Page 55 of Stockman's Stormcloud

Charlie read from a piece of paper. ‘Says here on this note from Bree to give you half this juice.’

‘She didn’t?’

‘Read it for yourself.’

Morning, Pop.

No need to bottle the extra mix today, because I’d like you to share the juice mix with Dex. If he argues, tell him his pills are potent and we’re trying to save his liver. And if he still argues about it, which he will, show him this note or tell him the quicker he heals the quicker he can get off our couch, and the juice will help with that.

Also, don’t worry about waking me. I went out for the night and will be back sometime today.

Bree. xx

‘That juice mix is good stuff. I’m surprised my granddaughter hasn’t given it to you sooner.’ Charlie scrutinised Dex’s figure. ‘Bree’s right, it won’t be long, and you’ll be off that couch. You look better already, lad.’

‘I feel it. The rib is still a bother.’ He stretched his spine. Even though he was holding his hand on the rib, it was manageable, and he was breathing easier than yesterday.

Last night, Bree had packed her copper still onto the trailer, then hid it under a tarp. In what Bree called the murder room, she used a blower to get rid of all the dust and cobwebs, cleaning it up nicely, as promised. Then she closed off the hidden room, removing all traces of them ever being there.

But then Bree kicked him out of the passenger seat at the front door of the cottage, and went on her merry way at two in the morning in that despicable yellow van that truly did glow in the dark.

A dog barked, and a car pulled up out front of the cottage. A car door creaked, and a voice hollered. ‘You awake, Charlie.’

‘Door’s open, Lenny. Just in time for some juice.’

‘Morning.’ He cleaned his shoes on the mat, carrying a scroll of paper and a cake box. ‘You must be Dex. I’m Lenny.’ He held out his hand to shake Dex’s. Lenny was a skinny man in his early fifties, who reeked of cigarette smoke.

‘Lenny is the chef at the pub and my fossicking partner,’ explained Charlie.

‘I brought cupcakes for Bree. She around?’ Lenny put the cake box on the bench.

‘Nah. Out somewhere. But she’ll love you forever. That kid loves her cupcakes.’ Charlie peeked under the box lid.

‘What are you fossicking for?’ Dex could smell the rich chocolate coming from the cake box.

‘Gold, lad. Gold.’ Charlie grinned, flicking on the juicer that obliterated fruit and vegetables in seconds. It sounded like a chainsaw in his ears, killing all conversation.

‘Now, hang on a sec, before you start some gold rush…’ Lenny shook his head at Charlie. His accent was Eastern European or something. ‘I thought you got me here to map out the Stoneys?’

‘And to do some fossicking while we’re out there. You never know.’ Charlie bobbed his eyebrows up and down, adding a special canister of powders into the juice mix that he stirred like a cocktail, then poured the green juiced gunk into tall glasses. ‘Didn’t you say you had a plan for mapping the place out?’

‘I do.’ Lenny unrolled a large map across the table. ‘Our aim is to work grid by grid and cross it off.’

‘Where did you get that?’ Dex pointed at the map of the area that included Elsie Creek Station, the town of Elsie Creek, and the wider region. But it had various colours over certain areas.

‘This is from the mining geologist who stays at the pub now and again. It’s his geological map of minerals for this area. He called it soil mapping.’

‘Does it show the new lithium mine they’re trying to start next door?’ Dex leaned in for a better look.

‘Here.’ Lenny tapped on the page. ‘This soil map shows the concentrates of lithium all along this ridge.’

‘That’s all cattle country.’ Which included Dex’s neighbours.

‘Did you know Australia produces nearly half of the globe’s entire supply of lithium?’

Dex shook his head.

‘After hearing about your troubles for water rights, my boss decided to find out how they mine the lithium. It’s not nice either.’

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