‘He sleeping in?’ Tony asked, indicating Alan.

Alan’s head was squashed against the pillow. ‘He got sunburnt yesterday,’ James whispered.

Tony poked Alan a couple of times, bringing sleepy complaints and the shoving of pillows. He laughed, then went for the bathroom.

James got up and started straightening his sheets, remembering the sounds of Tony arriving home long after they’d gone to bed. His cousin had laughed at himself for coming into the wrong room, did a long, loud piss in the bathroom, found his way out onto his temporary bed on the verandah, and Deloraine had fallen silent again.

When Tony emerged from his shower James was sitting on the edge of his bed. He noticed the way his cousin’s whole body shook a little as he combed out his wet hair in front of the mirror, towel pulled sharply around his waist. Before Tony could notice him looking, James moved into the bathroom and shut the door.

As he dried himself, he heard his aunt and uncle speaking between bursts of radio news. James prodded his brother once more and got slapped on his legs. He dressed in yesterday’s clothes and presented himself to the kitchen. Aunty Doris looked disappointed when she realised it was the younger brother who was up first. There was no sign of Tony.

‘Good morning there, young fella,’ Uncle Bill said into his mug of tea. ‘Well, since you’re the only one keen, you can come out with the men today.’

Aunty Doris raised her eyebrows. ‘I don’t know if he even has a hat, Father.’

‘He can use one of mine,’ Uncle Bill said as he stood. ‘We won’t be back in for lunch today. Make him a sandwich, please, Mother, and we’ll take an extra water bottle.’

His uncle and aunt went about their tasks while James hovered by the door to the driveway, wishing somehow he could swap with his brother and disappear into the cool shadows of the farmhouse until the dusk crept over the land, making it acceptable for all people to be indoors. But the sound of the truck starting jolted him out of the fantasy. His aunt held the screen door open. Beyond, there was a sharp whistle and Uncle Bill’s old kelpie leaped onto the ute.

‘See you later,’ Aunty Doris said, like she was relieved he’d be gone.

James moved as slowly as he did on school sports days, trying to think on his feet, because this turn of events was infinitely worse. At least at school you could disappear into a crowd. His uncle’s eyes were on him now, and he sensed his aunt’s at his back as he emerged into the sun. They seemed victorious, trapping a city slicker for a day’s work at things he didn’t want to understand.