Yes, sir, said Cameron. There was a dinner-dance at the Hotel DArchiac that night. I had invited Mr Ballard and Dr McGill to be my guests. My daughter, Stacey, was also present she was on vacation from the States at that time and was due to go back the following week. There was a certain amount of table-hopping during the dinner and it was then I learned that the mayor had not made the telephone calls. That, combined with a new and most disturbing report from Dr McGill, worried all of us very much.
Could you go into that in more detail? said Harrison.
Why, yes. We were just starting dinner...
McGill inspected the menu. Colonial goose, he said. That sounds good.
Ballard chuckled. Dont expect poultry.
I was going to order that, said Stacey Cameron. She was a tall, dark girl with typical American svelte good looks. McGill had measured her with a knowledgeable eye and classed her as a long-stemmed American beauty, Californian variety. She said, What is it if it isnt a bird?
A Texas nightingale isnt a bird, either, honey, said Cameron. Its a donkey. This is a similar New Zealand joke.
Stacey was horrified. You mean its horse meat?
No, said Ballard. Its hogget and stuffing.
Now youve lost me, complained McGill. Whats hogget?
Midway between lamb and mutton. There are millions of sheep in New Zealand and just about as many ways of cooking the animal. Colonial goose is a colonial joke, but its not bad.
A trap for the unwary tourist, commented McGill. Talking of that, when are you going back to the States, Stacey?
Just ten days left, she said with a sigh.
Ive been trying to talk her into staying, said Cameron.
Why dont you? Ballard asked her.
Id like to, she said regretfully. If only to look after this crazy man. She leaned over and patted her fathers hand. But I have a boss back in San Francisco whos depending on me I wouldnt want to let him down.
Cameron said, No one is indispensable. How long would it take you to cut free?
She thought about it. Maybe six months.
Then what about it?
Ill consider it, she said. Really I will.
Over dinner Cameron yarned about some of the practical difficulties they had run into when getting the mine going. The trouble was mainly with the people. The folks around here werent very enthusiastic at first. Theyd got pretty set in their ways and didnt like change. All except old man Peterson, of course, who saw the possibilities.
That reminds me, said McGill. Whats with the Petersons? And how many of them are there, for Gods sake?
Three brothers, said Ballard. John, Eric and Charlie. The old man died last year.
Cameron said, John has the brains, Eric has the drive, and Charlie has the muscle and precious little else. If Charlie-boy had twice the brains he has now hed be a half-wit. The Petersons own the Supermarket and the filling station, they have a half share in this hotel, run a couple of farms things like that. Charlie wants to develop Huka as a ski resort but hes finding it tough sledding; his brothers dont think the time is ripe for it. Old Peterson saw the possibilities and his boys are carrying on where he left off.
You forgot Liz, said Stacey. Shes over there fourth table along.
Ballard turned his head. He had not seen Liz Peterson since his return to the valley and his image was still of a freckled, gawky girl with pigtails and skinned knees. What he saw was something quite different and he drew in his breath.
Liz Peterson was a rarity a really beautiful girl whose loveliness did not depend on the adventitious aid of cosmetics. Her beauty lay deeper than the surface of her skin in the bone structure of her skull, in the sheen of good health and youth, in the smooth and controlled movements of her body. She was beautiful in the way a healthy young animal is beautiful and she had the unconscious arrogance that can be seen in a thoroughbred racehorse or a fine hunting dog.
By God! he said. Shes grown up.
Cameron chuckled. It tends to happen.
Why havent I seen her around?
Shes been visiting in North Island; just got back this week, said Cameron. She had dinner with us on Monday. Stacey was quite impressed, and it really takes something to impress my girl.
I like Liz, said Stacey. She has a mind of her own.
Ballard looked studiously at his plate. Any of the Petersons married yet?
John is and Erics engaged.
Charlie?
No he hasnt had to not yet; but its been a close call once or twice from what I hear. As for Liz, she should have been married long ago but Charlie has a way of scaring the young men. He looks after his sister like a hen with one chick.
McGill said, The Petersons dont like you, Ian. What was all that about this morning?
An old quarrel, said Ballard shortly. He glanced at Cameron. Know about it, Joe?
Ive heard, said Cameron. Something about the Ballards cheating the Petersons out of the mine.
Thats the way the Petersons tell it, agreed Ballard. Not John hes too sensible; but Eric tends to drive it into the ground a bit. What happened was that my father had a row with my grandfather and emigrated to New Zealand. Although hed left the family, he was still enough of a Ballard to be interested in gold when he found it on his land. He knew there wasnt enough sign to start a serious operation, the price of gold being what it was, but when he made his will before he joined the army he left the land to my mother, but the mineral rights he left to my grandfather.
