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8.65% A Legal Affair / Chapter 9: Chapter 9: A dislike of flying

章 9: Chapter 9: A dislike of flying

She kept her breath steady and regular. The ground blurred by and the engine pitch rose to unapproachable notes as the aircraft hurtled down the runway to lift off. Thrown back against her seat as it suddenly angled steeply Elisabeth turned away from the window and closed her eyes.

Unless conditions were rough she didn't mind, overwhelmingly, actually being up there, a small gleaming object for inspection from below. It was the getting there and the getting down that caused the adrenalin to race.

As the plane reached its flight level and equilibrium was restored there was movement in the cabin and opening her eyes she saw hostesses begin the routine of offering refreshments. They had to be quick to finish in the twenty minute flight to Sydney.

Whenever she flew Elisabeth watched the hostesses. If they were ever to exhibit the least hint of agitation she would know it was time to panic, but they were relaxed and she endeavoured to copy them. It was a journey she hadn't thought to repeat so soon, less than a week since flying in.

She bent to take her notebook from the bag under the forward seat but on reflection left it and sat back. What she wanted to raise with the doctor tomorrow was stencilled to the insides of her eyelids. So she fitted herself against the seat, seat belt unloosened, and followed the plane's progress towards night in a cloudless sky.

Robert was already uncomfortable with her methods; she was going to have to allay his concerns somehow. At any other time she would have been glad to have someone intelligent and quick witted briefing her.

Landing tested her capacity for thrills as they overshot the runway and had to bank steeply up and around. Gripping the hand rests Elisabeth sought and found a hostess buckled up calmly on the opposite side. She fought to emulate, knowing they were trained to go down smiling but managing to ignore the fact when her need for comfort was greater. 'A practice run, ladies and gentlemen,' a male voice said over the intercom. There was a little forced laughter. Elisabeth's hands continued white against the material.

The next attempt was decisive. Straight in and down, the plane bounded in long strides along the tarmac. Three times compound touched concrete and on the third maintained contact screeching frantically to a slow lumber and a small spurt as it right-angled towards the terminal. Elisabeth slumped with relief with an involuntary 'Jesus'.

The couple in front turned with amusement. The pilot, obviously just out from L plates said, 'Just testing a new landing technique, ladies and gentlemen. All part of the plan.' Some passengers tittered. Others, like Elisabeth, just wanted to get out and feel the fresh air.

Once on blessed ground with the briefcase and overnight bag she had kept as hand luggage she headed for the taxi rank and climbing into the next available requested delivery at the Argyle Apartments, Chalmers Street, Surry Hills.

Flat 45 on the third floor belonged to Honey Milton, a raven-haired temptress utterly undeserving of the name at first glance, and Elisabeth's closest friend.

'Good God! What have you done?'

'Made $50. Can I come in?'

Honey Milton backed away with the door. 'What d'you mean, $50?'

'I sold it.' Elisabeth said, walking past and into the living area to dump her bags onto a peacock blue doeskin couch that ran the length of one wall.

'Sold it?' Honey echoed, shutting the door and coming after her. 'How could you have?'

Expressing surprise Elisabeth said, 'Easily actually. The hairdresser gave me $50. I expect he sold it to the wigmaker for twice that, and the wigmaker will probably sell it back to me or someone very like me, totally bereft of the wherewithal themselves, for ten times that.'

Confused, Honey said, 'If you're going to buy it back, why have it cut off in the first ... Oh, right. Sarcasm doesn't suit you, I've told you before.'

Elisabeth joined her bags on the couch. Her friend detoured into her kitchen and inquired from over the white gloss breakfast bar divider, 'Coffee?' Elisabeth nodded.

Filling the jug and plugging it in Honey said, 'You look buggered.' She leaned her elbows on the counter. 'Is this ...' she indicated the air generally with her chin, 'because of Bastard Features? You look as though you're about to burst into tears.'

'I'm not surprised. We had a learner flying the plane.'

It made Honey laugh. 'Why don't you just drive?'

'Because flying is faster.'

