Page 35 of Larapinta

Miska broke away from the others and strolled over to them. She pulled a face. ‘I do hate confrontation. I certainly didn’t think we’d encounter that on our trip. We chose the Larapinta Trek for our honeymoon because of the quiet and the spirituality of the landscape. We’ve been looking forward to it for ages. This really takes away from it.’

Graysen put the cleaning cloth on his knee and slipped the camera into the small bag. ‘Just ignore them. Andrew will handle it, I’m sure.’

‘It’s almost as though they’re trying to get the rest of us to side with them and discredit Andrew,’ Miska said. Her hair had come away from her hairband and fell in dark ringlets against her olive skin. Sandra thought what a beautiful looking woman she was. Miska was lithe and fit, and had a sweet personality too.

‘I’ll be reporting you to your company for that remark.’ Paul’s voice was getting louder.

From where they stood, they could see Andrew’s shrug, but couldn’t hear his reply.

‘Poor guy,’ Miska said. ‘If they do anything I’ll put in a good word for him.’

‘Me too,’ Sandra said.

Zed walked across and joined them. ‘Graysen? Got a moment?’

Graysen nodded and he and Zed walked a short distance away.

Miska smiled. ‘That’s my man. He has a heart of gold. I’d say he’s asking Graysen to back him up while he has a quiet word to Paul.’

***

Graysen secured his camera in his kit bag and zipped it up before he headed to the shower block at the back of the old homestead. In the end, Cecily and Paul had reluctantly got into the truck with the rest of the group.

Zed had spoken quietly to Graysen before they’d boarded the truck, and they planned to speak to Paul before dinner. He looked around as he walked to the shower; there was no sign of anyone else. The old homestead had been left in its original state and the rooms he and Sandy had had a brief look into when they arrived were furnished with old furniture. Not antiques, but maybe nineteen fifties vintage.

The shower block was empty and Graysen was pleased to have some solitude as he showered and shaved. As he picked up his toiletries bag and towel to leave, the door opened and Paul walked in followed closely by Zed. Graysen hesitated as Zed gave him a brief nod.

Graysen put his towel back on the bench. ‘Paul?’

Paul was about to step into the second shower stall and he turned with a scowl. ‘Yes?’

‘A quick word, mate.’

‘Mate? I don’t think so. It was you who dobbed to our guide this morning wasn’t it? You both looked like idiots when you came running down to the pool. I don’t know why you’re trying to cause trouble, Graysen, but I’d appreciate it if you’d just fuck off and leave Cecily and I to do the trek like we want.’

Zed stepped forward and his words were quiet. ‘Paul, your attitude is making it hard for the others in the team.’

‘Team? I didn’t sign up for any fucking team.’

‘That may be so, but you’re in a group. If you’d wanted to do it your way, you shouldn’t have picked this trekking company, but you would still have had to respect the local culture. But you chose this one and there’s others on this trek, and we’d all appreciate it if you’d pull your head in.’ Zed was a tall, well-built guy and when he walked closer to the shower stall, Paul took a step back.

‘One more thing too,’ Graysen added. ‘Andrew and the others are excellent guides. If you make a report about the problems you’re creating, I won’t hesitate to support them. To be frank, mate, you and your wife have been pains in the arse. So how about you focus on enjoying your holiday—your honeymoon. Let Andrew do his job and let the rest of us appreciate the experience too.’

Paul threw them both a filthy look and slammed the door of the shower.

Zed walked to the door with Graysen. ‘Thanks, I think we made ourselves quite clear. I’ll see you at dinner.’

When he got back to his swag, Graysen took out a clean pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. They were in the dining room of the homestead for dinner, and it wouldn’t hurt to make an effort. He removed the battery from his camera and slipped it and the battery charger in his pocket to charge at a power point in the homestead.

He hesitated and looked at his camera bag, and then decided it would be safe enough in the swag. They were the only trekkers on site tonight and the homestead was too far off the main trail for any hikers to come over from the public camps. As soon as they’d eaten, he planned on an early night anyway.

When they’d arrived at the homestead Andrew told them tomorrow was one of the biggest days. The trek would take them to Standley Chasm where there was a campground, and a café. ‘Swags for a few days for those of you who choose to walk each leg.’

‘Hmph, a luxury tour they said,’ Paul muttered, but no one paid him any attention.

With one last glance back at the swag, Graysen decided his gear would be safe and he headed for the dining room.

Soft music and candlelight met him as he looked through the door from the veranda into the bar where Jodie had asked them to meet before dinner.