Chapter 14

Notwantinganyonetoknowofherreturn,MeggierodeouttoDroghedaonthemailtruckwitholdBlueyWilliams,Justineinabasketontheseatbesideher.Blueywasdelightedtoseeherandeagertoknowwhatshehadbeendoingforthelastfouryears,butastheynearedthehomesteadhefellsilent,diviningherwishtocomehomeinpeace.

Backtobrownandsilver,backtodust,backtothatwonderfulpurityandsparenessNorthQueenslandsolacked.Noprofligategrowthhere,nohasteningofdecaytomakeroomformore;onlyaslow,wheelinginevitabilityliketheconstellations.Kangaroos,morethanever.Lovelylittlesymmetricalwilgas,roundandmatronly,almostcoy.Galahs,soaringinpinkwavesofundersidesabovethetruck.Emusatfullrun.Rabbits,hoppingoutoftheroadwithwhitepowderpuffsflashingcheekily.Bleachedskeletonsofdeadtreesinthegrass.MiragesoftimberstandsonthefarcurvinghorizonastheycameacrosstheDibban-Dibbanplain,onlytheunsteadybluelinesacrosstheirbasestoindicatethatthetreesweren’treal.Thesoundshehadsomissedbutneverthoughttomiss,crowscarkingdesolately.Mistybrownveilsofdustwhippedalongbythedryautumnwindlikedirtyrain.Andthegrass,thesilver-beigegrassoftheGreatNorthwest,stretchingtotheskylikeabenediction.