Field Walking

by John Bishop

into the truck and started to turn in the driveway. It was obvious he would not make it in one go. After backing up a short way, he started forward again. He was backing a second time when Megan came running around the corner of the homestead shouting, ‘Hey! Hey! That load isn’t safe. You’re going to lose the whole bloody–’

  She did not get to finish. The truck lurched forward and two drums fell off. The lid of one of the drums burst off and liquid spurted out, drenching Megan’s shoes and slacks. ‘Shit!’ she yelled. ‘Oh shit. It burns like hell.’

  ‘There’s a hose around the back,’ Judith yelled.

  Both of them ran into the house garden. Judith started the hose running while Megan stripped off her shoes, socks and slacks. Her eyes were screwed up and she was obviously in pain. Barney Two had arrived with his ears up, but responded instantly to a command to sit.

  Gavin reached the top of the sloping driveway in time to see the drums fall. He jumped from his truck and ran to the driver’s side of the other vehicle. ‘What is that stuff?’ he yelled up to the driver. The man grabbed his clipboard and handed it down. ‘Bugger me!’ Gavin said. ‘Get yourself down here. If anyone comes, keep ‘em away from the spill.’ He ran in the direction Judith and Megan had disappeared, arriving to find Megan sitting on a garden bench examining her feet. They were an ugly shade of red and had started to blister.

  ‘Are you part of this disaster too?’ Judith snapped.

  ‘No, Mrs Kingsley. I was passing when the truck pulled off the road. I saw the hazardous chemicals plate. Beats me how he made it up the driveway without losing his load. This lady has to be taken to hospital quick smart. You’ve done the right thing washing it off but they’ll need to treat her with something to keep those blisters from getting worse.’ He frowned and peered at Megan’s feet. ‘Since you’re already down to your knickers, I’d stay that way if I were you, maybe put something over your legs, but leave them damp.’

  ‘I’ll get the ute,’ Judith said.

  ‘Is there anyone else who could look after her? I’d rather you stayed. I might need your authority if we have to get urgent approvals to deal with the spill. We don’t want to risk any delays.’

  Before Judith had a chance to suggest calling Tom, Megan had taken her mobile from her belt and was talking to Eamon. ‘He’s on his way,’ she said as she rang off.

  ‘We should evacuate the place,’ Gavin said. ‘You don’t want to put any visitors at risk.’

  ‘Fortunately that’s not a problem,’ Judith said. ‘For once, we’re the only ones here.’

  ‘Really?’ Gavin nearly grinned. Instead he contrived a furrowed brow and said, ‘Right then. I’ll go and check the manual. There’s government regulations and procedures to follow. I’ll have to find where we can get the neutralizing agent. Probably Calway Junction, I’d guess. I’ll call the local cop and get him to be on standby.’ He squatted down and peered at Megan’s legs and ankles again. ‘Sorry about this’, he said. ‘No time for modesty.’ After a moment, he turned to Judith. ‘I’d run the hose over her again,’ he said. ‘When the bloke arrives to pick her up, wrap her legs in a wet towel. And you better tie up your dog. You don’t want him sniffing at the stuff.’

  ‘Okay. Thanks. And I’m sorry I spoke rudely.’

  ‘No worries.’

  When he was satisfied Judith was following his instructions, Gavin hurried back to the driveway. He had never felt more confident or in control. The truck driver was making a show of walking to and fro muttering and looking worried. Gavin said to him, ‘Get Lenny inside now. Tell him there’s nobody in there, and Mrs Kingsley will be the only one left at home when we get the other bird off to hospital. If I were you, I’d take the opportunity to get away now. How were you planning to travel?’

  ‘I’ve got a swag to carry and I’ll wander on down this road to take me away from any traffic coming out of town. I’ve checked the maps. I’ll be on back roads in half an hour. I’ll be fine.’

  ‘Do it before the car comes to pick up the lady. But get Lenny inside first. I’ve got to handle the spill.’

  Lenny could hardly believe his luck, but he was not going to be complacent. He was alone inside Banabrook homestead, but cautious nevertheless. He found the kitchen and, opening off it, an enclosed pantry. It was the ideal place to wait. There was every chance Mrs Kingsley would want to make herself some tea after all the fuss. If not, Lenny had no doubt he would find her easily enough. There was no chair in the pantry. As he was taking one from the kitchen he passed a door leading into a large room. He froze. Through a picture window on the far side he could see into a garden. Sitting on a bench was a woman he knew. He could not remember her name but she was one of Brody’s offsiders. He moved slowly out of view and retreated to the pantry.

