Page 46 of Lost In Kakadu

“No, they wouldn’t.”

Abigail recalled how that dress choice caused Charlene eight months of hell. And it wasn’t until her husband donated a hundred thousand dollars to their fundraising committee that Charlene was back on the invite lists. “You don’t understand.”

“Tell me then. We’ve got plenty of time. Start with what you do.”

“Do?”

“Yeah, what do youdo?” He said it slowly as if it would help her understand.

She’d never really been asked this before and had to think about it. Although she was always extremely busy, there wasn’t just one thing that she did every day. “Well. . . I’m involved in several fundraising committees. I play tennis and I’m also training my horse, Avalon, for polo.”

“So, you don’t work.”

“Yes, I work very hard.”

“Right.” Mackenzie shook his head.

“I do.”

“Yes, I’m sure you do. But you don’t work to earn money.”

“That doesn’t mean I don’t work,” she snapped.

Why did it always have to come back to money?

ChapterNineteen

Mackenzie was grateful when a eucalyptus tree provided an opportunity to change the subject. “I saw a sugar glider sucking the nectar from these flowers.” He cut several red blooms and smelled the sweet aroma.

“What are you going to do with them?” Abigail raised an eyebrow.

He shrugged. “Eat them.”

They arrived back at the clearing and Mackenzie unloaded the backpack, placing the water bottles into the suitcase. The fire had burned down to wisps of smoke and Charlie was still resting in the same position he’d been in when they left hours earlier.

While Mackenzie stoked the fire, he surveyed the half-dug grave. They weren’t anywhere near completion. The hole measured only about one and a half metres long and just thirty centimetres deep. It would need to be at least three times that size. The fresh cut earth had lightened to grey as it dried out and when he kicked at the dirt pile beside the grave it crumbled under his foot.

He took the mushrooms and eucalyptus flowers out of the backpack and sat cross-legged on the grass by the fire, trying to get comfortable.

The mushroom flesh was chalk white and the brown skirt underneath had dozens of folded layers of flesh. It smelled good—woody and rich. He was fully aware of the dangers of eating poisonous mushrooms, but without any alternative the only way to confirm if it was ediblewas to eat it. Unable to resist any longer he nibbled off a small portion and noted its earthy freshness. He tossed the mushrooms into the pan with a little oil and a handful of eucalyptus flower pipes and stirred them with a debarked twig.

Abigail arrived at his side. “What are you making?”

“Mushrooms a la Kakadu.”

“Very funny.” She frowned. “You’re not eating those, are you?”

“Of course. Can’t let good food go to waste.”

“But how do you know they’re safe?”

“Only one way to tell. I guess we’ll know in a couple of hours.”

“Mackenzie! Don’t be stupid. They could kill you.”

Oddly he was at ease with the situation. “I’ll only eat a couple. At the very worst, I’ll get sick, maybe have some nasty toilet trips, but I don’t think I’ll die.”

Abigail regarded him for a moment. “Don’t leave me alone out here.”

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