Page 56 of Lyrebird

‘I’m sorry, could you begin without the “certainly”.’

‘My apologies, of course.’ He leaves a silence. Rachel gives him the nod. Rolling. ‘A lyrebird is a ground-dwelling Australian bird known for its—’

‘Hold on …’ Bo interrupts. ‘Sorry, guys. Too fast,’ she stops him. And she’s right. Dr Kelly is trying to get the words out before another bird, and Laura, squawks. ‘A little slower – as you were before was perfect. Please continue.’

Headphones on. Rolling.

‘A lyrebird is a ground-dwelling Australian bird that is famous for its—’

Squawwwwk. Bird.

Squawwwwk. Laura.

‘… powerful mimicry,’ he continues. ‘It makes its home in the densely timbered …’

Squawwwwk. Bird.

Squawwwwk. Laura.

‘… mountains. Very few people see lyrebirds. Though they …’

Tap tap of a beak against the cage, which is mimicked by Laura.

Solomon looks at Bo with frustration. This is a mess. Even David Kelly is looking flustered, continuing to talk while it looks like he’s being constantly prodded in the ribs by an invisible attacker.

‘No,’ Rachel says suddenly, interrupting the entire thing. Solomon removes his headphones and tries to hide his smile. ‘This isn’t good.’

‘Maybe we should try somewhere else where there aren’t birds,’ Bo suggests perkily, keeping the energy up.

David Kelly sneaks a glimpse at his watch.

The boardroom is quiet. No traffic, no people, no phones, no hum of an air-conditioning unit. The elements are good for Solomon. There’s lots of dark mahogany and Rachel has more work to do with lighting, but it works. There are birds in the frame, birds in glass containers, standing on branches. Only problem is, they’re dead, and stuffed, which concerns Solomon.

Laura joins them. She looks at the glass case of birds. Solomon sees the confusion in her face, but she doesn’t say anything. He places the headphones on. Laura’s fingers run over the glass cabinet, trying to get to the birds inside and before David Kelly can even speak Laura’s sounds begin again; the gunshot, the hare that fell, its whimpers, Mossie’s dying sounds. A new sound, the computer gunshots from the little boy’s computer game in the hotel a few days ago, as she links the two.

Dr Kelly stands up and looks at her. ‘Goodness. That is remarkable.’

Laura looks up, sees everyone staring at her and her sounds stop. Her hand falls from the glass. ‘How did they die?’

‘Lie,’ Solomon says through a cough to him.

‘Oh. Um. Natural causes,’ he says.

Laura frowns and looks at Solomon. She imitates the cough he has made, over and over until the word lie is clearly audible. Solomon sighs.

‘Look, I think we should do this in your office. It’s the best place,’ Bo suddenly decides.

‘You said you didn’t like that room,’ David Kelly says, like he’s an offended child.

‘Now it’s perfect,’ Bo says, picking up her things and moving everyone on again.

‘I really should get going. I have a lecture …’

‘Won’t be much longer,’ Bo says with a reassuring smile. ‘And you get more time to spend with Lyrebird. Think of it as research.’

This idea appeals to Dr Kelly, he is so fascinated with this birdlike woman. He examines her as the others move the equipment, and chuckles nerdily to himself.

Laura stares back at him, looking him up and down in the same way as he did to her, then mimics his chuckle. He claps his hands with glee.