“I can imagine that isn’t always easy to do.”
“Yeah, it’s not at times, but I don’t want to be fearful. It could get in the way of things. But how are you going? How’s Paul?”
“Paul’s doing well. He’s interstate with work at the moment, back tomorrow and said he’s looking forward to catching up with you then.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Church . . . you hadn’t forgotten?”
“I had, but it’s no problem. I just have no idea what day it is when I’m on holidays, and church on a Friday is different. In fact, I’m staying not too far from your church. I decided to book into a motel complex nearby for a few days.”
“Why aren’t you staying with your mum?”
“No room. She has some friends staying—easier to kick me out than them. Besides, I wanted to catch up with some army friends who live out that way.”
Mackenzie looked at her watch and appeared to be pondering something. Aaron just stared at her and wished he could turn back time. The video clip of Cher singing to a large group of sailors aboard a battleship jumped into his head. He was slipping more and more into holiday mode.
She looked up. “I have to go soon. I’m helping out at a sausage sizzle for the homeless in town. And seeing I don’t see you much, I think you should come with me.”
He wasn’t going to argue. Cher’s song was fighting for room in his head, but then the word homeless caught his attention, reminding him of the news item and the vanishings.
They went into town together on the ferry. Aaron liked to think of it as a romantic ride on the majestic Brisbane River with his beautiful Mackenzie. But it was just a practical thing to do, as Mackenzie was coming back to Bulimba to stay with her parents for the night and it saved the parking hassles in the city.
They sat at the front of the CityCat. Mackenzie kept looking around. She seemed quite edgy.
“Are you okay, Kenz?”
“I’m fine, Aaron. Besides, I have you to look after me.”
Aaron nodded and smiled. Yes, Mackenzie . . . always.
<°)))><
The CityCat glided quietly through the still waters. The Story Bridge came into view. They looked up to the summit of the bridge, some seventy-four metres to the water, similar to a twenty-two story building. Mackenzie and Aaron stared up at the bridge as they passed under. Mackenzie shrugged up her shoulders. She felt so tiny under the massive steel structure.
Mackenzie heard a soft sigh. She turned to Aaron. He was looking in the water. “Wotcha thinking about?’
“Suicides . . . people actually jump off this bridge . . . take their lives. Apparently jumping from a height is a done deal. Not like an overdose, where there’s a possibility of no death, a way out, a call for help. I just don’t understand why people do such things. But then again, maybe I do, because it’s a pretty sad world we live in.”
Mackenzie returned her eyes to the bridge. “It’s sad, Aaron. You’d often hear relatives or friends say that these people were in a dark place. It’s like they couldn’t be reached. It’s sad and breaks my heart when I think of these things.” She turned to look at Aaron. “You’re going to see a group of people today that have battled through some pretty dark places, and some are still battling.”
“It’s good what you do, Kenz. You know . . . helping these people.”
Mackenzie knew that, but she didn’t do it for people to see. She’d be happy out at the back doing the dishes, helping others. She grabbed Aaron’s arm and gave it a squeeze. “It’s a battle Aaron. You’re off to fight a battle, one that we can all see, but there is an invisible war going on. I know you don’t like me getting religious, but I’m seeing more and more that the prince of this world is not a nice person.”
“You got me there, Mackenzie. Who is the prince of this world?”
“The devil, Aaron. The devil.”
“But what has that to do with suicides?”
“It’s a battle for the souls of the people. I’ll be blunt. That’s what I believe, Aaron, and I say this to you because you’re going to a dangerous place. If you die without knowing the truth, your soul is lost.”
“Phew . . . I asked for that.”
Mackenzie watched Aaron as he turned to look back at the bridge. Trying to lighten what she just dumped on him, she said, “But, more importantly, wouldn’t you like to see me again in the afterlife?”
He gave her a small smile.
“And I know for certain that your Dad has gone to heaven.”
“How do you know that, Mackenzie?”
“I know, Aaron, and I hope that one day you will too.”
The CityCat slowed and then docked. They got off and headed towards the City centre. Mackenzie tucked her arm in Aaron’s. She felt his tension, and rubbed his arm in comfort.
“Sorry for hitting you with all that religious stuff, Aaron.” Rats! Why do I do that? She didn’t like dumping religious things on Aaron. But what was she meant to do? He might die soon, and then where would he end up?
<°)))><
Aaron used tongs to put the sausages in the bread, adding onions if they wanted them. Mackenzie handed out the slices of bread.
Things got quiet. Mackenzie told Aaron to check out a group of untidy-looking men standing around a man with a red and blue cap. The men all burst out laughing, some patting the side of their legs, some bending over. Something was funny. One of the men broke away from the pack and headed over to Mackenzie.
The man grabbed a slice of bread, said something to Mackenzie and they both laughed.
“Just go over to Aaron there and he’ll give you a sausage.” The man walked over, and Mackenzie followed. “Aaron, this is Chris . . . go on Chris, tell him.”
