We leave him, and Marko asks, ‘You want to tell me what’s going on?’

‘I don’t know why someone would give my address for Tito.’

‘He looked nasty.’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘You seem to be attracting “nasty” all of a sudden.’

‘Tito got himself into trouble with some bad people. I think I’m getting a bit of his overflow.’

We take Wilson Road, and then turn off at my mailbox. Marko helps me carry the food in, and, as I stack it into the fridge and freezer, he returns to his ute and gets an overnight bag. He dumps it on the kitchen floor. ‘I was thinking about staying the night, but when we saw that angry bloke on the road, it made up my mind for me. I’m here, whether you like it or not. I hope your girlfriend doesn’t turn up.’

I don’t argue.

The phone rings, and he looks a question at me. It seems a good idea to ignore the phone, but I answer it anyway. It is Sarah.

‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine.’

‘You’re not fine. You’ve just been in the hospital because someone attacked you.’

‘Yeah, but I’m out, and I’m all good. Just a knock on the head.’ I tilt my head in accusation at Marko, and he doesn’t pretend he wasn’t involved.

‘You’re going to get yourself killed, you bloody idiot, being mixed up in whatever you’re mixed up in.’

‘It’s all under control.’

‘You know as well as I do that nothing is under control.’

‘Well …’

‘Do me a favour, Dave, and get yourself away from these people that are hurting you. Stay with Marko. Be a farmer. Look after yourself.’

‘Will do.’ I put the phone down. I don’t need to think about Sarah being annoyed with me. She has been annoyed with me ever since she stopped hating me.

Marko takes a plastic container, which looks like it holds a casserole, out of the fridge.

‘I’ve got to run round and check a couple of things before we eat.’

He puts the container back. ‘I’ll come with you.’

‘No need. I’ll be right.’

‘You probably should be just sitting down, taking it easy, after that knock on the head.’

‘I will after I’ve checked a couple of water troughs for the stock.’

‘I’m coming.’

‘Seriously, I don’t need you to. I’ll be fine.’

He squints at me, and I know he’s thinking there’s something I don’t want him to see — probably the mess the place is in. I know he doesn’t want to shame me, so he says, ‘Well, be quick.’