Singing Home the Whale

by Hager, Mandy

  ‘Yeah. Why?’

  ‘So it’s okay then? You know, being related and all?’

  ‘What are you, the gene police?’

  ‘Shut up! I was just wondering.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah, all good mate. It’s only first cousins getting it off that’s dodgy, so they say.’ He shifted slightly on the bed, wincing. ‘Thanks for your concern, though!’ His gaze seemed to penetrate Will’s feeble excuse and recognise him for the horny jerk he was. Dean grinned. ‘It always pays to check!’ There was a rummaging in the curtains and Viv poked her head through. ‘Well, well … speak of the devil!’

  ‘That’d be Bruce you’re referring to?’ She edged around the side of the bed and examined his battered eye. ‘Ouch, that looks nasty. How’re you feeling, pretty boy?’

  ‘Ready to go home. Why’d you come?’

  ‘To find out what the hell is going on.’ She swept her lips across his forehead. ‘And to collect Pania for Cathy.’

  ‘Is it really true?’ Will said. ‘About Min’s pod?’

  Viv settled by Dean’s shoulder. ‘Those guys should know. They help keep track of things for Ingrid.’

  ‘Do they know how to get him over there?’

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t have time to ask. But I’ll get hold of Ingrid tonight if I can.’ She glanced down at Dean. ‘Cora says if you want I can take you home, so long as I keep an eye on you for the next twelve hours.’

  ‘Cora?’

  ‘The nurse, dipstick. Didn’t you recognise her? We went to school together.’

  ‘These women forget nothing, kid,’ Dean said. ‘Be warned!’

  Viv snorted. ‘You wanna go home or not, smart-arse?’

  ‘You okay to bring my car back?’ he said to Will.

  ‘Yeah — though maybe Pania could, after all? I’d like to wait for news of Hunter, then stay with him a while if that’s okay.’

  ‘Nice,’ Viv said. ‘Good plan.’ She eyeballed Dean as if to say don’t you dare argue. He didn’t. Still looked wiped out.

  By the time the nurse coached Viv on warning signs (which she already clearly knew) and signed Dean out, Will was relieved to wave them off. His nerves were shot, and the effort to speak, to maintain cheerfulness, was exhausting. His head pounded like a funeral dirge.

  With still no word on Hunter he took the forty bucks Viv had slipped into his pocket and went in search of the café. Ate two stale ham and egg sandwiches and ordered a double espresso to wake himself up.

  Stomach full, though hardly satisfied, he camped out in the waiting room and watched the ebb and flow of patients as he tried to guess what brought them in. Some were easy picks, like the kid whose arm was jutting at a crazy angle, or the idiot who’d shot a nail through his foot. Others came in tearful, some hunched over, nauseous, and a few in pathetic states from too much sun and booze.

  For three and a half hours he hunkered there, dozing, reliving the fight, trying to figure out what he could’ve done to stop Bruce, hating that he failed. Finally the nurse, Cora, came to find him.

  ‘He’s in post-op now. They had to take out most of one kidney. On top of that he’s got a badly bruised spleen and five broken ribs — but the good news is it looks as though his head’s okay. Poor kid. It’s just as well he’s so fit.’

  ‘Can I see him?’

  ‘It’ll take another couple of hours before the anaesthetic really wears off and we’re sure he’s going to come around.’

  ‘He will be okay, right?’

  ‘Should be. But he’ll be here for a couple of weeks at least — until we’re sure his spleen has healed and the remaining kidney’s functioning okay — and then another couple of months to fully recover after that.’

  It felt wrong that something so terrible could somehow sound like an improvement. ‘Thanks.’

  He found a pay phone to let Dean know, and when Viv answered she reassured him all was well. He told her what he could of Hunter’s progress and then phoned through to Pania’s. No answer. To kill some time he left the hospital and walked to clear his head. After two blocks he found a fish and chip shop. Oiled his jiggling nerves with greasy chips.

  By the time he was taken to the room where Hunter lay, it had grown dark outside. Hunter was strung up to machines and drips, so pale his freckles stood out like stars in a photo negative. Will pulled an armchair closer to the bed, grinning with relief when Hunter’s eyelids flickered open.

  ‘Hey.’ Hunter tried to smile. Couldn’t quite. But tried, and that was good.

  ‘Gidday.’ Will leaned in close. ‘How’re you feeling?’

