Rain Music (7 page)

‘I'll have to look into it,' said Bella thoughtfully.

‘I know a great guide.' He leaned close to her.

Bella knew he wanted to kiss her, but she straightened up. ‘Thanks for the wine. See you in the morning.'

‘You should come to the Lodge. Be a shame to miss it.' He gave her his winning smile.

‘I'll sleep on it and then see what my boyfriend thinks! G'night, Ant.'

He chuckled quietly. ‘You do that, beautiful Bella.'

3

Ned woke in the
brightness of a small white room. He felt a hand on his wrist and opened his eyes. Turning his head, he saw a nurse standing by his bed looking at a hospital chart.

‘How do you feel?'

‘I've felt better. Where am I?' Ned asked.

‘Cooktown hospital. You're a bit banged up, but not too bad under the circumstances. You're very lucky on two counts – getting out of a wreck and having Toni find you,' the nurse smiled kindly. ‘We found your name in your wallet. Is there anyone we can call, Ned, to let them know where you are?'

‘No. Thanks,' Ned muttered. ‘Don't want to worry anyone. How long have I been here?'

‘Only today. We'll be keeping you under observation tomorrow as well, so just rest. Do you want to sip some water?'

Ned managed a small nod and the nurse's strong arm lifted his head and put a plastic straw to his lips. He swallowed two mouthfuls and lay back.

‘Toni told us you're a musician,' the nurse said, nodding at Ned's guitar case sitting propped up in the corner of the room. Ned smiled to see his old mate safe. ‘You might not be able to play for a few days because we've had to put a few stitches in your arm,' the nurse continued, ‘but nothing that won't mend. And Toni sorted your car for you. The police have it down at the station, along with the rest of your personal effects. Someone will bring your gear over later and ask you a few questions about what happened. I'll be checking in on you during the day.'

The nurse bustled out of the room and Ned lay in the silence of the white oasis. He had no idea what was outside his door. There was a murmur of voices and the clatter of a trolley. Further away was the noise of passing traffic and what sounded like the throb of a boat engine.

He suddenly felt anxious. He had to find the fellow about the place to stay and get out of here. Gingerly he began stretching his limbs, but found one of his arms tethered to a drip. He shut his eyes in resignation, hoping that when he woke up it would all be over and he could walk away.

Instead, he woke an hour later to find Toni standing by his bed. He smiled to see her.

‘Hello there,' she said. ‘How do you feel?'

‘Hungry.'

‘That's a good sign.'

‘Thank you for rescuing me. I guess you saved my life and I hear you arranged a tow truck.'

Toni waved a hand. ‘No worries. Besides, someone else would have come along and picked you up.'

‘Do you know how my ankle is? Will you have to perform professional services on it?' asked Ned, smiling weakly.

Toni looked at the hospital notes.

‘'Fraid not. It's only sprained, and not very badly at that. If it's well strapped and you don't try to run a marathon too soon, you'll be up and about on it in no time.'

‘So I won't be here long?'

‘Seems not.'

Ned nodded. ‘I need to get sorted. Find this guy who was going to get me settled in his place. Replace my phone and get the car fixed.' He closed his eyes. ‘What a bloody mess.'

‘I take it that you're going to stay somewhere around here, then? Where'd you come from?' Toni sat down in the chair next to the bed.

‘I was in Cairns, did a few gigs along the coast and up on the Atherton Plateau, too. I had an invitation to see a bloke up here about moving into a place he shares while he's away.'

‘How long are you planning on staying?'

‘Couple of months, maybe.'

‘Up to the wet season? That's when sensible people leave town,' said Toni.

‘Do you?'

She smiled. ‘I have a job. I love it here. Been here a while now.'

He stared at her, really seeing her for the first time. She had an open, friendly face and sun-streaked hair, and she radiated health and fitness. He liked her voice. It was like warm honey.

‘Where's home?' he asked.

‘Mudgee, in New South Wales. I'm a country gal. You?'

‘Snap! I'm from the country, too. Tennyson in Victoria. But I'm mostly playing gigs on the road these days,' he grinned.

‘Yes, I know.' She looked a little embarrassed.
‘I googled you. Your music is great. How come you've only made one album?'

