Terra-Farma by Gillian Rubinstein

Author:Gillian Rubinstein
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ligature Pty Limited
Published: 2019-12-12T00:49:39+00:00

12 · Peter

We were back on the bitumen by the time I’d finished telling Harley and Killer everything I knew about Project Genesis Five and Allyman’s role in it. Of course, they didn’t believe a word. Even to my own ears it sounded incredible.

‘You got a bloody brilliant imagination,’ Killer said in mock admiration. ‘You should write for the movies.’

‘Never heard such a load of bull,’ Harley agreed.

I leaned back on the seat, exhausted, as much by the telling of the story as by everything else that had happened already that day. The vehicle chugged along the road for a bit. No-one said anything. The guys in the back were singing, and every now and then I could hear a snatch of song from them.

‘If it was all true,’ Killer said at last, ‘where would this Allyman bloke take them?’

‘They took us to a place somewhere in the north-east. Miles from anywhere. Most of the journey we were drugged. We couldn’t remember any of it properly. But it’s got to be on someone’s map. People are still joining the program.’ My voice tailed off in the face of their mocking smiles.

‘D’ya remember the old boy at Dry Creek Flat?’ Killer said to Harley. ‘He reckoned he’d been kidnapped by aliens too!’ He laughed his rasping laugh. Harley was grinning as well.

‘You don’t have to believe me,’ I said. ‘I’m going after Allyman anyway. Just drop me off in the nearest town. I’m heading for Sydney.’

‘We’ll drop you off, all right,’ Killer said. ‘Chuck you out, that’s what you deserve.’

‘You said they would have gone to Contest,’ I cried. ‘Well, that’s where I saw them.’ When they said nothing I went on bitterly, ‘I thought you’d help me.’

A mobie shrilled gently. Harley took the phone from his pocket. The conversation was short, and Harley said no more than ‘Okay’ a couple of times.

‘That was Tate,’ he said to Killer. ‘Says Marin’s wanted by the police, and we’re to drop him at the lock-up.’

‘No,’ I said, ‘don’t do it! Just let me get on a bus out of here!’

Neither of them said anything. We were coming into a small town by then. Killer slowed down.

‘I’m not doing Nation’s dirty work for him,’ he said. ‘That don’t feel right. You just get out of here, get on the bus.’

‘If you want your kids back, you’d better believe me,’ I said.

Harley looked at me. Perhaps the desperation in my voice went a little way towards convincing him. He took out a pad and scribbled on it.

‘Here,’ he said. ‘This is my number. If you get any concrete information, call me.’

‘You’re wasting your time,’ Killer said. He stopped at the road station. ‘Well, get out!’ he shouted.

I opened the door and slid down.

Harley gave me a perfunctory wave. The guys in the back yelled insults at me as the ATV took off.

Killer did a U-turn and parked on the other side of the street. The young men jumped out and went into the deli, came out with soft drinks and snacks.

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