While her friend saw to the coffee Elisabeth shifted her bags to the floor and removed her shoes. When Honey joined her to sprawl her long body over the loose cushions, feet towards Elisabeth, she sipped the hot drink staring idly beyond a small smoked glass dining table at the contents of a white lacquered bookcase filled with plates. Expensive ones. Oriental and Russian porcelain, American glass.

'I can't remember you,' Honey broke the silence, 'with short hair, ever.' She blew on her drink. 'It's always been down past your backside. The boys acted like idiots around you and the girls made up stories about how you were actually hideously deformed under all those clothes that you always used to wear. They used to say the most awful things.'

The corners of Elisabeth's mouth lifted. 'You didn't.'

'You were my best friend, but I was jealous.'

'You didn't tell stories.'

'No. I'd seen what was under those clothes.'

Elisabeth laughed out loud and hitched up her skirt. 'Yeah. White.'

Honey sat up to survey then lowered herself back to the cushions. 'I can't get over it. What possessed you? And to go so short.' She bolted upright. 'You've not decided to embrace celibacy, and the crew cut is the announcement?'

Elisabeth gave it serious consideration. 'I hadn't thought of it in quite those terms.'

'What?!'

Elisabeth patted the bare knee hard against her side. 'I'm kidding. One louse doesn't put you off the lot.'

'Thank heavens for that. That would've deleted a main topic of conversation. So why?'

Elisabeth subsided to the cushions also. 'A change.'

'Helluva change. Quitting your job. Leaving town. Cutting your hair. How is Canberra?'

'The worst thing is the heat. It's so dry. I'll be spending a fortune on moisturiser.'

'How's the job?'

Elisabeth didn't answer.

'Don't tell me things aren't going well already.'

Elisabeth glanced at her. 'No,' she said. 'No problems. It's only been three days. I don't know how it's going to work out, but I can't imagine that it won't.'

'Hmm. Any decent men?'

'I imagine they're all decent.'

Honey said, 'Shithead's got a lot to answer for,' then let the subject drop. 'Who's this person you're seeing tomorrow?'

'A doctor, about a case. What's been happening here? It's been ages.' They laughed together.

'Allan's home tomorrow I'm pleased to say. I don't mind him going away but I hate like crazy that he's not here.'

'How's it gone? The play I mean.'


next chapter

章 10: Chapter 10: Honey with the gorgeous legs

Honey lifted her bare feet from the Persian rug that picked up the blue, jade green and touches of oriental red from around the room, and put them on the dining table's daintier twin placed for convenience before them. The feet, and the legs attached, were their owner's fame and fortune, Honey being a stocking and pantihose model much in demand. The apartment complex had its own gym, sauna and 25 metre pool and Honey used them daily. She also walked. Excessively. Or so her partner in life, Allan Metcalfe, who had been suffering for the sake of love for the past twelve years said.

'He says it feels like they've played every town in New South Wales. But they've enjoyed it and got good reviews. And they've just about broken even. So he's happy.'

Elisabeth's feet joined Honey's, mug on her stomach cocooned in two hands. Together they eyed the four extremities. The slim size nines with immaculately polished red nails on the right gave some indication as to the height, shape and maintenance program of the rest of the body. The pale size sixes next to them, equally maintained but less obviously turned out, bore the marks of recent constriction.

'I've never noticed before,' Honey said. 'But you have really dainty feet, for your size.'

'Thanks.'

Honey tched. 'You know what I mean.'

'D'you think so?' Elisabeth sat up and put her feet on the carpet. 'Am I in the spare room? Do you mind if I have a shower?'

'Go ahead. Have you had dinner?'

'Not hungry.' Elisabeth shouldered her bags and made for the stairs.

'I'll open a bottle. We can have cheese and crackers.'

Elisabeth said over her shoulder, 'Not for me. I really don't feel like anything.' She put a foot on the first step.

'Boop ...'

Elisabeth stopped, holding the rail.

'You'd tell me if anything was wrong, wouldn't you?'

