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Then Peter said, “And we’d still have to get you boated across from there. Honestly, it’d be quicker by boat from Darwin. But we’d have to find a local to get you over to the island.”
“Boat?” I repeated. I wasnota fan of boats, but the idea of driving more impassable roads along those swampy mangroves... I’d rather the boat.
“Whose boat?” Tully asked.
“I didn’t realise this wasn’t a private conversation,” Peter said.
“Apologies,” I said. “My... my boyfriend is here.” I cringed at having to say that out loud. I still wasn’t used to saying it at all.
Tully’s grin was spectacular, and his eyebrows almost met his hairline. “Boyfriend,” he mouthed.
I sighed.
I didn’t call him that often enough, apparently.
“Oh, of course,” Peter mumbled.
I didn’t like his tone.
“To repeat my earlier question,” I continued bluntly, “how long am I expected to be there? It’s not exactly convenient to run to the supermarket from that location, so I will need to prepare many things, I suspect. And what about equipment? Do we know what equipment I’ll even need to make repairs? If any of it is repairable at all, I should add. If the damage is structural, I won’t be able to do anything. If it’s a matter of replacing aerials or satellites, then I’m not sure how much use I’ll be at all. I’m hardly qualified to install the equipment, Peter. Otherwise I’d have done my office by now.”
“It’s no longer connected to the mesonet. It could just be a connectivity issue,” he said. “Or it might be a write-off. You could get there and do nothing more than fill in a damage report. Maybe nothing’s salvageable. It’s all old gear anyway.”
I snorted. “You’ve seen the equipment list from the office I’m currently standing in, right? That all needs to be replaced. I can assure you, if the gear at Oxley Island is older than what’s here, I’ll bring it back to the Museum of Technology, Dark Ages exhibit.”
Tully laughed.
“Yes, well,” Peter mumbled. “Your office was long overdue for an upgrade.”
He could say that again.
“Anyway,” he continued. “We’d imagine the work itself at Oxley Island shouldn’t take too long: a day, maybe two. But it’s getting you there and bringing you back again that’s proving difficult.”
“If I’m going by boat, wouldn’t the boat and the driver wait for me?” Surely they wouldn’t drop me off and come back for me.
He made an uncertain sound. “Under normal circumstances, yes. But a lot of charter companies are out of commission with cyclone damage, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
“I’m aware, yes.”
“I might even suggest maybe one of the news stations take you, and in lieu of payment, they could film you and the repairs, documentary style—”
“Absolutely not! I’d rather swim there in crocodile and jellyfish infested oceans than endure that special kind of hell.”
Peter snorted. “Yeah, I figured you’d say that. It was just an option.”
Tully gave me that gorgeous, insufferable smile. “Well, isn’t it just as well that your boyfriend is the favouritest son of the owner of one of Australia’s largest shipping companies? We happen to have boats.”
“I can’t take a cargo ship to Oxley Island,” I replied. “Thanks anyway.”
He laughed. “No, that’s a ship, not a boat. But I do have a boat licence and access to a few different vessels. I can take you.”
I stared at him. “You could take me?”
His eyes lit up when he grinned at me. “Abso-freaking-lutely.”
Peter was quiet for a second. “Uh, was that offer legitimate? Because I’ll need to lodge another permit.”
Tully was so excited he was almost bouncing. “Hell yes, it was a legit offer.” He patted his shirt collar and beamed. “I knew this gold star would be lucky today. How long can we stay for?”
