Vanishing Point (26 page)

‘I know we've talked about this and probably now is not the time to raise it, but how do you feel about Katherine now?'

‘Petri, I honestly thought I'd never find another love after Katherine disappeared, and I still find myself thinking of her all the time. But, after six years, I've finally given up hope. The law says that after someone has been missing for seven years they can be declared legally dead, so I suppose I have to accept the reality of that. Not knowing what happened is the most painful part. Shelley understands.'

‘Really? She's is okay with everything?'

‘Yes. We've been going out for a long time, as you know, and have taken things really slow. She never pushed. But we get on so well together. In any event, we are not planning to get married for at least a year.'

‘It was obvious to everyone but you that she's been keen on you for ages.'

‘Maybe. But I didn't want to see it. She never gave any indication directly. Only lately have I realised my own feelings towards her. You know we've both had issues and I wanted to make sure it wasn't something out of sympathy or on the rebound.'

‘Anyway, it's good news. I hope you'll both be wonderfully happy. And of course you can stay here whenever you come to Perth.'

‘Thanks, I appreciate that. It makes a bit of a change from your visiting here!'

‘I'm only sorry that it is for such a short time. Couldn't you make it longer?'

‘Not really. I have to finish my course of lectures here before leaving, and the international flights are already booked. It's a post-doctoral scholarship and I'll be away for about six months, which is really a very short period of time for research. I arrive in Perth on TAA372. It arrives about six in the morning, an ungodly hour, so don't worry about meeting me, I'll just grab a taxi.'

‘No way. Wouldn't dream of it. I'm an early riser so I'll meet you at the airport. We'll breakfast at Miss Maud's on the way to my place. I'll even take a couple of days off and show you around.'

‘Are you sure about that? I don't want to interfere with your work.'

‘No that can wait; you don't come this way very often and your visits over here have always been too short'

‘Well, that's the nature of things. Always, busy!'

‘How do you fancy a trip to the forests in the south and the new wine areas? Or wherever you want to go.'

‘It all sounds great. We can make plans once I get there. There's lots to talk about, and that's not even thinking of the geology. By the way, how's the Tertiary channel gold going?'

‘Not as good as I'd hoped. We'll talk when you get here.'

‘Okay. I look forward to that. Cheers, see you soon.'

‘Bye.' Petri put down the phone. He always greatly enjoyed Alec's company and looked forward to his visit and the opportunity to talk shop. He was genuinely happy for Alec's engagement but deep down he knew that, had he lived closer, Shelley would have been in his own sights for a long-term relationship, even marriage. Proximity was as important as compatibility and he lived on the opposite side of the continent. His frequent visits to Melbourne had been enough to establish good friendships but not long-term relationships. In any event he could not compete with and so betray his friendship with Alec. Poor Alec had suffered enough and deserved a second shot at life. Petri felt that he was going to be the eternal bachelor unless he changed career or made a substantial effort to socialise. He sighed and wondered how that could be done and still balance his. He met so few single women and those he could relate to seemed unable to understand his need for, nor his love of, the remote and lonely parts of the country.

He looked out the office window and gave another deep sigh before turning back to the maps spread out on the table. He tried to concentrate, but somehow thoughts of Shelley kept interrupting. She would have understood.

T
he drab English winter was giving way to spring. Alec's time in London was coming to an end, and he was looking forward to the visit from Shelley.

Christmas, her birthday celebrations and those of her much younger sister put family pressure on Shelley to delay. She spent the summer in Melbourne thinking it might be her last as a single woman. Now she was due to spend a fortnight in London, seeing the sights with Alec. Most of her friends were married but had travelled widely before settling down. She felt that at thirty she had not experienced enough of life. Apart from a trip to New Zealand with her family she had never been overseas. She took extra leave from the University in order to travel the long way around and spend a few days in Perth before taking a flight via South Africa.

Shelley spent a pleasant interlude in Perth. The weekend with Petri allowed the two friends to catch up on each other's news, though Petri found it difficult to keep his emotions hidden. Apart from discussing the forthcoming wedding, Petri arranged a concert evening so the two could share their common interest in music. At a coffee house after the concert they enjoyed a heated discussion about Schubert's influence on the development of classical music.

‘You are surprising knowledgeable,' Shelley teased as Petri made his points.

‘And why shouldn't I be?'

‘I thought geologists were almost artistic troglodytes.'

‘Just shows how wrong you are. Remember, I told you about my father introducing me to classical music?'

Petri continued to surprise her by discussing with her Schubert's ability to create different moods simply by changing the key while retaining the same melody. He seemed as familiar with Schubert's Impromptu in G flat major, Opus 90 as he did with the different types of igneous rocks in granite country.

‘You know Alec comes to concerts with me,' Shelley said.

‘But really I think it's to be with me rather than because of the music. He prefers it when we go to the movies.'

Petri laughed. ‘I heard Alec singing once and burst out laughing. He can't sing a note in tune but that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy good music. I know he enjoys listening to the classics.'

‘Oh, it's all right. I'm not attacking him or anything,' Shelley said, suddenly realising that she might have sounded a bit too critical of her future husband. ‘We do go to the concerts and he says he enjoys them but I'm not sure if it really is his thing. He much prefers to argue about books and movies. He has strong opinions and it's sometimes hard to talk to him about different views. I reckon he just likes a good argument.'

‘I didn't take it as an attack,' Petri quickly responded, fearful that he may have exposed a jealous moment, recognising how similar his and Shelley's interests were.

