The Iron Wire: A novel of the Adelaide to Darwin telegraph line, 1871 by Garry Kilworth

Author:Garry Kilworth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 19th century, victorian, historical, australia, telegraph, bushranger, highwayman, biographical fiction, australian history, outback fiction
Publisher: infinity plus
Published: 2014-08-31T16:00:00+00:00

Fifteen

I had been summoned to the home of Mr and Mrs Whiting by way of a note delivered to my lodgings in Blackfriars. The message was terse and to the point, almost amounting to an order. Clearly something was very wrong and my heart was beating fit to break through my ribcage when I arrived at the Whiting’s front door. I was admitted by the maid and led to the parlour where I found Sally’s parents sitting grim-faced in wing chairs, while Sally herself, pale and tear-streaked, sat at a side table with a sheet of paper spread in front of her.

‘Good day to you, Mr and Mrs Whiting. Hello, Sally, my dearest – you look distressed. This seems to be quite a serious matter. Where shall I stand? In the firing line, I presume?’

My attempt at jocularity did nothing to lighten the heavy atmosphere that pervaded the room. You read of the poets telling you how the sky presses down on the earth on dreary days. Well, the ceiling almost met the floor in that room. Despite my attempt I myself felt oppressed and was filled with foreboding. The expressions on the features of those in the room were extremely dour. Mentally, I kept telling myself I had done nothing wrong and that any misunderstanding could be swiftly cleared up with a relevant explanation.

‘Mr McKenzie,’ said Mr Whiting, leaning forward, ‘you have not been honest with us. In fact, you have been quite dishonest. I will not go so far as to say you have lied to us, but you have withheld something that you should have told us right from the beginning. There is no question of a marriage now, of course. Our daughter has asked that we speak with you before you go your ways and she is freed from her engagement.’

I looked at Mrs Whiting, hoping to see some support from her, since I believed she liked me well enough. All I encountered was a blank and barren stare in the direction of the floor.

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ I said after an interval of silence. ‘Would you mind telling me what I am accused of?’

Mr Whiting began to show anger. ‘You still try to maintain this air of innocence, even though you must know what it is that has upset us? Shame on you, sir. Shame on you.’

‘Oh, Father,’ cried Sally. ‘Stop these guessing games. Tell Alexander what it is that has angered you.’ Sally now turned to me. ‘Alexander, we understand your brother James McKenzie was convicted of a crime and transported to Australia. Is this true?’

My heart sank a little, but now I knew what it was that had disturbed them, I was better able to deal with it.

‘Perfectly true, though I don’t understand why this should cause so much disturbance amongst you?’

Mr Whiting’s eyes widened in disbelief.

‘You have a criminal for a brother – a man who has committed so heinous a crime that it requires him to be transported –

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