Without You I Have Nothing (51 page)

_{"That job was
just so easy and I didn't even force the lock. I was a bad boy when I was young
until my father kicked some sense into me.”  Joe grinned.}

_{He took the keys from
the ignition. "This key doesn't fit, so he won't attach the loss of the
drugs to us. This second key must be a house key although I've never seen one
like it before.”  The key was the shape of a raging bull, its phallus erect and
serrated. Obviously, the phallus opened a lock.}

_{"I think I had
better put my long unused skills to work. I'm sure my father would forgive
me."}

_{Joe took the key and
began to make a cast of it - obviously determined to make a copy. For two
hours, he worked while Peter finished the car. Eventually he handed Peter the
original key while the duplicate was soon on the key ring.}

_{Together they hid the
wheel containing the drugs and, at last satisfied they had left nothing to
chance, the two locked up.}

_{Late the next day
'Pretty Boy' collected the car. Obviously, in a hurry, he gave the repairs a
cursory glance before driving off without a word.}

_{February crawled into
March and Peter spent every available minute with Jennifer. They were
inseparable. Some weekends they were back with her parents where the men
planned the reception only to have their plans repeatedly overturned by new
demands from the women.}

_{While sitting in
their quayside apartment in Sydney one evening, watching the ferries glide
past, Peter raised the topic of their honeymoon.}

_{"I don't mind
where we go,” remarked Jennifer happily. "I haven't given that a
thought."}

_{"Well,” Peter
seemed reluctant to voice his thoughts, "I mentioned that I will be in
uniform. My regiment demanded that they honor me and welcome my bride. I have
two further commitments and I would love to meet those commitments as soon as
possible after our wedding. My Indian father and Chinese father want to meet
you and have asked that we go to Singapore and Malaysia.}

_{"Sweetheart, I
would love to visit them. I need to say thanks to them for all their help while
I was growing up. Their support helped forge me into the person here today,
holding your hand.”  Smiling Peter reached for Jennifer and squeezed her hand. He
waited for her reaction, hoping she would like the idea.}

_{"Oh, I know the
real reason why you want to go to the east. It's all the food and all the
chilies,” Jennifer laughed.}

_{Peter smiled gently.}

_{"No, really -
that's not all. I'd actually like to settle the ghosts of my past and show you
the east I know.”  Peter was doing his best to sell the idea.}

_{Smiling, Jennifer
studied him. Seeing his serious face, she laughed and decided to put him out of
his misery. "Well I suppose it is better than the honeymoon the
secretaries at work were telling me I'd get."}

_{"What was
that?”  Peter was interested.}

_{"A study tour of
bedroom ceilings,” and Jennifer laughed at the shocked look on his face.}

_{The days ground on
unremittingly.}

_{Occasionally they stayed
for a week with her parents as Jennifer and her mother wanted to go shopping
for furniture and furnishings for the new home.}

_{The fact that Peter
drove them and helped in the decision-making made the purchasing all the more
pleasant as Jennifer basked in the warmth of his presence and was amazed how
patient he was.}

_{On one occasion,
Peter took the initiative. Surprised by his sudden interest, she was
embarrassed when Peter dragged her into a furniture shop and stood beside a
king sized bed, demanding they try it out before purchasing it.}

_{The grey-haired
salesman only laughed.}

_{"He'll get his
comeuppance when you get him home. They're all the same these young men. Take
him home and beat some sense into him."}

_{At times, the women
took themselves off to town while the men went to Rocky Springs to inspect the
work on the Main House. With the assistance of an interior decorator,
eventually the furniture and furnishings were in place and the property was
becoming a vibrantly alive center for the surrounding paddocks and scrub.}

_{The roof had been
repaired, ceilings were restored and without altering the character of the
mansion the building was modernized. The grand old mansion was gaining a new
life.}

_{However days were
also occupied with meetings. Either company accountants or solicitors demanded
their time in finalizing the changed requirements for Blake Pastoral.}

_{At a combined meeting
of the family, solicitor and accountant the topic was the direction the company
was take. Eric and Andrew, being graziers, wanted to improve the quality of the
herd and flock by introducing new high-grade stud bulls and rams. Peter the
engineer had his own plans to diversify the business.}

_{His thoughts
astonished them, forcing the family to rethink their priorities. The engineer,
in Peter, was thinking beyond the farming side of the business and wanted to
expand into other fields that would prove just as lucrative. He was looking far
into the future.}

_{Peter started
tentatively. "I believe my proposals could make Blake Pastoral a world leader,
meaning we must look beyond the animals and the land."}

_{Looking at each
member of the family, he could see the puzzlement in their eyes. Slowly he
continued.}

_{"There are two
financial areas which always have money and can always generate money - Government
and Education. Therefore I propose...” and he handed each person a page of
notes to peruse.}

_{1)
On the highest points of Rocky Springs, we build a series
of wind turbines to generate electricity to sell back into the grid.}

_{2)
We build pigpens at the Forestry end of Rocky Springs to
cultivate the European market for pig meat using wild boars.}

_{3)
We examine water harvesting, to develop the water
resources available to us through the natural springs on both properties. At
the same time, we put in place water re-cycling.}

