He was pleased to hear she had apologized to Ellie. He also knew they had to talk. What had taken place last night could not be swept under the rug.

'Karl, why don't we go and sit in the garden for a minute?'

He agreed and led the way.

They talked for a long time, and Mary confided in Karl about Harvey and Ellie.

She told him everything about her life with Harvey and, when she finished, Karl had a much clearer picture of the whole situation. He also was relieved. He'd been feeling guilty and didn't want any trouble with Harvey. They had been friends for a very long time. Ellie's part in it hadn't really surprised him. He remembered the romance they had years ago and the breakup that had surprised everyone.

'Mary, I didn't know your life was so unhappy. You're a beautiful woman. Why didn't you leave Harvey and get on with your life?'

'I won't divorce him, Karl. That's my revenge on him. I will not give him his freedom. I don't care two hoots about his fling with Ellie now, or any other woman. I should have realised sooner that nothing will change him but I will not make it easy for him by giving him the one thing he so badly wants. But it won't stop me from getting on with my own life now. Maybe one day I will change my mind, but until that day comes I won't make it easy for him, financially or any other way. He doesn't deserve that from me.'

'Fair enough, if that's how you feel.' Karl was watching her closely. He could see by her face that her past had affected her deeply.

'Karl, you made me feel like a woman last night. I never thought I could experience that again.'

Mary reached up and caressed his cheek, gently pressing her lips against his mouth.

Karl turned the kiss into a deep pa.s.sionate embrace, tasting her tongue against his own. She felt a tingling through her body and responded instantly.

'I'd like to see you more. A beautiful woman like you should not be missing out on anything, Mary,' he whispered.

'That would make me very happy. I want to start my new life from this moment.' She smiled.

'Right, how about we make a start then? I'd like to wine and dine you, my lovely.' Karl stood and held his hand out to Mary.

'Thank you. That would be just perfect,' Mary said happily.

Karl was aware of their surroundings but he didn't care. He wound his arms around her and kissed her long and hard. He murmured to her that he would be in touch with a time for their dinner date and she reluctantly walked away. 'Fate certainly is a funny old thing,' she said to herself. 'It's my turn now.'

Karl watched her leave. He was looking forward to seeing her again.

He still couldn't believe he was entering into an affair with Mary Winters!

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE.

It had been nearly three months since the court case. There had been no more fires since the day of the hearing. Although the locals remained wary, they began to relax. The men continued their watches, but did decide to scale back on the patrols and late night stakeouts. It was a risk but they were all exhausted from the pressure of the late nights and worry. They would not stop them altogether because the firebug was still at large and no one could positively say he would not strike again.

Hazel was shopping at the local supermarket. As she left to take her shopping to the car, she glanced over to the park across the road.

'There's Mary,' she thought. 'And Father Damien. I wonder what they're talking about. They look pretty serious, whatever it is.' On the way home, Hazel told Ted what she had seen. 'You're just an old sticky beak, Haze.' He laughed at her.

Karl went around the house whistling. His whole demeanour was that of a very satisfied and happy man.

Emmie could see the signs and sensed there probably was a woman involved.

Ellie and Win had not let on what they had seen that day out in the garden. They'd walked out to the garden after Mary left them, and come across an oblivious Karl and Mary. So the affair was no secret to them. They decided not to tell Emmie; she didn't have to know, it would only worry her and she certainly didn't need any more of that.

'There she was with that sly priest.' Hazel was relating what she had seen to Win.

'Did I hear you mention Father Damien?' Emmie queried as she came in.

Win related the story to her mother.

'She was probably saying goodbye. I have been meaning to tell you, the seminary is closing down. The priest is apparently going overseas! I found out from Muriel. Father Damien told her when she went to ma.s.s. I think she said he is off to Africa to some missionary a.s.signment over there. It hasn't been made public yet. Apparently some sporting group has bought the seminary and Muriel said they intend on doing major renovations.'

'Well, that's very sudden, don't you think? My goodness, when this gets around the valley tongues will wag for months! A lot of people are saying they reckon Father Damien had something to do with the fires!' Win said.

