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Chapter 12

Bythetimeshewasfourmonthsoldsheceasedtocrysomuchandbegantoamuseherselfasshelayinherbassinet,fiddlingandpinchingattherowsofbrightlycoloredbeadsstrungwithinherreach.Butsheneversmiledatanyone,evenintheguiseofgaspains.

TheWetcameearly,inOctober,anditwasaverywetWet.Thehumidityclimbedto100percentandstayedthere;everydayforhourstherainroaredandwhippedaboutHimmelhoch,meltingthescarletsoil,drenchingthecane,fillingthewide,deepDungloeRiverbutnotoverflowingit,foritscoursewassoshortthewatergotawayintotheseaquicklyenough.WhileJustinelayinherbassinetcontemplatingherworldthroughthosestrangeeyes,MeggiesatdullywatchingBartleFreredisappearbehindawallofdenserain,thenreappear.

Thesunwouldcomeout,writhingveilsofsteamissuefromtheground,thewetcaneshimmerandsparklediamondprisms,andtheriverseemlikeagreatgoldsnake.Thenhangingrightacrossthevaultoftheskyadoublerainbowwouldmaterialize,perfectthroughoutitslengthonbothbows,sorichinitscoloringagainstthesullendark-bluecloudsthatallsaveaNorthQueenslandlandscapewouldhavebeenpaledanddiminished.BeingNorthQueensland,nothingwaswashedoutbyitsetherealglow,andMeggiethoughtsheknewwhytheGillanbonecountrysidewassobrownandgrey;NorthQueenslandhadusurpeditsshareofthepaletteaswell.