  ‘Sweet.’ He spoke as if his tongue was twice its normal size. ‘Good drugs.’

  ‘Shit, man, if that’s all you wanted there are easier ways!’

  ‘Yeah.’ Hunter drew in a shallow breath. ‘How’s Dean?’

  ‘He’s fine. He’s got a really thick skull — like you, apparently. Viv’s around there fussing — she reckons it’s perfect, that he doesn’t have the strength to argue!’

  ‘Choice.’

  ‘Don’t bother speaking, eh? I’ll stay right here and have a doze myself.’

  ‘Thanks.’ His eyes drooped shut.

  It was enough for Hunter to know he wasn’t alone. Like Min. The need for moral support as the body did its thing. Like Will’s parents had done for him, once he’d fled home after his humiliation at the audition.

  The possibility that Min’s family was out there — maybe only a couple of hundred k’s or so away at most — was so infuriating. Totally frustrating. In the clips he’d seen from overseas, most times they used a sea cage to catch the orcas then shipped them overland. But that kind of expenditure sure as hell wasn’t likely to happen here in any hurry — if at all. The only other real alternative was for Min to follow a boat out of Pelorus Sound, right around the top of the island, through Cook Strait, and then along the coast to Kaikoura on the other side. Yeah right. In Puget Sound, they’d trained Luna to follow by turning it into a game, towing a buoy strung out the back of a boat. Not hard, but the little bugger only had the attention span of a toddler, same as Min, and was just as likely to swim off after a logging boat, canoe or stick. What kind of boat could Will even get his hands on to make the trip? The Zeddie sure as hell couldn’t manage it, even if he did feel confident enough to try. The Strait was far too rough and unpredictable. It would be madness. Suicide. Probably take days, even if the boat could handle the waves.

  And then, of course, there was the fine. It was due next week and Will still had no idea how he was going to sort it. But he had to admit the concert takings were impressive. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he was astounded by the town’s support. For a place he’d scoffed at, thought he’d never fit in, they’d rallied round like he was one of them. Amazing. Bizarre. A tiny ray of sunshine, like when Hunter tried to smile. Goddamn, they’d better arrest Bruce.

  See how the Fates their gifts allot, For A is happy — B is not. Yet B is worthy, I dare say, Of more prosperity than A! Yet A is happy! Oh, so happy! Laughing, Ha! ha! Chaffing, Ha! ha! Nectar quaffing, Ha! ha! ha! Ever joyous, ever gay, Happy, undeserving A!

  It was clever, really, the way old Sir William Gilbert slipped things in like that, about how tricky fate can be; that switch from happiness to misery in a heartbeat. So bloody true. If I were Fortune — which I’m not — B should enjoy A’s happy lot, And A should die in misery — That is, assuming I am B. But should A perish? That should be — Of course, assuming I am B! So B should be happy! Oh, so happy! Laughing, Ha! ha! Chaffing, Ha! ha! Nectar quaffing, Ha! ha! ha! But condemned to die is he, Wretched meritorious B! Not that he knew what meritorious meant. Something to do with merit, he supposed. But he did know the song was all about perspective, like now. Here he was, he should be chuffed Min’s pod was theoretically in reach — and that Hunter had survived. But there was Hunter, half his bloody insides stitched, Will possibly going to jail for not paying a stupid fine — and Min out there unprotected and alone.

&
nbsp; HE WAS WOKEN BY THE sound of whispering. Looked up, bleary-eyed, to find Gabby Taylor and her friend Simone huddled in the doorway.

  ‘What the hell are you doing here?’

  ‘Pania told me what happened.’ Her gaze was fixed on Hunter as he slept. ‘How is he?’

  ‘Apart from losing half a kidney and screwing his spleen — oh, yeah, and a whole lot of broken ribs — he’s fine. No thanks to your arsehole uncle.’

  ‘Oh my god.’ She shuffled into the room, her eyes puffy from crying. ‘I didn’t know he’d do this, okay? I mean, I knew he gave him the bash sometimes — my dad’s the same — but never this bad. Oh my god.’

  ‘Is he going to be all right?’ Simone asked.

  She edged up to the bed at the moment Hunter opened his eyes. As it dawned on him that Simone was there, a smile blossomed. ‘You came.’

  ‘Hi.’ She dug into her bag and produced a chocolate bar. ‘Here. Sorry, it’s not much.’ She laid it on the bedside table.