'Now,' Emmie said quickly. 'We mustn't accuse anyone unless we have proof.' She winked.

'Well, after the things he said about Eric, I wouldn't trust him one iota! I wonder what kind of renovations they'll make? It's going to be very different without the seminary!' Win said.

'I'm glad the vulgar little man is finally leaving the valley.' Hazel's mouth curled in distaste.

'I must get goin'. I need to get an early start in the mornin'. Karl was lying in Mary's arms by the glow of the fire in her lounge room. Harvey was out of town for two days with work. Mary had cooked Karl a lovely dinner and afterwards they had made love on the rug in front of the fire.

As they kissed, the patter of rain broke the silence.

'What a beautiful sound, Karl.'

'Yeah, I'd love to stay here all night holdin' you and listenin' to that.' Karl was quiet for a minute. 'Mary, what say we go away for a weekend? Get a break before we have ta start on tha fruit pickin' ready for summer. It's always busy comin' into summer and Christmas. Do you think we could manage it?'

'That sounds perfect. You're more romantic than you let on, Karl Mason. Why some woman hasn't snapped you up, I'll never know! I'm glad they've left you all for me though. I am enjoying every minute of it.' She kissed him and tickled his chest.

'That's enough, you s.e.xy blonde. I have to go!' Karl stood up and dressed. He laughed with sheer happiness and pulled Mary's naked body to him. She was beautiful and he was glad the first night had happened. He was happier than he had been in a long, long time. They both were.

Karl pulled into Centaur Road. He was humming a tune to himself. As he approached Kia-Ora, he noticed a glow coming from near the large gates used for trucks and machinery. Speeding up, he could see the glow swinging slowly. As he drew closer, he could see it was definitely a fire!

's.h.i.t! Here we go again!' But he couldn't fathom what was burning. Whatever it was, it was very close to the old Kurrajong trees that grew either side of the gates. 'What the h.e.l.l is it?'

He skidded the car to a halt in front of the gates, the headlights lit up the area around the tree and Karl drew in a sharp breath. 'b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l... It's something up in the flamin' tree! The object was well alight and the smell coming from it made Karl cover his nose.

He needed to put the fire out though, and quickly before the whole tree caught on.

's.h.i.t! I need a b.l.o.o.d.y knapsack.' He blasted the car horn, keeping his hand pressed down on it, knowing someone from the house would hear and come out.

It wasn't long before Digger, closely followed by Ted, came pelting across the yard, his torch light bobbing up and down as he ran.

'What on earth's goin' on? What's burnin', mate? Get a friggin' knapsack, Ted. Fast, mate!' The words tumbled quickly from Digger's mouth.

Walter Hansen was woken from his sleep by the blasting of the car horn and, realizing there was another fire at the Masons', grabbed his knapsack and raced across the road to help.

'I've got mine, Dig!' he shouted. He sprayed water on the object hanging from the tree until the flames fizzled out.

'What the h.e.l.l is it?' Digger asked. 'Doesn't smell too good, whatever it is!'

'Get closer and shine your torch on it,' Karl said.

Digger shone his torch directly on the object swinging backwards and forwards from the branches.

's.h.i.t! Dig! It's a body! f.u.c.k!' Karl took several steps backwards.

They all stood, motionless, staring at the grotesque shape of the body hanging from the branch of the tree as it swung slowly to and fro.

Well hidden from view by the nearby bushes, the deviant responsible for this latest sick act grinned triumphantly.

'Bet that scared the s.h.i.t outta ya's. Ya keep sayin' ya gonna hang me... d.i.c.kheads... As if!' he quietly gloated.

Smirking with the satisfaction that watching the fire gave him, he slunk away, swallowed up by the dark of night.

'Hey! Hang on a minute, Dig!' Walter moved closer to get a better look. 'Shine that torch again.'

Digger did as asked and Walter prodded it with a stick. The body fell to the ground, its disfigured face staring blankly up at them.

'That's not a body... It's a b.l.o.o.d.y dummy... A friggin' store dummy...' Walter looked down at the disfigured form in utter amazement.

