Chapter 18

Zacharias didn't thank his Cadillac for that move to break the water seal on the block of his V8 405 Turbo Diesel. That was not the idea. In the meantime he had received some very interesting responses.

There was no transportation because no one was coming or going. There was no doctor , because the men were miners, very strong laborers and never got sick. There were no telephones, because no one had anyone to call or anyone to call them. Incidentally, the state police who were supposed to come on Saturday came at dawn. Zacharias could not call for help on the police radio, as that was illegal .

Of course, no one was holding him and his Cadillac was well guarded. If he wanted to, he could walk to the highway. It was only 60 kilometers. That was precisely what he intended to do.

He would leave in the early morning and hopefully arrive at dawn, where he would hitchhike. Whatever. I needed to get to Darwin.

--You don't see many strangers around here,-- the voice said, --I'm Stella Rivas.

He looked up. That's all that was missing.. A blonde. Very interesting. About 38 years old...I'm sure she was a nurse who had survived all the waders and Japs of the Pacific.......Latina was just like him. For a moment he gave himself reasons to postpone the trip. Maybe he wouldn't leave tomorrow. The day after tomorrow would be fine. Yes. It was a good possibility.

He would see her one more time... definitely. He would leave the day after tomorrow.

7

VI

The man drove in the stifling heat.

Every moment the indignation increased. Four days on that damned road and three more to go to Darwin to fulfill the whims of an insolent, rude, ill-mannered, miserable, and capricious old woman. He looked at his silent wife. And he didn't understand why it had to be him. What the hell did I have to do with this? What the fuck do I have to do with this?. He hadn't bought his Chevrolet Bel Air V8 big block turbo diesel for that. Of course!... With a trip of over 3000 kilometers for nothing, his beloved car would be damaged. Of course, none of his brothers-in-law would pay him anything. The discussion had been a big one.

--Yeah ... surely Coca Cola will go bankrupt if your brother doesn't drive the truck...he mumbled angrily, --and the other one can lose his money while he reads the paper watching the winning horses at the racetrack races. It has to be me. It has to be the idiot who comes and goes.

--It's my mother and she needs us,--she had told him.

--Well, buying her a broom would have been enough. There are several full-equipped ones out there for her to fly with peace of mind.--

Since that last comment they hadn't said a word to each other. Until the right rear blew out.

--Damn it! Damn it!--he shouted angrily, angrily hitting the steering wheel as he pulled over to the side of the road, --How long do I have to put up with this?

Part Two

8

His indifferent wife just watched the monotonous landscape through her window. With the same indignation he descended, opened his trunk, looked for the jack and the spare tyre and set out to change it. At 2 o'clock in the morning and in 38 degrees Celsius heat it was not a pleasant task. It was the last time he was forced to go down that road to see a rude old woman who had never endured a minute and a half. The lights approached. Without stopping to change the tyre or cursing aloud, he saw the car stop.

They shone headlamp on him and immediately illuminated the tyre area.

--Thank you, a little help is never a bad thing . -- He said by way of greeting.

They continued lighting the work site, so it would finish in less than 10 minutes. Another guy placed the searchlight on a support of the vehicle.

For his part, he increased his work; well lit, he would finish more quickly.

He looked up and with astonishment he saw....

-Hey. But what are you doing to my wife? -- he immediately got up with the tre iron and rushed toward the figure who had put half his body through the window of his car.

9.-

Chapter 2

Armed with their corresponding Swan and Emu beers, he contemplated her. It was all right. There wasn't much to talk about, amidst the deafening din of the tireless parishioners who were drinking by the ton, dancing non-stop, having the time of their lives.

--I see that there are not many girls,-- he said, looking around.

--They are rough men. A woman restricts their freedom,-- she explained. He had been hovering nearby, until he decided to approach.

--¿¿¿???

--Yes. Alone. Sometimes you're alone in a crowd,-- she explained, indicating that she was alone...alone. ....

And it wouldn't be for lack of physicality, Zacharias understood, shamelessly leering at her.

--Or do you become Rocky Martian when you drink,-- said Zacharias, watching the miners dance frantically.

--Around here this group is the standard for a crowd,-- she said with a generous gulp. He had already been here for 2 days and this was the only amusement - drinking and watching the miners dance and talking to a beautiful Milf .

-- They said you got here by accident. That's the way to get here,-- continued the girl with shining eyes, signaling one of the dancers for another round, which was immediately obeyed.

--And the way to get out? - he inquired tentatively.

--Patience,-- she answered, --and having a good time.

--Well. I don't think I have the strength to dance and drink 24 hours a day. The food around here is lousy.

--Haven't you had dinner yet?

--Well, the truth is, I don't know when the last time I ate was. In the two days I've been here, I think I've been feeding on the energy of the air and coffee.

--Oh, my goodness,--she exclaimed, --we're going to solve that right away; these guys eat only beers .... .... You'll have to excuse me.

--I wouldn't want to eat "Witchetty"

10.-

-Fancy a croc?-Well, let me tell you, Witchetty's are divine. You don't know what you're missing.

--If I don't have to kill it.

--Well, I'll give you a variety of crocodile sausage rolls . You're gonna like it--she insisted--and with a nice Longneck, it's the best.

--Well. You have to get used to the scenery.

--What was your war ?-- she asked, demonstrating that when she wanted to know something, no one could get in her way.

About 20 minutes later she served his dinner, it was clear that she was curious for an answer.

--Will you join me?-- she asked when she saw the dinner. It would leave 4 people fed up for the amount he served.

--I've already eaten,--she explained .

--Then I see what the food is like around here. I'll eat it, no one is brave enough to join me.

--Didn't you go to war?-- she insisted, sitting down to join him and pouring another Emu.

--I spent it chasing crooks through Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Panama.

--Venezuela and Panama? Where is that?

--Right over there .

--A former cop. I see you arrested the wrong guy .

--Rather they escaped me...And you?--he replied, recalling his glamorous failure in Caracas, when he was starting his career in the Secret Service, and his final incident, how he ended up in Pueblo Mohave protecting Noa D' Haro.

-- I was in the hospital on Goodenough Island,-- she said, to gauge him military experience in WWII.

--And your boy?

--In the USS School submarine .lost in Indonesia Sea.

--I understand. A lonely young woman, victim of the outrages of war , the food was very good. I hope the crocodile's widow doesn't come to complain.

They continued drinking beers. If he kept this up, eating and drinking like that, he would be a prime candidate to become a regular client of an endocrinologist .

Hours later he retired to his hotel room. A good bath to cool off the terrible heat would be nice. As he left the bathroom there was Stella Rivas.

--Do you like what you see? --asked the captivating woman from his bed.

--These sixty years are looking very active -- sighed Zacharias....