Love Is Blind Read Online Free PDF Page B

skewered on the end of his penknife. But she resolutely shook her head.
    ‘Road kill? You seriously expect me to eat road kill? Tell me, are you just visiting from prehistoric times? Or are you actually planning to live here for good?’
    ‘Bloody handy, eh, that we got hit by something edible? And how lucky was it that we rolled into a riverbed? And for the river to be dry? Talk about a soft landing.’
    ‘Lucky? You think this is lucky? … Well, at least you’ve brought religion into my life, Mr Jackman. I now really do know what it’s like to be in hell. We could die out here!’
    Jacko raised one furry brow in amusement. ‘Well,
I
won’t. But
you
could. You’re too damn’ scrawny. I could play your spine like a xylophone. A woman needs a bit of meat on her bones. Like my Janey.’
    Anthea was offended. ‘Unlike my sister, I take pride in my appearance.’
    Jacko laughed in her face. ‘So tell me, how many years of yoga does it take to be able to kiss your own ass like that? Have you actually
looked
in a mirror lately, woman? You’re so thin, your pyjamas must have only
one
stripe.’
    Anthea felt a mixture of fury and despair well up in her. A sob erupted from her and her face crumpled.
    ‘Hey, come on now. Don’t have a meltdown,’ Jacko said in a more comforting voice. ‘Now the fire’s lit, we’ll be sticking out like a dog’s balls. A spotter plane will find us, easy. Once Jane realises that we’re overdue, she’ll call the cops. All the locals are bound to come looking for us. Pilots … well, they’re civil contractors, really, the guys who drop the miners back and forth from the city … they fly by all the time. She’ll be right. Don’t you worry.’
    ‘Worry! Of course I’m worried. Or do you think I always gnaw my nails right up to my elbows? I need some water,’ she demanded.
    Jacko rummaged around in his Gore-Tex backpack and handed her a water bottle. ‘I’ve got painkillers too,’ he offered.
    ‘Just water,’ Anthea said crisply. She didn’t want to risk taking anything. Not when she was marooned in the Outback with an obvious maniac. She needed to keep her wits about her. Anthea took a swig of water then poured some on to her hands.
    ‘Oy!’ Jacko snatched back the bottle. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing? That water’s for drinking only. We’re in the middle of the desert, in case you hadn’t noticed,’ he yelled. ‘You think
I’m
thick? Jesus. If brains were elastic, yours couldn’t make a garter for a canary.’
    ‘But I’m covered in red dust,’ Anthea whined.
    ‘Tough. Unless you want me to lick you clean,’ he laughed.
    Anthea prickled with disgust at his suggestion. ‘Don’t be revolting.’
    ‘Relax. I’m only joking. Jeez, I’m beginning to think you wouldn’t know a joke if it jumped up and bit you on the bum.’
    ‘But didn’t you say we’re in a creek bed?’
    ‘Yes, a dry creek bed … About as dry as your bloody personality,’ he said under his breath.
    ‘What? What did you say?’ she fumed. ‘I heard that!’
    Jacko was back at the fire now, poking around in the ashes. Anthea watched him cut off another huge hunk of charred emu with his penknife. He thrust some white meat in her direction on the end of the blade.
    Anthea recoiled once more.
    Jacko shook his head. ‘Your stomach must think that your throat’s been cut. Okay, it’s not exactly cock-a-leekie-dick-in-the-spotted-hole or whatever the hell it is you people eat in England. But it’s good bush tucker.’
    As he chewed her share, Jacko eyed her thoughtfully. ‘Look, you’re probably in shock. That’s why you’re acting as though you’ve got kangaroos in your top paddock.’ He tapped his head, by way of explanation. ‘But don’t sweat it. Why don’t you just look on the whole adventure as a spur-of the-moment camping trip? You can experience first hand what it’s like to get back to the land.’
    ‘Camping doesn’t make me want to get back to the