Dreamscapes by Tamara McKinley

Author:Tamara McKinley [McKinley, Tamara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC000000 FICTION / General
Publisher: Quercus

Chapter Sixteen

The food had been demolished, and as the sun dipped low, the people began to leave in their wagons and buggies, the utilities and horses wending their way down the long driveway, the small planes roaring down the airstrip and lifting into the sky. The clouds of dust lingered long after they had gone, and when they had cleared, it was almost sundown.

The men of Belvedere sat outside the bunkhouse smoking their cigarettes and talking, their voices a muted hum in the stillness. Pat Sullivan had taken Rosa with her to Derwent Hills Station for a few days, in the hopes Belinda’s company and different surroundings would help her to heal. Connor was nowhere to be seen, and Catriona guessed he was with Billy.

‘It’s been quite a day,’ sighed Clemmie as she handed Catriona a glass of gin and tonic. ‘How are you holding up?’

Catriona sipped the drink and tried to ease the ache in her neck and back. It felt as if every muscle had been stretched beyond endurance. ‘I’ll be right,’ she murmured. ‘A good night’s sleep wouldn’t go amiss, though.’ She put her hand on Clemmie’s arm. ‘Thanks for staying,’ she said. ‘I didn’t want to spend the night alone.’

Clemmie patted her hand. ‘I’ll stay as long as you want,’ she said. ‘John’s quite capable of looking after himself for a while, and as you’re my only client now, I have nothing more important to do.’ She smiled. ‘Franz said to tell you to take a week off.’

Catriona stared in amazement. The director never let anyone off rehearsals, they were too important. ‘Has he been smoking pot, or something? It’s most unlike him.’

‘Don’t worry, Kitty. He’s not all heart. He expects you to be word perfect and fully aware of the stage directions when you get back for the final dress rehearsal.’ She grinned. ‘You know Franz. Takes no prisoners, just has his soprano shot if he thinks you’ve been slacking.’

‘At least it’ll give me something else to think about,’ she replied with a wry smile. ‘I thought it was too good to be true.’

They sat in the cane chairs and looked out into the night. The yard was quiet, the sky dark and twinkling with stars. The Southern Cross hung high above them, so clear it was as if you could reach up and pluck it from the sky.

‘There’s nothing like an Outback night,’ said Clemmie dreamily. ‘I never knew there were so many stars, and look at the Milky Way, it’s fantastic.’

Catriona smiled. ‘You should get out of Sydney more often,’ she chided softly.

‘Mmm.’ Clemmie stirred the slice of lemon in her drink. ‘I don’t think I’d last very long out here,’ she said finally. ‘It’s so …’

‘Isolated?’ Catriona smiled as her friend nodded. ‘But that’s the beauty of the place, don’t you see? No hustle or bustle, no light pollution or loud pop music, no directors yelling and singers screeching at one another; just the wind in the trees, the click of crickets and the scent of eucalyptus and dust.

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