‘I wouldn’t know where to start.’Already the overwhelm began to creep across her shoulders, and that was just on the research and planning side of things.
‘Start?’Stone laughed as he slowed the ute down to turn right.‘Listen, shortcake, you started this way back at the pub, leaving us with a cliffhanger when you hit your first commercial break.This is the next act of your story.’
The ute rolled to a stop before a tall metal fence.Rolls and rolls of barbed wire ran along the top, with towering security cameras glaring down at them.On the heavy metal gate, a huge red sign screamed out:
DANGER!
Do Not Enter.
Trespassers will be prosecuted.
No exceptions.
Romy swallowed air.‘Is this a crocodile farm?Or a prison?’
Five
‘Hiya, Stone.Long time, no see.’The middle-aged female’s voice crackled over the speaker box that stood near the heavy metal gate.
‘Missed you too, Celeste?’Stone chuckled as he leaned out the driver’s window to smile at the cameras that towered over the barbed-wire fence.‘I bring thirty eggs for the hatchery.’
‘Good.I’ll tell Malcolm.He’s over by the hatchery already.Although, I think your timing might be impeccable.’
‘For what?’Stone shifted in his seat, concern creeping up his spine, because Celeste didn’t sound happy.
‘To help calm down the old fool.See you in five.’
With a clunk, the heavy roller gate slowly peeled back across the driveway.
‘Do me a favour, Romy?’Stone put the ute into gear and waited for the gate to finish opening.
‘Yeah.’Romy sat on the edge of her seat, peering at everything.And they hadn’t even entered the yard yet.
‘Leave your phone in the car, and do not under any circumstances tell anyone you’re making a documentary.’
‘I didn’t say I was doing it.’
‘Uh-huh.’Stone drove through the heavy metal gates, following the wide laneway shaded by pawpaw trees that grew on either side.
‘That’s a lot of pawpaw trees.’
‘They grow them to feed the crocodiles.Good for the meat and skins.’
‘Really?What else do crocodiles eat?’
‘Anything and everything with a heartbeat.They’re not picky eaters.A wild crocodile will swallow bones, fingernails, tusks and teeth when chowing down.’
Romy screwed up her cute nose.‘Jeez, how do they digest that kind of diet?Or do they live with constant stomach-aches?’
‘Their stomach acid is strong, but they also swallow stones to help them digest their food.’
‘Stone, huh?’Her coy smile was positively playful.
‘You obviously have a lot of research to do for this documentary.’
‘Did I say I was doing it?I could just be a tourist having a holiday, escaping a miserable cold and rainy autumn down south.’
‘I didn’t mind autumn.Seeing the trees change colour.It’s been a while…’ He drove them down the main track, where a guard sat behind the wheel of a parked ATV.
