‘You mean those two female backpackers murdered at St Helens?’

Haut nodded and said, ‘God demands a reply. I held a service for Cafasso on Beaumaris Beach, where she was stabbed to death.’

Cavalier was silent for a moment before saying, ‘Al, I won’t be there to protect you.’

‘That’s okay. God and Mac will do it.’

‘Mac is your main protection.’

‘Oh yeah! He’ll be staying with my parents. As soon as I settle into my new home, I’ll have him with me.’

‘Your new home?’

‘I’ll show you.’

*

They drove back to Hobart, arriving at Sandy Bay just after 3 a.m. Haut wound his way up Nicholas Drive. Near the top there was a three-level house topped by a squat tower that had sweeping views of the bay by day and the heavens by night. A cross was just visible at the highest point.

Haut parked the car in front of the building.

‘It’s empty,’ he said, looking up. They alighted from the ute. Haut let Mac loose to root around in the garden and the grass verge.

‘I’ll move in on the weekend,’ Haut said.

‘You bought it?’

‘I was driving up for no real reason and noticed the cross. I got in touch with the architect. He knew who I was.’ Haut chuckled. ‘“You’re that spiritual geologist bloke,” he said. He told me he built the place with a spiritual intent with the tower opening to the heavens. He wanted it to go to a man of God. It was perfect for me. He’s letting me rent it while I get a bank loan to buy it.’

‘You’ll be safe here?’

‘No one knows I’m moving in. I’ll lay low with Mac.’

*

Cavalier wrote an innocuous report on Haut for Minerals, Oil and Gas Magazine, leaving out some of his more grandiose aims and claims. He decided not to do a bigger, more in-depth piece for fear of exposing too much about Haut, and Cavalier’s connection to him. Then he produced a more incisive review for Wombat, which would be passed on to ASIO and the CIA.

There was an almost immediate response from Langley, CIA HQ, who wanted Wombat to monitor Haut even more closely.

Wombat rang Cavalier to inform him.

‘Big Brother and the US Navy now have even more reason to keep up with his activities,’ he said. ‘First, because of the oil reserves he controls, and second, because of this cold fusion nuclear technology he wants to develop. The latter will have all sorts of ramifications for energy from vehicles and spacecraft to weaponry.’

‘You want me to keep checking on him?’

‘Any information you can glean would be useful.’

‘I’ll keep in touch. But I’ll let him know of your interest. I’m not going to spy on him.’

23 FOLLOWING THE VISION

23

FOLLOWING THE VISION