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           Withinthosegargantuanconcretewallslikeafortressonahill,acutterwithconnectionscouldgetwork.LukeandArnekeptintrimstackingsugarbags,andswimmingorsurfingintheirsparetime.

           LeftinDungloewiththeMuellers,MeggiesweatedherwaythroughTheWet,asthemonsoonseasonwascalled.TheDrylastedfromMarchtoNovemberandinthispartofthecontinentwasn’texactlydry,butcomparedtoTheWetitwasheavenly.DuringTheWettheskiesjustopenedandvomitedwater,notalldaybutinfitsandstarts;inbetweendelugesthelandsteamed,greatcloudsofwhitevaporrisingfromthecane,thesoil,thejungle,themountains.

           AndastimewentonMeggielongedforhomemoreandmore.NorthQueensland,sheknewnow,couldneverbecomehometoher.Foronething,theclimatedidn’tsuither,perhapsbecauseshehadspentmostofherlifeindryness.Andshehatedtheloneliness,theunfriendliness,thefeelingofremorselesslethargy.Shehatedtheprolificinsectandreptilelifewhichmadeeachnightanordealofgianttoads,tarantulas,cockroaches,rats;nothingseemedtokeepthemoutofthehouse,andshewasterrifiedofthem.Theyweresohuge,soaggressive,sohungry.Mostofallshehatedthedunny,whichwasnotonlythelocalpatoisfortoiletbutthediminutiveforDungloe,muchtothedelightofthelocalpopulace,whopunnedonitperpetually.ButaDunnydunnyleftone’sstomachchurninginrevolt,forinthisseethingclimateholesinthegroundwereoutofthequestionbecauseoftyphoidandotherentericfevers.