….. “And the Blacks knocked you back ‘cos you weren’t fast enough?”
“Well, they are all pretty good at everything, sir.”
“Hey, Nikau, do me a favour and stop calling me sir. How so, Nikau?” I asked, repeating his name. At 3 am the ping of a text woke me. So, at dawn the next morning I drove out of the homestead and pussy-footed all the way back to Cairns. It stinks, but I’m good.”
“Ha ha. “You go get a shower and some sleep. I hope whoever’s in there behaves themselves.”
“You gonna be in a room with Cindy then?” I ask, seriously wanting to know the answer. “They recon some bad eggs turned up today. But if he knew I called you cucky-boy he might have tried to ……. Thick everywhere.”
“A big guy, huh?”
“All three of them are. It’s just that …. Ni-Night.”
…
She’d ended the call without me even saying goodnight. “Yeah,” she answered. “Not yet, but everyone’s on edge.”
…. After eight days of this texting tease torture, I finally end up back in Melbourne. Give us a shake about eight thirty, yeah?”
“Need tucking in?” he quipped. I awoke at 8.30am and read Belinda’s text. She’d already got one. But like I said, he used the phrase himself. Now shower, breakfast, bed. I saddle up and at 7am I’m on my way.
