Chapter 15
FLOOD
Back at Upsend Downs, Stone House smelled like something warm and fruity. Ronnie stripped the wet black trash bag off her cast, dropped it on the boot mat. It had been effective for a few hours.
She lifted her wet hat off her head and bent down to hug Nev, then gave her the usual peck on the cheek. “I need to eat a large amount of meat immediately.”
“I know. I made coq au vin.”
“You’re the best. Where’s Sheila?”
“The woman you kidnapped?”
Ronnie stumbled into the family room and collapsed face-down on a beige suede couch.
“Sold her to the mob for five quid.”
“No rape jokes, please. Not funny.”
“What happened? Long day?”
Nev lit candles. Ronnie wolfed down two plates of red wine chicken with haricot verts and garlic mashed potatoes. Nev plugged an ancient blow-drier to an extension cord, then balanced it on a pile of books on a chair, blowing at the damp cast.
“That’s a fire hazard.”
“You’re a fire hazard. Stop moving.”
“Seriously, where’s Sheila?” Ronnie asked.
“Imagine my surprise. I get home. Telly is on. I think nothing of it. I hop in the shower, come out naked as jaybird, find my house has been hoovered, bins emptied, floors waxed, two pies have been baked, and someone’s granny is on the sofa knitting a jumper while watching The Price is Right turned up all the way. ”
“Did she see you naked?”
“She’s nearsighted. Her daughter came and grabbed her.”
Ronnie raised her eyebrows, then shrugged and returned to eating. She ate two slices of pie and a bowl of ice cream.
“You’re not in a family way, are you?”
She ignored the jab. “I didn’t eat dinner.”
“How did the meeting with the lawyer go?”
“Fine, I think.”
“Is she hopeful?”
Ronnie shrugged. “Fingers crossed.” She took the bills Brad Collins had given her out of her chest pocket, laid them on the table.
Nev whistled. “What’s this?”
“Guilt money from Rainbow’s sperm donor.”
Nev swore, flattened the bills. “Not feeling heaps guilty, is he?”
“Right? That’s my feeling. What would you do with it if you were me?”
“Me?” Nev sounded incredulous. She looked at the ceiling for a moment and puffed out her cheeks. “Uni fund.”
“That’s what he wants me to do.”
Nev nodded. “Shakespearean dramas have been written about lesser dilemmas. Is the right thing to do still the right thing if some dickhead wants you to do it?”
Ronnie smiled. Nev jiggled the blow-drier.
She watched Nev shrug into waterproof overalls and a canary yellow raincoat. The radio predicted heavy rain would hit the Tablelands in the middle of the night. Nev unplugged rechargeable batteries from the charger and tucked them under her arm.
Ronnie reached under the sink for a trash bag.
“No, Dain’y, you stay here.”
“Cast is already wet.” Her fingers stretched and broke through the thin plastic with a satisfying pop. She snapped a rubber band around the bag at her elbow again. She flipped through the coat closet until she found her old pair of rain pants.
“Fine,” Nev said. “Stay where I can see you.”
Floodlights mounted on the barns and shop buildings lit up the farmyard, but outside the circle of light the night was pitch. Wind was picking up, storm approaching. They drove down the gravel drive, trees groaning, wind howling, then parked in front of the horse barn.
Nev set two battery-powered lanterns on the table in the office. She turned on the walkie-talking that was sitting on the charger. Farm radios.
Nev held the radio to her mouth, pressed the button. “Kaz.” They waited. After a minute Nev tried again. “Drover.”
A rough voice crackled over the radio. “Balmy weather, eh?”
Nev sighed, straightening. “How are the girls?”
“Wet,” Kazi said.
Ronnie chuckled.
“What can we help you with, boss?” Nev asked.
“I have Barney here. Keep the generator going if the power goes. We’ll need it to run the telly.”
“What are you watching?”
“The match.”
“Beautiful. Carry on. I assume you’re counting them.”
“No point. They’re behind the shed, not going anywhere. If they head for the hills, we’ll find them in the morning. We run around the perimeter every two hours.”
“Looking for what?”
“Beats me.”
“Keep doing what you’re doing. I have faith in you. If you need anything…”
“Ron there?”
“Yup.”
“Little one called looking for her.”
“I’ll tell her. Love you,” Nev said.
“Love you,” the old man echoed automatically.
Ronnie raised her eyebrows at that sign off, had never heard the owner of Upsend Downs and the drover end a conversation that way before. Nev must be going soft in her old age.
The power flickered. She looked up. The lights cut out, leaving them in darkness except for the glow of the hand-held radio.
Nev handed it to her, then flipped on the battery-powered lanterns. Ghostly white light emanated from the center of the table, other-worldly. Nev lifted one. “I’m going to feed the machine.” The generator. “Call Rainbow.”
She watched Nev’s light wobble away through the dark barn. In their stalls, horses whinnied. Dreadnought kicked the wall. She always did that when she couldn’t see Brighty. True love was real.
The phone on the other end rang. Rainbow’s voice, annoyed. “Mum, where are you?”
“At Upsend Downs. Where else would I be? Where are you, babe?”
“Why didn’t you answer your phone? I’ve been worried sick about you.” Rainbow sounded like a little mum. Oldest child for sure. Leader vibes. She would be a type-A chick, take the initiative on group projects.
“Been out in the rain with my phone off, babe, saving battery. Couldn’t take it out of the ute or it would be fried. What’s up? You alright? I’m sorry. I’m here now. It’s been a day. I wish I was there with you.”
“I wish I was at the farm.”
“You’re supposed to be asleep.”
“How could I sleep through the worst cyclone in thirty years?”
“Is that what they’re saying? They always say that, babe.”
“Keep your phone on? Promise?”
“Promise. We lost power but the old lady’s gone to start the generator, so we’ll do. How about you? Lost power yet?”
“While ago, yeah.”
“Lanterns and torches?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re not scared?”
“Nah. We’re over at Nan’s.” Maude’s mother’s house. A faded pink house in a rose garden in Malanda. Full of rats. But charming. She tried to picture the terrain, remember whether it was higher or lower than its neighbors. “Is there water in the garden?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is there water in the house?”
“We’ve got jugs of drinking water and water to flush the dunny.”
“Can I talk to your mama, please?”
“She’s asleep.”
“In the morning, if there’s water in the garden, I want you to call Grandad. He’s not far. He would come over and help. You girls could go stay with Grandad. Is that a good idea?”
“Obviously.”
“Love you. You are strong.”
“Love you, too, Mum. You’re strong, too.”
“Sweet dreams, baby.”