Taking the paddle in both hands, he pushed off and the boat glided out. It was still, so still, and the water was waiting. He dipped the paddle, making soft splashes as the blade broke the surface. It was fluid and good; the kayak wanted to move.

As he paddled out, a cormorant startled from a tree and beat its way along the shoreline. A breeze rippled over, and he paddled into it, soft fingers of wind on his skin. Silver light reached across the river to the distant hills, picking out the white trunks of the trees and igniting them. All was quiet except the sounds of the birds and the rhythmic dip of his paddle.

For a while, Leon followed the shore, gliding beneath scraggly gums that held out their arms. Then he paddled onto the open water, finding his rhythm, warming up, his muscles switching on to the task. Later this afternoon he would call that nice vet and organise something. He was ready for new friendships.

This was his place now.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Acknowledgements

I am sincerely grateful to poets John Karl Stokes and Jane Baker for the epigraphs at the beginning of this novel. Thank you for allowing me to cite your fine words.

Writing a novel is mostly a solitary journey, but it could not be completed without the support of friends and family, or without the insight of others.

For bringing light to this novel, I thank the fabulous team at Allen & Unwin. Special thanks to Jane Palfreyman for pushing me to find the heart of the story, and Angela Handley and Kate Goldsworthy for providing detailed editing suggestions. I also thank my French publisher, Sarah Rigaud at Les Escales, for giving timely and perfect advice about the ending of the novel.

The final draft was written while I was an Artist-in–Residence at the Boyd Property, Bundanon, near Nowra. This was a valuable window of time to immerse myself in nature and art, and I thank the Bundanon Trust for this opportunity. I also spent time writing at the Cairns Bay Waterfront Retreat on the Huon River in south-eastern Tasmania.

For moral support and encouragement during difficult times, I thank Fiona Inglis at Curtis Brown Australia, and the wonderful Deb Stevens, my confidante and friend. Thank you also to the members of the Ramekins writing group for accepting me into your midst and giving thoughtful and caring advice on writing and life. Biff Ward, Robyn Cadwallader, Jenni Savigny and Dianne Lucas, I am grateful to have you as my literary friends.

Technical advice was provided by several friends and colleagues: Stephanie Robertson enlightened me about bees and bee-keeping; Judy Clarke shared insights into trapping and research on Tasmanian devils; Andrew McKee answered my questions about policing; Denise Kraus checked my medical facts; and Mandy McKendrick proofed my Tasmanian colloquialisms.