The Silent Country (45 page)

‘How lovely of you all to meet me!’ She beamed as everyone gathered around as she waited for her suitcase. ‘But where is Maxim?’

‘We’re not sure,’ said Marta. ‘Helen will know. Where is Mr Topov?’ Marta asked Helen.

‘He said he is meeting with some people who can help us. And he is making arrangements for your accommodation, Madame Olga,’ said Helen quickly.

‘What sort of help is he arranging for us?’ said Johnny. ‘All we want is our money.’ He looked expectantly at Madame Olga.

She fanned herself. ‘This heat, it is excruciating. Yes, all in good time. Please, I must get into the cool air. Ah, there is my bag.’

Drago and Peter leapt to retrieve her expensive leather suitcase and then led her to the Land Rover. But Olga balked at the dusty vehicle with its high wheel base.

‘I cannot travel in that. Get me a taxi,’ she demanded.

‘It’s too high off the ground,’ Colin whispered to Drago.

Marta stepped forward and smoothly said, ‘Madame Olga, allow me to accompany you and help with your luggage.’

Helen seemed relieved. ‘Madame Olga is in the Squatter’s Suite at our hotel. Once she is settled we can all meet on the terrace outside the Green Room.’

‘We want our money now, before the shops close,’ said Johnny.

Madame Olga frowned. ‘I wish to take a rest.’

‘I could come back to the hotel with you to make sure
that you’re comfortable and that the money’s safe,’ said Marta.

‘I think that someone else should go, too,’ said Johnny. ‘Not that we don’t trust you, Marta, but I think I’ll come with you anyway.’

Madame Olga shrugged, happy to see the taxi pull up. ‘As you wish.’

Johnny got into the front seat of the taxi as Madame Olga and Marta settled themselves in the back. ‘Darwin Hotel,’ said Johnny.

On arriving at the hotel, they escorted Madame Olga to her large, airy room with its own bathroom on the specially sectioned-off end of the verandah. They passed a tall man in an immaculate white suit who gave them a brief nod.

‘A pearling master,’ said Johnny.

‘You should buy a pearl while you’re here, Marta,’ said Madame Olga.

‘I have better things to spend my money on – like food and personal necessities,’ said Marta, but the comment passed Madame Olga by.

‘Open the louvres, please. The heat,’ sighed Madame Olga.

Johnny pulled on a pole attached by a metal ring to the louvered windows, allowing the sea breeze to rush in. ‘At least it’s nice to sleep in a comfortable bed for a change,’ said Johnny. ‘This room is very nice,’ he added, placing her suitcase on the small wooden stand.

‘I’m sure you’re comfortable. Your trip has been eventful,’ said Madame Olga sitting on the bed and pulling the scarf from her head.

‘Eventful! Yes, it certainly has. Sleeping on the ground, running out of food, going to crazy places. But comfortable, no. Helen at least had a bed in the caravan. I never want to see a sleeping bag again. I want to buy
a collapsible camp stretcher for the rest of the trip,’ said Marta.

‘Add it to your shopping list,’ said Johnny, then paused as he saw the expression on Madame Olga’s face.

‘Helen is sleeping in the caravan? Alongside Mr Topov? Why is this?’

‘Oh, it’s all above board, she was suffering with her back,’ said Johnny hastily.

Marta stared at Madame Olga’s furious face. Suddenly she wondered if Helen had been sleeping with Topov, literally. There’d been initial speculation but it seemed so unlikely and typical of Helen to look after her own comfort that the group hadn’t considered the two might be lovers. But Marta quickly realised that Madame Olga was a woman consumed by jealousy.

Madame Olga snatched up her handbag. ‘Send Topov to see me.’

‘As soon as we find him. Ah, what about the money, Madame Olga? We’re all a bit desperate,’ said Johnny.

‘Why you do not have money?’ She pursed her lips as if she knew the answer, then opened her handbag and drew out an envelope. ‘Divide this as a downpayment.’

‘Downpayment? Where’s the full amount?’ asked Marta crossly.

‘I will have to discuss the money with the financial lady,’ she answered.

