‘Yeah,’ Kat says. ‘People always come in wanting tattoos that are sentimental to them, but Lucy’s is … I dunno. I guess it takes a whole different type of bravery and imagination to do what she decided to do—no breasts, the octopuses, all of it. I mean, who even thinks that shit up? And it looks fucking sick, if I do say so myself.’

‘Amen to that,’ Shani puts in. She’d been treated to a viewing in the ladies earlier.

‘And the octopuses—are they what you needed, Luce?’ Harry asks her quietly, looking down at her again. ‘I mean, after what you were saying that night about how you felt about your body after the cancer and all that, are these what you needed?’

Her tears become real. He’s somehow stumbled upon the perfect question. Why hasn’t Jem asked her that? She blinks furiously and clears her throat with a draught of beer. ‘They are,’ she says. ‘They’re perfect.’

Kat beams.

‘I’m so happy for you, Luce,’ Harry says, beaming as well. ‘But anyway,’ he adds, ‘I’m here for a mate’s thirtieth out back, so, you know.’ He stands, hesitates, then places one of those huge hands on her shoulder and gives it a squeeze. ‘I’m so happy for you,’ he murmurs again.

Once he’s gone, Kat lets out a sigh. ‘Man,’ she says to Lucy. ‘He just gets it, doesn’t he?’

It’s August. There’s a community meeting down at the school in Nubeena. No one’s sure who called it, but everyone knows it’s on and most people seem to be about because who’d risk leaving the harbour of Pirates Bay in this weather? Who’d bother going anywhere, except maybe elsewhere if you’re lucky enough to be able to take your holidays now—escape the weather. There’re even representatives from the council down, which has half the community up in a tizz, fretting that they’ll decide to do the rounds and unearth all the unapproved sheds and shanties that dot the peninsula. But really, as if anyone could be bothered with all that paperwork.

The king tide coupled with the storm last week made everyone wonder about the neck, which, up until then, had seemed steadfast. That’s what the meeting’s about.