Icefall

by Hallowes, Guy

  Tanya knocked confidently at the door of the Smith house. When the man named Charles opened the door, Tanya stood there for a few seconds with her mouth open.

  'Ah, little Tanya,' said Demetriou. 'I wondered when I would bump into you again. I see you are a part of the Bower mob. I confess this was the last place I expected to find you.'

  Tanya was transported back more than fifteen years to her youth in Cabramatta. She really thought she had left it all long behind her and now here was this person, calling himself Charles Smith, bringing it all back. She had not seen him since her escape, although her father had visited Demetriou once in jail. Despite herself, she felt weak at the knees and her loins went liquid as the memories of their lovemaking flooded back.

  Tanya needed time to think. She was certain Demetriou would be up to no good as she had heard rumours of further criminal activity and worse. There was no possibility he would be a genuine settler, so he must have some other motive. She said, 'I will return later to see your wife.'

  Mark and the family knew the broad parameters of Tanya's background, excepting the more lurid details of the drug deliveries, and Demetriou. Both her parents had recently died and she had provided for them until the end. Of course, the family all knew Cara. She had visited The Settlement and knew there was a place for her there if she ever wanted it, but she preferred her own life and friends, just checking in on Tanya from time to time.

  Tanya knew Demetriou's presence was a threat. She found David in his office. 'What do you know about Charles Smith and his family?' she asked without any preliminaries.

  'Not all that much, Fred more or less insisted on bringing him in. Charles has some explosives experience, which will be useful for building the fuel storage facility.' David was curious. He knew Tanya did not ask idle questions.

  Tanya wondered what to tell him, but thought of the trust between them, 'His name is actually Demetriou Smith. He changed his name for very good reasons. I'm going to do some checking.'

  'How do you know his previous name?'

  'I just do, ask no questions … Just be careful. It seems the normal checks were not done on Charles.'

  Tanya visited Demetriou's wife, when Demetriou was out in the Settlement. 'I just thought I would introduce myself,' she said. Fiona at first appeared to be the ordinary wife of an ordinary working man, but after a few minutes Tanya came to a very different conclusion.

  Fiona would not answer any questions directly. When asked where she came from, the answer was non-committal, 'Sydney.' Even when pressed, she was vague, 'In the West.'

  Over a cup of coffee Fiona asked a number of pointed questions about the origins of The Settlement so Tanya gave her the spiel, explaining the expectations and responsibilities of new settlers.

  'What levies?' asked Fiona.

  'You have to pay twenty percent of the value of the house to the central fund plus an annual levy, like council rates. Everyone pays.'

  'We know nothing about any levies,' said Fiona firmly.

  Tanya looked at her shrewdly, 'Who paid for the house then?'

  'Fred, he owes us.'

  'Fred! What does he owe you for?'

  'Stuff.'

  'What stuff?' asked Tanya in an offhand manner.

  Fiona shrugged, stonewalling her.

  They talked about the children and their education before Tanya left. She decided it was unlikely Fiona knew anything of Tanya's history with Demetriou.

  Tanya had planned to go for a ride on the Sunday before returning to Sydney, but first she sought David out. 'I had a word with Fiona, Demetriou's wife. The whole situation is dodgy. The Smiths seem to have something on Fred. He has paid for everything so far and will probably continue to do just that. I will check in with my police contact.'

  David looked worried. 'I will have a word with Fred.'

  Fred was one of his mainstays; regarded as a friend and confidant. David had thought Fred would always put the interests of The Settlement first but Tanya's comments worried him. She did not make idle statements.

  Tanya walked the short distance to the stables and saddled a mare Chloe had recently acquired. After taking some of the smaller jumps erected near the stables she cantered off into the far reaches of the now very active settlement. The horse was a bit skittish, so she concentrated hard on keeping it quiet and under control. Despite her preoccupation, she soon became aware of another horse galloping furiously towards her. It was Demetriou. Bugger. This can't be good news.

