| |
“This is ridiculous!” Larry grumbled as he pushed the wheelchair through the corridors at speed. “I just stole hospital property! I’m a vicar, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
Wiri heard his tone change as an oncoming group smiled and waved to him. A frail woman in their midst kept her gaze fixed on the blue stripe on the linoleum. She stared at it as though unable to focus on anything more than following its path to the cancer treatment centre it denoted. Wiri pursed his lips and cast his gaze at the pressed edges of his hospital gown. Larry’s fake brightness irritated him as they barrelled towards the external doors. “Hello everyone,” he chimed. The chair jerked sideways and headed for the wall as he became distracted. “I’ll pop back later to see you, Mrs Macalister.”
Wiri inhaled as the wall grew nearer before Larry righted his trajectory. Freedom beckoned from beyond the glass doors and another rainy day. He clasped his hand over the flapping hem of his gown. “Slow down!” he hissed. “You almost killed me! I’ve made it this far in this bloody town. Don’t add indecent exposure to my list of problems.”
“Tetchy, tetchy.” Larry breezed through the automatic doors and nodded to a security guard standing sentry by the sign for the emergency department. Smoke curled from behind his back, suggesting he’d indulged in a crafty cigarette break. Larry’s sensible shoes squeaked against the flagstones. “Now, where did I leave my car?”
“I’m freezing.” Wiri’s teeth set up a furious chatter reminiscent of the water tank. He revisited the trauma in flashes of memory as rain spattered his face and neck. The wind attacked the hem of his gown, threatening to flash his wares at another group of inbound patients. He held his hand down over it, noticing the bruise from the cannula he’d pulled from the vein.
“Well, you wanted to do this.” Larry’s tone held little sympathy. Wiri found it disappointing, considering his vocation.
He gripped his phone in his right hand and used the remaining battery life to send Phoenix a text. ‘Stall the parents,’ he demanded. ‘I need two hours.’
Larry located his car and watched as, barefoot, Wiri manoeuvred himself into the passenger seat. He checked for the watchful eye of the security guard before collapsing the wheelchair and bundling it into the boot of his car. The transparent bag containing Wiri’s remaining possessions went in next to it, but Larry retrieved the truck keys and dropped them into Wiri’s lap.
“Ouch!” Wiri complained as they jangled against his wound. “Thanks for that.”
Larry blew out an exasperated breath as he started the engine. “We shouldn’t be doing this,” he commented. “I should call Tane right now!”
Wiri snorted. “What, so he and Jet can hush everything up and make it go away? No thanks. Didn’t you notice how quickly they arrested the new kid for murder?”
Larry groaned. “I’m a new kid.” He pursed his lips and navigated the ticket machine at the entrance. The barrier arm rose without demanding cash after he presented an all-access pass. He growled deep in his throat. “I was a new person in town.” He slapped his thigh. “Jet was a new kid, for goodness’ sake! This isn’t about status. Tane isn’t like that!”
“Whatever.” Wiri licked his lips and stared through the windscreen as the wipers left streaks across the glass. “I don’t see him rushing up to Leilah’s and arresting Seline.”
“Maybe she isn’t guilty.”
They travelled in silence through the smaller townships as Wiri stared at his phone. His shoulders dropped with relief as Phoenix sent him a thumbs-up reply to indicate she’d understood. He glanced up with a sigh as Larry navigated the bends north of Pirongia village.
“Are you okay?” The vicar gave him a sideways smile and then concentrated on the road. “Hamilton is eating the surrounding townships. It’s like an insatiable monster, gobbling up farmland for housing and development.”
Wiri nodded. “Like Auckland.” He shifted in discomfort on the seat. “Why are you helping me, Larry?”
A tight smile lit the vicar’s lips. “Because someone other than the town’s vicar needs to bring it justice.”
Wiri narrowed his eyes. “You know, don’t you? When did you work it out?”
Larry exhaled and lifted his left hand to run it through his grey curls. “Perhaps at the same moment you did. His own secrets clouded Tane’s judgement. The weight of minding his brother hasn’t helped either of them. It made Jet sloppy and Tane blind.”
Wiri hauled on the hem of his gown. “This would seem so much better coming from you,” he said. He liked him, but the vicar’s lack of courage seemed to diminish him.
Larry shook his head in an instant denial. “No. You know what I think about your plan.”
Pirongia mountain blocked out the sky as they diverted from the main road and drove a more circuitous route around its western side. The three distinctive peaks seemed to bow their heads with regret at the tumultuous news the men carried.
Larry helped Wiri from the vehicle after parking in front of the vicarage. He shuffled to his truck and used the key fob to unlock it.
“I’ll grab it.” Larry pulled open the rear door and retrieved the paper bag containing Wiri’s remaining set of clothing. He scrabbled on the floor until discovering where Phoenix had left it after swapping into the kitten tee shirt and too small jeans. Then he helped him climb the steps to his front door.
“Thank goodness Logan didn’t decide to drive back here last night to fetch my truck.” Wiri leaned against the wall just inside the hallway to catch his breath. The strings of the paper bag dug into his fingers. “I can’t confront a murderer wearing no undies.”
“Should I retrieve the wheelchair?” Larry asked. He paused, unsure of his next role in the sad mission.
Wiri nodded and limped towards the bathroom. “In a second, please. I’ll pull these clothes on and meet you at the bottom of the steps. “
In the bathroom, he slipped out of the hospital gown and stood naked in front of the tarnished mirror. Little of his body retained its usual healthy glow. Raised weals littered his torso, the bruises spreading to join as a rainbow of black, purple and yellow. He lifted his fingers to touch the back of his head, wrinkling his nose at the bald patch surrounding the stitches. With a sad exhale, he tugged the jeans and tee shirt from the paper bag. Phoenix’s perfumed scent rose from the fabric, and he pressed them to his nose and breathed in her essence. He didn’t want her here for this.
It took longer than he imagined to drag the clothing onto his body. He winced as he slipped his injured leg into the jeans and shrugged them over the wound. Every part of him ached, from his crown to the tips of his toes, but he sent a silent thank you to his uncle Mark for the steroid injection which had eased the pain in his tailbone. Phoenix had discarded everything except the socks and he stared down at his bare feet. His reflection smiled back at him in the mirror. “At least you’re wearing undies,” he told it.
Tane hadn’t kept his boots and Wiri retrieved them from the hospital bag in the hallway. He bent to shove them onto his feet, but didn’t linger to tie the laces. Larry’s dark shape appeared in the glass of the front door as he pushed it open. “Want some help?” he asked, jerking his head towards Wiri’s feet. “I left the wheelchair at the bottom of the steps.”
“Na, I’m good.” He ran a hand over his face, irritated by the burgeoning bristles and wishing he’d had time to shower and shave. He exhaled and faced the vicar, dread snaking through his heart. “I’m ready, he said,” though his wavering voice betrayed him.
Larry nodded. “Push you there and then leave you? Are you sure?”
Wiri gave a slow shrug. Conflict prickled the skin at the back of his neck. “It’s what my kaumatua and kuia expect,” he replied.
And they would.
His forebears had instilled him with respect for his elders.
He intended to make them proud.