Johnny looked at Marta and shrugged, glad he wasn’t in Helen’s shoes right now. ‘How long do we have to wait for the rest of what we’re owed?’ he asked.

‘But you do have it with you?’ persisted Marta.

‘I need to speak to Topov. Oh, and you can take the heavy cans of film from my suitcase,’ she said to Johnny.

‘Will you take the exposed film back then?’ Johnny asked.

‘Yes. That is the plan.’

Marta had glanced at the money in the envelope. ‘Madame Olga, we are owed much more than this. We have all paid upfront to make this film, but we can’t be expected to pay for incidentals when that was part of the budget.’

‘The film is not yet finished. The returns will come when it is sold. The expenses have to be justified. I wish to speak to the business manager, Helen,’ insisted Madame Olga.

‘Very well. But the whole film will be threatened if we are not paid what is owed to us,’ snapped Marta, surprising Johnny with her vehemence.

‘And you do not threaten me,’ responded Madame Olga with equal strength.

Johnny started to back out of the room. ‘We’ll leave you to rest and see you at dinner. Come on, Marta.’

‘Bring me that film,’ called Madame Olga as they shut the door to her suite.

Marta strode down the hallway, ignoring the maid now wielding a polishing machine over the waxed wooden floor. ‘This is the limit, Johnny. I will not go any further without being paid. Topov has wasted money or hidden it and she knows it. And now she is going to eat him – and Helen – alive because she thinks they are lovers.’

‘Are they, do you think?’ asked Johnny.

‘I don’t care. Topov might be sleeping with the fat old hag because she’s rich. But I don’t know about Helen. They think I am a stupid actress. Well, they will know that I am strong,’ she declared.

‘Let’s wait and see, after she has consulted with Topov,’ said Johnny. ‘Perhaps that’s why Topov isn’t around.’

Nevertheless, as the sullen group gathered for dinner, Topov sailed in with Madame Olga at his side. She was dressed to the hilt, a fresh display of jewels on her bosom and seemed to have not a care in the world.

‘Where’ve you been today?’ asked Johnny.

‘Topov is making plans. Big plans,’ he said mysteriously. ‘Appointment with important people.’

Madame Olga settled herself at the table. ‘Yes, it all sounds quite interesting. However, like many things, it requires some organisation.’

‘Is this to do with our film?’ asked Peter.

‘There won’t be any film if we don’t get our money,’ said Johnny.

‘It is coming. Money coming. Plenty of money,’ said Topov, waving to the waiter.

Marta glanced at Helen who was sitting quietly at the far end of the table. ‘Helen, do we go shopping tomorrow?’ called Marta gaily.

Helen shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t rush, we’ll have time before we move on.’

‘And when might we move on?’ Colin asked.

‘Not until we’re paid,’ said Peter.

Topov told the waiter to bring wine and beers to the table. ‘Madame Olga is taking film to Sydney, then we get more money. So we stay little while in Darwin.’

‘And who’s paying for this pub?’ demanded Johnny. ‘It’s not coming out of my pay.’

‘Just little misunderstanding. Helen explain to Madame Olga but she not understand well. So Madame Olga send money when she go back to Sydney.’

‘I’ll be returning there tomorrow,’ added Madame Olga. ‘It’s far too hot here.’

‘Yeah, I bet it is,’ muttered Johnny.

‘So when do we get the rest of our money? What we got today is barely a third of what we’re owed,’ said Marta.

‘I will send it by telegraphic transfer to the bank. Colin, you are in banking, you know how these things work,’ said Madame Olga. Then she turned her attention to the menu.

Everyone looked at Colin.

‘Can you get things speeded up?’ asked Drago.

Colin looked at Madame Olga who looked unconcerned, her biggest problem seemed to be what to select for dinner. Whatever had passed between Helen, Topov and Madame Olga would not be discussed, but Helen didn’t look happy.

Dinner plates were cleared from the table. Marta gave Colin a secret smile that seemed to say, Let’s make the most of tonight while we’re here with a big comfortable bed. Johnny decided to drink and headed to the bar. Peter and Drago were discussing the camp at Rum Jungle over a bottle of red wine knowing that some of their compatriots were sleeping rough. Helen excused herself and disappeared to her room.

