The Silent Country Read Online Free PDF Page A

dessert appeared, everyone at the table was mellow and sharing stories.
    Andy turned to Colin. ‘So, you said you did some scriptwriting, which show?’
    Colin leaned back in his chair, ‘Ah, nothing you’veever seen. But tell you what, it was the highlight of my life. A wild outback adventure.’ For a moment the silver-haired man with the flushed face and slightly crooked bow tie looked like an enthusiastic young man.
    Andy lifted his glass of red wine. ‘Do tell. What was it? A feature, a doco?’
    ‘It was in the fifties. I was hired to write the script for a documentary film which was supposed to showcase the Australian outback to the world prior to the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. There was a mixed group of us. Off we went on this crazy expedition making it up as we went along.’
    ‘And how did it come out?’
    The older man looked wistful then he straightened up. ‘Well, it was all a bit of a saga. Good and bad memories. But I’ve never seen anything as wild, beautiful or as mystical as the wilderness of the Northern Territory.’
    Andy was intrigued and about to ask more questions, but there was a blast of loud music, the lights dimmed and a cabaret of former TV stars began to strut their stuff. Andy shrugged at Colin and put his hand to an ear.
    Colin nodded, understanding their conversation was now impossible above the noise of the music.

    Veronica’s sister and husband lived in an affluent North Shore suburb where expensive cars were parked in driveways and immaculate lawns and flowerbeds were maintained by professional gardening teams. Most homes had swimming pools, also cared for by regular pool maintenance men.
    Although they were close to the train line, Sue and Philip both drove to the city and parked in their company car spaces, taking it in turns, depending on meetings and business appointments, to drop their two girls off at acostly private, but creative, day-care centre which had a long waiting list.
    Veronica noticed the extra car parked at the curb and sighed. So there was another dinner guest. She knocked at the door rather than ring the chimes and wake the children but the door was pulled open by four-year-old Sarah jumping up and down.
    ‘Auntie Vee, Auntie Vee.’ Sarah rushed at her.
    ‘Hey, I thought you two were supposed to be in bed. You haven’t even got your nightie on. What have you been up to?’
    Sue came to the door and gave Veronica a quick kiss. ‘The girls are being very naughty. Wouldn’t eat their dinner, wouldn’t get out of the bath, wouldn’t go to bed until they saw you.’
    ‘Maybe they need a story. Is Sophie asleep?’
    ‘Of course not. She’s in there flirting with Ben. Come and meet him. I don’t know where the time has gone. I haven’t had time to do anything . . .’
    ‘I hope you didn’t go to any trouble,’ said Veronica.
    ‘Believe me, I didn’t.’ Sue tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and headed to the living room.
    Philip and his friend were sitting on the lounge, two-year-old Sophie jumping up and down on the cushions between them. The TV was blaring, but no-one was watching. Bottles of beer were on the coffee table and the dog was eyeing the bowl of peanuts beside them. Philip waved to Veronica.
    ‘Hey, here at last. Come and meet Ben. Say, you look great, where’ve you been? Cocktails with some celebrity? She works in TV,’ he said to Ben.
    ‘Kind of a work function.’ She held out her hand towards Ben who struggled to his feet as Sophie clung to him. ‘I’m Veronica. Sue’s sister.’
    ‘Hi. Yes, I’ve heard all about you.’
    ‘Sorry, Philip, did I get the time confused? I thought Sue said to come late-ish.’
    ‘That was the plan. These monkeys were supposed to be in bed. Do you want a drink, Veronica?’
    ‘I’ll wait till dinner, thanks. How about I read these two a story? C’mon, Sophie, you haven’t given me a hug yet.’ She peeled the younger girl off Ben who looked relieved. ‘I’ll see you