Vanishing Point (5 page)

Along the west coast of Australia deposits of valuable mineral sands were found. Their value lay in the fact that they were the major source of the exotic metal titanium, essential for the production of paint and plastic as well as being used as an alloy in aircraft manufacture. This was important for the Americans embroiled in the Vietnam conflict.

The surge in the demand for geoscientists meant that young graduates, such as Petri, were fast-tracked into more senior positions. Some of the junior companies were offering very generous salary packages to anyone with a degree that included some geology and even undergraduates were tempted to leave their studies, a temptation to which many succumbed.

The areas being explored lay in the southern part of the state where mining by a joint venture between Australians and Japanese had been in progress for the past decade. Very little land was available for latecomers to take title.

AGO had given Petri the almost impossible task of finding prospective ground.

‘All I'm asking from you is to be able to present the basics of my model to the Hobart conference on new discoveries,' Petri was impassionedly saying to his Group Leader, Chris Dorff, and the AGO Exploration Manager, Dr Colin Williamson.

They were seated side by side on the far end of the long table in the conference room. Petri, whose hazel eyes faced the large windows to reflect the view across the Swan River around which the city of Perth had been built, sat directly opposite. Normally the river and its flotilla of small yachts made an appealing sight, but this morning the seating arrangement meant Petri was squinting into the sun.

‘Yes, I can appreciate what you want to do. However, your model has led to the discovery of a new a resource of over two billion tonnes. It gives us a major competitive advantage. We really can't let this information go into the public domain at this stage.' Williamson's voice was firm and so was his attitude.

‘But you and Chris,' Petri looked pointedly at his Group Leader, ‘have already had press conferences last week to announce the discovery on radio and in The West Australian and told them the basics of my new model.' Neither Petri nor his team were mentioned in any of the press interviews nor had they been invited to participate. Petri was angry and frustrated that his managers had indirectly taken credit for this major discovery. He was justly proud of his innovative thinking.

‘Come on, Petri, you know that was just a press interview. It was not a detailed description of the model. Until we have made full use of the leads it gives us and secured all the titles we need you cannot publish anything in the public arena.'

There was a brief silence in the room while Petri calmed his emotions. Speaking in a soft, controlled voice he said, ‘Quite honestly, I am very disappointed in the company. I've been working with you since graduation. In that time I recommended the ground around Temora for gold and you decided against it. When NewGold Mining discovered significant gold reserves there your only comment was that I didn't push it hard enough!'

‘That's history. We had other programs and we had to allocate resources according to the information we had at the time. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and yes, we should have followed up your recommendations then. But this is quite a different issue.'

‘All that I've done for AGO has received so little acknowledgement by management it's natural that I should feel pretty upset. I know I'm good at developing new ideas, so why can't you give me credit for it? For example, in the press reports of the Bunyip discovery it was only manager's names that appeared. Some of those were not even involved in the program.'

‘We're sorry you feel so strongly. We feel we have given you every support for your work, and the company is grateful. Your salary package has reflected your success. However, we cannot allow you to present a paper to the conference on your novel models.. That's the end of it.'

‘Very well. I anticipated this and so here is my response.' Petri leaned forward and handed an envelope to the Exploration Manager. ‘I feel that my contributions, and those of my team, to the success of the AGO exploration are not adequately recognised so I'm obliged to look elsewhere.'

Dr Williamson took the envelope, and without opening it, looked Petri eye to eye. He did not waver. ‘Very well. You obviously planned this confrontation. Your resignation is accepted with reluctance. We feel that you could have had a great future with this company, but you certainly need to learn patience and a few of the managerial skills you currently lack.'

Petri gave an involuntary snort. Having made the decision, and assured of good references from others in the company and from some of the managers in those companies with which he had been involved with AGO joint ventures, he felt he could pass a few opinions of his own. He had already planned for the next step in his career and did not need references from men he no longer respected.

‘You may well be right, Colin, but in my opinion you could learn a great many managerial skills yourself.'

‘I think you've said enough.' This time it was Chris, his Group Leader, who interrupted the flow. It was the only thing he'd said in the entire meeting.

‘Yes, you're right for once,' Petri responded angrily. ‘It is time for me to go. I'll go at once, clear my office and send a copy of my resignation to salaries. There's leave owing to me so I'll take that as part of my required two weeks notice.' With those parting words Petri Koivu stood, turned and left the room.

T
he 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 before 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.