A Far-flung Life by M.L. Stedman

Author:M.L. Stedman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scribner
Published: 2026-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 36

Saturday, 11th January 1969

All morning on their mill run, Andy has been getting Matt to try to guess what he’s giving his uncle for his birthday tomorrow. An elephant is Matt’s latest suggestion.

“Too hard to wrap,” says Andy.

As their ute pulls up at the dam, the sheep scurry off like a school of fish, following their leader down the side and off into the scrub.

“Who the hell—?” Matt exclaims at the sight of a parked Land Rover.

Rascal leaps off the tray and dashes up the side of the dam, followed closely by Andy. By the time the boy reaches the top, the dog is sniffing a pile of folded clothes.

Andy is astonished: something’s moving under the water. He’s vaguely hoping crocodile, though he knows it can’t be. The thing emerges to take a great gulp of air.

A lady.

With no clothes on. Not even undies.

He is transfixed.

She sees him and gasps. She tries to cover her body, but he watches her discover that if she does that, she can’t tread water. Her face is as red as a Santa suit.

They stare at each other for a second.

“Uh, hello…” the lady calls.

It’s Matt who responds, appearing over the dam’s edge. He squints. “You right there?” When he tells Andy to wait by the car, the kid throws him a look and scampers away.

“Hello…” the woman says.

“Um—afternoon.”

“I—didn’t hear a car.”

Matt looks away, a flummoxed hand on his head. “Mind telling me what you’re doing in our dam, miss?”

“It was so hot… I—”

“Actually, better get dressed first. I’ll just… Rascal! Come, boy.”

“I—They—” Before the woman can splutter an explanation, Matt has disappeared, leaving her to clamber out. She towels herself with her shirt, pulls her clothes on, and hurries down to her car.

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