They were nearly there — but not close enough. Just as they passed the reduce speed sign at the fringe of town, David was suddenly and violently sick in the footwell. The stench seemed to bulge the car, and Pearly struggled to overcome revulsion and bring sympathy to the fore. ‘Don’t worry about it,’ he said. ‘We’ll have you home in a few minutes.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ muttered David. He had his handkerchief to his face and moved his feet farther apart. Pearly put the fan on high and concentrated on driving the last few blocks, breathing shallowly. He did feel sorry for his companion, but was also aggrieved at the outcome of his generosity in bringing him home. Eleanor, at the gate, was both concerned and embarrassed when she came to help her husband from the car. She took his arm and accompanied him to the house, Pearly following with David’s bag.

‘Your car,’ she said. ‘Look, I’ll get a cloth and bucket as soon as David’s lying down. Come on in. It sounds like it’s all been a disaster, and it’s my bridge night too.’

But Pearly insisted that she look after her husband, that the car would clean up okay. Just one of those things, he said. These things happen. Not to worry. He just hoped David would come right quickly. He had the windows down on the way home and inspected the mess when he arrived. How could there be so much vomit when David had eaten virtually nothing since the day before? Helen saw the car in the drive, and when he didn’t come in straight away, she came out. ‘Jesus,’ said Pearly, ‘we almost made it and then David puked up in the car. Another five minutes, I reckon we would’ve been okay. What a bummer.’

‘Poor David,’ said Helen.

‘And poor me who has to clean it up.’

‘Leave it for now. Come in and have some lunch first.’ But Pearly couldn’t do that: not sit and have a meal while the vomit congealed and the stench worked its way in to the crevices. The only positive was that he’d bought floor carpets and so the passenger’s could be removed and sluiced. The whole job wasn’t all that bad, and Pearly worked with baking soda and later vinegar. When he’d finished he left the car doors open and went inside for a shower. He felt better after that, even decided that later he would ring Eleanor and see how David was. The tourism conference was no great loss in his opinion: he would catch up on work. And Helen said he’d done the right thing by bringing David home. Her endorsement added to his own awareness of virtue. ‘They’ll appreciate it,’ she said. ‘You couldn’t let him come back sick by himself.’