Confessions of a Liar, Thief and Failed Sex God by Bill Condon

Author:Bill Condon [Bill Condon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781864714357
Publisher: Random House Australia

32

We turn off the main road.

'I thought we'd head for the dam,' Sylvie says. 'Be good to cool off on such a hot day. It's not far now.'

Zom follows her directions and the car winds into the bush, traffic noise fading behind us. We stop in a clearing when the road won't let us go any further.

Sylvie takes her swimming costume from the boot.

'Down this track,' she says. 'The dam's at the end of it. Keep an eye out for snakes.'

The snakes don't bother me as much as Zom. Those photos. That look he gave me ...

Sylvie ducks behind some trees to get changed.

'We've got to talk,' I mutter to Zom. 'What's with all the pictures of Mick? How'd you get so close anyway?'

'That big tree in the paddock behind their place – climbed it.'

'You're freaking me out.'

'I took some photos, that's all. There's no law against it.'

'They just weren't any photos. Why would you do that?'

'I needed to do some research.'

'By climbing a tree?'

'I wanted to see if there was a pattern that I could use ... something that I could be sure he would do every day. If I can find that out I'll know how I'm going to do it.'

'Mate, you've got to stop. Now I've seen those photos you've made me a part of it – I can't let you do anything to Mick.'

'You've always known, Neil. I told you right from the start. I confided in only you. I trusted you.'

'Zom, Zom...'

I run out of words.

'Come on,' he says, 'forget it. I shouldn't have let you see the photos. I won't ever mention it again.'

'But you're still going to do something to him, aren't you?'

'Put it this way, Neil. Every night I pray that God will tell me what to do. Nothing changes.'

'Hey, you two.'

Sylvie steps out of the bushes.

'Are you going to join me?'

She struts to the dam's edge. Her one-piece black costume fits her like a second layer of skin. I marvel at her delicate bumps, and then as she walks past, I marvel again at the secret pink-white flesh on her thigh, revealed as the costume cuts away.

Sylvie's body warms me even more than the weather. Water splashes around me when she dives in, cooling me – at least on the outside.

Zom strips to his underpants.

'You coming in, Neil?'

'I don't think so – we haven't finished talking yet.'

'Maybe you haven't, but I have.'

He crashes in.

Sylvie calls out, 'The water's beautiful. You should try it.'

'I'm okay. Maybe later.'

It's good to see her so happy – playing like a little kid, splashing Zom, him splashing her back. I hardly ever see Zom laughing; he is now. It's like there's two of him sometimes. He's just this simple bloke, plodding along, not capable of hurting anyone. Good old Zom. But then there's the other side that only I know ...

A spray lands at my feet. Then another splats me in the face.

'Oops!' Sylvie grins.

My body wasn't made for swimming costumes. I'm way too skinny. That's why I never learnt how to swim – but the dam is so tempting.

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