Rush (26 page)

My deepest thanks are in order to: James Jones and Jess P, for initial thoughts and readings of a rough first act. Kim Swivel, for editorial guidance and enthusiasm, and Annabel Blay at Random House. Todd Alexander at Dymocks. John Larkin for answering questions. John Birmingham for showing an interest. Matthew Reilly for being on the television. Stewart Hume for details on the zoo, and no thanks at all to the zoo itself for lack of cooperation. Krunchington for pretending to have medical knowledge. Nick Hume for right-handed reef breaks. Benny, Jeebs, Mick, Lucas, Freyja, Alyssa, Kain, Becky, Phil, Whitty, John, Anthony, Darty, Sav, Tuckwell, Fryer, Dillon, Jono, and the Larden Family, for putting up with me so often. To the staff at the Ballina RSL Club, for all the liquor and good grace. To Jean and Trevor Thornton, for having faith. To Jak and Corey, I don't know why. To my father for keeping an interest in how it all works. To Bree for reading the manuscript and telling me that too many people die. To Sarah, just for being there. To my mother, who never kicked me out even when she lost her patience, for caring. And to all the people I forgot who ask me later, ‘Hey, don't I get a thanks?' No, you don't.