‘I like being independent, going my own way. But that costs money: finding the musicians, the back-up group, paying for studio time, trying to get a distribution deal . . .' He shrugged. ‘Damned hard. Really, I just want to make the music. So, with me it's been mostly live gigs, one-man shows, though occasionally I do festivals with a group.'

‘I guess that's life on the road.' Toni smoothed her hair. ‘So why do you want to hang around up here so long? This is a small, out-of-the-way place, far from anything much. Not a big audience here; you might say that this is the town of last resort for many.'

‘So why are you here?' he countered.

She paused only for a split second before breaking into laughter. ‘Touché. Locals might feel a bit insulted by my comments, but the north gets to you. I like the sense of freedom, the feeling that the real world is somewhere down south. Besides, I like my job.' Toni laid a hand on Ned's arm. ‘Ned, rest some more, and I'll be back this afternoon to check on you.'

At lunchtime, a lanky young policeman entered Ned's room. He dropped Ned's things into one corner and then approached the bed, looking down at Ned with some concern.

‘You've given yourself a bit of a battering,' he said sympathetically. ‘Bit of luck that Toni found you and brought you in.'

‘Yes,' replied Ned. ‘One car had already passed me by. I thought I was stuck there for the night.'

‘Too bad. People are a bit wary about picking up strangers these days, even when they need help, but if it's any comfort to you, the driver did report in at the station to tell us that they'd seen you.'

That did make Ned feel better. It was good to know that if Toni hadn't found him, the police would have done so, eventually.

‘Got the
results of your blood test back, too. No alcohol or drugs. Saw the swerving tyre marks at the accident scene – you were trying to avoid the dead cow?'

‘And some birds. I wasn't travelling fast, but I hit the gravel on the edge of the road and lost control.'

The policeman nodded. ‘Can happen like that. Anyway, I'll make out a report, but it all seems straightforward. I'll have your car moved to the wreckers and they can see if it's salvageable. Good luck, and I hope you're better quickly. They tell me you should be out of here soon.' The policeman smiled and before Ned had a chance to thank him, he was gone.

Later that afternoon, Toni looked in on him again and they chatted easily for a while until Ned felt tired. He slept deeply that night and woke feeling better. Later in the morning Toni took him for a walk along the hospital corridor to test his ankle.

‘I still feel a bit wrecked. But it's a relief to be able to move,' said Ned, leaning on her. ‘It's good to be unhooked from the drip, too. How soon before I can leave?'

‘I should think you'll be discharged tomorrow morning. All that's wrong with you is pretty superficial.'

Ned lifted his bandaged arm. ‘How long is this going to be out of action? It won't affect my playing, will it?'

Toni smiled reassuringly. ‘Judging from the hospital notes, the wound was quite shallow. It looks far worse than it is. So no, it won't affect your playing the guitar. Do you play any other instruments?' she asked.

‘Double bass, violin, piano, and I can play a mean ukulele.'

‘Very impressive. And you'll be fine tackling them all quite soon, Ned.'

‘Thanks.' He looked at her as she manoeuvred a chair out of his way. She was so capable and kind. ‘I feel like I can't thank you enough for rescuing me. I know it's your job and all, but you seem to have gone above and beyond.' He gave a slight smile.

‘Well, having brought you in here I do have something of a proprietary interest in you. And, as I've said, you'll be fine. Don't worry. You'll be performing before you know it.'

‘Actually, I came here more to do a little composing than perform.'

‘Oh. More songs? That sounds terrific.'

‘I'm thinking of attempting something a bit more ambitious.'

‘Really? Like what?' She raised her eyebrows. He took a step on his ankle and winced. She put her arm around his waist to steady him and their eyes met.

Ned drew a breath. ‘Something in-depth, not a song and dance show, but something with a serious sort of theme. Sorry, I'm not articulating it very well. I haven't even thought it all through properly myself. I just know it's what I want to do. I've actually never told anyone this before. I'm not quite sure why I'm telling you. I think it has to do with your proprietary interest in me.'

Toni studied him for a moment. ‘That sounds really great. The thing that struck me about your work is that it's not just the music, but the lyrics. They make you think. The music is beguiling, but the story you tell gets inside you.'

