Digger wandered over to Sam and Eric. 'Strewth, got any ideas about how it started?'

'd.a.m.ned if I know, mate. Everything was alright when we went to bed.'

'I was out here about eleven and didn't notice anythin' out of the ordinary. I checked the tractor and closed the shed door,' said Eric.

Des joined them. 'Frank's gonna keep an eye on it a while to make sure it don't flare up again.'

'Well, it beats me how it started. Where's Karl?' Sam wiped a weary hand across his forehead, leaving a smudge of black ash.

'With Arthur and Robert and the others. They're soaking the gra.s.s down near the orchard for safety's sake,' Des answered, rubbing at a nervous tic near his right eye.

Everyone was shocked and extremely concerned at what could have been if the fire had gone unnoticed any longer than it had.

Connie wandered over, her face, too, showing distress.

'It's out now, love,' Sam told her, draping his arm around her shoulders.

'How'd it start?' she asked him.

'We don't know yet, we'll have to wait till daylight to find out. If it's those flamin' lunatic kids, they'll wish they were never born!'

'Well, seein' that all's under control here, mate, we'll get on home and put their minds to rest. They'll all be waitin' up and worried,' Karl said, cupping his hands around a match to light his smoke. 'This is as suspicious as h.e.l.l an' my bet is it's those brat kids.' Karl had come up to join them. He and Digger left then, saying they'd be back early in the morning, which was by now only a few hours away.

Dave and the others were still out on the veranda. Father Damien had left.

'Gra.s.s fire, eh?' said Dave. 'Bad one, by the look of it. Someone's up to no good, bet me bottom dollar on that!'

'Yep, bad enough Dad, but we saved Eric's tractor and the shed. You're right, it didn't start itself! Frank's stayin' a bit longer to make sure it won't flare up again.'

'Father Damien told us what it was. We were so worried. Con hasn't been the best lately, this would upset her. How is she?' Emmie asked.

'She's alright, Sam calmed her down. How'd Father Damien know? I didn't see him there. Did you, Dig?'

'Nuh, we were all too busy with the fire to notice anyone.'

'He said he saw the fire while out taking a late night stroll around the seminary grounds and thought he'd let us know what it was, so we wouldn't worry,' Win explained.

'He's a strange bloke that... real strange,' Karl mused.

'Well, I'm gonna hit the hay. We'll have to go up in a few hours and see if we can find out what caused it,' Digger said, yawning loudly.

They all went back to bed for the second time that night.

Next morning, the men were up early and went back up to Sam's to check out the scene of the fire. The smell of smoke hung in the air and the area was a blackened mess.

'There has to be a clue somewhere,' muttered Eric.

'You're right, mate. This didn't start on its own,' Des said as he gazed around. 'Wonder who that is?'

They all turned, looking in the direction of the house as a car pulled into the driveway.

Two men in suits got out and walked the short distance from the driveway to where the men stood surveying the scene.

'Good morning, gentlemen. This is Detective Simpson and I'm Detective Bennett. Frank Smith, from your local fire brigade, contacted us and suggested we take a look around here. He believes there might be suspicious circ.u.mstances involved.'

'So do we, mate. The b.l.o.o.d.y thing didn't light itself!' Sam replied angrily.

'Where were you when it was discovered?' Detective Bennett questioned.

'We were all in bed and I can vouch for everyone here,' declared Sam.

'How do you know that?' the detective demanded. 'Did you check to see for yourself, eh?' His question came across very sarcastic.

'I'm sorry, mate, we're all family here.' Sam introduced them all one by one and explained that farmers and fruit growers all kept a similar routine. In fact, he could vouch for nearly every bloke in the valley.

The detective grunted and straightened his red and blue striped tie. He disliked smart-mouthed country c.o.c.ks.

'Who discovered the fire first?'

'I did!' Des told him. 'I heard it cracklin'. My sleep out's at the back of the house and I could see a glow through the louvre windows. I raced out to see what it was but it already had a good go on.'

'Ted Perkins raised the alarm at my parent's house and Karl here and Dig came straight up,' Sam explained 'Who's Ted Perkins?'

'He helps with odd jobs around Kia-Ora. He lives in a cottage there with his wife,' Karl explained.

'That's Kia-Ora down there, I take it?' The detective indicated with a jerk of his head.

The detectives stayed quite a while, asking questions and combing through the ash. A reporter from the Border Morning Mail newspaper arrived, did a report on the fire, and took a few photos, saying it would be in the next day's edition.

The a.s.sumption was that the fire had been deliberate. Finally, the detectives left, intending to call on the youngsters, the O'Toole kids, and their mates.

Karl and Digger had told them their suspicions about Walter Hansen's horse jumps. This fire, coming so soon after the fire at Walters's, and nothing to explain how either fire could have started was just too big of a coincidence.

If indeed the O'Toole boys had anything to do with lighting the fires, they would be in very serious trouble.

