Vanishing Point (30 page)

‘Yes. Urgently advise Kal. and Perth police.' Petri felt he had to keep his information sharp and short before the reception faded completely. ‘The woman's name is Katherine Thompson, repeat Katherine Thompson. She was abducted in Ceduna area in 1965. I think she is in danger now that the kidnapper knows I have found her. He is armed and dangerous. Identity unknown. Calls himself Karl. Urgent response needed. Location is the old CSIRO research station northeast Cundeelee, Queen Vic. National Park. Over.'

The receiver repeated the information back to Petri, before continuing, ‘What are your plans? Over.'

‘Not sure. I'll stick around near here to keep an eye open. Will open radio contact in morning and advise position. This Karl is armed and threatening. Over.'

‘We'll give your calls priority. Take care. Over and out.'

Petri put down the microphone.

* * *

‘Fuckin' bloody stoopid idiot.' Karl was fuming. He had just finished listening in to the evening telegram service of the RFDS on his vehicle two-way radio. It was another reminder of his dependence on Benjamin.

He stormed into Katherine's room. She was sitting on the floor reading a book to Carolyn. ‘Git up ya fuckin' bitch,' he shouted aiming a kick at her. The book went flying. ‘An' stop ya bloody snivelling, kid,' he yelled at Carolyn who now cowered behind her mother. Isaac was asleep on the bed and remained so in spite of the shouting.

Katherine recoiled against the wall, pushing Carolyn behind her. She could not understand what had caused this latest out-break of fury, unless he'd found out about her note.

‘Ya know what that fuckin' idiot's done? He's fuckin' told the whole fuckin' world I kidnapped ya. So, tell me bitch, how'd he know that, eh?'

‘I don't know. Maybe he worked it out.'

‘Fuckin' liar. Ya musta told ‘im. Ya lied ta me, bitch.'

‘No, I didn't tell him. I hardly spoke —'

‘Now ‘e's gorn an' told the fuckin' cops in Kal. Fuckin' radio. Probably told fuckin' Benjamin too if he's listening. An' he's sent a fuckin' telegram to some Alec bloke in fuckin' London. Who's this Alec, eh?'

It was exciting news for Katherine, the first she had heard about her husband for so many years. The information penetrated her fear. London. What was Alec doing in London?

He must have graduated by now and got a job. In spite of the method of delivery, the news of her husband after so long thrilled her and she could not help a smile playing around her lips.

Her note had worked. She had to be rescued now. The police would now know she was alive and where she was. ‘He's my husband. Alec is my husband. Husband. Not Benjamin, not you, not anyone!'

‘Well, ya can wipe that stupid grin orf ya face, bitch. I ain't gunna sit ‘round ‘ere waitin' fa the bloody cops ta pitch up an' find us. Benjamin's the one what kidnapped ya, not me. I ain't taking no wrap fa that. I'm outta here. First light I'm gorn.' Karl knew he'd find another sucker to act as his front man. It would be easy to pick up his things and leave.

But he had some unfinished business with Katherine first.

P
etri waited in his vehicle, hidden behind some grevillea trees, all afternoon. At one point he stood on the roof with his binoculars trained on the horizon. There were no tell-tale wisps of dust floating into the clear sky.

Towards dusk he drove very slowly back along the track, stopping close to a kilometre from the station. He left his precious Toyota as far off the road as he felt necessary to make it almost invisible in the scrub. Before setting off on foot he tied a small piece of flagging tape to a bush on the edge of the road. Every now and again he tied a different coloured piece of flagging tape on a nearby bush.

By the time he reached the perimeter fence it was almost dark. No shadows remained, just the eerie twilight glow of the desert. He crept towards the fence, the sun behind him. Through his binoculars he watched the dogger pack dried skins into bundles while Katherine tied the bundles together. Every now and again Petri could see the dogger shouting and lashing out at her. There was no sign of the children.

He needed to get her without alerting the dogger. The best place would be the dunny. She would have to use the toilet at some point in the evening. It meant going around to the rear of the station and back up towards the fence. With the position of the sun there was a risk of being spotted. However, Karl seemed to be so involved in loading his vehicle that Petri thought it unlikely he would suspect he was being watched. It was worth the risk.

He slowly crawled towards the fence. Karl's dog lay in the lengthening shadow of the vehicle. Petri hoped he was far enough away to be neither seen nor smelt. With extreme caution he moved forward, regularly pausing. By the time he reached the edge of the fence it was twilight, grading to dark. Near the dunny, his hand on his torch, he settled down to wait, pushing his body low into the loose sand.

Time dragged and his body ached from the supine position. Just when he thought he was comfortable, a small twig or seed-pod managed to make its presence felt. As he moved slightly to ease his muscles he heard someone coming. He froze.

It was Karl. He burped loudly as he walked towards the dunny and disappeared from view. Petri considered this was his chance to make a dash for the gate and get into the compound. He pushed his body up and was about to stand and run when he had second thoughts. Patience. He had no idea how long the dogger might be in the dunny. He could come out just as Petri reached the gate and his whole careful exercise would be wasted. He had no weapons and, in any event, he wasn't a violent man. He ducked down again just as Karl came out, hitching his shorts. The dogger strolled back behind the buildings and disappeared from view. Petri heard him shouting again, his swearing punctuating his commands.

