Deeper Water Read Online Free PDF Page B

ticked by, like he was weighing things up, and then he tucked the umbrella down low over his head and took off jogging in the direction I’d pointed.
    ‘He thinks we’re crazy,’ I whispered to Anja.
    ‘Flick your hood back,’ Anja said. ‘You know it works better when you get totally wet!’
    She reached over and pushed my hood away and the raindrops started pelting my head. Pretty soon my hair would be soaked and the drips would slide down my face, down the back of my neck.
    ‘I need it today, Mema. I need it. Dad’s been real bad,’ she blurted out, looking down at the ground. ‘I don’t care about the flood guy. I don’t care what he thinks.’
    ‘Alright.’ I knew the deal and I wrapped my arms around her, giving her a squeeze. She was wet and cold and jumpy. ‘Let’s run.’
    I took off over the mushy grass and Anja circled wide around me. I guess with my foot it was more lope than run, but it always got me to where I was going. If we pushed it too hard my hips would ache and I’d be all creaky the next day. I’d been rain-running since I was real small so I guess I was used to it. Somehow or other, even with the bung foot, my body had taken up the slack.
    It wasn’t long before we caught up to Hamish, warding off the rain with the umbrella.
    ‘Where exactly are we headed?’ he called out to me.
    There were all different places we liked to go along the creek, but when we raced it was always to the same spot. ‘See that big tree down there where the creek curves? On the last flat?’ I shouted back, beginning to pant. ‘There used to be a footbridge there. That’s the spot. You got to run!’
    He picked up his pace.
    ‘Go on, Anja! Stop circling me. Give him a run for his money!’ I yelled to her as she raced out in front of me.
    ‘You reckon?’ She was starting to puff.
    ‘Yep!’
    And she took off like a rocket. Outstripped him in no time. I liked our rain-running, but partly I just enjoyed watching Anja. No doubt there were better runners in the world, but Anja put everything she had into it. Arms, legs, everything whirled. It wasn’t graceful but it was energy in motion.
    When I got to the old footbridge spot under the tree, Anja was bright red. Her face held colour for ages after she’d run, like she’d been scalded. Hamish and her were both still faintly panting.
    ‘That was … funny,’ Hamish said, glancing from Anja to me. He was trying not to smile.
    ‘It’s alright to have a giggle.’ I was still puffed. ‘Giggling is part of it. That or having a good cry.’
    Hamish laughed then, an unfamiliar sound.
    ‘Fuck,’ Anja said, and then her eyes welled up and spilled over.
    ‘Do another lap,’ I said. ‘It’ll all come out if you do another lap.’
    And she took off again, out into the open paddock.
    ‘You do this a lot?’ Hamish asked me. Anja was just a speck, moving in the distance.
    I shrugged. ‘Only when it’s raining.’
    ‘What about you, Mema?’ He was watching me closely. ‘Laugh or cry today?’
    ‘I don’t know.’ My breathing was slowing. ‘Usually it’s only the two of us and I guess we bleed into each other. Usually we do the same. Together. But with you here I’m stuck in the middle.’
    ‘Between laughing and crying?’
    ‘Yep.’
    ‘That’s life, I guess.’
    I didn’t know what to say to that.
    ‘How long have you known Anja?’
    ‘Forever.’
    ‘Only forever?’
    He was trying to tease me.
    ‘Yep.’
    ‘She’s …’
    ‘She’s pretty quirky, but I love her,’ I interrupted, not really wanting to hear his verdict.
    ‘She’s very beautiful.’
    This took me by surprise. Anja was one thousand things besides beautiful. It bothered me that it was the only thing worth remarking on.
    ‘She runs pretty fast,’ I replied.
    ‘She’s built like a thoroughbred. It’s no wonder.’
    Anja ran about in the distance, galloping at high speed. From the way she was slowing I could see she’d cried it out. After a bit she stopped in the