by Hager, Mandy
By some miracle they didn’t argue. Hurried over and took the bulk of Hunter’s weight surprisingly carefully as Will supported his head and neck. Dean staggered along beside them, still wobbly on his feet. They folded Hunter’s inert body into the boat and cushioned him against Dean’s chest.
Will fired up the motor, mashing the boat on the pontoon in his hurry to pull away. Even above the roar of the outboard he heard Hunter moan. Please god, let him live.
The trip back was a blur; Will pushing the boat to its limits while Dean remained unnaturally silent as he supported Hunter’s bleeding head. It felt like hours before the channel markers finally came into view. When Will saw the flashing lights of the ambulance waiting at the wharf his eyes fogged with tears.
The paramedics were in the boat before he’d even turned the motor off. They stabilised Hunter’s neck with a brace then slid him onto a board-like stretcher, lifting him out with expert ease to lie him gently on the ground. Checked all his vital signs then hauled him up onto a gurney; plugged him into oxygen and a saline drip. Hunter’s brow still oozed, and this they sealed with tape and bandaged before loading him aboard.
‘Take Dean,’ Will said as they made to leave. ‘He was knocked out too.’
‘Nah, I’m right,’ Dean said.
One of the medics approached him. Prised open his golf-ball-sized eye and flashed a light into it. ‘You’d better come. No arguments.’ He turned to Will. ‘And you, mate? Are you okay?’
‘Yeah.’ His pounding head and heart were nothing new.
The medic looked unconvinced. ‘Maybe you should come too, eh?’
Will glanced at Dean. ‘It’s fine, man. I’d better sort the boat properly or he’ll kill me.’
‘You sure?’
‘Please, just get going. I’ll be fine.’
‘Don’t underestimate shock, kid. Get some support before you do anything else. We’ll take them both to Wairau Hospital.’
Will shrugged. Like he needed a lesson on shock. He was an expert on it.
He watched them load Dean into the back of the ambulance with Hunter, then speed off, sirens blaring.
As soon as he’d secured the boat and returned the keys, he slumped. He held his pounding head together as the retching started, wave on wave of painful purging until his knees gave out. He dropped down hard onto his butt. This is all his fault.
He wished he’d gone in the ambulance now; hated that he didn’t know what was going on. He had to get to the hospital. Couldn’t just sit here like a blubbing kid.
As he rose, sniffing away a ball of teary snot, Pania came pelting down the wharf.
‘What’s happened? We heard an ambulance go past.’
‘Bruce went psycho and beat up Hunter real bad. Dean too.’
‘Oh my god!’ She reached out and gripped his arm. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.’
‘You’re bleeding.’
Will stared at her, confused. Impossible. He was the wimp who hadn’t even had the strength to fight off Rick. Then he looked down. He was covered in Hunter’s blood. ‘Not mine.’
‘Good. And bad. Oh god, poor Hunter.’ She wrapped her arms around him for a moment. Smelt of green Fruit Bursts. He had the overwhelming urge to sink his face into her thick loose hair, close his eyes, never pull back.
Instead, a sigh stuttered out of him. ‘I gotta go.’ ‘How are you going to get there?’
‘Dean’s car.’
‘You got a licence?’
‘My Restricted.’
‘Me too. Come on,’ she said. ‘I’ll take you. You don’t look like you should be driving.’
‘But if you get caught with a passenger—’
She shrugged. ‘So? It’s an emergency.’
He knew he shouldn’t involve her; that if Dean found out he’d go mental. But she was right: he wasn’t in the best of states. Could hardly think. Every time he closed his eyes he heard the thwack of Bruce’s fists; saw blood arcing through the air from Hunter’s mangled brow.
‘Okay. Let’s go.’
I saw Song Boy that day; watched from the water as he heaved against the Hungry One who held him back, fists flying, face awash with anger, flooded with fear — and fight. I felt his fury, his body-ache for Broad Boy’s plight. And marked the madness of the man who struck at Broad Boy, eyes crazed, coarse sounds cutting cold as ice.
His onslaught lacked a level head — snapping, snarling, splitting skin — as mean and mindless as any Being gone bad. Not even sharks slay from spite, only need; never had I seen such wanton wildness meted out, Man on Man, in such a ruthless rage.
