov, it’s all a bit mysterious,’ agreed Veronica. She signalled to Tom to stop filming and he quickly picked up the old cameras.

‘Brilliant old machines. Probably still work after they’ve had a bit of a service. Not that anyone uses film anymore.’

‘Is there any film still in there?’ asked Veronica hopefully.

Tom opened a camera. ‘Nope. Nothing. That’s a pity.’

‘Valma, thank you for this. I’m not sure what to do with these things either, but we’ll take them back to the studio to get them out of your way.’

Andy was intrigued with the cameras and the notebooks and tried on the musty jacket.

‘Gosh, three times too big for you,’ said Veronica. ‘Take it off, that’s creepy.’

‘The fossicking licence is interesting. But it doesn’t shed much light on the story,’ said Andy.

‘Look at the date. It confirms Marta’s story that it was issued just before they set off to Arnhem Land,’ said Veronica.

‘Well, off you go to the editing suite. Put all the pieces together,’ said Andy cheerfully.

‘Yeah, right. Easy peasy,’ she said. But she was looking forward to the challenge.

‘Hi. I’ve been calling you. What’re you up to?’ Jamie’s warm voice woke Veronica who had gone to bed, not bothering to eat, exhausted from two days of being locked in a small cubicle going through hours of video tape.

‘It’s good to hear from you. Sorry, I’ve been locked in an editing suite going back to day one and viewing every shot, making notes and trying to figure out how to tell this whole story in under an hour when I must have five hundred hours of tape!’

‘Sounds like a nightmare. How’s it coming?’

‘My head is spinning. I feel like I’ve done the entire trek over again. And then I get to scenes with you and I go
over and over them, wishing I could make you materialise in the room.’

‘I wish I was there, too. I miss you.’

‘Me too.’

‘Not long. Another week. And then I’ll be there.’

‘I’m trying to get this story in some sort of shape by then so I can hand it over to the editor. It’ll be okay.’

‘Just okay? Don’t rush it.’

They talked about Billy, a project Doris was doing and Jamie’s upcoming conference.

‘Dad’s writing a paper for some academic journal,’ said Jamie. Mum’s pleased. She didn’t think he was keeping himself occupied enough. Now, he’s buried in his study and we can hardly get him out.’

Veronica laughed. ‘I’m anxious to hear more about it. Give them my love.’

‘Go back to sleep. Sorry I woke you. Sweet dreams.’

She dreamed of a track through the landscape of Jamie’s country, the smell of a campfire and the warmth of his body close to hers. The sounds of traffic, of a city day beginning, woke her and she put her pillow over her head trying to recapture the gentle sounds of the outback. But it was futile. She got up and went to work.

Andy came and found her in the editing room. ‘I know you’ve got your head down, but Valma Konstantinova has called. Said she has found something else for you. Maybe call her back. She sounds a bit fed up. I think she’s tossing everything she can into a rubbish skip.’

‘I was ready for a coffee break.’ Veronica stood up and stretched.

Valma sounded tired and frustrated. ‘There are more of these Maxim things. Some huge tins in with some boxes and papers in the fridge in the maid’s room.’

‘Tins? Tins of what?’ asked Veronica.

‘They’re round flat ones filled with film. Why they’ve been kept in the refrigerator I don’t know,’ she sighed. ‘My mother must have run out of storage space. Do you want them?’

Veronica could scarcely speak. ‘I certainly do!’ Whether the film was unused or was exposed footage she had no idea. She could only hope.

Tom was about to go out, but when she told him they might have one more shot and that it could be the old film footage, he was as excited as she was and jumped in a taxi with her to go to the old Darling Point mansion.

Valma rolled her eyes at the sight of Tom and his camera and turned and took them back upstairs to the third floor. The maid’s room was still cluttered with boxes and belongings and Valma flung open the door of the old Kelvinator in the corner. ‘Can you believe I found these in here?’

The film cans were quite cool to touch and were two different sizes. Tom filmed Veronica taking them out of the fridge.

‘Some of the film is sixteen millimetre, the others, thirty-five millimetre,’ she read. ‘Ektachrome. Supreme Sound Studios.’ She held her breath as she managed to unscrew one of the cans and looked at the large roll of film. She saw written in black ink, ‘Day 7. Fishing and bog’.

‘Oh God. This must be Topov’s unfinished masterpiece. And it looks as though it’s been developed.’

Tom broke protocol and spoke from behind the camera. ‘Don’t expose it. It might be dry and crack. We’ll open it up in a dark room.’