Eventually Petri's patience paid off. He heard someone coming and the silhouette against the building indicated it was Katherine. As she approached he briefly shone his torch and whispered just loud enough for her to hear, ‘Here, Katherine, here, over here.'

Katherine was so surprised to see him that she almost tripped over her feet. ‘Oh, you came back. You came back. Oh, my God. You came. I didn't think you would. If you even got my note I thought you'd go to Kal. and tell the police. But you came back.' Her soft voice was filled with emotion.

‘Shh. We don't have time. Yes, I got your note. I know who you are, Katherine Thompson. And I know Alec, he's my friend. How can I get you out of here. Any ideas?'

‘You know Alec? How?'

‘Don't worry. I'll explain later. We must get you out of here soon.'

‘Karl knows you contacted the police.'

‘What! How?'

‘He heard you on the Flying Doctor telegrams session. So he knows. He's running scared and is packing up. He's leaving first thing in the morning and thinks he's taking us with him, before Benjamin —'

‘Benjamin? Who's Benjamin?'

‘He's the bloke that kidnapped us in South Australia. He's a religious crank, real mad. He thinks he's made me his wife.'

‘Who's Karl, then?'

‘He's Benjamin's mate. He's a misogynistic bastard, really dangerous, and while Benjamin's away he looks after the Factory —'

‘Factory?'

‘Oh! That's what they call this place. They make honey and bee products, sell ‘roo meat and skins —'

‘Okay. No time now for details. We'll talk later. For now we've just got get you and the children out of here. My Tojo's about one click down the track, bit of a hike, or run. Do you think you could make it during the night when he goes to sleep?'

‘He doesn't always sleep at regular times. He's pretty hyped up now, with packing and getting ready to go at first light. He's very nervy and watching us all. I don't think that he suspects you'd come back but he's watching me really carefully in case I try and do something.'

‘Is there anything you could do to get away without him knowing?'

‘Well, he's keen on his whisky. Perhaps I can try and get him a bit drunk. That should keep him quiet. He's always trying to get his hands on me so maybe I can get whisky into him by playing along a bit. If I feel it safe enough I can try and signal you somehow and we can go. Where will you be?'

‘I don't know. It's too risky for you. Especially if he's drunk and not sleepy.'

‘You got any better ideas?'

‘No, not really. Just be careful, really careful. I'll wait near the gate. Here, take my torch, you can use it to signal me.' He pushed it through the wires and Katherine quickly retrieved it.

Petri continued. ‘I'll keep an eye open. Aren't you scared he'll hurt you if you play up to him? I saw the way he beat you earlier.'

‘I know. But I'll take any risk now. I'll be careful. Promise. I reckon you're my last chance. So far he hasn't hurt me really badly. He's done some pretty horrible things, but he hasn't raped me or anything. I think he just likes —'

‘Where the fuck are ya, bitch? There's fuckin' work to be done an' you sittin' in the dunny?' Karl's voice came echoing around the corner.

Petri shrank back into the darkness and Katherine quickly slipped into the dunny. Karl was shining a large torch that swept the path as he walked to the dunny. He kicked open the door and shone the light in.

‘Shittin' pretty, eh!' He laughed at his own humour and turned back. ‘Hurry up, work ta be done.' He stood at the corner and waited, occasionally shining his torch in the door.

Katherine hid the torch under some paper in the dunny then, after a few minutes, walked steadily towards Karl, not looking at the place where Petri lay hidden. As she did so she said very quietly, ‘Wait at the gate. I'll be there. The gate.' She walked on and, as Karl joined her, disappeared around the corner.

Petri remained pressed against the sand until they were no longer visible. He slowly made his way back to the broken gates, keeping a good distance between the fence and himself. Once again he was afraid not only of being seen but also of being heard by the dog. He reached the gate without incident and lay down in the sand, a short distance from the track.

He watched the activity at the compound. Karl loaded more boxes on to the back of his vehicle. Katherine was inside the building but emerged every now and then to hand Karl something. The evening wore on and it became colder. Petri felt stupid that he had not brought his parka. Days in the desert might be hot but even in May the nights could go below freezing. He shivered.

He looked at his watch. It was only seven forty five. It was unlikely that she would make an escape attempt for at least another hour or so. He did a quick calculation: if he walked fast he could be at the ute within half an hour, get his parka and return to the gate within the hour. That would make it about nine. Unlikely Katherine would be able to get away from the dogger before then.

A frozen body would be useless if he had to move quickly. He decided to risk it. He crawled back to the track, getting to his feet only when a good distance from the damaged gates, then set off at a brisk pace. As he went he checked for the flagging tape he had left. It wasn't easy but there was just enough light from stars to see the markers. It would be a different matter if the clouds came over.

K
arl firmly tied the last of the ropes flung across the overloaded tray, stood back and admired his handiwork. ‘That's it. All done. Could do with a drink, eh.'

‘Okay, I'll make you some coffee, or do you want a beer?'

‘Shit, no fuckin' coffee. Ya mad, after all that work? Git me a beer, then go check the generator's still got fuel.' He rolled another cigarette and sprinkled it with powder. He lit it and took a deep inhalation.

Katherine did as she was asked. Tonight, of all nights, she didn't want to inflame Karl. She checked the generator but added no extra fuel. She thought it would be to her advantage if darkness descended earlier rather than later. On her return to the main building she found Karl relaxed and seated, his chair pushed back and feet on the table.