Show Me the Sky - Nicholas Hogg [23]
‘No. But, well … I want to … You know I said I would travel with him, that we could ride the Sandover Highway together. But he said he needed to go alone, to know himself in all that space. So a week later I’m waiting in Mount Isa. One day, two days worrying where he was. Then I decided to call the police, first in Mount Isa, then Alice Springs. Both the officers told me the track was clear, and they had no reports of anyone lost. I told them he was late to meet me and they asked if he was a relative or my husband. I said no, and then they asked if he was my boyfriend. When I said I was not sure, they presumed the same as me. That he had stood me up. They thought I was some, how do you say, erm, fling? Yes, some fling he had forgotten. I waited one more day, then called the Alice Springs officer one more time. He told me a friend of his from Cairns had arrived that morning, by 4WD via the Sandover Highway. Then he began to lecture me that “a young fella needs to spread his wings”. I slammed the phone down. I was angry at Cal two times. One, he had just walked away from me. Two, he had not the sense to let me know he wasn’t coming. This was more than courtesy. Anyone travelling across a desert for a date needs to say if they’re late. Or not arriving at all … I was so angry. And all that time he was crawling across the sand … thinking of me.’
‘I’m so sorry, Monique … so sorry.’
‘I actually left Mount Isa for Cairns. I thought fuck him. Then asleep on the coach I dreamed he was out there, a nightmare he was dying on the sand. I told the driver to pull over, that I had to get off the bus. He dropped me on the edge of the highway and I hitchhiked back to Mount Isa. I went straight to the airfield and begged a pilot to fly me to Alice Springs. I paid him all the money I had. We flew above the highway the whole way, high enough to see for kilometres either side … high enough to see the smoke from the fire. We circled three times. I could see him lying there. I was screaming at the pilot to land. He said we would crash and be killed, that it was too bumpy. He had to hit me in the face to stop me pulling the plane from the sky.’
‘Could he not radio others closer?’
‘This was the most desolate part of the highway. The closest rescue had to come from Alice Springs. A police officer and medic were already on their way by the time we landed, but of course I had to go too. I hired a 4WD and drove like a maniac. A few times I nearly crashed. I wanted to catch the rescue unit, thinking they’d get there before me. But the rains were coming. The blue sky was suddenly black. Then the raindrops so huge, like a lake falling from the sky. First the road was just greasy, and then it turned to mud, thick and heavy. About a hundred kilometres from where we’d spotted Cal from the plane, the police officer and the medic were stuck in the ruts. The wheels spinning and spinning. They told me to tow them out but I said no. They had to come with me, we had no time. So the police officer navigated as we drove off the track. I followed the edge of the creek, and already it was rushing with water. And first we saw the little ruin. Then Cal. I jumped out and ran … and … to see him I had to lift the journal off. He must’ve laid the cover over his face to protect himself from the sun.’
‘Sorry, Monique. I really don’t want to force you to share such upsetting memories.’
‘No. It’s fine. I want to talk. I want to tell you something else, that he … how can I say? He saw something out there. Something I can’t explain.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘All the time he was stranded, he was writing. A letter for me. In this letter he explained some very strange things.’
‘Could I read it? Or am I rude to even ask?’
‘Well, I gave it Philip to read, Cal’s friend. I suppose it makes no difference if you do too. One moment … it’s in this drawer.’
‘Thank you, Monique. But honestly, if it’s personal …’
‘If I can find it … it should be right here. Only a few days ago Philip had it in his hands. I never put it anywhere else … Merde!’
‘Don’t worry.