Chapter 9

Butitwas1930,andDroghedaknewallabouttheDepression.MenwereoutofworkalloverAustralia.Thosewhocouldstoppedpayingrentandtyingthemselvesdowntothefutilityoflookingforworkwhentherewasnone.Lefttofendalone,wivesandchildrenlivedinhumpiesonmunicipallandandqueuedforthedole;fathersandhusbandshadgonetramping.Amanstowedhisfewessentialsinsidehisblanket,tieditwiththongsandslungitacrosshisbackbeforesettingoutonthetrack,hopingatleastforhandoutsoffoodfromthestationshecrossed,ifnotemployment.HumpingablueythroughtheOutbackbeatsleepingintheSydneyDomain.

Thepriceoffoodwaslow,andPaddystockedtheDroghedapantriesandstorehousestooverflowing.AmancouldalwaysbesureofhavinghistuckerbagfilledwhenhearrivedonDrogheda.Thestrangethingwasthattheparadeofdriftersconstantlychanged;oncefullofagoodhotmealandloadedwithprovisionsforthetrack,theymadenoattempttoremain,butwanderedoninsearchofonlytheyknewwhat.NoteveryplacewasashospitableorgenerousasDroghedabyanymeans,whichonlyaddedtothepuzzleofwhymenonthetrackseemednottowanttostay.Perhapsthewearinessandthepurposelessnessofhavingnohome,noplacetogo,madethemcontinuetodrift.Mostmanagedtolive,somediedandiffoundwereburiedbeforethecrowsandpigspickedtheirbonesclean.TheOutbackwasahugeplace,andlonely.