‘Is it getting . . .’ said Jill.

‘Smokier,’ said Frank. ‘A lot smokier.’

It seemed to happen in an instant then. One minute they could see for metres and metres in front of the car, the next they were engulfed in a thick, black cloud.

‘Where the hell did that come from?’ Frank slammed on the brakes.

‘You can’t stop here! It’s a freeway. What if someone hits us?’

‘Well what do you want me to do? I can’t see a bloody thing.’

She could hear a note of fear in his voice and that frightened her more than the eerie, heavy black smoke around the car. Frank didn’t scare easily.

‘Creep forward,’ she suggested. ‘Maybe we can ease onto the shoulder.’

He did so and as the car edged forward and to the left, they both started to cough. ‘The smoke’s getting into the car,’ said Jill.

‘No kidding, Sherlock.’

‘Don’t make fun of me!’ There was a hysterical edge to Jill’s voice. She started flicking all the aircon vents closed.

‘I think we’re pulled over,’ said Frank.

‘Now what do we do? Do we call triple zero?’

‘Just wait a minute. Maybe it’ll clear as fast as it came. I don’t see flames, do you?’

‘I don’t think so. I’m not sure.’

They both coughed again but Jill noticed a wheezier sound to Frank’s cough. ‘You don’t sound good,’ she said.

‘I sound the same as you do.’

‘No, you don’t, you sound breathless, Frank. Where’s your Ventolin? Tell me you brought one with us.’

‘I don’t need any flippin’ Ventolin.’

‘And you say I’m obstinate. Did you pack one? Is it in your bag?’

He started coughing again but this time it was a longer, wheezier cough, and when he finally stopped it had left him gasping for air. Despite the vents being closed, the smoke was seeping into the car. Jill’s eyes were starting to smart and the back of her throat was beginning to burn.

‘For God’s sake, Frank. Is there one in your bag? You need it.’

He looked sideways at her, there was terror on his face. ‘I think there might be,’ he finally said. ‘In the boot.’

She immediately reached for her door handle. ‘I’ll get it for you.’

He grabbed her arm with a vice-like grip. ‘Like hell you will. You’re not going out there. I’ll get the stupid thing myself.’

By now they both could feel the heat. There was a fire nearby, and it was getting closer.

‘You can’t,’ said Jill. ‘You can’t go out there.’