‘The airstrip markers. When the mail plane’s been, I wondered if you could drive along the strip and chuck ’em on the back and bring them in? If we’re going to paint, they’re due a coat as well.’

‘Yes, of course. If there’s another brush I could do that this afternoon.’ She made a rapid assessment of the day’s tasks. ‘I haven’t much on once the baking’s done.’

‘Luke can have a look before we leave. There should be an old one in the supplies, and there’s turps in the shed. You don’t have to be too particular, just so long as they’re visible from the air.’

‘Okay,’ Tilly said, pleased by the idea of doing something different.

After breakfast Luke vanished into the big shed next to the engine room and reappeared with a cobweb-infested brush and tin of white paint with a much-battered top.

‘I loosened the lid,’ he said. ‘You’d never get it off, else. And it’s water based – you won’t need the turps.’

Tilly rolled her eyes at him. ‘I’m not quite useless, you know, but thanks anyway. Just leave it on the verandah.’ She was on her way to feed Harry and the possum, and for no reason, save that the morning was fresh and blue-skied, with a waft of wattle blossom in the air, her heart lifted. It was suddenly good to be alive and part of a team, with tasks to perform and animals to care for. She hummed a little as she placed the possum’s dish inside the dark box Matt had made for him within the netted shelter.

‘Wake up sleepyhead. Here’s your breakfast.’

Tilly was painting when the vehicle arrived. She was in the big shed, squatting beside the last of the airstrip marker tyres and applying a second coat to it, when the rumble of the engine broke into her concentration. Her immediate thought was that the bullying Sergeant Burns had returned and her heart jolted uncomfortably. Cravenly she wished Sophie was around for support, but a moment later caught herself on the thought and stood up, paintbrush in hand. She had nothing to fear from the man; it was he who was in the wrong, badgering her as he had, and she would tell him so – before giving him his marching orders.