had complained about the figure work and the loneliness, and he would consider that more work would soon cure that.
Shortly after lunch they went their separate ways. Mrs Pullman to pack her case, and no doubt take a short nap afterwards, and Sarah to generally tidy up. Her things were already packed.
Mrs Pullman told her that the Park van could be expected any time after three, and Sara replied that she would be back at the canteen well before that, in case he was early.
When she had finished putting everything to rights in her room, she went into the small room she had used as an office, and noticed that the file
had gone, and for the first time she began to believe that Mrs Pullman had been right in assuming that Sean Cartier did not intend to return for quite some time.
As Sarah stared around her, she saw that there was not a trace of any work in the room. Even the waste paper basket had been emptied.
She drew in a long breath. Sean Cartier's decision to go to Darwin had been an overnight one. It was because of what had happened. He couldn't trust himself not to repeat his advances.
Perhaps he hoped she would escape? Her forehead creased in thought. It would be the perfect answer for him. He would know that her only wish would be to keep out of his vicinity. He didn't really believe she was a security risk, even though he had accused her of not being very bright; she would have to be an absolute dullard if she was stupid enough to publish news of the find.
No, she mused, it was just an excuse to pay her out. Why, if she had been a real security threat, he would have warned Mrs Pullman to keep an eye on her, and he hadn't!
Sarah took a deep breath. As far as he was concerned, the game was over. She closed her eyes as a feeling of deep relief spread over her. It was over! All she had to do was to get to the National Park and beg a lift from one of the coaches or from private transport. She would prefer not to go back to Darwin, but she knew she had no choice in the matter.
In any case, it would be dark by the time they got to Darwin, and surely that was all to the
good? Not that there was a chance that she would run into Sean Cartier, he would be too busy whooping it up in some night spot to even give her a thought.
She would book in at a small hotel, and with luck, be on the first plane out and on her way home before His Lordship was awake.
In her mind's eye she saw herself striding up the steps of the Daily entrance and walking through reception, giving an idle wave to Marge at her desk, and going on through to the maze of small offices with the typewriters blazing away. She smiled, it was doubtful whether they would notice her as she made her way to the editor's office.
From then on, it would be easy. She would not go into details, her thoughts remained the same on this. The less said the better. The 'engagement' was off! This produced another smile from Sarah, and after a glance at her watch, she went back to her room and gathered up her case, then made her way to the canteen to await the Park van.
As it happened the van was early, and arrived at a quarter to three. Mrs Pullman was still in her quarters, and Sarah, anxious to be on her way, approached the driver when he got out of his van to make the delivery.
Flashing her press card at him, and giving him a smile that made him blink, Sarah asked if he'd mind giving her a lift out of the site. She had come to see Mr Cartier, she explained, and found he was on leave. Now she was stuck without transport, and could he oblige?
It was as well for Sarah that the van driver was not all that bright, for had this actually been the case, she would never have got past the gate in the first place..
As in the past, the showing of the press card did wonders. It was an open sesame to otherwise closed doors, and with a grin the driver said he would be glad to have her aboard. By the time Mrs Pullman had got to the canteen, the fruit had been delivered and the driver
Shortly after lunch they went their separate ways. Mrs Pullman to pack her case, and no doubt take a short nap afterwards, and Sarah to generally tidy up. Her things were already packed.
Mrs Pullman told her that the Park van could be expected any time after three, and Sara replied that she would be back at the canteen well before that, in case he was early.
When she had finished putting everything to rights in her room, she went into the small room she had used as an office, and noticed that the file
had gone, and for the first time she began to believe that Mrs Pullman had been right in assuming that Sean Cartier did not intend to return for quite some time.
As Sarah stared around her, she saw that there was not a trace of any work in the room. Even the waste paper basket had been emptied.
She drew in a long breath. Sean Cartier's decision to go to Darwin had been an overnight one. It was because of what had happened. He couldn't trust himself not to repeat his advances.
Perhaps he hoped she would escape? Her forehead creased in thought. It would be the perfect answer for him. He would know that her only wish would be to keep out of his vicinity. He didn't really believe she was a security risk, even though he had accused her of not being very bright; she would have to be an absolute dullard if she was stupid enough to publish news of the find.
No, she mused, it was just an excuse to pay her out. Why, if she had been a real security threat, he would have warned Mrs Pullman to keep an eye on her, and he hadn't!
Sarah took a deep breath. As far as he was concerned, the game was over. She closed her eyes as a feeling of deep relief spread over her. It was over! All she had to do was to get to the National Park and beg a lift from one of the coaches or from private transport. She would prefer not to go back to Darwin, but she knew she had no choice in the matter.
In any case, it would be dark by the time they got to Darwin, and surely that was all to the
good? Not that there was a chance that she would run into Sean Cartier, he would be too busy whooping it up in some night spot to even give her a thought.
She would book in at a small hotel, and with luck, be on the first plane out and on her way home before His Lordship was awake.
In her mind's eye she saw herself striding up the steps of the Daily entrance and walking through reception, giving an idle wave to Marge at her desk, and going on through to the maze of small offices with the typewriters blazing away. She smiled, it was doubtful whether they would notice her as she made her way to the editor's office.
From then on, it would be easy. She would not go into details, her thoughts remained the same on this. The less said the better. The 'engagement' was off! This produced another smile from Sarah, and after a glance at her watch, she went back to her room and gathered up her case, then made her way to the canteen to await the Park van.
As it happened the van was early, and arrived at a quarter to three. Mrs Pullman was still in her quarters, and Sarah, anxious to be on her way, approached the driver when he got out of his van to make the delivery.
Flashing her press card at him, and giving him a smile that made him blink, Sarah asked if he'd mind giving her a lift out of the site. She had come to see Mr Cartier, she explained, and found he was on leave. Now she was stuck without transport, and could he oblige?
It was as well for Sarah that the van driver was not all that bright, for had this actually been the case, she would never have got past the gate in the first place..
As in the past, the showing of the press card did wonders. It was an open sesame to otherwise closed doors, and with a grin the driver said he would be glad to have her aboard. By the time Mrs Pullman had got to the canteen, the fruit had been delivered and the driver
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