Before work the next day, Lucky visited the Omega Cafe, where he introduced himself to Damian and said he’d come to see old Achilles. With little more than a nod, Lucky was led into the yard, as if he were a repairman. Damian left him at the door of the shed. Lucky knocked. He couldn’t let Achilles cause problems in another family. In each of his franchises, many of which were homes, he was determined that each family would avoid the fate of the Achillion.

Opening the door of the corrugated-iron shed, Achilles, his head shaved, his moustache white, his body thinner than Lucky expected, clad only in shorts, greeted his former son-in-law with the observation: ‘You look rough. All droopy around the mouth.’

‘How are you?’

‘There’s nothing wrong with me.’

‘Do you need a job?’

‘Not right now. I’m settled.’

‘What about a new place to stay?’

‘Maybe when it gets colder. Why all these questions? What are you doing here?’

‘Look, these people, they’re trying to run a business here, raise children, and you’re getting in the way. Maybe you can do some jobs for me? I’ll give you a couple weeks’ work and we’ll see how you go.’

‘Work for you? Never.’

‘Can you drive a small truck?’

‘Are you talking about my eyes? I see perfect.’

‘You’ll be running some errands for me around Sydney and New South Wales. Starting day after tomorrow. Week after next you’ll drive to Cobar.’

‘That’s in the middle of nowhere!’

‘And you’ll stay with me until I find you somewhere else.’

‘Wait, who sent you here?’

‘I’m helping you but not forgiving you. I’m doing this because you’re Valia’s father.’

‘And Valia was the only woman for you.’

‘Let’s pack up your things.’

2.

That night, as they ate dinner in the Stanmore restaurant, Achilles asked why Lucky and Valia were no longer married, why they couldn’t fix their problems, why they didn’t have children, or go on holiday to an island like Ithaka. An acquaintance had informed Achilles of the divorce; someone saw an article in the newspaper. Valia hadn’t spoken to her father since the Achillion days. ‘Tell me the truth,’ he said to Lucky. ‘I’m the person you talk to. We used to be family!’ He wanted to know what went wrong, he said he’d thought a lot about how he’d made a mess of his own life. What he did to Penny. What he did to his family.

Achilles said: ‘From people I hear that Valia has a child, a girl named Sophia. I’m a grandfather, they say. But Valia doesn’t see me like that.’

‘Is she happy, do you think?’

‘How would I know?’ said Achilles.