one in the town to give him work. The Chinese here normally keep to themselves and are very little trouble in fact they are a very placid mysterious kind of people. One almost feels sorry for them the way they in an almost apologetic way follow the gold miners and work the forsaken tail races.’
Helmut was in no mood to listen to the virtues of the Chinese race but the Sergeant seemed intent on talking and so he could do little else but listen as they walked side by side back to the cart. ‘They are an incomprehensible people, it’s their belief that a man must be buried in his native country to attain to immortality. I can tell you that this leads to all manner of difficulties. But I have to admit that they put up with an awful lot. I don’t know if you have ever seen any of their houses they are the simplest of dwellings. They are usually made out of sun dried sods but for the roofs they use anything from old rice bags to tussocks. Mind you they are usually warm and dry. I admit to admiring them as a race they work long and hard. Too Gum Shue has never caused any problems but he doesn’t seem to fit in somehow.’
As they came to the end of the street the cart came into view and Helmut was amazed to see that it was neatly loaded with all the supplies. The animals had all been watered and the dogs were sitting quietly waiting to go home and not a sign of the Chinaman his black bag or wooden box.
‘Well I’m sorry about this Sergeant I seem to have called you for nothing.’
‘That’s all right sir at least the problem is resolved.’
Little did he know the ‘problem’ as he called it was far from solved. It had been an eventful day and Helmut would be pleased to get out of the place and back onto the hills. He would get as far as he could before sunset which in this part of the world was quite late. That was one of the things that Helga had loved, the long twilight. He drove on for about three hours just enjoying his own company and that of the dogs until he came to level ground not too far from the river with some trees for shelter as this time of year the nights could be cold. He got down from the cart and yawned and stretched. He was feeling quite tired from the journey. He would make camp and then prepare himself a meal. He unhitched the animals and saw to their needs then calling the dogs he said, ‘Right you two, neither of you smell too clean and neither do I so it’s into the river for the three of us.’ As if they understood every word they bounded off towards the river. They were soon standing on the river bank full of anticipation. Being no one for miles around Helmut stripped off naked and drew in a deep breath waiting for the intense cold to hit him. After the initial shock the three of them played and splashed like small children. After an invigorating rub down he was just adjusting his braces when he became aware that the dogs were no longer with him. Well they must have gone back to camp, he thought, perhaps they are hungry. He was aware that his own stomach was being to growl with the lack of food.
As he dressed and started back he saw smoke rising from the camp site. Not feeling really afraid never the less he approached with caution. As he did so he smelt the delicious aroma of something cooking. Even before he saw the black bag and wooden box on the back of the wagon he knew who it was. Until the day he died he was never to know how this small man covered the same distance on foot as he had with the wagon. Yet here he was with a meal prepared and still looking fresh.
‘Me make rabbit stew, velly good.’ He handed Helmut a plate with what he had to admit was the tastiest meal he had eaten for some time. They both ate in silence.
‘I can’t pay you very much, if you insist on coming with me.’ He was well aware that he had little choice in the matter anyway.
‘Me no want any money, just a place to sleep and enough to eat, me velly small and no eat velly much.’ As if to prove the point he placed his half eaten meal on the ground.
‘Eat your meal man before the dogs get it. They are not known for their good manners.’ They both resumed eating. When Helmut had finished he leaned back against the tree watching as the Chinaman cleaned the plates and set about making a billy of tea. He noticed that even at the end of the day his white Mandarin shirt was still spotlessly clean. He wore a small black cap and black trousers. Why, he wondered do Chinese always wear trousers that are too short. Still short trousers or no short trousers he had to admire the methodical way that this small man went about his work just as if there was a set move to even the smallest of tasks.
Later after several cups of hot tea he said, ‘You go to bed Too Gum I’m going for a stroll first’. The dogs normally accompanied him on these walks. However this time they preferred to stay with their new friend. Not for the first time today did he feel piqued with them. He walked to the river but he felt somehow strangely unsettled and so decided to return to camp and try and get some sleep. It must have been early hours of the morning that he woke with a start. He knew instinctively that something was not quite right; the dogs were alert and giving a low growl as they do when something is wrong. He looked across at Too Gum and in the moonlight he could see that he also was wide awake although not moving a muscle. He slowly eased himself up out of his bed roll all the while cursing himself for leaving his double barrel shotgun on the back of the wagon. He felt that every hair on the back of his neck was standing on end. Even though it was a very cold night he could feel his palms sweating yet his throat was bone dry.
‘Who is there?’ He called, trying to sound much more courageous than he felt. He was not a man to swear; in fact even the workers on the farm did not use bad language, in his presence at least. But at this instance he let out such words that even he didn’t know he knew. Walking down the track there was what appeared to be an apparition. The figure seemed to float out of the mist with the moon right behind it and then suddenly let out a loud moan and collapsed in a heap. The dogs retreated under the wagon but there was barely enough space as Too Gum had beaten them to it.
Well, up until this point I didn’t believe in ghosts he thought but even I know that ghosts don’t fall down. There was no point in getting the gun as whatever it was it posed no threat now. He walked the few yards up towards the thing on the ground then he too let out a loud moan,
‘Too Gum come here quick I need your assistance.’ It was the woman he had met on the road earlier. ‘Oh please don’t let her be dead.’ He bent down and felt for a pulse. There was a slight pulse and ever so gently he put his arms under her and lifted her up. He could feel her bones as if there was no flesh at all on them. ‘You poor, poor girl, even my dogs have more flesh on them than you.’ By this time Too Gum had put more logs on to burn and spread out a blanket as close to the fire as was safe. They wrapped her in the blanket and Helmut sat with her head on his knee all the while trying to rub life back into her frozen flesh.
‘Too Gum, under the seat on the wagon you will find a bottle of whiskey bring it as quick as you can and another blanket. I said under the seat, not in the back.’
But Too Gum was to intent on what he was doing to pay any heed. From under his shirt he extracted a key that he kept on a single gold chain. He then inserted the key in the lock of the wooden box which contained a perplexing array of small bottles and jars. He quickly selected a bottle and poured a few drops into a tiny blue and white porcelain container. Replacing the bottle and locking the box he got down from the wagon. Adding some water to the container he came over to the woman.
‘You please hold her head back and try to open her mouth a little.’
‘I sure hope you know what you’re doing.
Ever so gently he poured the liquid into her mouth. ‘This ancient Chinese recipe soon make lady well, velly good.’
‘I wonder how long since she has eaten.’
‘I make plenty hot sweet tea.’
Her eyes flickered open for just a second but she didn’t really see anything. At least she