'You're right, the b.l.o.o.d.y things melted. That's what the smell is: burnin' plastic!' Digger said in a stunned voice.

'That stinkin' mongrel... I don't like this... What's he mean by it? Ted, go up to the house and call the cops please, mate. Ask them to get out here now!' Karl was upset and terribly angry.

Win and Ellie had just hurried out. Win saw the dummy and screamed. Her first impression was that it was a body.

'No Win... It's not what you think. It's a dummy!' Digger hastened to a.s.sure her.

'Oh, how sickening!' Ellie drew her breath shakily.

'Yeah... this a.r.s.ehole is sick in the head! Really b.l.o.o.d.y sick! Shows how cracked this coward really is!' Walter said, slowly shaking his head.

When the police came, they bagged the dummy, checked the area and asked questions, several questions. They said they would return in the morning to look around in daylight. The detectives were not confident in getting any evidence at all from the dummy; there wasn't much left of it.

The family decided not to reveal to Emmie the exact details. The old lady had been through enough and she didn't need to hear about this latest gruesome deed.

Everyone had reacted in the same way, feeling the same sense of dread. The maniac had done something very different this time. It was just further confirmation of his insanity. Karl and Digger sat outside with Sam, Arthur and Jeff. Nat and Rex had joined them.

'I don't know what ta say anymore fella's. I'm absolutely bewildered' Karl said, shaking his head.

'No, I don't either, mate,' Sam replied. 'It's not his usual behaviour.'

'He's definitely not the full quid, we know that anyway,' Rex added. 'For the bloke to string a dummy up like that makes me think, is he capable of hangin' a real person?'

'It's a message!' Digger said quietly. The others looked quickly at him. 'He's sendin' us a message!'

'How'd ya come ta that conclusion? What kinda message, Dig?' Nat asked.

'I dunno. I just have a gut feelin' that this was a message of some sort! And don't forget he's already made threats to Win an' Kath!' Digger turned from them and stared off into the distance. 'I have a really bad feelin', worse than ever now.'

Karl looked thoughtfully at Digger's turned back. He had the same gut feeling.

'Just who is this bloke?' Arthur asked. 'Who the devil is he?'

After that sickening display, nothing further occurred. The police could only make a report about the fire. The Masons, helped by Nat and Rex, still scoured their properties but not once did they stumble across the firebug or anything connected to him. But they were well aware that at any time he could strike again!

'Looks like a storm brewing,' Emmie said, glancing out the window. 'Sure is black. It makes it dark so much earlier.'

'The sky looks really treacherous, Dig,' Win said, tucking her feet under her on the lounge. Ever since she was a child, she had hated storms.

Emmie was glad she had all her family together. The coming storm looked nasty and she liked to know her family was home safe with her.

Hazel called them to the dinner table. As they ate, there was the odd streak of lightning and rumble of thunder.

After dinner, everyone sat around sipping port. The atmosphere, despite the storm, was light-hearted.

Karl teased Kathy about being in love and she teased him back about his mystery woman.

'Wonder what the priest ended up doing with himself?' Karl mused.

'I heard on the bush telegraph that he was off to Africa to help with sick kids. He sure was one strange bloke, wasn't he? I'm curious though, why they shut down and sell off the seminary so quickly? Aren't you?' Digger asked pointedly.

'A lot of people have been wondering the same thing,' Ellie replied. 'Just think about it, one minute it's functioning as normal then without any warning they close it up and sell it off! What does that lead you to think?'

'I know what I think,' Win said. 'I think they closed the seminary and forced Father Damien to leave. There was so much doubt about him that they had to save the church embarra.s.sment!'

'Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad he's flown the coop!' Karl replied and they all agreed.

The port had a calming effect and they all opted for an early night.

Karl's mind was on Mary. He would have liked to be in her arms tonight, with the storm raging around them.

As he pulled on his pyjama trousers, he whispered into the darkness, 'Goodnight, mystery lady.'

Ellie's thoughts were on her lover. She wished she was in Harvey's arms. She was hoping that soon they would be spending every night together. Maybe next year things would be better. Maybe 1966 would be their year. Ellie smiled to herself.