Drunk men.
Horny women.
They all rub up against him. They all try to touch him, and Rube remains as he is. He walks straight through them, smiling out of obligation and thanking them, but never losing the concentration on his face.
Sitting in the room, he says to me, ‘We did good today, Cam.’
‘Yeah, we did.’
Perry gives him his fifty. ‘No tip for the winner,’ he says. ‘He gets his fifty anyway.’
‘No worries.’
When Rube stands and goes to the toilet, Perry and I have words together.
‘They love him,’ he explains. ‘Just like I thought.’ A pause. ‘You know why?’
‘Yep.’ I nod.
He tells me anyway. ‘It’s because he’s tall and he’s got looks and he can fight. And he’s hungry. That’s what they like most.’ He grins. ‘The women out there are begging me to tell ‘em where I found him. They love fellas like Rube.’
‘It’s to be expected.’
Outside, when we leave, there’s a blonde thing hanging round.
‘Hey Ruben.’ She tiptoes over. ‘I like the way you fight.’
We walk on and she follows and her arm touches slightly with his. Meanwhile, I look at her. All of her.
Eyes, legs, hair, neck, breath, eyebrows, breasts, ankles, front zipper, shirt, buttons, earrings, arms, fingers, hands, heart, mouth, teeth and lips.
She’s great.
Great, dumb and stupid.
Next, I’m shocked.
Shocked, because my brother stops and they look at each other. Next thing she has him in her mouth. She’s swallowing his lips. They’re against the wall. Girl, Rube, wall. Pushed up against each other. Merging. He kisses her hard for a fair while. Open tongue, hands everywhere.
Then he stops and walks away.
Rube walks on and says, ‘Thanks love.’
‘Hey Rube. Y’ awake again?’
‘As usual. Do you ever shut up of a night?’
‘Not lately.’
‘Well I guess you’ve got an excuse this time — you fought real well.’
‘Where’s the next one on at?’
‘Ashfield, I think, then Helensburgh.’
‘Rube?’
‘What now?’
‘Why haven’t y’ moved into Steve’s room?’
‘Why haven’t you?’
‘Why hasn’t Sarah?’
‘I think Mum wants to turn it into like an office, for doin’ paperwork and that kind of thing. That’s what she said, anyway.’
I say, ‘And it wouldn’t feel right, I don’t reckon.’ The basement is Steve’s room and it always will be. He’s moved on but the rest of the Wolfe family stay as they are. They need to. I feel it in the dusty night air, and I taste it.
I also have another question.
I don’t ask it.
I can’t bring myself.
It’s that girl.
I think about it but I don’t ask it.
There are some things you just don’t ask.