More death. I thought. In a place where nobody dies, they talk about dying? I kept this thought to myself as Ina once more sang our entrance to the village: We are returning. Of this place two, with overlanders five. Those who were foretold. The thief’s older son and one for judgment.
So it was that there was a large group that gathered once more at the water’s edge at the end of the village. I expected a similar ritual as had been performed with Hamish, but this did not happen. Instead of standing at the water’s edge with the bound Coles, Ina moved to a rock at the water’s edge. This man has stolen our seed. The gate will judge him. With this, she pushed Coles towards the rock. He stood his ground, yelling: ‘I am not to blame. McKenzie let us in.’
Another woman came and helped Ina. They pushed him back against the stone, and with a flash, he disappeared. I had learned by now to look for the tell-tale pile of clothes to see if someone had traversed or if they had left the Valley. There was no pile of clothing. Coles was still somewhere in the Valley. I didn’t like the thought of that. ‘Where did he go?’ I asked Dodger.
‘I don’t want to find out. You?’ I agreed with him.
Jasper whined quizzically: It is strange. He has not left the Valley, but he is nowhere in it either.
It was Mr McKenzie’s turn. He was not bound, but he stood at the edge of the bank high above the water as if he were.
Ina spoke: You came to us falsely. You misled your younger brother who will die if the stone is not returned. You have come back even though the Valley can no longer heal you.
Will you return what was stolen?
I didn’t think he would. He looked at me, then at the Dodger. He slowly took the stone and its cord from his pocket, then he appeared to consciously don an angry face. ‘This is a token of someone else’s history. I don’t want it. Neither me nor my family has ever wanted it. Take it away.’ With the last shouted sentence he threw the stone into the river. It disappeared under the surface with hardly a ripple. There was no cheer, or thunderclap or anything. The drama of Mr McKenzie’s return of the Mossman stone failed to materialise. He looked crest-fallen. Gandalf raises his staff to lead the hordes into battle, and the enemy fails to materialise.
I stepped forward untying my necklace, ready for the same act, but Ina stopped me. Not this place. The three foretold must leave from the Source. You, Jock’s son, Friday’s pup. She indicated each of us as she named us.
‘What about me then?’ Mr McKenzie was an embarrassing left-over from the previous chapter.
Ina turned to him. Your connection has ceased. You may return to the overland. The Rhodes gate will allow you access. He looked blankly at her.. The gate nearest the raped fields. (The one you call) George will accompany you.
George stepped forward. Mr McKenzie didn’t look as though he was ready to go. ‘Do I get no thanks?’
No. You are free of the curse. Your younger brother will live. We will accept your thanks for the healing you have taken from our land. She looked quite fierce. I would have been mumbling ‘thank you’s and backing out of her presence bowing and scraping. Mr McKenzie merely looked her in the face, then without another word, left the assemblage. George ambled after him.
Ina turned to Jasper. We were definitely the business of this chapter. What help do you need to get to the Source?In contrast to her treatment of Mr McKenzie, she was deferential to us. Well, to Jasper really.
He barked: We will traverse. Time is short. With the return of one stone, the connection is weaker. Time begins to loosen her hold.
The villagers cheered. Jasper moved to the rock and disappeared. Flash! The Dodger did the same. Flash! I stepped up to do the same, but the unthinkable happened. Dodger’s clothes were pooled at the foot of the stone. He had returned to the Overland, not the Source. I quickly picked up his clothes, leaned forward and laid my hand on the warm stone. Flash!
The handsome young Australian grazier walked into the room. All the girls could see that he had eyes only for Janice Rhodes. None of them could understand why. The man himself, in his well-cut trousers, stiff collar and fitting jacket, caused all the girls’ hearts to flutter. He walked up to Janice and silently taking her hand, lead her on to the dance-floor. ‘You do not speak, Mr Douglass.’ She began. ‘I need to speak with you privately, Janice.’ She appraised the man who held her lightly and politely in his arms. ‘I am not sure I should allow that, Mr Douglass. We hardly know each other.’ ‘But I know you. I have been waiting for you all my life.’ Janice lowered her eyes demurely, then looked through her lashes up into his eyes. ‘And I you, Jonathan. But I need to know you for longer. Mama and Papa have hardly met you.’ ‘You misunderstand me, Miss Rhodes.’ He lead her off to a corner of the room. Janice glanced towards her school-friends. Yes, they could still see her and the fact that she was having an intimate conversatuion with the Australian. He was continuing to speak. ‘You and I have a task. One that only you and I can achieve. I have all the necessary arrangements made. McKenzie will meet us at …’ He was leading her away from the corner. Her friends were looking away. They had spied young William Coles. The only one who was paying her any attention now was her cousin, Thomas, who watched her from his place amongst the single men. ‘No, Mr Douglass. I must stay. My parents will be here shortly. You should speak to Papa before you think of talking to me of … anything.’ ‘Your father? Why would I want to speak to him?’ Finally, he seemed to understand her meaning. He laughed. That was when Janice stopped finding him at all attractive. ‘I don’t wish to marry you, Miss Rhodes. I have a wife and child waiting for me back home.’ She tried to shrink from him, but he reached out a hand towards her. ‘ It is this that I am interested in.’ He picked up the stone lying above the low neckline of her ballgown. Janice gasped as his knuckles grazed her skin. She pulled away from him, but he grabbed her bare shoulder, looking deeply into her eyes. ‘You must come with me.’ ‘No.’ she hissed. ‘Take your hands off me.’ She became aware that he was taller, heavier, more physically present than she could ever hope to be. His eyes with their fanatical light burned into hers. He did not let go. Janice caught her cousin’s eye over the stranger’s shoulder. It was all the encouragement her champion needed. ‘Are you all right, Janice? Enjoying your first ball are you?’ Dear Thomas, she thought as she launched herself at him. Douglass let go of the stone at Thomas’ first words.
Timaru, New Zealand, 1903
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