In spite of the fact that theyd quarrelled? asked McGill.
He was a Ballard. What would my mother do with mineral rights? Anyway, after he died my mother had to sell the land she couldnt farm it herself. She sold most of it thats the west slope to old Peterson, who neglected to check if he had the mineral rights. I dont know if he cared about that one way or the other, but when my grandfather bought the rest of the land from my mother the bit at the bottom of the slope and started to exploit the mineral rights under Peterson land then all hell broke loose. Accusations of bad faith were tossed around like confetti. The Petersons have always been convinced it was a deep-laid plot on the part of the Ballards. Actually, of course, it was nothing of the kind, but because my name is Ballard Im stuck with it.
When you put it that way it doesnt sound too bad, said Cameron. All the same, Im not surprised that the Petersons are riled.
I dont see why they should be, said Ballard. The only people making a profit out of the mine are the Petersons; the mine brought prosperity to this valley and the Petersons are creaming it off. The Ballards certainly arent making a profit. Youve seen the operating figures, Joe, and you know the company is just breaking even. He shook his head. I dont know whats going to happen if we have to put in extensive avalanche protection. Ive been trying to get hold of Crowell all day but hes not available.
Who is he? asked McGill.
Who is he? asked McGill.
Chairman of the company. He lives in Auckland.
Ive been thinking of avalanche protection, said McGill meditatively. Ive got some figures for you, Joe. When you design the avalanche gallery over the mine portal allow for an impact pressure of ten tons a square foot.
Cameron flinched. That much? he asked incredulously.
Ive been talking to people who witnessed the 1943 slide. From all accounts it was an airborne powder avalanche, and so was the 1912 slide, according to Turi Buck. The next may not be any different.
Airborne powder! Whats that?
This is no time for a lecture on avalanche dynamics. All you need to know is that its fast and it packs a hell of a wallop.
Ballard said, The 1943 avalanche turned a hundred acres of big trees into firewood.
Cameron put down his fork. Now I know why youre worried about the town.
I wish to hell the council was as worried as I am, said McGill bleakly.
Cameron looked up. Here comes Matt Houghton. If you tell him what youve just told me maybe hell become as scared as I am. As Houghton came up, his bald head gleaming, Cameron pulled out a chair. Sit down, Matt. What did the Civil Defence people have to say?
Houghton sat down heavily. I havent had time to talk to them yet. Well be posting signs on the slope; Bobby Fawcetts scouts are making them and theyll be putting them up tomorrow. Got any stakes we can use, Joe?
Sure, said Cameron, but his voice was abstracted. He was looking at McGill.
Ballard leaned forward. What do you mean, Matt you didnt have time? I thought it was agreed...
Houghton flapped his hands. Its Saturday, Ian, he said plaintively, and shrugged. And tomorrow is Sunday. We probably wont be able to get through to them until Monday.
Ballard looked baffled. Matt, do you really think that Civil Defence Headquarters closes down at weekends? All you have to do is to lift the bloody telephone.
Take it easy, Ian. I have enough trouble with the Petersons. Charlie takes the line that no one can prevent him from walking or skiing on his own land.
For Christs sake! Is he out of his mind?
Houghton sighed. You know Charlie. Its that old feud getting in the way.
What the hell did I have to do with buying and selling mineral rights? I was only a kid at the time.
Its not that; its the other thing. Charlie was Alecs twin, you know.
But that was nearly twenty-five years ago.
Long memories, Ian; long memories. Houghton rubbed his jaw. That stuff you told us about your training you know, Johannesburg and Harvard. Eric was inclined to disbelieve you.
So he thinks Im a liar as well as a coward, said Ballard sourly. What does he think it takes to be in charge of a company like this?
He did mention a rich grandfather, said Houghton wryly.
He dropped his eyes under Ballards steady stare. Ballard said, Im expecting a call from old Crowell. You can talk to him if you like. Hell tell you my qualifications. His voice was chilly.
Take it easy I believe you. Youve made a success of your life, and thats all that matters.
No, it isnt, Matt. What matters is that bloody snow on the slope above this town, and I dont want any ancient history getting in the way. Im going to make sure the right thing is done, and if the Petersons get in my way I wont go around them Ill go through them. Ill smash them.
Houghton gave him a startled look. My God, but youve changed!
Turi Buck said it first Ive grown up, said Ballard tiredly.
There was an embarrassed silence at the table. McGill, who had been quietly watchful, said, I dont know what that was all about, Mr Houghton, but I can tell you this. The situation is now more serious than that I outlined at our meeting this morning. Ive taken more samples from the slope and the stability is deteriorating. Ive also been talking to people about previous avalanches, with the result that Ive just notified Mr Cameron to prepare for something hitting the mine very hard indeed. I have to tell you that also applies to the town.