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MS LOTI HAD GONE VERY strange. She drove like a woman possessed, going much faster than before. There was evidence of flooding on every side of the road. Every waterway was full. There was flood debris all over the road. Every road! And there was not another car in sight, all the way back to civilisation.
“Where are we going?” I finally asked. She didn’t reply.
I began to get a terrible sinking feeling right then. It was all I could do to stay in the car and keep hoping for the best.
I wanted to see my mum and dad again. Even my baby sister. I would have even been glad to just see people walking around in a shopping mall. Something familiar! But no. The world already looked strange. There were no cars. There were no people. And on the side of the roads, everywhere I looked it seemed, were those big billboards for Zanodol.
She drove us all the way back to school, parked in her usual spot, and shut off the engine. There were only about three other cars there.
“Now what?” I asked nervously.
She said nothing. Just got out and headed towards the school office. I followed. She went in. The office lady was there, and everything looked normal. For one brief moment I got it into my head that it had all been a dream.
“Bronwyn!” said the office lady in surprise, “Back so soon?”
“Yes,” whispered Ms Loti, “We survived.”
“How was the camp? Did you get that terrible storm as well?”
“Yes.”
“Wasn’t it wonderful! So good to get the rain! The guys on the radio, you know: Tim and Tam? They told us all to go outside and open our mouths! Drink some fresh rain!” She laughed. “Crazy, I know, but you know thousands of people did it! Even my husband!” The office lady smiled strangely and rubbed at her head just behind her ears.
“Have you got a headache?” asked Ms Loti, her voice sounding strangely empty.
“Odd you should mention it, but I did have one this morning!” said the office lady cheerfully, “But you know: than new stuff on the market: Zanodol? Works wonders!” She took up a large box of it she had on her desk and offered it to us. We slowly backed out, shaking our heads, smiling politely.
Outside it was strangely silent. There were no planes in the sky. No school noise. No sound of traffic. The air was clean. The wind blew warm and damp. More clouds were piling up over the hinterland. It was getting set to rain again.
“Now what?” I heard myself asking hollowly.
We were back at Mr Prior’s vehicle but I guess neither of us could think of what to do next, or where to go. I climbed up and into my seat and for some reason I opened the glove box. Out rolled a plastic water bottle. It landed in my lap.
On it was written:
“DRINK UP! [Love-heart] - LUCY.”