Down the footpath she strode, springy with anticipation. But the visitor centre seemed deserted: the front door was locked, and only night-lights glowed in the windows. A wave of disappointment washed through her—maybe the whole thing had been called off. Around the back, a white Toyota LandCruiser stood in the car park, but the rear door to the centre was locked too. Unsure what to do, she waited for a few minutes.

She was about to give up and go home when the back door opened. Geraldine peered out, her face lighting up when she saw Miki. ‘Oh good. We were worried you couldn’t come. Dale’s here, and a Parks ranger too. His name’s Leon.’ She called back into the building. ‘Miki’s here.’

Dale, the scientist, reminded Miki of a regrowth sapling: tall and thin with lined cheeks and wild grey hair. He was wearing overalls, and he nodded approvingly when he saw Miki’s outfit—for once she was wearing the right uniform. She accepted his handshake even though she knew Kurt wouldn’t like it.

Leon grinned as Geraldine introduced him. ‘We’ve met before,’ he said. ‘Miki makes a mean burger.’ Miki noticed scratches on his face, a lump over one eye—maybe he’d been in a fight. Then she remembered hearing he’d played footy on Saturday. Every week the walking wounded boasted about their cuts and scrapes in the shop. Now Leon was one of them.

Dale and Leon swung into the front of the Toyota while Miki and Geraldine sat in the back. It was awkward being with strangers—Miki was so nervous she almost forgot her seatbelt. The car smelled of vinyl and disinfectant. Behind the safety cage, mountains of gear had been packed: white pipes, plastic boxes and milk crates.

At the tip, they all clambered out. It was still and cold, and the rubbish was stinky. The men stood beneath the fluorescent light, hands in pockets, surveying the territory.

‘I wouldn’t have picked this as a hangout for devils,’ Leon said. ‘What’s their usual habitat?’

‘Dry forest and coastal woodlands, but there are good pickings in tips. Plenty of food.’

‘There’s shelter too,’ Miki said. ‘Places to hide.’

Dale’s eyes settled on her as she pulled a bag of meat from her pocket. ‘You feed them?’

‘Yes. Sometimes they eat from my hand.’

He smiled. ‘Devil woman!’

‘Isn’t that a Cliff Richard song?’ Geraldine said.

Leon hummed a tune, and Miki didn’t know what they were talking about.

Dale was still smiling as he extracted a spotlight from the back of the Toyota. ‘Okay, Miki. Can you show us where you usually see these devils so we can put out some traps?’