  Gabby sidled around Will and perched next to Hunter. She brushed a kiss onto his ear. ‘God, Hunter. I’m so sorry.’ A tear leaked down her cheek. ‘The police have taken Uncle Bruce for questioning. They stopped him on his way in to see you.’

  ‘Good fucking job,’ Will said.

  She flinched. ‘He’s only ever been nice to me. I had no idea he’d go this far.’

  ‘Really? Everyone in the whole town knew, apparently, yet you were too busy taking his handouts and—’

  ‘Don’t,’ Hunter said. ‘Just don’t.’ He smiled up at Simone. ‘Did you enjoy the concert?’

  ‘I’m sorry I didn’t talk to you. I was— it was—’

  ‘Doesn’t matter.’ His gaze never left her face.

  She turned to Will. ‘That was awesome, what you did. That little orca — Min, is it? — man, it was awesome.’

  ‘Yeah, well, lucky he survived Bruce’s attempt to have him shot.’

  ‘I want to talk to you about that,’ Gabby said. ‘And something else.’ She jerked her head towards the door.

  If Hunter wasn’t lying there all loved-up he’d have said no. But it wouldn’t hurt to give the poor bastard a little time alone with Simone. It’d probably help him more than any amount of drugs.

  He followed Gabby out into the corridor. ‘What?’

  She scuffed her sandal on the lino. ‘Look, I’m sorry, okay, so stop giving me the evil eye for a minute and listen.’

  ‘Why should I trust anything you say? If you’ve brought some kind of message from that prick, I’ll—’

  ‘He’s going to kill Min!’ Tears boiled in her eyes. ‘When I heard you sing with him I couldn’t believe it. I had no idea they were so smart — or cute. But straight after we left Hunter with you, Uncle Bruce told his mates he was going to shoot Min himself. He’s going to do it in a storm so no one notices until a few days later.’

  It sounded all too plausible. ‘Why are you telling me? What’s in it for you?’

  She stamped her foot. ‘Fuck you. I thought you’d want to know.’

  ‘Why now? Ever since I arrived, you’ve been an utter bitch — and now you come over all helpful?’

  ‘How many bloody times do I have to say I’m sorry? Hunter’s my cousin, okay? And what Uncle Bruce did was bad. Real bad. I never thought things would come to this. Pania says he hit Dean too. That’s really shit.’ She swallowed hard. ‘It’s all total shit.’

  ‘Well, at least we agree on that.’ Will could feel his anger abating. She genuinely seemed upset. ‘Look, are you sure he really meant it?’

  She nodded empathically. ‘There’s a big southerly due round Wednesday and he told them he’s doing it then. Do it “properly” he said. It made me sick. Min was so awesome, the way he sang.’

  Awesome? God he hated that word, it was so overused. ‘Bruce can’t, if he’s been arrested.’

  ‘But you don’t understand. If he can’t do it, he’ll get someone else to. And, anyway, Mum says he’ll get bail.’ She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. ‘Please do something. But don’t say I told you. My dad and Uncle Bruce are real close — and Dad’s, well, they’re really alike.’

  ‘He hits you?’

  She shrugged. ‘It’s just how they are.’

  Jesus. His mum had always told him to look behind the bully, to see who was bullying them. He’d never really taken it in. ‘Look,’ he said. ‘This whole thing with Hunter never would’ve happened if he’d spoken up sooner. You have to do the same. It’s a good time, with everything out in the open like this.’

  She shook her head. ‘You don’t understand. Mum’ll take his side. She always does. I’m out of this hole as soon as I leave school, anyway. I can tough it out till then.’

  ‘You sure? Cause I reckon people like Cathy and Dean and Viv would support you. And me, if you want.’ Irony or hypocrisy? He wasn’t sure.

  Another tear snaked down her cheek. ‘Nah, I’m sweet. But thanks.’ She swiped it away. ‘Is he going to be okay?’

  ‘Hope so. Look, thanks for telling me about Min.’

  ‘You sing real well — nothing like that dumb YouTube clip.’

  He nearly laughed, hearing this from her, number one on his harasser list since he’d been here. ‘Thanks.’

  As they walked back into the room, Simone sprang away from Hunter. Had she been kissing him? Judging by the goofy grin on Hunter’s mushed-up face, she had. Well, whaddaya know? Gotta be keen, to kiss that pulpy mess.

  A new nurse popped her head around the corner of the door. ‘Visiting time’s up, folks.’

