Page 30 of Larapinta

‘She probably would have been better to push herself, but we can only make suggestions. Everyone has a different goal, and different ways of approaching the trek. And we do provide the option to only walk sections of the trail for that reason. Are you right if I leave you to it? I’ll go on ahead and get the fire going and the billy on.’

Sandra looked at the big pack on his back. ‘You’re carrying everything for morning tea in there?’

‘And lunch. There’s no access for Jodie to reach us on this section.’

Sandra shook her head. ‘I don’t know how hikers walk the track carrying their tents and food and water.’

‘It takes dedication and fitness, but there’s water on the way, plus food drop points, so a well-organised hiker can do it easily.’

‘I’ve learned so much already in a day and a bit.’

Andrew gave her a wave and, despite the heavy pack on his back, he set off at a light jog. ‘See you at the trail.’

Sandra warmed up quickly so she stopped and removed her puffer jacket. Unzipping her pack, she took out her phone and put it in her shorts pocket, and crammed her jacket into the pack. She set off and walked through a grove of witchety bush. The bright yellow brushes glowed in the strong morning sunlight and as she watched a tiny bird flew in and hung upside down drinking the nectar from the flowers. She quietly reached for her phone and switched it on and zoomed in for a close up. The number of small birds was many more than what she had expected.

Footsteps crunched on the pebbly rock of the path and she ignored the jump in her heartbeat as Graysen caught up to her. His camera was up to his eye and she stayed quiet and still as he completed his shot of the tiny bird.

‘Thank you for not spooking it,’ he said as he lowered the camera. ‘Enjoying the walk so far?’

‘I am. It’s been pretty easy today.’

‘Want some company?’

‘Sure.’

They walked along; their conversation desultory as the track began to climb.

‘I think that’s Bond Gap over there.’ Graysen pointed to a red outcrop a kilometre or so ahead and to the north. ‘Do you want to walk in and look at the swimming hole?’ He lifted the camera and the shutter clicked.

‘I do, but no swimming for me today. It’s not warm enough.’

‘The water will be cold too—what the hell is he doing?’ Graysen stopped dead in the middle of the track and Sandra turned with a frown. There was no one else in sight, so she followed his gaze to the rocky outcrop in the distance.

‘Who? I can’t see anyone.’

‘I think it’s Paul. Or it could be Zed?’

‘No. Zed and Miska are behind us. What’s happening?’

Graysen quickly slipped his backpack off and opened the camera bag inside the larger pack. He took out a huge lens and handed the one he took off the camera to Sandra while he replaced it with a bigger zoom lens. He quickly handed her a lens cover.

‘Just screw that on the exposed end please, to keep the dust out.’

She did as he asked and she followed his gaze again as he rotated the lens and peered through the camera.

‘Bloody hell. It’s Paul. He’s got hold of Cecily and he’s shaking her. They’re right on the edge of the cliff. He’s holding her arms and she’s leaning backwards right over the edge.’

‘Oh my God. What should we do?’

Graysen kept the camera focused on the outcrop. ‘We can’t do anything. They’re too far away. It’ll take us a good ten to fifteen minutes to get there. Hopefully they’re just mucking around, but it’s stupid behaviour. Reckless.’

‘Maybe they’ve had a disagreement.’

‘Where was Andrew heading to?’ Graysen asked. ‘I saw him leave you.’

‘He went to set up morning tea where the trail splits to Bond Gap. So, they’re probably ahead of him, and Clive and Jenny and Zed and Miska are behind us.’

‘He’s gone now. I can’t see either of them anymore.’