I never understood the Hungry Ones in this: we all have hankerings, both bad and good, must choose kindness or cold killing — or float forever in between, falling short on every front. We have to pick a path, mull meanings, live a life given over to the goal of good — or ride the wretched waves of wrongs. Why choose to foul our fate, when we can welcome wisdom, goodwill, sweet and soulful songs?
This day that wayward Human hungered for poor Broad Boy’s blood. Left him broken; bolted in his booming boat as I nosed nearer in. Song Boy never noticed; bundled Broad Boy up and hurtled for the harbour, blind to me. Deaf to my song.
And how I ached when I was left, fear tumbling back when the one who hurt me fixed me with his evil eyes. I knew it was not safe to stay. Had no support, with Song Boy’s thoughts so tuned on Broad Boy, bothered, harried, hurt.
What lesson can be learnt from this, my trusty fellow travellers? This, oh this: that we are bent towards the comfort found in clans — no love lost for lone lives — and yet to truly test the mind we all must seek some time alone, delve deeper, find freedom in the fallow times and swim with our most secret selves.
Oh Broad Boy, how my heart did ache for you — and for my worried, white-faced friend. We were too young to know that facing our worst fears full on will set us free.
Pania drove with the same confidence as she steered a boat, calm and steady as they sped through the parched countryside towards Wairau Hospital. Will slumped in the seat beside her, humming scales to calm his mind and exorcise the sound-bites of Hunter’s beating. They mingled with his memories; he felt every blow as if the pain was his own.
‘Surely the police will charge Bruce now?’
Pania glanced over. ‘You’d hope. Dad says the only reason Bruce gets away with it is that he catches Hunter when they’re alone.’
‘Why the hell hasn’t Hunter said something? I still don’t get it.’
She shrugged. ‘Dunno, but Bruce is a real control freak. Dean says Hunter’s like those beaten women who never leave their husbands, terrified and kind of brainwashed.’
‘Yeah, he told me that. But that doesn’t explain why no one’s spoken up for him.’
‘Come on. Don’t you think everyone’s tried? But the local cop is Bruce’s mate and when anyone goes higher it’s been ignored. Mum even called Child, Youth and Family but all they did was put him on a list. And when he is asked questions he won’t say a word. It’s horrible.’ She approached an ambling tractor, tooting thanks when it pulled over to let them past. ‘With any luck, now you and Dean have witnessed it the cops will have to act.’
‘It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t stirred things up, encouraged Min, this never would’ve happened.’
She backslapped him. ‘Don’t be daft. Things’ve been building for a long time now. If it wasn’t over Min it’d be over something else.’
‘You think so?’
‘I know so. That’s how Bruce works.’
They approached the outskirts of Blenheim through acre upon acre of neatly cultivated vines. A hawk soared on the up-breeze just above them and Will pictured the land as it must look from above: dark plaited cornrows on the dry scalp of the earth. He tried to still his jiggling foot, a new joke played on him by his nerves. What if Hunter didn’t make it? Or Bruce went after Min again?
They found the hospital and then a parking spot after two circui
ts and made their way to A&E. The spike-haired nurse did a double-take when she looked up.
‘Oh, hello! I know you! I was at the concert last night. You were incredible, the way you sang with that little orca.’
Will felt heat rising. ‘Thanks.’
‘So what can I do for you?’
‘They’ve just brought in my uncle and my friend from Blythe. Can we see them?’
She glanced back at her screen. ‘Dean MacDonald, right?’
‘Yeah. And Hunter Godsill.’
‘Oh yes.’ Her gaze bit into the blood stains on his jeans and T-shirt. ‘Your uncle’s under observation — but you can see him if you want.’
‘And Hunter?’
‘They’re still assessing him.’ She rose and pointed to a security door. ‘Go over there and I’ll buzz you in.’
When they’d entered she ushered them to a curtained cubicle. Dean was on his back, a light cotton blanket pulled over him. His eye was now so swollen it had closed right up.
‘Hey.’ Will hovered near the foot of the bed while Pania hugged Dean gingerly.
‘Bloody hell, Unc, you look like you’ve stepped out of a zombie movie.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘I thought you weren’t swearing.’
