At the helicopter, she heaved in the warm, clean outback air, desperately trying to shake the tremors out of her hands.
This is why she never got involved.If she’d been filming, she would never have been that close to the action, avoiding any chance of ever being at the mercy of kissing a crocodile chasing a fish.
This world was far too dangerous.
It was only then she heard raised voices coming from behind her.It was Stone shouting at Chook.
Twenty-two
‘What the hell were you thinking, old man?’Stone was livid.His hands shook with anger as he kicked the broken bits of wood that used to make up part of the wooden side-rail and stool over the side of the riverboat.
‘It was just a fish.’
‘Bull it was.’Stone inspected the wooden posts that were solid, but the side rail was useless now.What was worse, there were lots of telltale scratches of their mighty claws running all along the side of the houseboat.‘How many times have they tried to do this?And what happened to the mesh panels?’
They were still there—kind of.Rusted in spots, sagging in others.The heavy-duty mesh had once lined the lower sides like security screens, meant to let the air in and keep the grumpy little swamp goblins out.But after that single hit—from one determined croc chasing a barra—the whole side was exposed.The railing had splintered, and the mesh now flapped loose, leaving a wide, dangerous gap.Stone hadn’t realised how weatherworn and brittle it’d all become—until now.
Should’ve fixed it properly last wet.Not just patched it.Where he’d promised himself he’d get to it later.Except later showed up teeth-first.
Stone then noted how quiet Chook had gotten.So again he asked, ‘what happened to the mesh panels?’
‘Lost ‘em.’
Stubborn fool probably didn’t notice how bad it was until now.
‘I’m coming back for that jumping croc, he’s done it once too many, he’ll do it again.AndI’ll be bringing a stack of mesh to weld up this side.’It’d be one big mother of a cage if he had his way.
Thud.Chook put his wooden stump down so hard it rumbled along the deck.‘Like hell you are.’
‘Don’t fight me on this.’
‘I bloody well will.And I’ll shoot at your chopper so you can’t land.’
‘I’ll bring the mesh by truck, then I’ll tie you up to your stool with a carton of beer to not annoy me as I work.’
‘It’s my boat!’
‘And Romy nearly became croc bait.And you, too.’
‘But we didn’t, lad.We didn’t.’Chook’s voice softened as he grabbed Stone’s arm.‘I’m still here, and so are you.We’re all here to fight another day.’
Stone heaved hot air, desperate to put a lid on his raging temper.‘I’m still coming back and meshing up those sides.’He’d need it to keep the old man safe, or Stone wouldn’t be able to sleep.
‘How am I going to fish, then?’
‘Use the top deck.’He pointed to the sides showing the marks.‘They’ll do it again, and you know it.’
Sadly, Chook was getting slower.Back in the day, he would’ve spotted that croc before it leapt onto the deck.That’s why those lethal predators were hanging around, watching, waiting for the perfect moment to snatch the old man.
Crocodiles were creatures of opportunity.All they’d need is Chook to slip on his wooden leg, and with no protective panels, they’d have him.
Gritting his teeth, Stone had his eye on the river rat that had dared to jump on board, already planning his one-way trip to faraway land or another farm.‘I’ll be back in a few days with a croc trap.I’ll bring out some diesel for your generator, too.Stay out of trouble.’Should he pinch the old man’s stash of rum, just in case?
Thank heavens he’d suggested The Vegan move onto Chook’s land, hoping the odd pair would become friends in time.Then Stone wouldn’t have to worry about Chook being on his own out here, not when he was pushing seventy.
‘Hey, this wasn’t your fault, Stone.’Chook grabbed his arm again.‘What happened to Two-stroke wasn’t your fault either.’
Stone pulled his arm free, heated anger and guilt bubbled dangerously inside his chest.‘I’ve gotta go set up the new tanks at the quarantine station, but I will be back with a brush cutter to cut down this croc grass, so they have fewer places to hide.’