Shelley spotted a record in his collection that allowed the direction of discussion flow back to music, away from the personal. All in all, both Petri and Shelley enjoyed a delightful and enlightening evening and Petri ensured his underlying tensions never surfaced.

The following day Petri drove Shelley to the international airport to take the flight to London via Johannesburg. They hugged at the terminal gate and he said, ‘Give Alec my best and tell him that I look forward to seeing him on his return. Hopefully he can change his flight so he comes home through Perth and you can both stay a short while.'

‘Will do. Bye.'

Petri stood in the windows and watched until the aircraft flew across the Darling Ranges before turning north.

* * *

Karl arrived two days after Benjamin left to take a load of hives to the forests in preparation for the season's eucalypt flowers. The visit was unscheduled. Benjamin was to be away for at least a fortnight.

Katherine had not been alone with Karl since before Isaac was born. Within the first few days of his stay it was obvious that whatever she did was not gong to be good enough. The room was too dirty, the meal too cold and she was too slow. She feared for the children as Karl had threatened to set his dog on them if she didn't do as he demanded. He screamed at her every time she failed to live up to his expectations. She was intimidated by the continual verbal abuse. It wore her down and she scurried around in an attempt to prevent more of it. He was smoking with increasing frequency and Katherine noticed that the combination of smoking and alcohol fuelled his tempers.

It was clear to her that it would be only a matter of time before Karl would do even worse, possibly even rape her. It seemed that he no longer feared that Benjamin might find out or, even if he did, that he could handle any potential retaliation. The way Karl behaved made her think that he might even kill Benjamin should a conflict arise between the two men.

Katherine's mind worked overtime. She was convinced that Karl was deranged and obviously hated women, not just her. She frantically tried to think of a ways out of her worsening predicament and to defend both herself and her children. Escape from the continuing nightmare became more critical but after so long at the Factory she felt she had exhausted all avenues.

She worried her mere presence could cause a fight between Benjamin and Karl: males fighting over the female in the most primitive evolutionary battle. She tried to stay as invisible as possible, keeping the children as far away as she could. In the confined area of the Factory this was difficult. Fear ruled night and day. Ironically, she longed for Benjamin's return.

Her final humiliation came when, in frustration, she had nerve enough to answer him back. He complained that his meal was cold when he came in.

‘It was hot when I called you. You took your time coming in.'

His black eyes narrowed. He had been at the whisky and was unsteady on his feet. He knocked his plate to the floor, scattering the remains of his meal. His glass of precious whisky spilt. He glowered as he took deliberate steps towards her. She backed off but with lightening swiftness he grabbed her shoulder. He forced her to her knees. Inches from her upturned face he snarled, ‘Me meal was cold. Look what ya done now, bitch. Ya're a bloody cheeky bitch. That's what ya is, a bloody cheeky bitch. So's I'll treat ya like one ‘til ya come creeping back ta me an' says sorry, real sorry.' His quiet anger was more frightening than when he yelled at her.

He dragged her across the floor to the open door, ignoring her cries and the screams of the children. Karl whistled for his dog. Katherine was terrified that he was going to make good his threat and set the dog on her or the children. ‘Leave my kids, leave them alone. I'll clean it up. I'm sorry.'

Karl just looked at her lying on the floor and, when the dog came slobbering up to him, he removed the studded collar. Holding Katherine flat on the ground with his leg he put the collar around her neck, pulling it uncomfortably tight.

‘Bitches need ta be trained, jist like me dog. See ‘ow he comes when I call, does what I order? Now, youse gunna be me bitch,' he snarled at her. ‘Clean it up,' he pointed at the spill.

Katherine desperately wanted to go to the crying children but she was too terrified to do anything that might antagonise Karl further. She started to stand but Karl pushed her down with his leg.

‘Bitch, on ya fuckin' knees. Dogs an' bitches on all four legs.' He laughed.

She crawled forward and used her hands started to scoop up the mess. Tears of pain and humiliation coursed down her cheeks.

Karl watched her every move and smiled, his eyes narrowed to slits. There was something addictive about his power over her. He looked at her on hands and knees, wearing the collar, her tear-streaked face turned down towards the floor and he felt a sexual thrill. As she worked he watched her hips, her narrow waist and her swinging breasts through the open neckline of her home-made kaftan. Her obvious misery only seemed to make his pleasure greater. He was now confident that he would be able to do anything he wanted, and the more he felt this way the more he pushed the possible consequences from Benjamin out of mind.

When she finished cleaning up the spill she looked up nervously and asked, ‘Can I get up now, please?'

Karl exaggeratedly looked at the floor. ‘Ya call that clean, bitch? All ya done is scoop the mess. I wanna ‘ave it clean. Clean it proper like.'

‘I'll need a cloth. I'll get one.'

Karl hesitated. ‘Naw, ya can lick it up, like me dog.'

Horrified, Katherine was in no position to argue so she leaned forward and licked up the scattered mess. Karl laughed when the dog, seeing her raised hips and lowered head, tried to mount her. Karl waited a moment then kicked the dog away.

‘Naw, ya stoopid dog. This is me bitch, git orf of ‘er. If there's any fuckin' to do it'll be me.'

Katherine sat back on her haunches and looked pitifully at Karl, who was now flushed and grinning.

‘Please, Karl. It's all clean now. Let the children go now and I'll make you another meal. Get another drink. I promise I'll be good and —'

‘Ya'll be good, eh? Okay, beg.'