‘I left early again. Seems I’m always catching up on the papers.’
‘Very positive coverage. “Crowned with success” was the term used by The Argus, if I recall it correctly. I’ll have some copies sent up later, if you like. Though I expect Mr Rickards wants to review them with you personally. He has requested you call on him at the Opera House at your earliest convenience. Says there have been encouraging developments.’
‘I could sure use some good news,’ says Harry. He feels his spirits rising. Good notices always buck him up. ‘Rickards’ office, you say? First I should refresh myself and see if my wife will accompany me.’
‘Mrs Houdini wasn’t with you this morning?’
‘I let her rest,’ Harry replies, heading for the stairs. ‘She was tired after yesterday’s early start.’
‘Of course,’ says the manager. Harry does not see the puzzled expression flitting across his face. Audran calls out before his guest has got far.
‘If I can suggest, sir – Mr Rickards was very insistent about talking to you straight away. Perhaps you would relax better after any business is attended to. If you like, I can make Mrs Houdini aware of your plans.’
Harry pauses. Sighs. Runs a hand through his hair. Turns around.
‘You’re right. I’ll find out what it is that has Rickards jumping.’
‘And I’ll have a quick word with your wife.’
Harry walks away. Audran slowly releases his breath.
48
EVENTS near Diggers Rest make news in Adelaide, where Saturday’s Register carries a report straight from The Argus. Frederick Jones reads it aloud to his young pilot. Custance has a bandage wrapped around both ears but is in better shape than the Bleriot, which has a twisted undercarriage, a dent in the petrol tank, and a broken propeller. Jones is hopeful a replacement propeller can be fabricated locally.
‘Three flights in all,’ Jones says.
‘Really?’ Custance replies. He doesn’t sound terribly interested. ‘How long was this fellow up – does it say?’
Jones runs a forefinger over the column of type.
‘Here: three and a half minutes. Two minutes less than you managed, son.’
Custance shrugs. Can’t quite understand the fuss.
‘Doesn’t matter much, I reckon. His is a biplane, yours a monoplane. Chalk and cheese, really.’
Jones wants to read on, but Custance has closed his eyes.
His head hurts.
49
HARRY finds it strange to return to the Opera House now that his season has ended. Like re-entering a hotel room after checking out. He sees trunks stacked high in a corner, each with his name stencilled on the sides. Kukol and Vickery must have been busy. Rickards, too. He is standing in his office when Harry finds him, peering over his desk, even messier than usual.
‘There you are,’ Rickards says. ‘Now – what d’yer think of this?’ He turns a page towards Harry. It is the mock-up of a poster:
AVIATION WEEK AT
ROSEHILL RACECOURSE
MR HARRY RICKARDS At Enormous Expense
Has Arranged with THE GREAT HOUDINI
(The First Successful Aviator in Australia)
TO GIVE A SERIES OF PUBLIC FLIGHTS IN HIS VOISIN BI-PLANE
‘That’ll get them in, I’d say.’ Rickards continues. ‘And don’t worry, I’ll ensure your name is in much bigger type than my own.’
‘I was hardly a successful aviator this morning. Not even up for a minute. Weather conditions were unfavourable.’
‘No matter! We still have several days before you leave for Sydney. Tomorrow is your big opportunity, as I’ll explain. Today was only ever going to be a rehearsal, nothing more.’ He puts his poster aside and flips through a pile of newspapers. ‘And the response to what we achieved yesterday has been splendid.’
We? Harry is taken aback by Rickards’ choice of words, but his curiosity exceeds any irritation.
‘Audran told me the notices were good …’
‘McCracken of The Argus came through, as I knew he would. See the headline? “Houdini Flies”. And this: “After a month of patient waiting, with only three or four opportunities for the attempt, Houdini made three successful flights at Diggers Rest yesterday morning.” Hear that? Three successful flights. And there’s a full copy of your witness statement.’
‘Perhaps Jordan will stop looking so sour when he sees his name in print,’ Harry says, scanning the rest of the report. ‘What of the others?’
‘The Age account reads like it came out of my own mouth. Which isn’t surprising. Listen, in the first paragraph: “Mr H. Houdini claims to have successfully accomplished a sustained flight covering several miles.”’
