'What is the date?' someone asked.
'It appears to be 2025, or maybe a year later, possibly during the ritual with the White Goddess at the pool.'
'Did Derain have sexual intercourse with the White Goddess?' asked an anonymous voice from the back of the hall. There was a deathly hush, some people in the community were truly shocked by the naked pictures of Tanya and the same question was also on their minds.
There was a spontaneous shout of 'No!' from all those on the trip.
'Did the Aboriginal people have sexual intercourse with any of the participants on the trip?'
Again a spontaneous and resounding chorus of, 'No!'
There was a short silence.
'We learnt other things on the trip too,' said Rachel, continuing. 'Firstly, not to be ashamed of our bodies. When we were in camp everyone walked around naked if they felt like it. We also learnt many things about camping in a hostile environment, preparing and maintaining the camp, and clearing away our presence before we left.'
The audience was still discomforted by the talk about nudity. People asked whether they could visit the village without the help of the locals.
'No,' replied Tanya. 'They would have to escort us in. It is difficult to find and access. We were the first whites ever to have been to the village.'
'Had they ever see white people before?'
'Yes, some of them spoke English,' replied Rachel.
Chloe spoke up, 'It seems there are some outstanding questions which could best be answered privately. I will be available to answer as will Tanya or any of the participants.'
The meeting broke up, but Chloe and then Tanya were assailed with questions.
One woman approached Tanya, saying, 'Thank you for reinforcing the safe sex message with my daughter. I don't know, and don't want to know, whether she uses the information or not.'
'She showed me the condoms you had given her. The last thing we needed from the trip was unwanted pregnancies,' said Tanya.
Another very nervous woman said, 'If I had known you were going to hand out condoms, I would have prevented her from going at all.'
'I didn't want to be a policeman on the trip and I didn't want to be responsible for any unwanted pregnancies, so I made certain that all the girls had some advice,' said Tanya evenly. 'At this age they all have hormones bouncing around in their bodies and I had no knowledge of what sexual education each of the participants had been given. When I was their age I was given no advice, so experimentation was the only option. It was just a question of luck that it all turned out alright. What sexual instruction have you given your daughter?'
'Well, nothing, we were just wondering what to do,' said the woman uncertainly.
'It is often better to have a third party give the instruction, with the parents providing moral guidance.'
'Could you do that?'
'Certainly, me or the doctor.'
'I would rather have a woman give that sort of instruction to my daughter.'
'I think that cleared the air a bit, it was right to have a completely open discussion. It will make participation in future trips easier,' said Chloe.
'It looks as if I will be giving sex education lessons to all the young girls in The Settlement,' said Tanya.
'Rather you than me.'
The excitement of the trip died down after a few weeks. The naked image of Tanya created a barrier between her and some members of the community, although many people still came to her for advice.
As The Settlement developed, Tanya persuaded David to sell many of the operations that sustained the community to individual settlers. 'The Bowers can't own everything, it makes us and the whole community very vulnerable. Funds we receive in this way can be used for further development and to make us more secure.'
'What do you have in mind?'
'Well, we could flog the cattle herd off now to the family who run it, the same with the sheep. We could encourage someone to set up a weaving shop and someone else to make clothes and so on. We should encourage business growth and issue licences so we have some ability to help and indeed impose sanctions in the rare cases where that may be necessary. At first they will have to abide by Australian regulations, but once the Ice Shelf collapses our licence will be the only one that has any validity. We could even sell the hospital,' said Tanya.
'How will all this be funded?'
'I have applied for a banking licence. There has been a bit of eggshell dancing on the part of Government, they still regard us with suspicion, but it should be granted shortly. So all the transactions should be through The Settlement bank.'
'Who will own the bank?'
'The family, there is no other option. But everything else should be owned by outsiders. Appropriate rents should be paid to The Settlement Pty Ltd for use of Settlement property.'
'Would the shareholders remain in the family?'
Yes, for the moment that makes the most sense. As things develop, it may have to change. Maybe when the next generation takes over,' said Tanya carefully.
'What about currency after the collapse?'
'When we are completely isolated, most of the transactions will be electronic. Joe has the capacity to build computers and maintain a suitable system. In time, we may have to print our own currency.'
At the regular board meetings, the board members agreed to an orderly sell-off of the operations previously run by the company. As Tanya had suggested, applications for licences for new businesses were encouraged.
'We need to ensure we are not unwittingly creating monopolies,' Mark suggested. 'If we are to sell the dairy herd, for example, it may need to be sold to two different people.'
'Are we going to have some sort of democracy?' ventured Patricia.
'What do you think?' asked David.
'Well, in time it would mean people other than current shareholders in the company would be part of this board. Our cosy board meetings would certainly take on a different flavour.'
David looked uncomfortable.
