Matilda's Last Waltz Read Online Free PDF

fumbled with the catch on the gate, but for once she didn’t stop to pet the puppies before feeding them. The bark and bustle of the pens filled the void of silence that surrounded Churinga, but it couldn’t penetrate the deep unease that consumed her.
    She moved automatically as she emptied the bucket into the low troughs, then raked out the dog run. The sun had set behind Tjuringa mountain, now there was only an orange glow in the sky. Night came swiftly out here and she usually welcomed it for the stillness it brought. Yet tonight she dreaded it. For she couldn’t shake off the feeling that things had changed. And not for the better.
    The chickens squabbled as she scattered their feed, and checked the wire netting for breaks. Nothing a dingo loved more than a nice fat chook. They’d been losing quite a few lately. Snakes were another problem, but there wasn’t much she could do about them.
    Turning reluctantly towards the house, she gripped the bucket and tried to control the shiver of apprehension that made her heart thud. Dad was watching her from the verandah. She could see the glow of his cigarette.
    â€˜What you doin’ out there? Time you was indoors.’
    Matilda heard the slurring of his words and knew he’d been drinking. ‘I hope you’ve had enough to make you pass out soon,’ she muttered with feeling. Her footsteps faltered as her words struck a chill in her. They were an echo of her mother’s.
    Mervyn was sprawled in the rocking chair, legs stretched along the verandah, whisky bottle cradled to his chest. It was almost empty. As Matilda approached the front door, he slammed his booted foot against the frame, barring her way. ‘Have a drink with me.’
    Her pulse raced and her throat closed. ‘No thanks, Dad,’ she managed at last.
    â€˜It wasn’t an invitation,’ he growled. ‘You’ll bloody do as I say for once.’ The boot thudded on the floor and his arm encircled her waist.
    Matilda lost her balance and fell into his lap. She squirmed and wriggled, kicking her heels against the great trunks of his legs in an effort to escape. But his grip never lessened.
    â€˜Sit still,’ he yelled. ‘You’ll spill the bloody grog.’
    Matilda stopped fighting and went slack. She would wait for the right moment, then hopefully dodge the fist that would surely follow when she did get free.
    â€˜That’s more like it. Now, have a drink.’
    Matilda gagged on the stream of reeking, bitter alcohol he forced between her lips. She couldn’t breathe, didn’t dare spit it out. Finally she managed to push the bottle away. ‘Please, Dad don’t make me. I don’t like it.’
    His eyes were wide in mock surprise. ‘But it’s yer birthday, Matilda. You gotta have a present on yer birthday.’ He sniggered, and his bristles rubbed her cheek as he nuzzled her ear.
    His breath was rancid, and the stench of his dirty clothes made her heave. The air caught in her lungs and his arm was a vice around her waist as her stomach rebelled. She swallowed, then again. But her head was filling with thunderclouds and her stomach churned. She clawed his arm, desperate to be free. ‘Let me go. I’m gonna…’
    With one heave the regurgitated whisky splattered over them both. Mervyn gave a yelp of disgust and threw her from his knee, the bottle shattering on the wooden floor. Matilda fell hard on the broken glass but barely noticed the pain. The world was spinning out of control, and there seemed no end to the hot, gushing flow from her mouth.
    â€˜Now look what you done! Stupid bitch. You’re all the bloody same.’
    His boot connected with her hip and she crawled away, blindly searching for the door and the sanctuary of the house.
    â€˜Yer just like yer ma,’ he yelled as he swayed over her. ‘But then you bloody O’Connors always thought you were too good for the likes of