  She cantered quietly off a wooded area and waited. When he had seen her, she continued on her way. Her plan had been to hide in a nearby copse and when Demetriou had gone past, to quietly return to the stables. But an unaccountable impulse made her wait for him in full view.

  Within minutes, Demetriou arrived with his horse all of a lather. He roughly pulled the animal to a stop and gave her his charming smile. Tanya let her guard down briefly, admiring Demetriou. Handsome and well-built, he looked the picture of health, resulting from heavy physical activity in The Settlement.

  'At last, you are on your own. We had such good times back in Cabramatta. Somehow you escaped and here you are, with your bum in the butter. I ended up in jail of course. Can't we just spend a few minutes catching up, for old times' sake?' Demetriou dismounted. 'Let's tie the horses up.'

  Tanya felt as mesmerised as the inexperienced teenager she used to be. She knew she was making a mistake. Demetriou was still big trouble, but the old attraction resurfaced. She thought, There is no harm in a chat while her more cautious side was urging her to get out while she still could.

  The situation was taken out of her hands as Tanya was helped from the saddle and Demetriou tied her horse up with his own mount. She meekly complied when he patted a heap of leaves next to him as he sat down. 'I spent nearly three years in jail, and somehow you got away scot free?'

  Tanya felt guilty. 'I asked my father to visit you, but I had to be careful or I would have ended up in jail too.'

  'How did you escape?' He put his arm around her. Deep down, her stomach tightened with unwanted desire. The excitement of life with Demetriou, the deliveries, and their lovemaking came back to her with a jolt. There had been nothing like it since.

  She explained how she hid in the garage roof. 'I went to live with my aunt and never went back to Cabramatta. My parents always came to visit me.'

  Demetriou leant over and kissed her. She was unable to resist and the kiss deepened. He undid her riding breeches and put his hand into her now wet pants. All sense left her; she tore his trousers off and discarded her riding gear and knickers and the rest of her clothes. He mounted her and she wrapped her legs around his muscular body. It was just like it had been all those years ago and she came again and again as his seed burst into her. They held each other for a few minutes. Tanya described some of her success at school and work, but made no mention of Mark. Lying naked on a bed of leaves in Demetriou's arms, she had completely relaxed.

  'You always were beautiful,' observed Demetriou. 'But even better now. You've filled out a little.' His eyes feasted on her hungrily.

  Temporarily forgetting her severe doubts, perhaps due to the guilt of their different lives, she uncharacteristically burst out with, 'I found that shirt in the laundry basket. It was covered in blood. The shirt got all mixed up with my own clothes and I hid it in the garage … Unless the house has been cleaned up, I suppose it's still there.'

  Demetriou nodded, 'Mum lives there now.' Tanya didn't notice the slight frown on Demetriou's face.

  'I took the car and dumped it so that there was no association with you,' added Tanya in a further attempt to assuage her guilt. 'What was the story with the shirt?'

  Demetriou didn't answer her directly; they made love again.

  Tanya scrambled back into her clothes and watched as Demetriou did the same. The excitement never wavered. 'There is a cross country course here. It goes round and then back to the stables,' she pointed, grinning. 'I'll race you.'

  Tanya waited while
he remounted. 'Okay, go.'

  She galloped off with Demetriou just keeping up, making all the jumps with ease. He disappeared and suddenly reappeared ten metres in front. They raced for another ten minutes, with Tanya edging Demetriou out in front at the finish. Pulling the horses up, still blowing from their exertions, they were still in the forest and not visible from the stables.

  'We should return to the stables separately,' Tanya suggested. 'You can go back directly and I will return through the forest.'

  'That was fun,' said Demetriou. 'You always were a randy little bitch; we should do that again soon.'

  Tanya pulled away slightly, 'I have to go back to Sydney this afternoon. I'll be back at the weekend I expect.' She cantered off into the trees, beginning to feel guilty.

  Tanya called George as soon as she arrived at her office on Monday.

  'George.'

  'It's Tanya here. It's about Demetriou Smith. He's turned up again.'