They stared at each other, both sensing they had stepped over some previously accepted boundary. This was treading into new territory – the personal.

Ned was the first to look away. ‘Ah, everyone in show business dreams of doing something special. Might never happen, or never get performed, even if I do actually write it.' He gave an awkward smile. ‘Gotta give it a go, right?'

They continued walking down the corridor, Toni's hand supporting his bandaged arm. ‘Yes, you do. You know what they say: you won't know if you don't try. Yes, I think you should really stretch yourself. And this is the place to do it. I found that when you step outside the safe and the familiar, well, things happen. Besides, there's not a lot up here to distract you.' She gave a slightly embarrassed shrug and withdrew her hand. ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?'

Ned nodded. ‘Cliché it may be, I have a nagging idea inside me. Which is why I figured I'd take some time out,' he said. ‘I got the offer of a place, and I've got a bit of money saved, so I don't have to worry for a while as long as I don't live the high life, and I can see if I can make my idea work.'

‘Well, you won't be doing much else around here,' said Toni with a chuckle. Then she added softly, ‘Good luck. Go for it.'

*

The following day, as he stepped out of the air-conditioned hospital into the fresh warm air, moist breeze and brilliant sunshine, Ned felt as though he'd entered another world. He took a deep breath as he eased into a taxi, which drove him to the auto-repair shop to enquire about his bruised and battered car.

‘Thought you'd given her up, mate. I was thinking of flogging it,' said the mechanic with a grin.

‘Been in hospital. We both got a bit of a hammering.'

‘So the police told me. Hit something, did ya?'

‘Birds. I swerved to miss them.'

‘Cripes, must have been bloody big ones to make you take such evasive action.'

‘There were a bunch of them picking at a dead cow. They were humungous. I thought if one came through the windscreen with a seven-foot wingspan and massive talons, I'd be worse off than the car.'

The mechanic stared at him. ‘Really? Wedgies?'

‘There were wedge-tails, but I think there were other raptors as well.'

The mechanic scratched his chin. ‘Could be. I've heard that Brahminy kites and ospreys are hunting in-shore these days. Learned about roadkill. Reckon you were bloody lucky.' The mechanic led Ned to the back of the shop to the crippled remains of his car. ‘I've got bad news about your vehicle. It's a complete write-off.'

Ned stared in dismay at the wreck. He shook his head then reached through the window to the glove box and found all his relevant papers. Perhaps not the safest of places to keep them, but being on the road wasn't conducive to order in his life.

‘Where're ya headed?' asked the mechanic.

‘Thought I'd chill in town for a bit while I sort out this mess.'

‘Good place to spend time, Cooktown, but get out before the wet, that's when the place quietens down. You can't travel far then – not even the locals can. You're not looking for work?' Seeing Ned shake his head, the mechanic continued, ‘Just as well. Not much around, though we do get the odd backpacker who'll work for less than the locals.'

‘What will I do about a replacement for this?' Ned asked, looking sadly at his damaged four-wheel drive.

‘You won't get much for this, but I know of a couple of vehicles that might suit you. You'll probably have to pay a bit more than what you get from the insurance. Get back to me in a day or two and I'll let you know. If I can't arrange something from around here, I might have to bring something up from Cairns or from Mareeba.'

The mechanic looked at Ned's crestfallen face.

‘Don't worry, mate. We'll have you fixed up in no time. Say, why don't you go and see Yolanda up at the Toppie? She knows what's going on. I can give you a lift up there. Besides, you look as though you need a beer.'

The mechanic pulled over in Charlotte Street and Ned thanked him for his help and climbed out. The mechanic waved as he drove away.

Ned decided he should first sort out his phone. There wasn't much to be done with his old one, so with some reluctance he got a replacement from the post office. The post office worker let him plug it into a wall socket and fifteen minutes later he transferred his SIM card in to it and switched it on. It pinged with missed calls and messages from his mother and sister. He went to reply to one of the messages, but then stopped as he read the contents more carefully. Both Bella and Josie had sent him texts haranguing him about the dedication. He felt annoyance rising in his chest. He'd explained to Josie that he couldn't make it. What did they want from him? His father's face flashed in his mind and he closed his eyes. No, he wasn't dealing with this right now. He deleted the messages without reading them.