Page 153 of The Vanishing Place
He touched a hand to Effie’s shoulder. “Daniel ran off after he shot…”
Anya was crying.
“I’m so sorry.” Lewis again. “But we have to go, Effie. It’s not safe to stay here.”
She held a hand out and cupped her sister’s face. Effie had only just found her again. Tia would open her eyes. She would blink, and her eyes would open.
“Effie,” Lewis said. “We can’t stay. We can try and carry her.”
But her sister’s eyes didn’t open; they didn’t so much as flicker.
And with a single gunshot, there was only one of them left, one of Mum’s four bush children.
New Zealand
Three months later
Blair’s laughter filledJune’s small kitchen, big and bright, and Effie stood in the hallway letting it wash through her. Blair and Ewan had insisted on a New Zealand holiday, to drink sauvignon blanc and do the wholeLord of the Ringsthing. And to make sure that Lewis wasn’t a complete eejit. Blair’s words.
“You cheated,” June exclaimed. “I demand a rematch.”
“How?” There was a burst of laughter from Blair. “How could I have cheated?”
Anya giggled.
“I don’t know,” said June. “You must have additional saliva stores or something.”
“Ew.” Anya snorted.
Effie smiled to herself, then stepped into the kitchen.
“What on earth are you lot up to?”
“The Weet-Bix challenge.” Anya beamed, her lips coated in wheat dust. “It’s a race to eat two.”
“Dry,” said June. “Barbaric, if you ask me.”
Blair winked at Anya. “Sounds like someone’s a sore loser.”
“I am not!”
Anya was smiling from ear to ear. And as Effie looked at her, she had to bite down on her lip to stop the prickle of tears. At the little girl, who was still smiling despite it all.
“Morning, team.” Lewis’s voice carried through from the front door. “I come bearing coffee and brownies.” His face appeared in the doorway. “Anyone here like brownies?”
“Me.” Anya hurried from her chair and crashed into his legs.“Me.”
“You sure?” Lewis frowned and lifted the box above his head.
“Yes. Yes.”
Blair walked up to him. “I suggest you hand those over, mister, before anyone gets hurt.”
Lewis gulped and held them out.
“Wise choice, my friend.”
Blair smiled at Anya, then took her hand. “If anyone needs us, we’ll be in the living room stuffing our faces. And if Ewan gets back from his run, you never saw us.” She winked. “What do you reckon, June, fancy a brownie challenge?”