  There was a sharp intake of breath at the other end. 'Jesus Christ, you do choose them.'

  Tanya explained her concerns. She went on to explain his arrival at the Settlement and that Tanya thought he was up to no good.

  'You will probably be right, but there's more to our friend than meets the eye. He was in the army for a while and became an explosives and demolition expert.'

  'That's one of the reasons he's with us, for a little bit of demolition work,' she said and immediately wished she hadn't.

  George said nothing, but Tanya knew that piece of information would be stored away for some future use.

  Why would a commune in the Blue Mountains need the services of a demolition expert? 'Okay,' said George, 'have you got a large piece of paper with you?'

  Tanya wrote for a good ten minutes—the original conviction, serious drug running prostitution, assault. 'He was charged for murdering a prostitute, but got off. During his time in the army there was a rumour he killed his platoon sergeant. The army investigation decided it was "friendly fire". Tanya, you will have to be very careful. He will want revenge on you and fate has delivered you into his hands.' Then there was a sharp intake of breath. 'Oh, my God, we are in real trouble now.'

  'What?' asked Tanya. She was beginning to realise the tryst with Demetriou was a terrible mistake.

  'He's an unofficial ASIO agent. They employ people like Demetriou to get in close to the underworld.'

  'And that pays them off?'

  'Oh yes, without doubt.'

  'Why would ASIO be interested in The Settlement?' asked Tanya. This really was uncharted territory.

  'Someone probably purchased a large quantity of explosive.'

  'Anything else?' asked Tanya.

  George laughed, 'Isn't that enough?'

  'Do you have any information on where Harold Monckton has gone?'

  'Nothing. But then I haven't really looked. Nicholson is still in place, so I think you can expect he is still involved with Harold in some way. His clash with you was one of his few failures; he will certainly be seeking revenge.'

  After he rang off, Tanya spent a few minutes reflecting, Jesus, I really am in the shit now. She wondered how she would be able to deal with the situation.

  A few days later Tanya called Jonathan. He had just been promoted to Major in the Australian Army. 'What do you know about ASIO?' asked Tanya.

  He laughed, 'Probably nothing I can tell you.' She had expected this. 'Why do you ask?'

  'They have planted an agent on us, unofficially.'

  'There must be a reason.'

  'David purchased a large quantity of explosive for some development work and for blowing the gorge when the Ice Shelf collapses. They are going to find out about our military training program.'

  'ASIO people are mostly decent, you shouldn't have to worry. Also I registered the training program as a legitimate cadet corps.'

  'Decent people? Not in this case. I had some acquaintance with this man in the past and he is an unsavoury piece of work.' She thought about her tryst with Demetriou in the forest. 'He is up to every trick in the book—drugs, murders, prostitution. And, we have people in the training program above the age of nineteen, the maximum age for participation.'

  'Is your information from your secret police source?' Jonathan had used the source, via Tanya, for background checks as well.

  'Yes.'

  'Can you give me his name?'

  'Demetriou Smith, now known as Charles Smith. He is married to Fiona Smith. Check her too.'

  'I need to come up to The Settlement again; it's a long time since I was up there. I will cadge a lift in the 'copter when you next pick up the trainer.'

  Jonathan told her he would have time to visit The Settlement in three weeks.

  Tanya tried unsuccessfully to avoid any contact with Demetriou during the family's intervening weekend visits, but couldn't forget the memory of their lovemaking. All that was needed was a raised eyebrow from Demetriou and she took another ride one Sunday afternoon into the forest. Her whole life was work; there was no time for fun. So, without much thought her wild streak took over and she plunged headlong into another adventure with Demetriou. Tanya completely disregarded the risks; she knew what she was doing was foolhardy but was unable to stop herself. Although shivering in anticipation, a small part of her wanted to hesitate at the entrance to the wooded area, so she waited for Demetriou under a large gum tree still mounted. When he arrived he looked at Tanya eagerly.

