Free The mountain that went to the sea by Lucy Walker Page A

all.' Jason's smile eased
     
    and a shadow of thought crossed his eyes. 'Just a type.
    Sad. isn't it? No more and no less. Poor fella, since he's
    a do-gooder, he deserves a better name, don't you think?'
    'I'm disappointed. Andrew and Barton seem to speak of one single person called "Joe Blow". I was awfully curious, but I didn't like to ask — who, what and where? I'm really a very inquisitive person, you know.' She put her head a little on the side as she smiled at him apolo-getically. 'An awful weakness, isn't it? Do I have a nuisance value, too?'
    'Like the fact that your left shoe is never quite properly wedded to your left foot?' he asked, smiling.
    'Me and my shoe!' she laughed. 'Two nuisances rolled into one. You put my shoe on my foot again. I'm a bit careless about my possessions, I think. I'm always kicking off my shoes at home. I don't even really know why. Just a bad habit, I suppose.'
    'Home? Where is home? Somewhere down the south west of the State, isn't it?'
    'Yes. Five miles out of Green Valley. We run some sheep, some cattle and breed horses — all in quite a small way.'
    'Yes. I've heard that.' He was studying her, but in an amused way. Jeckie wrinkled her brow.
    'But how would you know? I mean . . . we're strangers. Almost . .
    'We shouldn't be—Cousin "Juliet called Jeckie". I am one of your cousins— in a very distant way, you know.' Jeckie was startled.
    'Another relative? However many do we have? But please— why do you call me Juliet-Jeckie? Oh, I know. You heard Barton call me by my name when he came for me at the airport.'
    'Did he? I don't remember.' His eyes were still smiling; almost laughing. 'Most likely I heard the news of "Cousin Juliet's" imminent arrival over the transceiver. The open session, you know. Let me see. That would be two or three days ago.' He vvas looking at her quizzically as if wondering whether she minded that 'cousin' intimacy when he had said her name. 'Somewhere along the air-waves the "Juliet" became "Jeckie". I rather like that. Much more friendly,' he added.
     
    It was her turn to laugh. 'Oh, that transceiver! Everyone listens to everyone else on the open session. I haven't experienced it but I know that is what happens north of Twenty-six. Nothing's private! But why —'
    At that moment a wiry, thin woman came into the store through the door in the rear.
    `Oh, there you are, Jason,' she said. 'I'm sorry I left the store for so long. A dingo got in amongst the chickens last night. I've been wiring up the fence. Not too much damage done, thank Ranger. He didn't bark much, but of all things he'd been trying to round up the dingo. Did you ever hear of such a thing?'
    The dog had heard his name. He lifted his head and pricked his ears. His tail thumped busily on the floor.
    `Good boy, Ranger,' Jason said, looking down. 'If you have no sheep to round up, then any old wild dog will do, eh?'
    The kelpie's tail thumped again.
    `Of course he understands every word?' Jeckie said doubtfully.
    'Oh, absolutely. You'd be surprised! But I haven't introduced you to Mrs Stringer. This is Jeckie, one of the Ashendens, Maria,' he said. `Jeckie, may I introduce to you the doyen of storekeepers — Mrs Maria Stringer.'
    `Pleased to meet you, I'm sure,' Mrs Stringer said.
    `How do you do,' Jeckie replied. 'I think I must have my geography all wrong. I thought this was your store, Jason.'
    `I own the ground, but don't run the store. The store is Mrs Stringer's province,' he said.
    `You're staying out at Mallibee? Miss . . . er . . .' Mrs Stringer wore an expression of acute curiosity.
    Jeckie Bennett, but please call me Jeckie. Everybody does. My mother was one of the Ashendens. I don't claim the Ashenden name, except in theory.'
    `Not like Miss Isobel then? She claims it all right! Oh well, each to his own!'
    Jeckie did not know how to answer this, so she said nothing.
    Mrs Stringer's name exactly suited her very thin figure. She moved behind the counter at the back of the store and