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last six weeks on this rig, even opting
not
to go back to the mainland on leave for the last two rotations. What is it, Luca? Can’t get enough of the fried food?’ Bates moved closer, his voice suddenly taking on an edge that Luca hadn’t heard in years. ‘If you stopped fucking moping around for one minute, you might realise that I’m offering you a proper job. And one that pays damn well.’
    Bates exhaled, already regretting showing his annoyance. He knew that it was pointless to lock horns with Luca like this. The very attributes that had made him one of the finest climbers on the planet, also meant he was one of the most stubborn bastards Bates had ever known. He knew he had to come at it from an oblique angle, and he knew that there were still two things about Luca that might tilt the field in his favour.
    Earlier he had seen a request from Luca for a transfer to another oil rig, citing ‘personal concerns’ as the reason for the move. It had been filed three weeks ago, and was a direct result of Luca clashing with the rig’s foreman on just about every aspect of his job. Bates knew that Luca was treading water here, desperate for the paperwork to clear so that he could move on.
    The second consideration was money. Over the last couple of years it was clear that Luca had amassed a nasty amount of debt. Now he was trying to save every penny, but it was barely enough for him to make headway on the repayments. Bates knew that the money he was offering would be enough to wipe the slate clean. It was a lump sum that Luca couldn’t afford to ignore.
    ‘Think about it, Luca. Fifty grand. That kind of money can change things around.’
    His friend gave a humourless smile. ‘Guess you know all about that, don’t you? Been sniffing through my rubbish?’
    ‘Yeah, a little. That’s one of the things about my line of work. Got to get your hands dirty once in a while.’
    ‘That sounds about right.’
    Bates paused, in anticipation of playing his ace.
    ‘Even if you discount what I’d be paying, you and I both know the real reason why you’re here and it ain’t for the climbing. I mean, it’s not exactly a dream come true, is it – shinning up metal ladders in the freezing rain?’
    ‘I like it,’ Luca retorted. ‘It’s steady.’
    ‘Bollocks. You hate it and you know it. You’re here because you’re doing the same thing you always do – hiding.’
    Luca didn’t respond, knowing full well that it was true. His frown deepened as he contemplated his own life for the first time in months. He had spent so long escaping from it all that Bates’ questions made him feel completely disorientated.
    ‘Just leave me the hell alone,’ he whispered, but Bates only inched closer.
    ‘You can’t keep doing this,’ he said. ‘Sometime or other, you’re going to have to face up to the fact that Beatrice has gone.’
    Luca’s eyes darkened at the mere mention of his ex-girlfriend’s name, but he remained silent, sagging back into the broken armchair.
    ‘She’s a beautiful woman and you must miss her like hell,’ Bates continued, sensing Luca’s vulnerability. He had met Beatrice Makuru, or Bear as everyone called her, a few years ago on a stopover in Paris. He remembered the occasion well, as he had taken to her almost immediately. It was extremely rare for Bates to react to anyone in such a way and he had felt a burning envy for what Luca had had back then. They had been one of those perfect couples; good-looking, adventurous, and, more than anything else, genuinely in love. Now that it was all over, it wasn’t hard to imagine the pain Luca was going through.
    ‘It’ll hurt for a while,’ Bates heard himself saying, an image of Bear still in his mind, ‘but it will get better, I promise.’
    ‘Just get out,’ Luca replied, but his thoughts had already locked on the one person he had travelled such vast distances to forget – Beatrice.
    ‘All I’m saying is, why not do something positive while you