I caught a glint in his eyes which suggested to me that he was not altogether displeased with our situation. This gave me more than a twinge of uneasiness. “
“It was lucky to find the candle,” I said.
“I wonder who left it. Some bushranger, perhaps?"
" Why shouldn’t it be travellers like ourselves?"
x65 ii uugui uc, of course. ” He patted his belt.
“Now you see why it’s well to be prepared. Don’t be alarmed. You’re not alone, you know.”
He kept his eyes on my face, and I had an idea that he was trying to frighten me.
There could be something in the tin box,” I said.
He went over to it and touched it with his foot.
“It seems to have stood up to the fire pretty well.” He stooped down and opened it and holding the candle high, peered in.
“Why, look. A blanket. It must have escaped the fire. The .tin box has protected it. What a find! We can spread it on the floor.” He took it out and sniffed at it.
“You can smell the smoke.”
I came over to him and took the blanket.
“Do you think whoever used the candle used it too?”
“Who knows? We can’t afford to be fastidious. We’ll have need of it.”
As I lifted it out I saw a book. It was a kind of ledger. I picked it up and opened it. Inside was written Trant Home stead, 1875. This book is the property of James and Ethel Trant who left England in the year 1873 and settled here in this house which they called Trant’s Homestead. “
I pictured James and Ethel leaving home full of hope and settling in this isolated spot; as I turned over the pages of the book I saw that it had been used as a kind of register. There was one column for the date, a centre one for names and another for comments. There were remarks like "Thanks, James and Ethel. It was good,” and another ” Just like Home’; another said “My third visit. Speaks for itself.”
The discovery of the book had made real people of Ethel and James, and I deeply hoped they had survived the destruction of their property.
Joss was looking over my shoulder.
“Oh, I see, a hotel register. Look and see when the last guest was here. That should give us some idea of the date of the fire.” I looked. A Tom Best and Harry Wakers had stayed three months before.
“As recent as that,” commented Joss.
“I wonder what happened to James and Ethel Trant.”
“Who can say? Now we’ve got to rest. Don’t forget we must be up at the crack of dawn.”
“Somehow I don’t like the idea of staying here.”
He laughed aloud.
“It’s a shelter. Not much but a bit. There’s water close by for the horses and a bit of grass too.
We’re in luck. Oh, I know you were thinking of a coimonauic bed, but things don’t always work out that way in the Bush. Here, hold the candle. “
I did so while he spread the blanket on the rough charred floor. He took the candle from me and, tilting it, let some of its grease drip on to the floor and in this he stuck the candle so that it was held upright.
How long do you think that will last? “I asked.
“A few hours, with luck. It’s amazing good fortune to have found it.
You appreciate your luck out here. “
“I should think one should anywhere.”
I sat down on the spread-out blanket, still holding the register in my hand. I turned the pages glancing idly at the names and comments. Then one name leaped out at me.
“Desmond Dereham, June 1879’ and his comment: ” I shall surely come again. “
“What’s the matter?” asked Joss.
My father stayed here. His name’s in the book. I think people ought to know the truth, that he did not succeed in stealing the Green Flash and that Ben had it all the time. It’ll have to be known that we have it. “
“We’ll see. It’s not a thing I want to decide quickly about. There’s so much depending on it.”
Perhaps he was right, I thought, and it was better that no one should know that we had the famous stone.
I glanced down at the book and saw David Croissant’s name.
There’s someone else we know,” I said.
Joss looked.
“I dare say I could find many people I know in that book.
This place was used by everyone. We might try and make a fire and boil some tea. I thought you and I would be sitting at mine host’s table and perhaps sharing a room as we did last night. Rooms are scarce in these homesteads, you know. They don’t cater for people with fastidious notions. That chair was damned uncomfortable. I was Idling myself I didn’t fancy repeating the experience and here am I doomed to spend the night on a smoke-ridden blanket in a burned-out homestead.”
He had stretched himself out full length and was staring upwards at what was left of the roof, which in candlelight looked like some prehistoric insect. I could see stars through the gaps in the rafters.
He said: This is a good introduction to your life here. At least after this you’ll be prepared for anything. Are you sleepy? You wasn't asleep last night ^^^, was it? A pity … and they said it was such a comfortable feather bed.”
He put out a hand and pulled me down beside him.
“Such a small blanket,” he said quietly.
I shrank to the edge of it.
“You disappoint me, Jessica,” he said.
“I didn’t think you’d be so easily frightened. Why don’t you be bold? Why don’t you prepare yourself for new experiences?”
“What experiences?”
"I didn’t want to marry you any more than you wanted to marry me. We were two sensible people with eyes open to the main chance. This marriage suited us both. We stood to lose a lot if we didn’t go along with Ben. Well, now it’s done, why don’t we try to make something of it ? “
“I intend to learn all I can about the Company. I want to play a part in that.”
That’s not what I meant. You’re frightened. What a dilemma! Here you are alone in the burned-out inn with your husband. Don’t be such a child, Jessica. You’re a woman now. “
"You promised,” I cried. "You said you were too proud … ‘you are the most maddening woman I ever knew.”
“Because I’m not panting for you ?”
“Yes,” he cried.
“I wish to God…”
That you had refused Ben. You wouldn’t have done that, though, would you? You wanted Oakland, Peacocks and the Green Flash. It was unfortunate that you had to take me too, but that was part of the bargain. If you could be rid of me you’d be contented. You’ve shown me that. I’m not such a child that I can’t see it. I expect there’s someone else you’d like to many. That would be just like you . to take the main chance. Do you think I don’t understand you? I’m doing that more and more every day, and I don’t like what I discover. I wish. I seemed to see Ben’s face rising before me, admonishing me, ‘now tell the troth, Jessie. Did you want to stay behind in the Dower House for the rest of your days ? “
Joss had risen. Tm going to see that the horses are safe,” he said, and he strode out leaving me alone.
As I looked about that burned-out inn a feeling of foreboding came to me. He didn’t want me. He resented me. It must have occurred to him how much more convenient it would be if I were not here. He wanted to be free and lose nothing by his freedom.
I could hear his voice echoing through my mind: “This is a country where life is cheap.” Bushrangers roamed the land. How easy it would be for him to kill me. He could find a hundred excuses for it.