The Rain Never Came by Lachlan Walter

Author:Lachlan Walter [Walter, Lachlan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-922200-96-9
Publisher: PublishDrive

The transport’s cabin was crowded with junk—faded maps, a tarnished compass, a pair of broken binoculars, possum skins of bush tobacco and wild weed, battered canteens. I had to dig deep to find a seat.

‘It didn’t take you long to settle in,’ I complained, kicking aside the detritus at my feet.

‘There’s no place like home.’ Tobe’s voice was soft.

I didn’t ask if he was okay; I knew better. He slipped the transport into gear, flicked the headlights on and started the engine.

‘You right back there?’ he said over his shoulder, his voice a little louder.

‘No worries,’ Ruby replied.

And away we went. A wicked laugh came from deep in Tobe’s belly as we crossed the paddock—being back on the road seemed to shake his dark mood. Dust plumed behind us, dug from the churned earth of our tyre tracks. We shot through the driveway gate and turned onto the road. Tobe floored the accelerator as we straightened up. I couldn’t help shutting my eyes.

‘You bloody sook …’

‘Piss off.’

‘Now, now, not in front of the kids.’

I opened my eyes.

Tobe turned his head, looked into the back. ‘You okay?’

‘You bet.’

A tree loomed in front of us as we drifted across the road. I reached over, corrected our course.

‘Cheers,’ Tobe said, turning back, taking the wheel.

He revved the engine harder, throwing me into my seat. The world passed in a blur of green-brown-grey shapes. Tobe gestured for me to roll him some bush tobacco. I strained forward, scooped up one of the possum skins. The deep thrum that had drummed into my bones was replaced by a quieter burr as we turned onto the highway and swapped dirt for bitumen. I stared out the window; the ruined town had assumed a sad beauty.

Tobe let go of the wheel, patted his pockets, found his lighter, then tossed it over. I dropped it, of course—clumsy as always. It fell to my feet, and I banged my head on the dashboard as I bent to pick it up.

‘Dickhead.’

I lit Tobe’s bush tobacco in a dignified silence and then passed it over. The smoke shrouded his face. I was about to ask how he could see when he braked with a squeal, once again throwing me back in my seat.

‘Last stop, the pub.’

Ruby laughed, clear and bright. I unbuckled, jumped out, hurried along. Red and Blue were asleep on their blanket by the door. I was half-convinced that they hadn’t moved since I had seen them last. Red woke with a start, met my eye, barked half-heartedly, curled up against his sister, went back to sleep.

I looked around. The pub was dark, quiet. Something was wrong …

‘Bill, mate, hold your horses,’ Tobe shouted, hurrying ahead.

Ruby joined him, helping block the way.

‘What?’

‘Look, don’t get too excited.’

I tensed. They held their ground.

‘It’s just, ah … Fuck it—I wasn’t very convincing last night.’

‘You what?’

Ruby reached up, tugged on Tobe’s arm and smiled an inscrutable smile.

‘Right you are,’ he said. To her, not to me.

‘What’s going on?’ I asked.

‘Why don’t you take a look?’

He waved me on.

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