  Eamon made good time from the hotel. At the top of the sloping driveway into Banabrook he found his way blocked by a vehicle he recognized as belonging to the local pest controller, Bill Smith, who was using iridescent tape to mark off the area of the spill.

  ‘You the driver for the injured lady?’ Gavin asked.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘She’s around the back, mate. She should be okay, but this stuff is bad news so don’t hang about. The quicker they get the right ointment on her legs the better her chances of not having permanent scars.’

  ‘That bad?’

  ‘I didn’t tell her the full story.’

  ‘Bloody hell!’

  ‘You can’t drive through here or you’ll end up with your tyres falling apart. Go up the stairs and along the verandah. I’ll come and help you carry her.’

  ‘Don’t bother, I’ll be better on my own. Why is this muck here anyway?’

  ‘It was meant for a neighbouring farm. The driver stuffed up. Pure luck I was passing by when he arrived.’

  ‘So where’s the driver now?”

  ‘I think he’s done a runner. My guess is he’d been on the booze last night and he needs to be in better shape before someone like you gets to see him.’

  ‘Christ Almighty!’

  ‘Mate, forget the bugger for now. You need to look after the lady!’

  ‘Yeah. Okay.’

  Eamon found Judith wrapping wet towels around Megan’s legs. ‘Bloody hell, Meg. You okay?’

  ‘It hurt like blazes to start with, but the cool water helps.’

  Eamon looked at Judith. ‘What do you use these crappy chemicals for anyway?’

  ‘Don’t ask me! There’s a new manager at Adderley Farm. I’ve no bloody idea what they’re spraying for. This isn’t my fault, Eamon.’

  ‘Yeah, I suppose not.’

  ‘Apology accepted!’ Judith glared at him.

  ‘Okay, I apologise.’

  ‘I should think so! Now let’s get on with what we have to do.’

  Eamon turned back to Meg. ‘Let’s have you. Fireman’s lift, okay?’ She stood unsteadily while he grabbed her wrist and put her arm behind his neck, then she let herself flop over his shoulder.

  ‘Light as a feather,’ Eamon said. He looked at Judith. ‘You’re coming with us. We can’t leave you here on your own.’

  ‘Mr Smith might need me. He seems to have the spill under control but we can’t leave him to do everything himself. I bit his head off when he arrived so I owe him some courtesy. Get Megan to Calway and you’ll be back here in a couple of hours.’

  ‘You’re not meant to be left alone.’

  ‘It’s low risk, Eamon. You’ll be gone three hours at most. Mr Smith is here, and I’m not the target anyway.’

  ‘Protecting you and Max is our job. It’s why we came.’

  ‘It’s a low risk and I’m the one taking it. Ziggy is looking after Max. Your priority now is an officer injured in the course of duty.’

  ‘I suppose you think it’s no risk for us to go against the orders of a superior. It could be worth our jobs.’

  ‘You have no choice. I’m not co-operating.’

  ‘Christ Almighty!’ Eamon thought for a moment. ‘I’m not hap
py Mrs Blake!’

  ‘Well, I’m sorry Sergeant!’

  There was a pause before Eamon spoke again. ‘Okay, I guess it is a minimal risk, and I do have to get this lump to hospital before she breaks my back.’

  ‘I thought you said light as a feather,’ Megan muttered.

  ‘In your dreams Meg. In your dreams.’

  At Bill Smith’s request, Judith found a notice board and marker pens so he could make a sign to warn people about the spill.

  ‘I need to duck back into town and pick up a distributor to spread the neutralising powder,’ he said.

  ‘We use distributors for fertiliser. Will one of those do?’

  ‘I’d be happier using a machine I know. I’ll pick up some big rubber boots at the same time. You get real cautious when you work with chemicals.’

  ‘I can imagine.’

  ‘This’ll be okay for now. I’ve cordoned it off. Meets the requirements listed in the manual. If anybody ignores the sign, that’s their problem. Best you go inside so you’re not breathing any fumes. Fortunately the breeze is carrying them away from the homestead. You can boil an electric kettle but no gas or flame. I went in and checked you don’t have the stove fired up. I’ll be back before they get the stuff here from Calway.’

  Confrontation at Banabrook

  Monday 24th August 1992

  In the vestry at St Mark’s, Max looked at the screen of his mobile for the source of an incoming call. ‘Yes darling?’

  A man’s voice said, ‘I didn’t know you cared! Now listen carefully. Getting this call from darling’s mobile must tell