John awoke with a start. It took him a few moments to realise where he was. He looked across the room to where Paul’s swag lay on the floor. It was empty. He assumed he’d find Paul making breakfast in the kitchen.
He rolled out of his swag, leaving it open to air, and made his way to the bathroom, before ambling down the corridor to the kitchen at the rear of the shearers" quarters. There was no sign of Paul. He went back into the room they were using as their campsite. Paul’s rifle was gone.
He told himself Paul had probably gone out to have a look around, since they’d decided to lay low for a few days before risking using their rifles to bring down a kangaroo. Grabbing his twenty-two, he went for a walk around the shearing shed.
The Land Cruiser was still parked in the loading bay. In