_{4)
We convert the shearing shed on Rocky Springs to a motel
and conference center using expertise from Melbourne University and the
University of Technology Sydney. Possibly a co-operative venture but that is
not certain until we investigate further.}

_{5)
We extend the shearing shed on Deep Springs to cope with
the rise in the number of sheep in the flock.}

_{6)
We build a village for our workers - complete with a
cottage hospital.}

_{7)
We purchase a tourist coach for the transport of guests
and students.}

_{8)
We acquire a small helicopter for speedy transport to and
from Melbourne or from the local airport and for use on the properties.}

_{9)
We establish Blake's Internet Service Provider using
satellite communications and extend that service to the nearby town. We will
connect local schools and the pupils will have their own terminals.}

_{Patiently Peter
waited while they had read his propositions.}

_{After a long period
of silence as they tried to digest these proposals Elizabeth asked, "Where
will the money come from?  This is a massive undertaking. Is it necessary to
expand like this?  I love our farm and the farm life and these proposals will
mean a huge change that I'm not sure we can handle."}

_{Eric took control,
aided by Andrew. "Just to run the two properties we will need at least 30
stockmen. Wages, accommodation and food will be a huge commitment without
considering the computer work and staff for a village hospital. A motel and
lecture rooms are pushing things a long way. Where will we get lecturers?}

_{"A tourist coach
would cost over $500,000 and would it get full use?}

_{"A chopper? 
Peter, the next thing you'll want will be an aircraft carrier for the creek.” 
Eric did not seem impressed.}

_{Andrew chipped in,
"Blake Pastoral is to become an ISP provider when Mum and Dad can't spell computer
let alone use one.”  His chuckle and Jennifer's tinkling giggle defused the
situation.}

_{Laughing, Jennifer
added her comments. "You're mad!  We'll be out of water in a week. This
place - this motel - will soak up water and no one will want to wash in a
shaving mug. Water is a never-ending problem on country properties.}

_{"When I was a
girl growing up I wanted to become a pilot and now I have a chance!"}

_{Peter wouldn't allow
the others to push his ideas aside. "Income will come from two outside
agencies. One is the government in the form of government grants. The other
source could be universities if we can sell the idea of advancing green
renewable power and water harvesting in partnership with their research and
development departments.}

_{"Workers will be
no problems as I have lots of friends - some of whom you met at the Deepavali
Party. Amongst them are communication experts and medical personnel. There are
also a couple of chopper pilots. They would be delighted to bring their
families here and settle.}

_{"ASIO will
assist in our gathering workers from overseas, if necessary"}

_{Without waiting for a
comment, grinning, he proceeded, "There is one thing you have not
considered in all this.”  He looked at the startled faces then smiled.}

_{"Security!  We
are entering an area of gigantic business interests and it will be a dog eat
dog situation. Security of the property and the local schools will be
important.}

_{More questions flowed
and hours later, they agreed to have more meetings to discuss all the
proposals.}

_{In the meantime, the
accountant was to investigate the feasibility of government grants and
university assistance while the solicitor was to investigate the laws regarding
electricity generation and water harvesting.}

_{In the weeks
following that initial discussion of plans for Blake Pastoral they all met at
the accountants to discuss further developments}

_{Jennifer spent nights
with Peter, poring over pamphlets and brochures of Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and
Penang as the plans for their honeymoon slowly took shape.}

_{It was on such a
night that Jennifer made an announcement. The revelation seemed almost an
afterthought. However, the twinkle in her eyes said otherwise. "Well Mr.
Smarty, ye of all the surprises, when you are booking seats for people to fly
to Melbourne, book three seats for the week before the wedding."}

_{Peter's surprised
look told it all.}

_{"Susie has
agreed to be my Matron of Honor. Karen and Ruth will be my bridesmaids and they
are all flying down to support me for the week prior to the wedding. Susie will
be organizing a hen's night and we will all be busy - hair facials, manicures,
dresses the lot.}

_{"Stop looking so
shocked Peter. Remember I have spies to keep an eye on you at your buck's
night, so you'd better behave.}

_{Peter was too
bewildered to answer.}

_{When planning the
guest list and the reception, both Eric and Andrew were stunned when Peter
explained who would be amongst his guests. They were certainly surprised when
he asked that they send a number of invitations overseas.}

_{Where Peter had once
hoped they could slink away, elope and be themselves, he found himself with
Eric and Andrew planning the catering and arranging for 400. Food, drink and
photographers had to be organized and most important of all, a venue.}

_{One morning at Deep
Springs when breakfast was over Peter drove Jennifer to Rocky Springs.}

_{Down the wide
corridor, they walked to the rear of their future home.}

_{Knowing the interior
decorators had installed their special office furniture, Jennifer was not the
least surprised to hear Peter's announcement. "I've commandeered a room as
my office. If it doesn't suit your plans I'll move elsewhere, but please allow
me to work close to you."}

_{He opened a door.}

_{"I know this is
the room you wanted for your office, your private place and I'll only enter
when invited.”  Taking her hand, he led her back into the corridor. "Come
to my office which I've had furnished. We need to discuss the future.}

_{"We've been so
busy - you with the wedding and your job with the Insurance Company and me with
the workshop in Sydney - that we really haven't had time to consider what we
plan doing.}