‘Damn.’ Her hand flew to her mouth. ‘Oh shit, I did it again. Oh shit.’
Will laughed, relieved to see Dean’s mouth twitch too. ‘Five in a row! Bravo!’ He grinned at Dean. ‘We could make a pile of hush money out of this!’
Pania rolled her eyes. Will edged forward and offered her the only chair while he perched on the corner of the bed. ‘How’re you feeling?’
‘Stupid. I told them I was okay but they insist I hang around.’
‘Hunter?’
‘Not sure. He’s still pretty much out to it. I think they’re worried about internal bleeding. He’s being scanned.’
‘I’m so sorry. I really am. All I’ve done is cause you trouble.’
‘It’s not your fault. This’s been brewing for a long time.’
Pania grinned. ‘I told you so.’
Will’s pocket started to vibrate. He had forgotten he still had Dean’s phone. Handed it to him.
‘Yo?’ Dean closed his eyes as he listened, fingering the swelling around his eye. ‘That’s great. I’ll let him know.’ He looked over at Will and gave him a thumbs-up. ‘Hey, about dinner tonight. I’m gonna have to bail. Something’s come up.’ Nodded his head. Frowned. ‘Don’t be daft, woman. We’re at Wairau Hospital. Bruce beat the crap out of Hunter, really bad … yeah, okay, will do. But hey, the good news is the cops are onto it … yeah, I will. Thanks.’ He kneaded his forehead as he ended the call.
‘Everything okay?’ Will asked. The raw reds and deep bruised purples stood out starkly against Dean’s pallid skin. He looked older, and terminally tired.
‘Viv says the boys at Whale Watch in Kaikoura think they spotted Min’s pod about ten k’s offshore.’
Will’s heart clashed like cymbals. ‘You’re kidding? His family’s out there?’
‘She’s going to try to get hold of Ingrid. See what she suggests.’
‘That’s brilliant!’
A nurse slipped through the curtains. ‘Sorry, but the police are here. They’d like to have a word — but only if you’re up to it.’
‘Send them in.’ Dean tried to wriggle up in the bed.
She stopped him with an outstretched hand. ‘You stay flat for now, okay? The less you move around, the better.’ She looked at Will and Pania. ‘You’d best wait outside.’
‘No, Will, you stay. He was there too,’ he added, to the nurse.
‘I’ve got to call Mum anyway,’ Pania said. ‘She’ll be wondering where I am.’
She left just as the two policemen entered, one grey-haired, the other with acne-pocked skin. They got straight down to business, first grilling Dean on what had taken place with Bruce. Will cringed. Dean made him sound far more heroic than he’d been. When it was his turn he ’fessed up and put them straight: he’d been useless, powerless, no help at all. Shame swilled inside.
‘You’ll lay charges?’ Dean asked, after all the questioning was done.
‘I imagine so,’ said the older of the two, Detective Sergeant Gilroy. ‘It’s a serious assault.’
‘And not the first one. That poor kid’s been on the receiving end of Bruce’s fists for a long time now. You should speak with Ron Toogood over at Blythe. He’s been turning a blind eye to complaints for years.’
‘That’s a very serious charge, Mr MacDonald. You’re sure about this?’
Dean nodded so vigorously he bit back a groan and clutched his head. Cradled it between his hands for a moment before he carried on. ‘And while you’re on the case you’d better check out Harley Andrews. He ignored the fact Bob Davers shot the orca — and I’ve got a file on Bruce’s business dealings, too. Insurance scams, you name it. Someone should take a long hard look at them as well.’
The nurse, who’d nosied in and out, fussed with Dean’s pillows. ‘That’s enough for now, gentlemen.’
‘We’ll be in touch,’ DS Gilroy said.
It was strangely anticlimactic, given everything that had happened. Will felt like crying. Poor bloody Hunter. ‘Wow. I’m really glad I went over that again. Are you okay?’
‘Yeah, mate. Painkillers deaden everything. What about you?’
‘Okay, I guess. I’ll go find Pania.’
She was sitting in a corner of the waiting room, flicking through a tattered women’s magazine whose cover screamed ‘How I Lost Twenty Kilos in Two Weeks’.
‘How’d it go? Are they going to do something?’