The men had also formed their own impression of the detectives.

The blokes sat around on fruit boxes in Sam's packing shed. Nat and Rex Willis had joined them. They didn't believe for one minute the detectives would do anything further about the fire. They would have to follow up on the kids, but unless they got anywhere with them, that would be it.

'b.l.o.o.d.y useless b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. Won't do nothin' not important enough, just a gra.s.s fire to them.' Sam sat with his hands hanging over his knees, a frown creasing his forehead.

'Well one thing's for sure, that fire didn't light itself. Someone's responsible,' Nat stated.

'I still reckon it's those mongrel kids. I know we can't say anythin' to O'Toole but I say we keep our eyes and ears open from now on. If it was, they're bound to slip up sometime. They're c.o.c.ky little b.a.s.t.a.r.ds and they'll come undone, mark my words,' Karl said, his voice rising in anger.

'Yeah, Karl, I reckon ya might be right. I was in Jones' hardware last Sat'dy mornin', had to wait to get served, the bloke in fronta me wanted mosquito coils.' Rex started to tell them.

'Mosquito coils? Haven't used them for a few years!' interrupted Sam.

'Me neither,' Rex continued. 'The young fella servin' wasn't sure if they had any, had ta go out the back and look for 'em. Anyway, while I was waitin' I happened to glance out the winda and there was those smart a.r.s.e kids takin' the mickey outta that poor old Elsie Hathaway. She must be easy eighty six or seven! Well, I couldn't stand around and let that go on, so I went out and hunted 'em. Copped a mouthful of cheek but at least they took off,' Rex told them.

'Well, we can't let this sorta thing keep happenin',' Nat added. 's.h.i.t, if they're sneakin' 'round lightin' fires, we have'ta do somethin' and b.l.o.o.d.y quickly. For f.u.c.ks sake! Everythin's dry as a bone! There's gotta be somethin' we missed. A clue left around somewhere. They're only b.l.o.o.d.y kids, they woulda left somethin' behind!' He slammed his fist into a box in anger.

Sam stood and walked to the shed door. His gaze went to the blackened gra.s.s patch.

'Aah well, we didn't suffer any damage and we've been over everythin'. The cops combed through it as well, and there's just no clue whatsoever. We can't prove a friggin' thing! All we can do at this point is just get on with it and see what happens next.'

'Yeah, nothin' more we can do except keep a closer eye on things and our ears c.o.c.ked for anythin'. One thing's for b.l.o.o.d.y sure, they won't light another friggin' fire if we catch 'em!' Digger fumed. 'b.l.o.o.d.y young thugs. What sorta blokes are they gonna grow into?!

'Well we're not gettin' any work done standin' 'round talkin', we better get back to Kia-Ora, there's boxes bein' delivered this arvo... gotta get 'em sorted and stacked. C'mon Karl, can't do anymore here.' Digger made a move to leave. As frustrating as it was, there wasn't anything more they could do.

'See ya later mate,' he said to Sam and shook hands with Nat and Rex.

Karl stuck his thumb up. 'See yas later.' They headed back to Kia-Ora.

CHAPTER THREE.

'What do you think I should do, Tam? I really do believe someone was there!' Kathy had become concerned all over again after hearing that someone had deliberately lit the fire at their Uncle Sam's. She was thinking again about the strange feeling she'd had that someone was watching her that evening in the orchard.

'You have to tell Dad, Kath. h.e.l.l, it could have been some creep, you just don't know.'

'Yeah, you're right. Maybe it was my imagination or maybe it wasn't, but I just can't shake the feeling it wasn't. I'll tell Dad about it after tea tonight.'

'Laura's arriving soon. She's coming a few days earlier this year. It'll be great to see her again. Let's hope we don't have any more fires.'

When evening came, Kathy was waiting to speak alone to her father. Eventually, after tea, she got the opportunity, and together they went for a stroll around the front garden. She told her father everything. It was a relief to get it off her chest because she had really been frightened.

Digger's face was grim.

'Kath, you should've come and told me this the minute it happened. We've got all these new blokes stationed out at the Bandiana and Bonegilla army camps and we just don't know who's roamin' 'round anymore. Even if it boils down to nothin', it's better to be safe than sorry.

'Go and get Tammi. I want to talk to the pair of you. Bring her to the lounge room straight away. I'm goin' back inside to tell the rest of 'em what you've just told me. This is not to be taken lightly, Kath!' Digger felt a sense of dread.

Without definite proof, they couldn't lay the blame on the O'Toole kids and their mates. And if it wasn't them, then who was it? Was it Kathy's imagination in the orchard? It was not worth the risk to ignore it.

When the girls came in, he was very firm with them, warning them not to go gallivanting around the valley alone. 'No more shortcuts through the orchards; take the long way 'round on the road,' he told them. 'You have to come to us about anythin' that doesn't feel right to you. If you see anyone hangin' around lookin' the slightest bit suspicious, anyone that you don't know, we want to hear about it, you understand?' Worry made him sound cranky and the girls looked quite upset.

