Free The Audrey of the Outback Collection by Christine Harris Page B

fluttered in the wind. ‘Not far now, Two-Bob.’
    She grinned. Dad always used her nickname. A swaggie called Bloke had given Audrey that name when she’d said, ‘You’re as crazy as a two-bob watch.’
    Swaggies usually avoided towns. But Audrey could hardly wait to get to Beltana. From her home in the bush, it was three days’ walk to the nearest house. And a lot more than that to a town.
    ‘Dad, are the houses in Beltana really right next to each other, in rows?’ asked Audrey.
    ‘Sure as eggs.’
    ‘There won’t be so many flies because there’s more people to share them.’ Back home, flies stuck to their backs like dark coats. Especially on north wind days.
    Suddenly Mum grabbed Dad’s arm. ‘Stop!’

Two
    Mum half-dropped, half-jumped to the ground without waiting for Dad’s help.
    Audrey exchanged a surprised look with Price.
    Their mum bent over, her arms cradling her stomach, and began retching into the saltbushes.
    Douglas slipped his hand into Audrey’s and squeezed. Silence settled on the family. The only sound was Mum going for the big spit, and the wind hissing dust.
    Dad stood, holding the camels steady. His rough hands were as battered as his hat. Dirt stained his fingernails. Dad narrowed his eyes and stared at the Flinders Ranges on the horizon. Audrey guessed he was trying not to make Mum feel awkward about being sick.
    He slipped the reins into his left hand and, with his right, patted his top pocket. Although he had given up tobacco, he still liked to chew on the empty clay pipe. He fumbled as he took it from his pocket and the pipe fell to the ground.
    Snort lifted one of his large flat feet and crushed it.
    Dad glared at his camel, then down at the crumbs of his favourite pipe.
    ‘Snort’s in twubble,’ said Douglas.
    ‘Snort’s always in trouble.’ Audrey wriggled her fingers. They were starting to tingle from her little brother’s tight grip.
    Dad must have been very worried if he could watch his pipe get smashed and not say naughty words.
    Mrs Barlow reached into her pocket for a handkerchief. She turned to face the family. Her skin was shiny with perspiration. She moved her mouth into the shape of a smile, but it didn’t look real.
    ‘Are you all right?’ asked Audrey.
    Mrs Barlow nodded. ‘I’m not a good traveller.’
    Dad gave Mum a funny look like he wanted to say something but couldn’t. He offered Mum his hand. She took it and climbed back onto the front seat of the cart.
    As they began moving again, Mum’s back was straight and she didn’t take her eyes off the track ahead. But she gripped the seat with both hands as though she might slide off. Audrey had a strange feeling, as though someone had whispered something important and she’d missed what was said.

Three
    A glint of light to the left of the track caught Audrey’s attention. She blinked hard. It was the kind of warm, clear afternoon when mirages shimmered in the distance. But this glint was real.
    ‘I can see the railway line!’ she shouted. ‘I wish a train would come past so we could hear the driver blow the whistle.’
    ‘There’s the station,’ said Price. The tremble in his voice gave away a hidden thrill at seeing the first building.
    ‘Where?’
    Price pointed.
    At first, all Audrey saw were trees. Then she spotted an iron roof. She didn’t mind that Price had been first to notice the station. She’d seen the railway line before anyone else.
    ‘I want to see the fing too.’ Douglas tugged at Audrey’s sleeve.
    She wasn’t sure that her little brother knew what that thing was. Douglas sometimes became excited without understanding why.
    As they drew closer, the station building seemed to grow larger. The platform was hidden on the other side of the building. Three Aboriginal men sat together with their backs against the wall. One of the men nodded a greeting. Audrey and Douglas waved.
    The track widened. Two carts could have passed each other, side-by-side.
    A flapping cloud of