Catherine Jinks TheRoad (54 page)

‘Yes. I know. I just thought I should mention what I saw . . .’

‘Could have been anything. A fox. A snake. But we’ll keep an eye out. Who’s got the gun?’

‘You have,’ Alec and Noel both chorused. In his grubby T-shirt, with his bristling jaw and uncombed hair, Noel was beginning to look almost as wild as Alec. But as soon as he donned his steel-rimmed spectacles, his appearance changed from that of a gaunt and hairy, sandal-wearing mendicant to that of an absent-minded professor too absorbed in his work to worry about personal grooming.

It was marvellous what a difference one pair of glasses could make.

‘You took the gun to bed with you,’ Noel went on, in tones of reproof. ‘Remember?’

‘Oh yeah.’ Del rubbed the back of her neck, blinking and wincing. ‘Okay. Well, I’ll get that sorted. Is everybody up?’

‘No,’ said Verlie.

‘What time is it?’

Noel consulted his watch.

‘About half past five.’

‘Bloody hell.’

‘We ought to decide what to do,’ said Noel. ‘Should we start breakfast, and let the others sleep in, or should we wake them up and get going?’

‘Breakfast,’ Alec suddenly blurted out. The startled stares of his companions made him flush, but he stood his ground. ‘I’m really hungry,’ he added. ‘I hardly ate a thing yesterday.’

‘And I could do with a cup of coffee,’ Noel admitted. ‘However, that’s not really the issue right now, is it? I mean, the important thing is to get out of here.’

‘Yeah, right,’ Del agreed, ‘but don’t forget our little problem. We used up mosta me bloody fuel gettin nowhere last night. So let’s not waste the rest of it chasin our own tails, eh?’

‘What do you mean?’ Verlie was rather fuzzy-headed, owing to the fact that she hadn’t had a shower or a cup of tea. ‘Do you mean we’ve been driving in circles?’

‘I dunno. Whatcha think? I know Alec’s got a theory. He told us about it last night, in the car.’

Glancing at Alec, Verlie saw his colour change. A red wash mounted to his cheeks and forehead. He stopped scratching his chest.

‘Alec doesn’t think we’re ever gunna get to Broken Hill under our own steam,’ Del continued. ‘He reckons we should turn back and head for the nearest station. Call the coppers from there. He reckons if we don’t, we’re gunna get stranded.’

Verlie frowned, wondering what she had missed. Surely turning back was no solution? They had come such a long way already . . .

‘What nonsense,’ a voice declared. Verlie jumped, and gasped, before she realised that Ross had joined them. He was standing right behind her. He had put on his shoes and belt, but his hair was in his eyes.