Karl agreed completely with Digger. 'No matter how trivial it might seem to you, you come straight to one of us!' he stated. 'If there's bad goin's on in the valley, and it looks like there is, we have to stop it before it goes too far!'

The girls often took shortcuts through the property. No one had ever thought they would have the need to be wary of unknown persons lurking around; they had always felt completely safe in both day and night in the valley.

A shiver went down Kathy's spine. Her fear was not imagination.

The atmosphere was sombre in the room after the serious talk with the girls. Kathy and Tammi went to their rooms, realising that Digger was very serious about the matter.

'What do you think Dig...?' Win asked him. 'Do you think she imagined it?'

'She could have, it was twilight and she does have an active imagination, but we can't ignore it.'

Karl b.u.t.ted in. 'No, we can't ignore it. Two fires and now Kath tellin' us this. I'd like to catch the b.a.s.t.a.r.d in the act!'

'Look, we know young Kath's got an imagination, but think about it for a minute. We've got our suspicions about the fires; it would be just like those flamin' young hooligans to do this too,' Dave added . 'Scarin' Kath would've been a huge laugh for those brats. Anyway, the girls have sensible heads on their shoulders, they'll be careful.' Dave looked at everyone, adding, 'We're just gonna have to work out what we're gonna do about things. What're we doin' about the fires? What's happenin' up at Sam's? Is he plannin' any nightly watch or what?' Dave was sounding worried and frustrated.

The topic of conversation then reverted to this recent fire at Sam's.

'Well, he hasn't said anythin' about keepin' an all night watch. He did say they'd be keepin' a watch from six 'til about midnight. Eric's gonna park his tractor at the front of the packin' shed from now on. Also keepin' the slasher there. He's not takin' any chances. They cost him an arm and a leg so he's not gonna risk leavin' 'em outta sight,' Karl told them.

'Con's kitchen window looks out to the front of the shed, so they'll be able to keep a close eye on 'em from the house. Whoever lit that fire is nothin' but a b.l.o.o.d.y gutless wonder! We've been bustin' our guts clearin' bush and scrub to prevent a fire, and this no good b.a.s.t.a.r.d goes around lighten em!'

'Well, mate, we can be sure it wasn't one of us and we can forget about Frank Smith and his blokes. So, who does that leave?' Digger asked.

'To be honest, Dig, could be one of many. Apart from those flamin' kids, there's a few other rough necks in Lavington. There's a few mongrels around here in the valley who'd think this type of prank's b.l.o.o.d.y funny!' Karl was furious.

Lavington is to the east of Hamilton valley. Once a prune growing orchard and gold mining area, it is now mostly residential but does still have significant rural areas to the north-west.

It was officially named Lavington on the 15th June 1909, having previously been known as Black Range. It has slowly changed to become a locality with many shops and parks. It was added to the city of Albury in the 1950's.

'Chancellor's been about a lot lately and we all know him and Eric don't get on that good. Apparently the cops spoke to those kids too, so I heard, but they don't reckon it was any of them! I'm not convinced though. Their parents backed 'em up, said they were tucked up in bed. How would they know, they're always p.i.s.sed rotten! That youngest O'Toole kid's a right little mongrel and this sort of thing's right up his alley!' Digger replied.

'Well, his father doesn't set much of an example for him. He spends most of his time at the pub.' Karl took a deep breath, exhaling loudly.

'That Bill O'Toole has had it in for this family ever since Win turned him down all those years ago, but surely even he wouldn't stoop this low,' Emmie said quietly 'Maybe not Bill, Mum, but that kid of his is another matter! He hangs around with Alan Baker and Tom Rawley's kids. Alan and Tom are thick with O'Toole. They're always mouthin' off in the pub about somethin', meanwhile their kids just run wild!'

'Well Karl, it's no use us layin' blame until we have some proof,' Dave said wearily.

'It could have been anyone, who knows?' Win suppressed a shiver of fear.

'Well, let's cross our fingers that it doesn't happen again,' Emmie said. 'If those young blighters did do it then the visit from the police might have been just the thing they needed.'

The fire had upset her and Dave. She was also very worried about poor old Dave's health. He wasn't as well as he had been, and upsets like this were bad for him.

Eventually they called it a night, but Kathy and Tammi didn't go straight to sleep. They sat up talking late into the night 'Dad was pretty angry that I didn't say anything straight away, wasn't he?'

'Yeah, but that's understandable; not knowing who's prowling around lighting these fires has put the wind up everyone. There just might have been someone in the orchard that evening. We better do as he says and stop taking shortcuts from now on.'

'Yeah, I know, I'll be sticking to the road from now. I don't care that it takes longer. I tell you, Tam, I was so scared I nearly wet my pants!'