Chapter 12
About an hour out of Nalong, Bane’s nausea finally let up and he became positively chatty. Tim wasn’t sure which was worse. He watched Bane crawl over the back seat to reach his toothbrush and water bottle and then lean out of the window to freshen up. He refused to let Tim pull over. The dashboard lights announced that it was nine thirty-six, and yet Bane still kept trying to point out landmarks in the dark, as if he actually believed that Tim might be interested in seeing yet another grain silo.
The endless tree-scape flicked shadows across the windscreen while Tim squinted ahead, trying to predict when the next roo would jump out, or wombat waddle across his path.
Bane looked exhausted and yet he was getting more animated by the minute. It had apparently been some months since he’d last been anywhere near his home town, and the excitement was clearly getting the better of him.
‘If you look at the speedo one more time I swear I will turn this car around and drive you back to Adelaide,’ Tim said through gritted teeth. ‘I am doing the speed limit and not a smidge more.’
His friend fidgeted but looked away, and then after a few moments he fiddled with his hair in the mirror. Again. Tim wondered if perhaps it would be best to keep him talking after all. Reclaiming the rear view mirror so he could drive safely, Tim decided his friend looked cheerful enough for him to risk another attempt at finding out what was going on.
‘I must say, I’m kind of looking forward to meeting this girl. She must be something special to get through to the Master of Serious Expressions. Many have tried, all have failed. You haven’t even told me her name.’
‘Her name’s Lainie. She is special. Heavenly, even.’ He looked like he was trying to suppress a smile. ‘And keep your sneaky paws off. She’s not for you.’
He wouldn’t have dreamt of it.
‘Tim, could you please do something for me?’
‘If it involves getting some dinner, sure. Now that you’ve stopped putting me off food altogether, I’m kind of starving.’
‘Sorry. It’s not too far now. I’m sure Noah will find you something to eat. He loves to cook.’
‘And a bed? It’s a four-hour drive back to the airport. I’m kind of hoping you have a plan here.’
‘Of course, we’ll sort something out. That’s not what I was asking. Actually, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind arranging to send me the rest of my stuff? I’ll pay for everything, of course, but could you please pack up for me?’
‘What stuff? I looked around your flat, Bane. It’s like a hotel room. You don’t even have a pot plant. The most personal item I saw was your guitar.’
‘No. You have uniforms. And a couple of things for work. And maybe a tracksuit. They don’t count.’
‘Good point. Don’t bother, then. Give them away to the guys.’
Tim nearly choked as his meaning sank in. ‘Seriously? Are you trying to tell me you’re giving up the Reserves? What about your ADFA application? Don’t you have an interview coming up?’
Bane didn’t reply. He just started messing with his hair again.
Tim turned off the radio. ‘Listen. I’m thrilled that you’ve turned into a real boy. No more Mr Botox. That’s great. A bit weird, but great. Still, mate, don’t you think you’re being a bit hasty? I mean, you haven’t even seen her yet. You have no idea how it’s going to go.’ He took a deep breath, bracing himself for a bad reaction. ‘What if she leaves again?’
Bane’s fingers gripped the door handle, his knuckles white, and his voice contained a deep echo as if every last part of him was speaking. ‘I’m not going to stuff this up again. I’ll make her want to stay.’ His eyes stared out the window at some memory in the dark.
‘And how are you going to manage that?’
Bane turned to him, his eyes dancing. ‘It’s called flirting, Tim. Someone told me girls really respond to it. You should try it sometime.’