Mike Dixon

Before long she was recruited into a counterespionage
unit. Now, more than three decades later, she still retained
much of the impish vitality of the wild young person she had
once been. Time had done little to change Kirstin but the
burden of bringing up Humphrey had taken a heavy toll. He
reminded her of her father. The ponderous Pastor Hansen
had passed on far too many traits. She wondered why her
son had not taken after the virile young man who seduced
her on the back seat of his Saab all those many years ago.
She was awaiting the arrival of David Paget. Kirstin knew
the family well. Canberra is a small place for those who have
lived there a long time. They move in the same circles and
get to know similar people – all rather incestuous in Kirstin‟s
opinion.
From time to time she met David‟s mother. According to
Cecilia, her „darling boy‟ was the splitting image of his Uncle
Charles. As a young woman, Kirstin had known Charlie Paget
rather well. He was the son of her boss, George Paget, and
was the black sheep of the family. Charlie had all the quali-
ties needed to succeed in Canberra – family connections,
intelligence, education, charm, a commanding manner and
appearance – but Charlie hated Canberra.
A Landcruiser entered the driveway and stopped beside
Humphrey‟s old car. At first, Kirstin was disappointed. The
young man who emerged bore little resemblance to Charlie.
Then the other door opened and she felt herself drifting back
in time.
David was not as old as the Charlie she had known but,
otherwise, the resemblance was astounding. He had a bottle
of wine in one hand and a large book in the other. Kirstin
guessed the book was Tong Yee‟s journal.
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