  ‘Can we come back tomorrow?’ Simone asked.

  ‘Sure. Visiting hours are eleven-thirty until seven-thirty. It’s ten past nine now.’

  Gabby shrugged petulantly. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘We’ll see you then,’ Simone said to Hunter.

  ‘Love you, Hunts,’ Gabby said.

  ‘See ya.’ Hunter’s gaze limped after Simone.

  Will walked the girls to the lift, then went in search of the nurse. ‘Can I stay with him? Please? Sleep in the chair?’

  ‘It’s not usually allowed.’

  ‘Please? He doesn’t have anyone. His mum is dead and his father did this to him. I hate the thought of him waking up alone.’

  She tapped a pen to her lips as she considered this. Nodded. ‘Okay. Sure. But let him sleep. He needs all the healing he can get.’

  She rustled him up a pillow and two blankets. By the time he got back to the room Hunter was out again, so Will settled in the armchair, extending the footrest out, but knew he’d never sleep. How could he protect Min? It was all very well going out and staying with him when the weather was fine, but if a storm blew up he’d have to head for home. Gabby was right. The cunning of Bruce’s plan was sickening.

  HE WOKE WITH A START. Hunter was crying out. Something desperate. Indecipherable. He scrabbled over, catching his little toe on the bed leg.

  ‘What is it?’ He switched on the light above Hunter’s head, his toe in agony.

  Hunter was dreaming, eyeballs rolling beneath their lids. Will shook him gently, not wanting to startle him.

  Slowly Hunter surfaced and opened his eyes. ‘Where?’

  ‘You’re in the hospital. You had a bad dream.’

  ‘Will? Shit, I thought Dad was here.’

  ‘Nah, you’re safe, man. He can’t get at you here.’

  ‘Has he been to see me yet?’

  ‘Can’t. The cops have him.’

  ‘Damn. They shouldn’t.’

  ‘Damn right they should. He nearly killed you.’

  ‘He doesn’t mean it. Sometimes I just set him off.’ He spoke as if on automatic, as if Bruce had drilled it into him.

  ‘Bullshit, man. He’s a mental pig. No — shark. Pigs are too nice!’ Get a grip. ‘You’ve gotta stand up for yourself. When the cops ask questions, tell them everything.’

  ‘You don’t understand.’

  ‘So tell me.’

  ‘Can’t.’ Hunter scrunch
ed his eyes. Blinked away tears. ‘Was Simone really here?’

  Okay. Still a no-go zone. He’d have to work on it. ‘Sure was! There’s the chocolate on the table.’

  ‘She kissed me. Told me to ask her out when I get home.’

  ‘Score! Maybe she has a thing for sick people. A nurse fantasy!’

  He grinned. ‘Suits me.’ He tried to move but winced. Stayed put. ‘Can you turn that light off?’

  Will flicked the switch and eased back into the chair. ‘You need anything?’

  ‘No. What did Gabby want?’

  ‘Forget it, man, you don’t need any more complications.’

  ‘Tell me. Please. I need distracting — don’t want to think about that dream.’

  ‘Fair enough.’ He sure knew how that felt. ‘She overheard Bruce say he’s going to shoot Min during a storm that’s coming in.’

  ‘No!’

  ‘Yeah. The really sucky part is that Viv reckons Min’s pod is in the trench just off Kaikoura. If I could somehow get him there …’

  The problem hung between them as Will thought again about the yacht. He hated to admit defeat. But it would be far too dangerous, especially with bad weather due. Maybe he could try Harley? But he might tip off Bruce. The cops? Maybe. But would they take it seriously? Or care? He truly didn’t know. What about Viv? Her contacts in Greenpeace might help. The trouble was they’d have to source a boat and get it here and blah, blah, blah — chances were, the whole thing would end up like Luna, everybody pissing around so long the poor thing died.

  ‘Take the Cat.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Dad’s big PowerCat would make it round there in about nine or ten hours, no sweat. Get Min to follow you …’

  ‘You’re out of your freaking mind if you think I’m gonna ask to use his boat. Anyway, I don’t know how to operate it. And how the hell would I get Min to follow all that way? You know what he’s like. He’ll be off in a flash if he sees something more interesting.’

  ‘Don’t ask, just take it. I know where the keys are and Pania knows the boat — it’s a piece of piss. There’s a GPS to tell you where to go. And Min will follow if you sing.’