Carousel (28 page)

We had exited Carousel onto a small concrete ramp that led away from Target toward some staff parking. At a turn in the ramp was a platform sheltered by the cornering walls and an overhang in the roof. Central in this platform was a dusty vending machine.

It seemed like we were on the southwest corner of the centre as the sun was edging away from us toward the horizon.

The horizon.

It was messy, flat and suburban, like any other day I had seen in Perth.

The three of us stared at it across the vacant car park. An empty highway divided the centre from the brick and tiles of the surrounding suburbs. Everything looked quiet and gentle.

‘You don't think he forgot?' asked Taylor, after a while.

I looked at her and shook my head. She turned away and bit her lip as she cried.

Lizzy held her sister's head against her chest.

‘He wanted to stay,' said Lizzy softly. ‘Didn't he, Nox?'

I looked at her and nodded. A familiar rumble reached us from somewhere in the suburbs. Suddenly it didn't sound so distant.

Taylor sniffed and we all looked out at the horizon once again.

‘All that stuff you packed,' Taylor reminded me.

I looked at her, then Lizzy.

‘We can't go back,' said Lizzy.

Taylor and I nodded. The rumbling came again. We looked up at the sky. It was clear and cloudless.

‘I think I can get us to the airport,' I said.

The Finns glanced at each other. Lizzy nodded and Taylor pulled herself up off the concrete. Lizzy and I joined her and the three of us edged down to the base of the ramp. We shared a nervous smile and set off across the long, windswept car park.

Large and overdue thanks to Marcella Polain for her longstanding belief and support on so many writing journeys. I'm not sure that books can happen without people like you. Thanks to everyone at Fremantle Press. Particularly Cate, for a phone call that won't be forgotten, and Naama, for getting
Carousel
and guiding me back through its web. Thanks to Edith Cowan University for opening its arms to creative research. Thanks always to Claire for her love, support and honesty, and for reading first while I hovered, feigning confidence. Thanks to Ange for reading second and inhaling where I'd hoped people one day might. Thanks to Mum and Dad for reading third, sharing the final pages by the fire in Karridale. I'll remember that story. And thanks to my twin sisters. Maybe even to twin sisters everywhere.

First published 2015 by

FREMANTLE PRESS

25 Quarry Street, Fremantle 6160

(PO Box 158, North Fremantle 6159)

Western Australia

www.fremantlepress.com.au

Copyright © Brendan Ritchie, 2015

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.

Edited by Naama Amram.

Cover photograph courtesy of Kevin Macaranas Domantay.

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry

Ritchie, Brendan, 1981– author.

Carousel / Brendan Ritchie.

For young adults.

A823.4

Fremantle Press is supported by the State Government through the Department of Culture and the Arts.

Publication of this title was assisted by the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.