‘Looks like it.’ Will squatted on the floor beside her. Leaned against the wall. ‘You get through to your mum?’
‘She’s sending someone to pick me up — that way you can drive Dean home.’
‘Cool.’ He rose and pecked her on the cheek before he could chicken out. ‘Thanks so much. You were right, by the way, I wasn’t up to driving.’
Where he’d kissed her he swore her cheek glowed pink. ‘Will you ring me when you know how Hunter is?’
‘Sure. But I don’t have a phone. Got pissed off with it one day and threw it in the drink.’ He shrugged. ‘Has Dean got your number?’
‘Probably not my mobile but he’ll have our home one.’
‘Okay, I’ll check.’ He smiled at her, trying to decide what shade of blue her eyes were. Sky or sea? Maybe a bit of both, kind of flecked. He shook himself. ‘I’d better head back. You wanna see Dean before you go?’
‘No, just give him my love. He needs to rest.’ She tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear, which was long and slightly pointed at its tip, almost elfin. He liked it; made him think of Arwen in The Lord of the Rings. ‘I’ll go out and check on Min for you, if you want? Let you know he’s safe.’
‘Thanks — that would be great.’ He stood up, reluctant to leave. Being around her made him feel better in a way he couldn’t define; he felt a simmering warmth and the same light-headedness as when he sang.
Back in the cubicle Dean was snoring. Will tiptoed out to find the friendly spike-haired nurse.
‘Is it okay if he’s sleeping? I thought that was bad.’
‘It’s fine. These days the doctors think sleep is helpful — so long as someone keeps an eye on him. That’s why he’s here.’ She patted his arm. ‘Looks like you could do with a rest yourself.’
‘Yeah, it’s been quite a day. Is there any news on Hunter?’
‘They’ve taken him to surgery. There’s some concern about one of his kidneys and his spleen.’
‘He will be okay, won’t he?’ The dread was back, pressing at the pit of his stomach.
She nodded. ‘So long as everything else is fine. But it’s just going to take a while before we know for sure.’ She studied his face. ‘There’s a staff kitchen through those doors over there — go make yourself a cuppa and help yourself to the biscuits — a little sugar right now wouldn’t do any
harm.’
She was right. Once he’d settled in the chair next to Dean and downed a sugary cup of instant coffee and four chocolate chip biscuits the awful gnawing in his gut started to ease. He closed his eyes. Should he phone his parents? But what could they do? Nothing, bar worry, and he was already doing enough for both of them.
His mind kept returning to Pania, how being with her was like drinking cool water, quenching, calming. How he wanted to kiss her properly. How he’d never dare. Wasn’t even sure it was allowed with second cousins — Jesus, was it incest? Though what about Dean and Viv? Let me make it clear to you, This is what I’ll never do! This, oh, this, [kiss] Oh, this, [kiss] Oh, this, — [kiss] This is what I’ll never, never do! When he’d sung this in the show he’d had to kiss poor Carmel Ritchie, much to the delight of the Year 8s and 9s at the dress rehearsal. At first he’d enjoyed it, the chance to snog her in the name of art, but then her meat-head of a boyfriend got all weird and came to every rehearsal and performance just to glare at him. It was impossible to enjoy it after that, with him breathing down her neck — and Will’s.
Not that the stupid prick had to worry. Unlike most of his old friends, the closest Will had ever come to real sex was serious fumbling at the Mikado after-party. One of the Three Little Maids had let him slide his hand into her knickers. It was all on then, until she’d had to run for it, spewed on the floor before she made it to the door. That killed it dead for him but she insisted she was still keen. The trouble was his mum had lectured him about informed consent (Sober consent, Will. If she’s drunk, it’s rape) so in the end he didn’t dare. But he often thought of it, that soft damp velvety flesh. It still had the power to induce a hard on. He felt guilty now, as if Pania would know and think he was a sleazy jerk. She wasn’t the kind of girl who’d allow a random grope. And this was something different, anyway. He didn’t want to stuff it up. She was far too nice.
He glanced over at the bed, startling when he realised Dean was awake and watching him.
‘You were deep in thought there, matey. You okay?’
Will felt a blush erupting. Dug his fingernails into his palm. ‘I was thinking about you and Viv. Isn’t she your second cousin?’
