Small Mercies by Richard Anderson

Author:Richard Anderson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC000000, FIC066000, FIC045000
Publisher: Scribe Publications Pty Ltd
Published: 2020-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

Seven

There were low hills all around them now, and from the top of a rise they saw water: the first part of a scribbly edged lake. Ruthie pointed. It wasn’t beautiful, but at least it was a big body of water. Both of them had wondered if the drought might have reduced it to pools and muddy flats.

They entered the lake ‘holiday area’ through a security gate with a boom, and followed a track down to a reception area and office. They both went inside, where a short, spindly woman sat behind and below a long counter with a thick, ancient computer in front of her and paper files all around.

She lifted her head, put on a professional smile, and asked how she could help them. Ruthie noticed she had the name Alyssa on a badge on her chest.

‘We were wanting to stay a night. In a cabin. A powered cabin.’

‘Sure. We’ve got plenty available. There’s only two other cabins occupied tonight.’ The woman looked at a board of hanging keys, and selected one. ‘How about number 14? It’s closest to the water and away from the car park. If you follow the road past this office, it’s like the middle one in the front row. Eighty dollars, thanks. There’s an ablutions block up behind the cabins.’

She passed the key, and Dimple reached out to take it and give her some cash. ‘Do you have barbecues we can use?’

‘Yes. There are three down here to my left.’ She pointed. ‘They’re standalone units with a roof and seats. You’ll see them as you go past.’

‘Great, thanks.’

‘You need to be out by nine in the morning. Unless you want to pay extra.’

‘No, nine o’clock will be okay. Thanks.’ Ruthie said this because she knew Dimple would be restless by the morning and ready to go home — no doubt pacing by 7.00 am.

They drove slowly down the road as directed. There were fifteen pine cabins, small rectangular boxes that looked like they could hold a double bed and nothing more. The grass in between the cabins had given up struggling. The water’s edge was obviously further from the cabins than normal, but it wasn’t too far away and didn’t look muddy or desperate. They found number 14, and parked in front of it. When Dimple opened the door, he said, ‘There’s a fridge,’ and went to collect some beers.

They carried their food and bags inside. Ruthie looked around and said, ‘This is a bit strange, but it’s still fun. The bed’s better than the one at the pub, at least.’

‘And the outlook.’ And he was right. Through their front window they could see a great, steely expanse of water, and Ruthie could almost pretend it was the ocean. It was mid-afternoon, and after they unpacked they made love, not as successfully as either of them would have liked. But it still felt like a luxury they could afford.

They walked along the sandy edge of the lake, managing to appropriate some of the floating introspection a beach walk might have given them.

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