‘Gordon’s going to miss you,’ Kelly said. ‘Not to mention Ben.’

‘You were right. This place is doing me no good.’

‘I thought you enjoyed it here. The crew, the games nights, the clothing bins, the library—you’ve been a breath of fresh air. For everyone,’ she added.

‘It feels like I’ve only caused trouble,’ Lou said. ‘I raised nearly three grand, but Gordon won’t take it.’

‘He doesn’t mean to be ungrateful.’

‘He said it would get him in the shit with council. Everything I’ve done to help, I’ve made things worse. The place is so beautiful, but you don’t let anyone else in.’

Kelly bridled, to disagree and defend, but a second thought overtook her: Lou was right.

‘I’m sorry,’ Kelly said.

‘Not your fault.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘Somewhere people don’t know each other so well.’

Kelly had never disliked Lou. It was more that the strength of Lou’s dislike for her had come between them. But maybe that was just another misunderstanding.

‘That night we talked, you told me a lot about yourself, but you never answered my question,’ Lou said. ‘Why you did it.’

‘Did what?’

‘You know.’

Kelly let out an animal groan that made Lou look directly at her.

‘You said it yourself. It’s what comes from living here too long. You never grow up, you never grow out of it.’

‘Well, now you understand why I’ve got to leave,’ Lou said. ‘In case I’m wrong, and I become one of you.’

THE NEWS

The news

Frontal crouched on the dune in front of the top car park and peered through his binoculars at The Lodge. Local surfers such as the five-time state champ, Sam Eastaugh, Snake, Chook and that Japanese mate of Gordon’s had passed him on their way down to the beach and offered a greeting. The wild look in his eye warned them off further conversation. They’d heard enough on the coconut wireless. Best give him his space.

He had seen Gordon leave The Lodge early that morning. He fixed his glasses on that death trap and let his thoughts roam. Had Gordon’s old Bluebird News still existed, it would have been enjoying its finest hour. Since that mobile phone clip had come out, allegedly showing Daniel starting a fight and capsizing the Capri boat, national television crews had descended on the village. Slow news day or what! The Surf Life Saving Association state president, the head of the ambulance service and the local member of parliament issued statements, while random pedestrians trapped on Capri’s main street had spoken colourfully for the cameras. The news bulletins were filled with inarticulate ravings from an older surfer about ‘onshore conditions’, and that Japanese guy was quoted saying that on the day of the carnival it was ‘s--- out’.