Richie was with his son. The two of them working on the machine that they towed behind the tractor in winter to feed out hay. Gone were the days of standard bales cut and tossed from a trailer: bales now were huge and circular, unwound mechanically. Pearly should have expected to find father and son together, but he was still unaccustomed to Matt being back on the property. They faced away from him, intent on the job, and Pearly stood half hidden by the red bulk of the old Case tractor for a moment to watch them. There is an atavistic satisfaction in being concealed and watching others who are unaware of being observed. The observer has power, the observed only vulnerability. Pearly was aware of that, but the stronger emotion was envy of the easy and apparently equal comradeship between the pair. Little talk or instruction, but a steady accomplishment of the task together. A relationship that Pearly had been unable to achieve with Kevin.

He stepped out with a greeting, and they turned from the task without being startled. ‘Nice cap,’ said Richie, and Matt laughed without rancour. ‘What does it say?’

‘It’s the name of the town or region. Our sister city.’

‘Probably “bugger off” in Mandarin,’ said Matt.

‘Has Helen come?’ asked Richie.

‘No. I just felt like a bit of time out. I went up to the house. Natalie says to come up for a cuppa.’

‘How’s Gumbo?’ Richie asked.

‘I’m seeing him again this afternoon. They think he’ll be okay. They did a little op to relieve swelling on the brain.’

For a time all three talked of Gumbo and the school events, then the brothers began to walk to the house while Matt stayed to work on for a while. ‘I’ll ring and order the new tines when I’m up there,’ Richie told him, turning briefly. Richie took off his hat as they walked and ruffled his hair, which was darkened with sweat where the hat had been pressing. ‘Damn hot already,’ he said.

‘You’re dry, I suppose?’ said Pearly.

‘We had a drop last week, but not enough to do any good. It’s just been westerlies, but at least they’re not belters.’

Pearly stopped by the house gate rather than opening it: a sign that he wanted to talk, and one well understood by Richie, who stood without comment or impatience, looking to the hills. ‘I won’t hold you up,’ said Pearly. ‘I didn’t ring because I just wanted to come out and have a wander round in the quiet. I’ve got a few issues at the moment that need sorting.’

‘Council stuff?’ said Richie.

‘No, not so much. More personal things.’

‘The family okay?’

‘Yeah. Nothing like that.’

‘Gumbo?’