The Ecliptic Read Online Free PDF Page B

doesn’t mean we’re the same. I’m not like that. I can’t count on anyone but
myself.’
    ‘Well, maybe you should try.’ I held my smile this time, until I was sure he had received it. ‘We’re all loners here. With the right people, you can be alone
and
together—that’s something you learn how to do when you get older.’
    ‘I don’t see it happening. No offence.’
    ‘It’ll happen all on its own.’ It was easy to feel sympathy for the boy. Not just because he was sweat-shined and muddied, but because I could remember what it was like to be
his age, so wearied by my own guardedness, letting nobody in, too frightened of getting hurt. ‘And, in the meantime, Tif and Q can probably help you with—whatever it is you’re
trying to dispose of there.’
    The boy eyed the can and kicked it. ‘I can sort it. And besides—’ He nodded to the space behind me. ‘They’ve already gone.’
    But they were not quite beyond sight. I could still make out their shapes between the trees, heading for my lodging. ‘Can you whistle?’ I asked. The boy thought about it, then put
his grubby fingers behind his teeth and made the cleanest steam-kettle sound. It took a moment for the others to realise we were calling them.
    Pettifer was the first to arrive, covering his ears. ‘I think they heard you in the Serengeti. What’s the big emergency?’ He leaned an arm on my shoulder.
    ‘Fullerton needs your advice.’
    ‘Does he now. You hear that, Q?—I’m being asked for
advice
.’
    ‘Goodness,’ said Quickman, appearing behind him. ‘Whatever next?’
    The two of them laughed.
    MacKinney noticed the boy’s condition. His cheeks were striped with the dull red soil. ‘Everything OK here?’ she asked.
    ‘Trying to get rid of a few things, that’s all.’
    He went about explaining his intentions for the oil drum, which caused Pettifer to push out his bottom lip and shake his head. ‘No, no, I wouldn’t recommend a drumfire unless you
have kerosene. You need to build up a little pyre of timber in the centre to direct the flames. Otherwise, things don’t burn right, and it can all get out of hand rather quickly.’
    The boy stood back. ‘Just as well I don’t have any matches then.’
    ‘I tried to barbecue a manuscript at my editor’s house once,’ Quickman said. ‘Made a glorious mess of his lawn. There was a lot more ash than I expected. Dangerous thing
to do, really.’
    Pettifer hummed in agreement. ‘Even a small fire can creep up on you if you don’t know what you’re doing.’
    ‘How d’you know so much about it?’ Fullerton asked.
    ‘My father was a scout master.’
    ‘That’s cool.’
    ‘He certainly thought so.’
    ‘Mine wouldn’t even take me camping,’ the boy said. ‘I still went, though.’
    ‘I don’t blame you.’
    ‘Did he let you have a jack-knife?’
    ‘No. But he kept one for himself.’
    MacKinney looked back towards the attic lights of the mansion, yawning. The only lines that did not smooth out of her skin were the furrows round her eyes, which seemed to have the deep-set
quality of woodgrain. ‘I suppose we should start getting used to all this macho conversation, Knell. They’ll be duelling with pistols before we know it.’
    ‘That’s an idea,’ Quickman said.
    ‘Well, I’m turning in before it gets to that.’
    ‘What about our game?’ Tif said.
    ‘I’m not really in the mood. But I hope my money’s still good.’ She leaned into my ear and mumbled: ‘A scoop of French roast on Quickman. Double down if it’s
two-two.’
    I nodded. ‘I’ll hold on to your winnings.’
    She kissed my cheek. ‘Night, all.’
    ‘Night, Mac.’
    I watched her traipsing off into the dark. It was not unusual for her to retire to bed this early, citing some excuse about the need to work. But she made no mention of her play at all that
night, and I assumed that she was suffering again with her insomnia. (MacKinney often joked that she would overcome these