Topov escorted Madame Olga into the Green Room, where he walked up to a table of well-dressed cattlemen and the pearling master and introduced himself.

‘I am Maxim Topov, this Madame Olga Konstantinova. We making amazing film in outback Australia. So, where we go for exciting pictures?’ The well-to-do group invited this odd couple to join them and soon it was the locals who sat spellbound, listening to Topov talk while Madame Olga sat by, smiling and nodding.

But amongst the other filmmakers there was festering resentment. The following morning Helen made the point of talking to each of them.

‘Look, the problem with the money is that it’s just a misunderstanding on Madame Olga’s part and she’s overreacted. She’s rather an emotional lady and she has it in her head that I am having an affair with Topov!’ She gave a laugh. ‘I hope you don’t think the same. I have been quite particular about my male friends. Frankly, I wouldn’t have cared if an orangutan was in the other bed as long as I had a mattress and a pillow off the ground.’

For the first time they saw Helen as a genuine person
without airs and graces and they believed what she told them.

Then she went on. ‘Madame Olga is flying back to Sydney this morning. She’s taken the film we’ve shot and left us fresh film. The hotel bill is paid up until breakfast this morning. After that, we’re on our own until she releases the rest of the money.’

This was not well received. But as they discussed their predicament, there was general acknowledgment that they were stuck.

‘I’m not leaving till I get what I’m owed,’ said Johnny.

‘We can’t leave anyway, we have no money,’ said Peter.

‘We can’t give up now, we have to finish the film,’ said Colin.

‘I think Topov is up to something,’ said Drago.

‘Helen you have twenty-four hours to pay me the money I’m owed or I’m going to go to a solicitor and sue,’ said Marta.

The others stared at her.

‘That will cost money. How can you afford it?’ said Colin calmly. ‘Let’s just wait it out.’

‘For how long? And where are we going to stay? How can we pay for a pub without any money?’ said Johnny.

Marta shrugged. ‘Then there’s only one thing for it. We camp again, but this time at the beach, where we can have some fun!’

There was an immediate outbreak of chatter and some enthusiasm and they began planning how they would organise the sleeping arrangements. No-one knew where Topov was but later, when they told Helen their plan she turned up with her belongings looking tired and harassed.

‘You can have the tent we used. Colin and I will share,’ said Marta.

‘Thanks, Marta. I won’t be moving back into that smelly caravan,’ she sighed. ‘He’s moved into it. I guess
now we wait for Madame to calm down, send the money, and then we can go and finish what we started.’

‘Do you really believe Topov wants to make this film?’ asked Marta. ‘I just feel we’re all part of some play he’s devised but we don’t know the plot.’

‘He does want to make it, but he gets sidetracked so easily. He’s got this bee in his bonnet about finding minerals, gold, gemstones, uranium,’ said Helen. ‘He sits up at night reading geology books.’

‘Might make us more money than this film. I don’t care, really. I’m not expecting this to make me a star. But we all invested in good faith to get the equipment and vehicles and be paid expenses,’ said Marta. ‘I’m not a charity, I’m not funding some Topov fantasy,’ she continued. ‘So I’m not going anywhere till we get what’s owed to us.’

Helen nodded. ‘I understand. I feel badly that this is partly my fault. I really don’t understand the relationship between Maxim and Olga.’

Marta’s eyes widened. ‘Do you mean financially and business, or personally?’

Helen shrugged. ‘It is a mystery and I don’t probe into other people’s business.’

‘Well, I’d like to know,’ said Marta bluntly. ‘Because it affects all of us. Never mind, let’s see what happens in the next few days.’

That night when the campfire on the beach had dimmed and everyone had rolled into their swags and tents, Marta snuggled into Colin’s arms.

‘This is cosy,’ he murmured. ‘Are we sharing this when we set out next?’

‘Of course. I just hope there aren’t these little biting mosquito things sharing it, too. But you know, Colin, I won’t go if we don’t get our money. It’s not right.’