  'I'll race you again, bit longer than last time. Twice round the circuit,' she pointed, with a grin. He moved his horse nearer to Tanya's to kiss her, but she anticipated the move and deftly rode onto the well-defined track, ready for the race.

  Demetriou smiled, 'What's the prize for the winner?'

  'All in good time. Ready?'

  Demetriou answered by galloping down the path. Tanya charged after him. She caught up with him, but whenever she rode up he made his mount swerve violently so she had to pull back to avoid a collision. They continued on with their wild ride for another few minutes, Tanya trying to pass Demetriou at intervals and Demetriou blocking her. Neither of them paid any attention to their own or their animals' safety. They often came across fallen trees, requiring both riders' considerable skills to negotiate.

  Tanya was sure Demetriou wouldn't know about a little path that would take her out on to the main track a few metres ahead of him. She took the path and soon came out in front. But then she couldn't hear the sound of the horse's hooves behind her. Looking back, there was no sign of him. But she wasn't going to let him beat her; the thrill and excitement of the race continued. She urged her horse on excitedly, whooping as she caught up with him again. Veering off the main track again, with only a few hundred metres to the finish, she ducked a branch and seconds later heard a yell and a crash. Demetriou had followed her and not seen the branch. Tanya made a grab for Demetriou's horse's reins as it galloped past, quickly bringing it under control. Demetriou had been knocked out of the saddle and dragged along the ground for thirty metres, foot stuck in the stirrup, before Tanya managed to bring both horses to a halt. She saw his leg was twisted at a very awkward angle. Dismounting, amidst Demetriou's shouts of pain, she managed to release the foot.

  'Oh, shit,' she whispered, breathing hard, 'broken leg I think.' Holding the reins of both horses, she gently tried to straighten out Demetriou's leg. He shrieked in agony. Quickly, Tanya tied the reins of Demetriou's horse onto the saddle, making sure the horse was unhurt, and gave it a pat on the rump. Still blowing hard, it cantered off in the direction of the stables. 'Maybe that will bring some help.' Tanya knelt down again, asking him, 'What happened?'

  'I didn't see that branch and the bloody horse scraped me off against it and here I am. You must have known about the branch,' he said in a weak voice.

  Tanya wondered what to do. 'Okay, this is going to hurt like hell, but I need you to try to stand on your good leg so I can get you onto my horse. We'll have you back at the stables in no time.'

  He shrieked as
Tanya got him under the arms and lifted.

  'You have to help me. Come on, you are very heavy.'

  Demetriou almost fainted, but they managed to get him standing up. He was grey with pain and sweating profusely.

  'With the help of your sound leg I am going to try to lift you into the saddle.'

  On the third attempt he was seated, only to faint and almost fall off again. She put his good leg into the stirrup.

  'Okay, I am going to mount the horse behind you and then we will walk back to the stables.'

  The horse was a little reluctant, but took the double weight without too much trouble.

  Despite his pain, Demetriou smiled, 'That was all fun, if it hadn't been for this,' he pointed at his leg. 'You are still a wild little bitch.'

  Demetriou almost lost consciousness more than once on the three kilometre ride back. As they approached the stables, a gaggle of people including Chloe, Mark, and Fiona came rushing out to help.

  'We need to bring the stretcher from the hospital. He has broken his leg, so it needs stabilising. Get the doctor and I will get the helicopter going, to take him to Sydney.'

  'What happened?' asked Chloe.

  'Don't really know,' she replied with a straight face. 'He said the horse scraped him off on a branch, I went out on my own.'

  When the doctor arrived, she rushed to complete her pre-flight checks on the helicopter. She removed most of the seats with Mark's help. Wracked with guilt, Tanya could barely look at her husband. By this time there were plenty of helpers and the stretcher was manoeuvred into the aircraft.

  'He is sedated,' said the doctor, but if there is room I will come with you. I have already arranged for him to be admitted to Royal North Shore Hospital.'

  'I don't think I will be back here tonight,' Tanya told Mark. 'I will need to go to Bankstown to refuel and by then it will be too dark to fly. I'll return in the morning.'