Black Mountain by Kate Loveday Page B

wanted.’
    â€˜There probably won’t be much call for that type of thing in Cairns.’
    Was that regret he heard in her voice? He turned his head to find she was looking out the passenger’s side window, so there was nothing to help him guess her thoughts.
    â€˜Who can tell?’ he said lightly as he turned his attention back to the road.
    They had reached Cape Tribulation, which was where the bitumen ran out, and once they were on to the unsealed road that was the Bloomfield Track the going became much rougher, and he was forced to reduce speed and focus on driving carefully.
    They crossed several stony creek beds, dry now as there had been no rain for several months, and as they eased down one rough bank and up the other, the Cruiser bucked and jolted.
    The engine growled as he changed down gears going up and down the steep inclines. Boulders littered the sides of the road, and the forest pressed in on both sides, with branches often extending across the track and over the creeks. Apart from the ribbon of dirt they followed they were in a dense wilderness.

Chapter 14
    Elly was relieved when they reached Wujal Wujal, the small Aboriginal settlement set in a clearing in the forest, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. As they drove slowly along a track between the houses a dog came racing out and barked at them, followed by a small boy who stood with his finger in his mouth, his eyes large and round beneath his mop of curly black hair. Mitchell stopped the car and the boy watched them for a moment before removing his finger from his mouth and venturing slowly towards them. Elly got out of the car and walked over to him.
    â€˜Hello,’ she said, smiling down at him. ‘Is your Mummy home?’
    The boy nodded solemnly, then turned and ran back to the house, calling to his mother. She came out a moment later, a small dark woman with her hair twisted up into a bun, and Elly went towards her.
    â€˜Hello,’ she said. ‘We’re looking for Della. I wonder if you can tell me if she lives here.’
    The woman frowned as she shook her head. ‘No, but her niece does. Down there—’ she pointed along the track, ‘—sixth house down.’
    â€˜Thank you.’
    Elly turned and went back to the car as the woman returned to her door, where she stood watching as they drove slowly down the track. At the sixth house Mitchell stopped, and Elly got out and went to the front door and knocked. The door was opened by a middle-aged woman in a flowery dress.
    â€˜Yes, can I help you?’ she asked.
    â€˜I hope so. I’m looking for Della, I believe you’re her niece. I’m hoping you can tell me where to find her.’
    The woman looked at her sombrely and shook her head. ‘You’re too late. That old lady’s passed on.’
    Elly felt the words like a blow to the stomach. She had pinned such high hopes on finding Della.
    â€˜Oh dear. I’m so sorry. When did it happen?’
    â€˜About three months ago. Sorry.’
    She stepped back and was about to close the door when Elly put out her hand.
    â€˜Wait. Just a minute, please.’ She spoke quickly, urgently. ‘She gave my father some information and I’m wondering if you might be able to help me.’
    â€˜What did she tell him?’
    â€˜He was a chemist, you see, and he was researching plants, and they met up out in the Daintree somewhere. And she told him about a rare plant that had wonderful healing properties. It was used on initiation scars, as well as other things, and it was very special and she showed him where to find it. And he was working with it when … ’Elly pulled up short, remembering the Aboriginal taboo about talking about those who had died.
    She gulped and continued. ‘When we lost him, you see. And it was very important work. My mother and I are desperate to find the plant and we don’t know where to look. We were hoping … that old lady