“Yup.”
“Little one called looking for her.”
“I’ll tell her. Love you,” Nev said.
“Love you,” the old man echoed automatically.
Ronnie raised her eyebrows at that sign off, had never heard the owner of Upsend Downs and the drover end a conversation that way before. Nev must be going soft in her old age.
The power flickered. She looked up. The lights cut out, leaving them in darkness except for the glow of the hand-held radio.
Nev handed it to her, then flipped on the battery-powered lanterns. Ghostly white light emanated from the center of the table, other-worldly. Nev lifted one. “I’m going to feed the machine.” The generator. “Call Rainbow.”
She watched Nev’s light wobble away through the dark barn. In their stalls, horses whinnied. Dreadnought kicked the wall. She always did that when she couldn’t see Brighty. True love was real.
The phone on the other end rang. Rainbow’s voice, annoyed. “Mum, where are you?”
“At Upsend Downs. Where else would I be? Where are you, babe?”
“Why didn’t you answer your phone? I’ve been worried sick about you.” Rainbow sounded like a little mum. Oldest child for sure. Leader vibes. She would be a type-A chick, take the initiative on group projects.
“Been out in the rain with my phone off, babe, saving battery. Couldn’t take it out of the ute or it would be fried. What’s up? You alright? I’m sorry. I’m here now. It’s been a day. I wish I was there with you.”
“I wish I was at the farm.”
“You’re supposed to be asleep.”
“How could I sleep through the worst cyclone in thirty years?”
“Is that what they’re saying? They always say that, babe.”
“Keep your phone on? Promise?”
“Promise. We lost power but the old lady’s gone to start the generator, so we’ll do. How about you? Lost power yet?”
“While ago, yeah.”
“Lanterns and torches?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re not scared?”
“Nah. We’re over at Nan’s.” Maude’s mother’s house. A faded pink house in a rose garden in Malanda. Full of rats. But charming. She tried to picture the terrain, remember whether it was higher or lower than its neighbors. “Is there water in the garden?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is there water in the house?”
“We’ve got jugs of drinking water and water to flush the dunny.”
“Can I talk to your mama, please?”
“She’s asleep.”
“In the morning, if there’s water in the garden, I want you to call Grandad. He’s not far. He would come over and help. You girls could go stay with Grandad. Is that a good idea?”
“Obviously.”
