big cray s-somewhere, don’t we, boss?’
‘That’s right,’ Jim said, making for the wheelhouse and talking over his shoulder. ‘But one thing’s for sure, there ain’t none around here.’ A pity, he said to himself as he reached up to a shelf to grab a sea chart. The area looked good, plenty of reefs and broken bottom. Lots of seagrass as well. He spread the map out in front of him then yelled to Arnie, ‘We’re gonna have to find some new grounds. And do me a favour, will you?’
‘Wh-what’s that boss?’ Arnie said coming into the cabin.
‘Don’t call me boss. Jim’ll be just fine.’
‘Um, o-okay, J-Jim.’ Then, changing the subject asked, ‘Wh-where are they? The n-new grounds?’
‘South.’ He stabbed at the chart. ‘Tomorrow we’ll head towards Strahan. We can set some pots outside the Strahan harbour. From there we’ll head further south towards Port Davey. We’ll drop the rest of them there. With a bit of luck we’ll do okay. We’ll come back Monday morning and sell our catch at the processors in Strahan.’ He slapped Arnie on the back. ‘So, let’s haul anchor and get out of here.’ He looked to the sky and the sea again just as another large wave smashed into side of The Shandora. He turned the key to start the inboard motor.
Arnie frowned as he tapped Jim on the shoulder. ‘Wh-what about Snook and Jars? They’ll be l-left on their own if we go away d-down there.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ve already thought about that,’ he said as he turned the boat for home. ‘We’ll take ’em with us.’
Arnie broke out into a broad grin. ‘That’s good J-Jim. They’ll like that.’
They knifed homeward through the waves. Jim fell silent. A sudden uneasiness had come over him. He couldn’t figure out why. There was nothing to worry about, was there? They were only going to try some new fishing grounds – to try and change their luck. He grimaced. ‘It had better change,’ he found himself saying aloud. ‘It’s our last chance.’
The two-way radio squawked. Who the devil could that be? he wondered. He’d covered all bases with the coast guard. So who could it be?
He handed the wheel to Arnie, snatched the speaker from its mount on the wall, and listened.
Chapter Ten
Jars and Snook both turned their heads at the sound of muffled voices coming from outside the front door.
‘That’ll be your dad and Arnie,’ Jars said to Snook. ‘Good timing too; dinner’s just on ready.’
Jim, followed by Arnie, walked into the kitchen. The smell of cooking hung in the air. He smiled. The kids had been busy.
Shadow, who was still lying under the table, wagged his tail and rose to say hello. Snook, who was hurriedly setting the table, looked up. ‘How was the fishin’, Dad?’
‘Don’t ask.’
‘N-no, Snook, um, d-don’t ask,’ Arnie said, agreeing with his boss.
‘You’d better set an extra place,’ Snook’s dad said crossing over to the stove. He lifted the lid on a pot and sniffed. ‘Just checking that we’ve got enough for our guest.’ He replaced the lid and pointed towards the kitchen doorway.
Jars and Snook craned their necks to see around Arnie, who was blocking their view.
‘Hi, you two, long time no see.’ A smiling Reg Carter edged around Arnie and into the kitchen. Dressed in jeans, flannel shirt and duffle coat, he still looked the same as a year ago when they’d first met. He was a Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife ranger then, a job he’d since given up to pursue some higher calling. Something to do with research and law enforcement in New South Wales. And now, here he was, with his tousled, sandy hair and permanent grinning face. The kids liked Reg.
‘Reg!’ they both said at once hurrying over to him. Shadow liked him, too. He gave a short yip and scurried from beneath the table. When Reg was a ranger, Shadow had belonged to him, but when his new job meant an interstate posting, he’d thought it best that his dog be given another home. When he asked Jars to have Shadow, she’d jumped at the chance. And from the very first, they’d developed an instant bond, a friend-ship that even Reg found hard to believe.
‘We picked this reprobate up at the jetty,’ Snook’s dad said, clapping Reg on the back. ‘He rang us on the Harbour Board’s two-way radio to let us know he was in town. He’s going to spend the night with us.’
He took Reg’s coat and then hung it on the kitchen door handle. He pointed to a seat. ‘Sit yourself down; judging by the smell, dinner’ll be ready soon.’
Fetching another plate and cutlery from the cupboard, Snook couldn’t help asking, ‘How come you’re in Cray Bay, Reg? Are you on a secret mission or somethin’?’
Reg, still grinning, shook his head.
‘Then maybe, if you’re not doin’ anything, you could help me and Jars look for whatever made them queer lights?’
Snook’s dad gave him a playful cuff behind the ear. ‘What are you talking about now? Have you been away with the fairies again? Go sit at the table and try to keep that tongue of yours still. We’ve got more important things than queer lights to discuss.’
Wondering what that could be, Jars began to dish out the meal – lamb chops, mashed potatoes, peas and gravy. She also wondered what Reg was doing in Cray Bay. Probably something official, she thought. Something to do with his work. He was an important man now. And no wonder. Reg was extraor-dinary. He had degrees in biology, genetics and speleology – the study of plants, animals and caves. And because of his exceptional qualifications and talent, he’d been given some higher-up position on the mainland. What that was she didn’t know. But why had he suddenly come to Cray Bay? He’ll tell us soon enough, she supposed.
Chapter Eleven
'This looks delicious,’ Reg commented as Jars set a plate of food before him.
Waving a fork in Jars’ direction, Jim laughed, and then said,
‘She’s the expert cook around here, Reg. That’s Jars’ job when-ever Irene’s away. Snook helps too. But tell me, what’s brought you to Cray Bay?’
‘Oh, nothing too exciting,’ he said, looking a little uncom-fortable. ‘I’m on a week’s holiday and I fancied coming down here to see all you guys again. Plus, if I can make it happen, I’d an inkling to spend a few days down south at the ranger’s shack in the Wild Rivers National Park. Just to have a look around, maybe see how the regrowth sections are progressing.’
‘Sounds like work to me,’ Jim commented, thinking his friend could be spending his holiday in more exciting ways.
‘No, nothing like that. All I’m looking for is a few days’ relax-ation.’
‘Here’s a thought,’ Jim said scratching his chin. ‘Seeing as you want to go south, you could hitch a ride with us on the boat. Arnie and I are heading for Strahan tomorrow. We’d be happy to drop you off wherever it is you’re going.’
‘It’s
