Chapter 19

"Audie phoned."

"Oh, what did she say?"

"She said that she'd gotten back yesterday and that she'd had 'a nice time' with Angus."

"A nice time?"

"That's what she said. I've been thinking about what you said."

"About what?"

"About love and sex. I was also mulling over intimacy. Intimacy is sharing your feelings and desires. It's about vulnerability. Sex is merely the exchange of body fluids, propagation of species, and recreation. Sexual intimacy combines sex and intimacy. Sex is a biological drive while intimacy is part of the emotional environment. But love is yet more, I think it has to do with dedication and an involvement greater than sharing."

"That's very profound."

"Well, you started it the other day."

"That's not a trivializer."

"No, but what we did with Audie was definitely experiment and exchange of bodily fluids."

"Will you want to do more?"

"I don't think so. I've never been with another man, but I've no urge to rub myself against Gordy or Alf or Mark ... or Angus."

"So now can return to having friends instead of partners?"

"Definitely, speaking of which, I saw Allison and Mark when I was out."

"I guess they're still seeing one another."

"Not quite as intensively as Gordy and Gerri, though. They were wondering whether we'd be interested in a sort of day-excursion."

"Sure. We've got nearly two weeks till we head south."

"I've got her number somewhere. Give me a few minutes."

I cleared away the lunch remnants and washed the plates.

"They'd like to go to the Fire Museum for a day. It's an hour each way, Allison says. She thought that Thursday might be good, as Mark's sitting his last exam now."

"Sure. Should we pick them up? It'd be silly to take two vehicles."

It was silly to take two vehicles. In fact, we took no vehicle. We met a bit before 10 at the Newtown Station and took the Western Line to Penrith. We had to change trains, but that wasn't a problem. Allison had been enchanted by Verdi's La Traviata on a raft in the harbour. Mark had certainly made a good choice. We'd not been, largely because I have an aversion to distracting noises at outdoor events. I gathered they were seeing one another regularly. When we debarked from the train, the museum was readily visible.

"I left a message for my dad that we were coming," Allison said. Mark looked a bit green about the gills. "It's okay, Mark. You've nothing to fear. This isn't a formal inspection tour." She laughed. I clapped him on the shoulder.

"I'll back you up, Mark. Never fear."

"Thanks, Patrick. I'm not sure why this seems scary."

"Nor I. But I've never had to go through meeting a girl's parents."

"Hunh?"

"Rachel's parents knew me before I was born. Rachel was telling folks that I was her boyfriend before I was three."

"Does that make it easier or harder?"

"Good question. Do you like her?"

"A lot."

"Give me your hand." He stopped and looked at me. I held out my hand and he clasped it. "I'll let you know in a minute. Hey, girls! Uh, ladies! Let's switch partners ... I've hardly spoken to Allison."

"What should I expect?"

"At the Museum? Oh, they've lots of fire engines and equipment. The really old things are reconstructions, but everything from the past century is authentic. And there are uniforms and equipment and badges. I think it's really interesting. But I guess I'm prejudiced. My dad tells people that the two worst things about Australia are the floods and the fires."

"Rachel's dad would agree, though he's more interested in water. My parents saw a flood in the Territory when they were on their honeymoon. I've seen more drought than flood."

"Well, that's when fire danger is worst."

"Is there a place for lunch in the Museum?"

"No, no food on the premises. But I thought we'd only spend an hour or so and lunch in town."

"Not to worry. None of us will starve soon."

"Here we are! Oh, Jed is on duty." He was a one-armed man of at least 60. "Mornin' Jed."

"Mornin' Miz Allie."

"I brought some friends from the uni."

"No prob. Will you pay or just sneak in like you useta?"

"We've got the dosh, Mr. Jed," Rachel piped up.

"Jes' Jed. Ain't you the pretty little thing."

"Don't be cheeky, Jed!" Allison remarked.

"Another word, an' I won't give you a ride on the engine!"

"Oh, we'll be good, Jed," said Mark. "I'll make sure Allie doesn't run around, too."