The Silent Country Read Online Free PDF Page B

following Monday morning Veronica sat across from Andy as they shared their morning coffee prior to the production meeting.
    ‘So how was your sister’s dinner?’
    ‘Fine. There was a fellow there who works with my brother-in-law. Don’t get nervous, Andy, he wasn’t my type. And by the time I’d read a story to the girls and we finally ate dinner it was past my bedtime.’
    ‘What is your type of man, Veronica?’
    ‘You know, Andy, I really don’t know and I don’t think that Sue and Philip’s domestic scene helps either.’
    ‘I loved raising my kids and all that went with it.’
    ‘Yeah, but was it you or your wife who did the hard stuff? Did she work?’
    Andy smiled. ‘I concede your point. No, she stayed home. I worked long hours and by the time the kids left home and I decided that we should do things together, it was too late because she got ill.’
    ‘I’m sorry, but you had a wonderful marriage andyou’ve got great kids, even if they are all over the place. You’ve had fun times visiting them,’ said Veronica who knew how much Andy missed his late wife. ‘Anyway, how was the reunion dinner? I enjoyed seeing those old TV clips.’
    ‘It was great. I like all the industry gossip, the re-telling of the old stories.’
    ‘I doubt I’ll be going to reunions of
Our Country
and reminiscing about our days here,’ said Veronica. ‘Though I have a ton of stories about Andy Fitzgerald.’
    ‘I doubt anyone would be interested. No, the early TV days were very, very different. But funny you should mention it. I met a rather interesting old chap at my table. Colin Peterson, he’d be around eighty. He told me he went on some crazy expedition to the Northern Territory to make a documentary in the 1950s.’
    ‘What about?’
    ‘I don’t know, he was a bit vague,’ said Andy thoughtfully. ‘Anyway, he didn’t have a chance to go into details because of the noise of the music.’
    ‘Maybe the poor old bugger doesn’t remember much.’
    ‘He wasn’t an old bugger. He was very spry. Actually, I’m sorry that I didn’t get a chance to talk to him more about this film expedition. My antennae sensed a story of some sort.’
    Veronica shook her head. ‘You and your story antennae. What kind of story?’
    ‘Heading to the outback to film then was quite an undertaking. I can’t recall seeing much footage taken in remote areas in those days. Newsreel grabs from a big croc attack, some first contact with a lost Aboriginal tribe. Not much else.’
    ‘So what are you going to do about this fellow?’
    ‘Not me. You. Your assignment, should you wish to accept it . . .’ he mimicked an American accent. ‘I thoughtyou might hunt down Colin Peterson, chat him up, just see what you can find out. Charm him. You’re good at that.’
    Veronica sighed. ‘Doesn’t sound like much of a story to me.’
    Andy put his fingers up on his head and waggled them.
    ‘Yeah, right. Well, thanks for the great lead, boss.’ She smiled. ‘This time I think your antennae are a bit whacked, but I’ll humour you and go and see this Colin Peterson. But I have my doubts . . .’

2

    T O COLIN, THE VOICE on the phone was soft, pleasant, friendly.
    ‘Yes, this is Colin Peterson,’ he answered. ‘Who’s calling please?’
    Veronica introduced herself and launched into a happy, chatty, conversation. She’d found that the warm and casual approach worked best initially, as people were sometimes suspicious when getting a call from a producer at a TV network. ‘I gather you met my boss Andy Fitzgerald on Saturday night. At the Pioneers’ Reunion.’
    ‘Ah, yes, from
Our Country
. Excellent show.’
    ‘Glad you think so. We’re very proud of the program. I was at the reunion dinner briefly. Saw the old film and TV clips. I’m sorry we didn’t meet. Andy says you madean intriguing trip to the outback. Was that for a documentary, or just a home movie . . .?’
    ‘My goodness, I just mentioned it in passing. I felt a bit