'At present that would be difficult,' said Tanya, supporting David, 'as almost all development funds have come from the family. We don't want other people muscling in.'
'There are something like one hundred houses here, and the funds for building them were provided by individuals. Those people are now being asked to invest further with the sell-off of assets belonging to the company. This is all very good for The Settlement and will make us much stronger, but sooner or later those people will want a say in how this place is run,' responded Patricia firmly.
There was a thoughtful silence around the room.
'I don't think we are quite ready for a one adult, one vote system at present,' said Mark. 'There is still a lot of uncertainty and possibly a need to act very quickly when the Ice Shelf collapses. Anyway, what you say makes sense Patricia. How about dividing The Settlement into wards of, say, twenty houses, where we can talk to the residents and generally understand their feelings and community concerns? Each ward would be the responsibility of one of us.'
'How would that work?' asked David.
'I would have a regular, say monthly meeting with all the adult residents in my ward. Any issues would be brought back to the board. I could personally visit anyone who didn't attend to unearth any concerns. It would provide our first formal consultation process.'
David said defensively. 'There is plenty of consultation now. I walk round the community on a daily basis and talk to everyone.'
'We all do that, but the community has grown. I think what Mark has suggested is a good step in the right direction. As the community becomes more confident we are going to have to involve more people in the decision-making process at a much higher level,' said Joe.
'I am seen as the leader in this place, so I don't think it is appropriate for me to be a ward representative. I will continue to do as I have always done.' Instinctively he felt uncomfortable with the possible democratisation. The family have put up all the funds, he thought. Outsiders will not have
the same sensitivity when handling individual situations.
'I really don't think I can take on any more responsibilities, with my charitable work in Sydney and the horses, so please count me out,' said Chloe. Secretly, she wanted no more involvement than she already had with the Settlement.
Mark continued, 'Okay, we can divide the community into wards of twenty-five houses each. That's me, Tanya, Joe, and Patricia each with the responsibility for a ward. Dad, you have an intimate knowledge of all the people in the community, perhaps you could have a first pass at allocating the four of us to individual wards.'
'I will probably just do that on the basis of geography and then we can adjust some of the allocations where we think it is necessary,' he responded unenthusiastically.
Patricia had noticed her father's reticence, and said to him afterwards, with her arm around his shoulders, 'I know this is difficult for you, but in the end this place will have to be run on democratic lines to survive.'
He said nothing but reflected on one of his conversations with Chloe in the very early days where she had thought he wanted to be some sort of dictator. She was right, he thought. I will always find it difficult to have anyone but the family in charge here.
Mark knew bush survival would be an essential part of Academy training. While the trip to the pool had given people some idea of the challenges in the bush, he thought something more rigorous was needed. He saw the introduction of Derain into the community as a heaven-sent opportunity to hone the bush skills of all Academy trainees.
'I take a few people into the bush for a few days at a time,' said Derain, through his translator, once he heard Mark's idea.
'People need to be able to survive in small groups or on their own,' said Mark.
'Must understand bush first, otherwise will die. I will look after. In one year, or two, all will be very good in bush.'
David was concerned about the effect Derain and his people might have on two families with an Aboriginal heritage recently arrived at The Settlement. They had attended the presentation on Chloe's bush trip, but had made no comment.
'How do you feel about our contact with Derain and his people?' David asked Tony Dyson, the head of one of the families.
'Our families lost contact with our tribal cousins long ago and gradually adopted the values and lifestyle of the settlers. Although we have a few words from our Aboriginal ancestors, there was no common language, so we would be unlikely to be able to hold a conversation with Derain and his people in their own language.'
'What about Derain's vision?'
'We adopted the Christian faith many decades ago and no longer believe in ancestor worship. But we are from the city, so anything Derain can teach us about bush survival is most welcome.'
Derain's reaction, through an interpreter was, 'These people went away from their roots. Maybe we can help them find them again.'
Chapter Fifteen
David and Caroline
Tanya wondered what, if anything, she should say to David about his now obvious—to her at least—relationship with Caroline. She certainly would not have worried about any of the other residents in The Settlement, but David's contribution to the continuing development was critical. Especially now they had a clear deadline.
She was at the stables tending one of the horses with a loose shoe. Roger and Rachel were helping. After showing them how to heat the shoe and mould its shape, she cooled it down and, using nails, fixed it to the hoof. Seeing David nearby, Tanya handed over the equipment to the children and said, 'Finish it off and when you have done that come and show me.'
David and Tanya talked about mundane things when, uncharacteristically, David blurted out. 'I need to talk to you. You probably know enough about Chloe to have guessed that all is not well there.'
Tanya said nothing.
'But there is a further complication now … '
'Caroline,' said Tanya quietly.
'How the hell did you know that?' asked a perplexed David.