Elisabeth closed her eyes. 'Who else would I talk to.'

The small second bedroom that was the spare room was an obstacle course of theatrical junk and costumes. A single bed that doubled as a divan, dressing and work table, had been cleared and the desk jammed next to it was earning its description of sturdy with what had been removed to allow Elisabeth a comfortable night on the innerspring.

Under the shower she washed off her makeup and bent her neck to allow the water to wash over her. Eventually, sighing, she turned off the flow and towelled dry. Wrapped in a white silk kimono she went back downstairs to Honey. Who was waiting at the bottom.

Caught off guard Elisabeth merely stood and looked at her. Not knowing what to say Honey enveloped her in her arms and held her, swaying slightly, trying to convey whatever it was that Elisabeth needed. Bullshit there was nothing the matter. Elisabeth let her cheek rest against Honey's shoulder, listening to her heart beat, smelling the faint fragrance of Chanel No 5. Honey only ever applied it once in a day. She said a perfume should hint, not knock everyone to the floor.

'I'm tired, that's all.'

Honey held for a moment longer. 'Well then,' she said, her hand falling to the small of Elisabeth's back, 'Come tell me about Canberra. Have you found a place yet?' She had turned off the main lights and opened the curtains. In the dim coolness with the air conditioner's low vibrations an unnoticed hum, Elisabeth acquiesced to a glass of chilled white and kept her friend entertained until she felt she could excuse herself for bed. Not that she slept.

When she vacated the bathroom early the next morning Honey was emerging from her own bedroom.

'You don't have to get up.'

'I want to. You might not be back for ages.' She tumbled down the stairs, unbrushed and undressed. 'Cereal?'

'Please,' Elisabeth called after her. Because she was going to be out and about in Sydney's humidity she dressed in cool white cotton trousers and shirt with open toed Italian leather sandals. Shoes were her weakness. Ardently Buy Australian in almost everything else, she couldn't bring herself to abandon Italian style and comfort once discovered. When her bag was repacked she hoisted it and herself down to the living area.

Honey eyed her. 'Are you sure that's the right outfit? You don't think you look a bit casual? He won't take you seriously.'

Elisabeth gazed down at herself. 'I don't think he'll be under any misapprehension.' She poured herself a large glass of bottled water. 'Is this my cereal? Merci beaucoup,' she said when Honey affirmed, and took her breakfast to the tiny alcoved dining area. Honey followed with her own bowl and orange juice. They ate in silence as only two on very intimate terms can do. Afterwards Elisabeth washed her utensils and took her water to the balcony. A wave of heat and traffic noise rebuffed her and she reclosed the sliding door to content herself viewing the scene through glass while sipping. 'I've got some traffic noise of my own now. The place I'm renting's on the main road in to Canberra. I'll have to look for somewhere else once I've got this trial out of the way.'

'You're going to buy?'

Elisabeth frowned. 'I don't know. I'll see whether I want to stay first.'

There was nothing from Honey.

'I don't want to sell Leichhardt but I don't know if I can afford two.'

'But you own Leichhardt.'

Elisabeth's expression as she turned to her friend was wry. 'You don't get rich working for Legal Aid. I earn pocket money compared to you.'

Honey dismissed it. 'You could be earning much more if you didn't keep turning down the offers.'

'Money isn't everything.'

Honey snorted. 'Someone'll come along with an offer you can't refuse one day.'

Elisabeth turned back to the glass. 'Maybe. Nothing's for certain.'

Honey grimaced and thought, Shit. Try to stay clear of a subject and it's all you mention.

Elisabeth's departure began casually, as though they would be seeing each other within days. But as she turned from her final goodbye Honey called after her. 'Boop.'

Elisabeth looked back.

'Nothing's ever as bad as you think it is.'

Elisabeth shook her head. 'That imagination of yours. I'll give you a call. Bye.'

When she had gone Honey closed the door quietly and went to stand on the balcony. A minute later Elisabeth appeared on the street and climbed into the back seat of a waiting taxi. Honey raised her hand but Elisabeth did not look up.


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