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finally died down she filled in the hole, leaving only the vaguest indication that someone had passed that way. Katherine settled her mind for a day on her own entertaining Carolyn and herself, knowing that it probably would be very similar to days spent around the Kombi while Alec was off collecting rocks.

    * * *
    Petri had very mixed emotions. AGO had been part of his working life since his graduation from the University of Western Australia five years previously. He was just twenty-one when he left with a first class Honours degree, one of the youngest but also one of the brightest students to do so. Petri was not only academically bright but also practical and, as a result, very successful in his chosen field of exploration geology. His father, a man of strong principles, would certainly have approved his actions, although he may have handled it more diplomatically.
    Anticipating the outcome of his negotiations with AGO management, Petri had put in place an alternative plan for his future. Although he knew geologists were in short supply and jobs easy to find he had no intention of leaving a well paid permanent position to land up looking for work. The discovery of the Lunnon Shoot nickel ore body in January, followed by further major discoveries in March, initiated a mineral exploration boom and anyone with a geology degree, or even a partial degree, could find a position in any one of the many new junior exploration companies being listed on the stock exchange almost daily. They sprang up overnight like mushrooms, some more reputable than others.
    When he decided that he might resign from AGO Petri made contact with the du Toit Group. It had come about through a chance meeting with Charl du Toit on one of the MMA flights from Kalgoorlie to Perth. Both men had been booked on the same flight only to find the aircraft delayed by yet another strike. During the annoying wait at the Kalgoorlie airport they had found themselves at the same table, sharing a drink. As happens under these circumstances they started chatting and du Toit was impressed with Petri.
    Charl du Toit was an entrepreneur extraordinaire, with expansive and expensive ideas. Through some creative accounting, favourable political associations and a knack of raising capital through the overheated share market, he was associated with some of the major exploration programs in both Western Australia and Queensland. While most small companies had joined the rush for nickel, du Toit had encouraged one of the companies in which he was a major shareholder, Spinifex Exploration N.L., to look for new styles of gold mineralisation.
    Just before the two men finally boarded the flight du Toit said, ‘I’ve enjoyed our yarn. If ever you decide you need a change of scenery give me a call. My direct line is on here. Please don’t spread it around as I don’t give this number to just anyone.’
    He handed Petri his business card. Until that moment Petri did not realise that the ‘Charlie’ he had been talking to was none other than the Charl du Toit, whose name so regularly featured in the press. As the frustrations accrued at AGO he eventually picked up the phone and made the call. He was surprised to find that, in spite of the time gap of several months, Charl du Toit not only remembered him but also arranged an informal luncheon meeting that turned into an interview with the General Manager of one of his companies, Fred Cooper. That was only one month prior to Petri’s meeting with his managers.
    Charl had left the luncheon meeting early but before leaving said, ‘If you decide to leave AGO we can put you on salary with Fred’s group or, if you prefer, organise a contract. Talk to Fred here, he’ll give you the details of what we can offer.’
    What Fred offered was a long-term contract with generous funding to develop models for new styles of gold mineralisation. The meeting with his managers had gone badly. Now