Mike Dixon

CHAPTER 29
Wombat‟s Den
A
cold front was passing through Canberra and it
had started to rain. In Far North Queensland the
skies had cleared and the torrential rains had given way to
sunshine. Creek and river levels were falling fast. The
Longboat camp was about thirty miles north of Cooktown
at the northern end of the vast stretch of land belonging to
the Hope Vale Aboriginal community. Rebecca‟s father had
obtained their permission to spend a short vacation there.
Now, for the first time in three weeks, it looked as if they
would be able to leave and return to Townsville.
David and Rebecca drove the van up to the ford to see if
it was passable. Channels had been gouged by the flood-
waters and they spent some time filling them with boulders
and small stones. Eventually a path was secured. David
found a spare radiator hose and used it to improvise a
snorkel for the exhaust pipe. It would be submerged when
they crossed but the hose would prevent water from being
sucked into the engine if it stalled. He signaled to Rebecca
and guided her over the narrow path they had constructed.
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