We went in. He switched on a light. A dark cavern with a twelve-foot ceiling and a giant boiler in the middle. Insulated pipes studded with rusted bolts. Knobs and pressure gauges and a little table in the corner where you could sit and read. ‘I’m the only one who knows,’ he said.

‘What if someone comes in?’ I asked.

‘What if someone comes in? You coward.’

He indicated. ‘Down there, see, a passageway leads under the main building, and there, the first, second and third wings.’

They were all lit up, yellow, diminishing into the distance.

‘This is neat,’ Tracey said.

‘Old Coward’s off mowing the lawns. Come on.’

He led us down one of the passages. ‘Through me the road to the city of desolation … Through me the road to sorrows eternal.’

‘Shut up,’ Tracey said. ‘You’re scaring me.’

The passages weren’t high enough to stand; or wide enough to move comfortably.

‘I’m scared,’ Tracey said.

Eventually the tunnel emerged into a second, smaller chamber. Again, someone had dragged a few tables down, and there was a Playboy, and empty spirit bottles.

‘This is where Coward hangs out,’ Curtis said. ‘Wonder why the garden’s full of weeds? He gets the opportunity class working then says, I’ll be back in a minute, then comes down here, has a quick look through the literature—’ and he showed the centerfold ‘—and relaxes.’

I noticed the glossy pages, and guessed what was expected. ‘I gotta learn for the Geography test.’

‘Yeah, it’s creepy, let’s go,’ Tracey said, pulling Curtis’s arm.

He resisted. ‘It’s even better under the second wing. Coward’s got it nice. A couch, so he can have a sleep.’

She stopped to think about this.

I turned and walked away. As I went I heard him saying, ‘So to go on, and see this venture through, I find my former stout resolve returning.’

June

Pop said he was too old to drive halfway across Australia, so I’d have to get my licence. The September holidays were approaching and I, apparently, still had a lot to learn. I selected reverse, checked the mirror and backed down the drive, almost collecting Ernie. Pop put his head out the window. ‘Sorry, Ernie, he’ still learning.’

Ernie picked up Fi-Fi. ‘Don’t worry, she’s got nine lives.’

‘Where you goin’?’

‘Windsor.’

‘Wanna lift?’

‘Wouldn’t say no.’ Ernie climbed in the back. ‘The gout’s been playing up.’

I drove along Lanark II. Ernie said, ‘Not out of yer way, is it?’

‘Just practising,’ Pop said. ‘Headin’ down for a drink?’

‘Quick one.’