Tanya shrugged.
'I'm not sure what Chloe gets up to in Sydney, but she has indicated she is not happy here,' said David.
'So what can you do about it?'
'I don't know. And there is the complication of Caroline,' said David.
'I was relieved to see you made yourself scarce before we arrived at The Bandstand, after our trip. Chloe would have worked it out if you had stayed.'
'I don't know how you realised. You haven't even seen us together.'
'Look,' said Tanya firmly. 'You are the driving force behind The Settlement.'
'And you.'
Tanya held up her hand. 'Hear me out. You need to make up your mind whether you want to see this thing through. There may be another seven years before the Ice Shelf comes crashing down. That is much bigger than your relationship with Chloe or Caroline. Decide what you really want and we can work out a plan, and I can certainly help.'
'Tanya, since we are having this rather personal discussion I will tell you that I had a letter from Fred, after he left. He told me about you and Demetriou, while he was resident here. I burnt the letter, but do you have anything to tell me?'
Tanya's gut tightened. She was afraid of losing his respect. She briefly considered denial, but rejected it. She told David the truth.
'It's all quite true and I am utterly ashamed of what happened. It only happened once, which makes it no better, but I was infatuated with him as a teenager and I relived that in a moment of madness. I realised quickly all he was after was to destroy me.' She also explained she had initiated the reckless dash through the trees which had resulted in Demetriou's accident.
'Fred's letter implied the liaison continued for some time,' said David.
Tanya shook her head, 'No, just once. Fred either deliberately extended the truth or Demetriou lied.'
David was always inclined to believe the best in people. He could hear her shame and believed she was telling the truth.
'The worst thing,' continued Tanya, shamefaced, 'was that my actions put the future of the whole Settlement in jeopardy. I still have sleepless nights when I think about it.'
'Consider the matter closed, as I said the letter was burnt and I have told nobody.'
Tanya recovered her composure, 'Returning to the question of Caroline, you sort out your feelings and then I can help you. I don't want you to declare for Caroline and then find you have been cuntstruck and want to unravel everything.'
David looked shocked. 'Some of the expressions you use … '
'Only when they are appropriate.' She put her arm around him, saying more gently, 'We have worked well together. Neither of us could have brought this thing to where it is without the other. You are essential to its continuing development. Please recognise that. If Chloe gets really pissed off, it may raise the question of ownership of The Settlement. We can't afford to pay her out.'
David looked shocked, 'I don't think it will come to that. She doesn't want to cut herself off from you all. I can't see it happening, but I'll bear it in mind.'
'Mark and I are going to Sydney in a day or two and will not be able to return next weekend. Let's chat again then. Also we mustn't forget about potential enemies at The Bandstand.'
David shook his head, 'They all seem to be onside. And you are a hero over there after fixing their finances.'
She gave him a daughterly kiss on the cheek and went off to examine the handiwork of her two protégées. She was relieved that her indiscretion had not affected their relationship.
David paid regular visits to The Bandstand and was always greeted in a straightforward and open way by Caroline. He helped her with the business and they found, with his ministrations and her energy, they were making considerable progress. Their liaison was now accepted among the people there, so there were no questions when they retired to her cottage. David was enthralled with their lovemaking and the same applied to Caroline. She asked no more of David than he was able to give. From her point of view, the current arrangements suited
her very well. She was in no hurry for further complications. It suited David very well too.
So he decided to try and speak with Chloe. It took a month before they were able to have a sensible discussion; either he was at The Bandstand or she was on one of her unexplained visits to Sydney. When Tanya tried to broach the subject he just waved her away.
Chloe had now had three dates with her latest friend, Clark, in the flat. So far, it seemed similar to the relationship she had with Alan, having made sure all he wanted was regular sex. Otherwise, he seemed to have a stable relationship with his wife and three children. They met once a week. Chloe was in charge of the flat, so she had the keys.
David and Chloe were having a quiet dinner in their cottage when David asked, 'I know we've been here seven years, but I've never asked you this before, although I think I know the answer. Is this what you want?'
Chloe didn't speak for a number of minutes. She was tempted to fling the dinner in his face. 'Yes, you know the answer,' she said evenly. 'While I understand the science and I can see you are succeeding, I really play no role here at all. You could do without me. Someone else could manage the horses just as well as I do. This is your life's work and I am irrelevant. We never make love anymore.' She desperately wanted to cry.
'What do you spend all your time doing in Sydney?'
She looked at him wonderingly. 'What would you do in my place? I've had a couple of lovers and that tends to occupy my time. I still spend time on my charities; otherwise I spend time here.' She was amazed at how civilised they were being. If there had been any emotion left in the relationship there would have been plates flying by now.
'How long has this been going on?'
'Oh, since before we moved here, six years or so.'
Icefall Page 20
