“Ma, don’t,” said Emily, “You know how I feel about living outback, I love living in the city with…”
“With? Emily! With? He’s no good for you love, forget about him, plus he’s too old for you. He’s nothing but a bully. Can’t abide a bully. Never have, never will. It rattles my ribs it does, and it gets on my tits…”
“MA!” exclaimed Emily, as she turned slightly in her seat to look at her mother, while Maggie did her best to stifle a laugh.
“Excuse my French. But he does. Only way I can describe it.”
It was quiet for a moment as Maggie continued to fight her giggles, then she said, “I wouldn’t have thought that at all,” as she stared out the window.
“What’s that?” asked Mrs Heppler.
“Birds. Lots of birds. I didn’t expect birds to be this far out really. Not sure why, but I didn’t.”
“Pesky critters.”
“Sorry?”
“I hate birds. Well, that’s not totally true. I hate magpies in particular. They are nothing but bastards, buggers and bitches, excuse my French again.”
“MOTHER!” Emily admonished for a second time.
Maggie burst out laughing as Emily said, “Sorry, Maggie. Ma excels in ‘French’, as you can hear.... she also had a very bad experience when she was a girl and has never gotten over it.”
“Yes, thank you Emily. I’ve a tongue in my head,” Mrs Heppler snapped.
“Sorry Ma, just saying.”
“I know you were. Sorry love. This also gets my tits tetchy.”
Emily didn’t bother to comment this time, just shook her head.
“That’s a great saying, Mrs Heppler,” laughed Maggie, “what gets your tits tetchy?”
“Don’t encourage her, Maggie,” smiled Emily as she tried to refrain from laughing also.
“I was quite small, we lived on a remote farm and would only have mail delivered about once a month or so from what I remember. We had this metal rusty old oil drum that my father set up on the edge of the property. It was secured on its side to a small platform away from the ground and the postie used to put the letters or such like in there. It protected the post from any rain or the sun from scorching it to bits. In spring, those bloody pesky magpies used to sit in the trees at the edge of the property and then they used to swoop. I swear they targeted me a mile off. Remembered me from year to year. Bloody buggers.
“They used to swoop so low that I could hear their beaks snapping as they flew close to my ear. One got so close that its beak or claws drew blood from the top of my head as it flew over. So, if I was ever caught outside I used to run as quickly as my little legs would carry me and dive into the metal post drum, so they couldn’t get me.
“Do you know that I never gave a thought that there may be snakes or anything inside it? I just dived in and shuffled around so my back was to the opening to prevent them from flying in. Gave me nightmares for years too. Even now, I can still hear their beaks snapping as they swooped overhead clanging and scraping their claws on top of the metal drum. I cowered in there crying until my grandfather drove by and got me.”
“Goodness, I had no idea it was that bad Ma,” apologised Emily, as she gently rubbed her mother’s arm.
“I had no idea birds could even do that,” said Maggie, feeling a little guilty for laughing.
“Like I said. Bastards, buggers and bitches. Give me a snake, spider or whatever. Just no magpies.”
Eventually they parked and set about installing a quick makeshift shaded area as there were no trees around. It was nearly noon and the sun beat down relentlessly where it seemed every surface stung to the slightest touch. From underneath the truck, Mrs Heppler brought out three long wooden poles, one of which was already attached to a tarpaulin and had rope ties at each end. Goodness what else is under there? thought Maggie.
As she watched, Mrs Heppler carefully slotted the pole attached to the tarp into three hooks along the side of the trailer that Maggie hadn’t noticed until now. There was one hook at each end of the trailer and one in the middle. Then Mrs Heppler slowly walked back holding the end of the tarp until it was fully extended. She then secured one rope tie attaching it around a pole that she had embedded in the ground then she did the same with the other side to give them a perfect temporary respite from the sun.
With the shelter now up, Mrs Heppler took Emily to show her the hidey places of snakes and to also gather some firewood. Maggie wasn’t too pleased to be staying by herself and thought that as soon as the women were out of sight, she would immediately be surrounded by hundreds of venomous creatures, but she tried to remain as calm as she could. Mrs Heppler said that she would take them out in turn so they knew what to look for. It made perfect sense for them not to leave the vehicle unattended. If there was a problem, then they could deal with it as opposed to all of them going and then finding they had gained an unpleasant hitchhiker.
Soon it was Emily’s turn to be posted by the vehicle while Mrs Heppler invited Maggie to come take a quick look. Maggie knew she was in safe hands but was reluctant nonetheless. They crouched a good distance away from some large rocks where, underneath shielded by the sun, was what Mrs Heppler said was a king brown snake. Maggie was quite unnerved. Even curled up it looked large and intimidating. Mrs Heppler said that king browns were highly venomous and should be treated with respect.
“Have you handled any of these Mrs Heppler?” whispered Maggie, not taking her eyes off it for even a moment.
“No, thank goodness I haven’t had to. I will show you some others when we get to the Station. I remember reading one of your letters a few years ago when you were describing your chook houses. Well, you protected them from foxes and we have to protect ours from snakes and wild dogs. Not such different worlds really?
“When we get back to Emily, you can help me top up the engine with water and refill the tank. It’s a dangerous task out here in the heat and the heat of the engine, but with your experience, Maggie, I dare say you know what you are doing. Then we’ll get some tucker going. I could eat a scraggy horse!
“Or,” Mrs Heppler said with a twinkle in her eye, “we could catch one of them king browns. A quick easy meal, what do you think?” as she rolled with laughter as Maggie squirmed at the very thought.
Chapter Six
“Righto ladies, back on the road,” said Mrs Heppler as Maggie started to pack away.
“There is no road, Ma…”
“Alright smarty trousers, I grant you that there is no road as such, but I know perfectly well where we are and that invisible track out there is our road. Come on...”
“Ma, I don’t feel too good, I feel faint…” Emily suddenly clutched her stomach.
“My cooking isn’t that bad love,” said Mrs Heppler but when she looked at Emily’s face she knew something was seriously wrong. “Put the shade back up Maggie,” she said hurriedly as she held Emily, “think we’ll be staying put for a little while longer.”
Maggie quickly reassembled the tarp and then laid some blankets underneath. As she and Mrs Heppler helped Emily lie down they noticed that she was bleeding. Maggie knelt beside her and held her hand while Mrs Heppler relit the fire and put a pot of water on to boil. “Maggie, get the medical box from behind my seat please.”
They looked at one another with worried expressions on their faces. Then Mrs Heppler knelt beside Emily and gently brushed the hair from her face. “What’s going on love?” she asked as calmly as she could.