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Did Franka?

He moves back into the main room and flicks on the television. A graphic says the race has been red flagged, which means stopped, and will not be restarted because of the surprisingly large crater in the pit straight created when Franka’s car exploded. Replays of the accident show the shunt started on the main straight when Vandelay’s Iron Rhino blocked Alonso’s Ferrari as he tried to pass, clipped its front wing and sent both cars spinning across the track. Vandelay’s vehicle then hit Franka’s, who was minding her own business off the racing line while being lapped.

Alonso then dragged Vandelay from the burning wreckage of his vehicle, a nice gesture considering Vandelay was to blame for the accident. Apparently the guy was semi-conscious when he was put into the ambulance. On the other hand, Franka was unconscious when she went into her ambulance after an as yet unknown person, though some suspected it was a shy track marshal, pulled her from her Evergreen’s burning chassis. Their medical conditions are not currently known.

I hope to God she’s okay.

The television image cuts to a shot of the large medical chopper as it lifts off from the infield heli-pad. Billy hears it thunder overhead on its way to the Abu Dhabi General Hospital in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, the name of which crawls across the bottom of the screen as the chopper’s destination. Billy grabs a fresh Iron Rhino shirt and pulls it on as both his hands and shoulder start to really sting. ‘I’m going.’

‘Where?’

‘To the hospital.’

‘Why?’

‘To see how she is.’

Surprised, the Frenchman searches the Australian’s face and realises something: ‘
That’s
why you did it.’

‘That’s why I did what?’

‘Pulled her out of the car.’ Claude studies him. ‘You love her.’

Billy flinches. ‘I’ve known her for like a week, mate.’

Claude sees the flinch. ‘It wasn’t a question, and I only knew my second wife for a week before we got married and we were together for seven years.
Do
you love her? That
was
a question.’

Billy takes a long moment, then comes clean: ‘I don’t know her, mate. I mean—I’ve only met her thrice—three times—in an elevator was one of those times—I’m not sure what I feel—you know? I like her ...’ He trails off. It’s a relief to let it out.

Claude grimaces. ‘You don’t talk like that when you’re with her, do you?’

Billy’s head slumps to his chest. ‘That was better than anything I have ever said to her. She makes me nervous.’

‘And yet running into a blazing inferno doesn’t. That’s really quite odd.’

Billy turns for the door, doesn’t want to discuss it any longer. ‘I have to go.’

Claude follows him. ‘I’ll drive.’

‘What? Why?’

‘So I can give you some pointers.’

‘Pointers? About what?’

Claude mimics Billy: “‘I don’t know her—I mean I’ve only met her thrice—I’m—not—sure—what I feel—you know ...” Good God, you’re an affront to masculinity. You need to learn about women and I’m going to teach you.’

‘No you’re not —’

‘Too late, I have already begun.’

~ * ~

17

The Abu Dhabi General Hospital in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City is a vision from the future. Not a bleak, decaying dystopia where healthcare is only available to the super rich, but a bright, gleaming tomorrowland where it’s accessible and affordable for all.

‘Really, please, I’ve heard enough.’ Billy walks briskly through the busy lobby towards the sleek reception desk and tries to put some distance between himself and the Frenchman. Undeterred, Claude keeps pace. ‘And another thing, you ask her out
once
and once
only.
Any more than that and you come across like some insecure so—so, how you say—so —’

‘So and so?’

‘So—so —’

‘Son of a bitch?’

‘Soft-cock. If she says no,
pfftt,
move on. You hear what I’m saying?’

Billy looks round, mortified. ‘Everyone in the hospital heard what you’re saying.’

‘And if she does say yes, you must never apologise for you masculinity. You are a man, be strong like bull. If she does not understand that,
pfftt,
move on.’

‘How many times have you been married?’

‘And no more with the namby-pamby —’ Claude mimics Billy’s voice: ‘Ummm, ahhh, ohhh, I don’t know what to say because—my feelings are all mixed up and I’m so unsure of myself that I—have to—speak—like—this—all—the—time.’ His voice turns strident again: ‘Say what you mean and mean what you say! Use your sexual charisma to seize what you want. You’re a man!’

‘I think you said that already.’

‘It cannot be said enough! If she does not like it,
pfftt
—’

‘Move on. Yes, you’ve been very clear on that.’

‘You are not a soft-cock.’

‘As you keep saying.’ Billy turns from the Frenchman and realises they’ve reached the reception desk—and a striking-looking middle-aged nurse has heard everything they’ve said. Mortified, Billy notices her shocked expression. ‘Sorry about that —’

‘Never
apologise. You’re a man.’

Billy ignores the Frenchman and leans towards the nurse, embarrassed. ‘Anyway, I’d like to—is, how is Franka Edlebrock? I’m a—friend. Of hers. Billy Hotchkiss.’

‘Have you heard nothing I’ve said? Speak clearly and in complete sentences when you talk to a woman.’

The nurse regards Claude curiously for a moment, then answers Billy: ‘She’s currently under observation.’

‘Has she regained consciousness?’

‘Yes.’

‘Is she okay? I mean is she —’

‘She has a mild concussion.’

Billy brightens. ‘And that’s it? There’s nothing else?’

‘That’s it. The press release just went out.’

The Australian takes a deep breath and a great calm washes over him. He’s extremely relieved to hear this news.

Claude turns to the nurse. ‘Can he see her?’

Billy shakes his head. ‘Oh no no no, that’s not necessary. I just needed—wanted to find out if she was okay, I don’t —’

‘Nonsense. You could have done that over the phone.’ That’s Claude again. He studies the nurse, drinks her in, then flashes his pearly whites. ‘Is there any chance he can see her?’ He then whispers conspiratorially: ‘Young love.’

Billy elbows Claude hard: ‘Would you shut up?!’

The nurse nods matter-of-factly. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’ She picks up a phone to make a call. ‘Give me a minute and I’ll let you know.’

Claude shoots her a smile and a wink. ‘Thank you so much.’ He leads Billy away and whispers: ‘You see how much she wants me? I can’t take credit. My sexual charisma has a strong gravity. It draws in all kinds of foreign bodies.’

‘Oh please. Are we talking about the same woman? She’s just doing her job.’

Claude studies the Australian, incredulous. ‘It’s worse than I thought. You have no idea about women
at all
.’

‘Do so.’

‘Do not.’

‘Do so.’

‘Do not —’

‘Christ, what are you, in kindergarten? Just because I don’t agree with your crazy-arse notions about the opposite sex doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing.’

‘The fact you call them “the opposite sex” proves my point.’

Billy exhales and stares up at the ceiling. ‘Whatever.’

‘Look, it’s simple. After all is said and done, love is the only important thing. Remember what I was talking about before? Why I became cautious? I didn’t do it because the Bridgettes wanted me to, I did it because
I
wanted to. I used to ride a Harley. A
Harley. Personally
imported from Milwaukee. I loved it.
Mon dieu.
Then Bridgette the second arrived and it was gone three weeks later. And that’s a good thing because I would have killed myself riding it and wouldn’t have spent seven wonderful years with her.’

‘Both
your wives were called Bridgette?’

Claude shrugs. ‘I have an attraction to women with that name. It’s a long story.’ He thinks about it for a second. ‘Actually, it isn’t that long. I have an attraction to women with that name. That’s the story.’ The Frenchman turns and stares wistfully into the distance.

A moment passes.

Billy looks at him. ‘What are you—are you okay?’

‘I miss being married.’

‘Then why aren’t you?’

Claude continues to stare into the distance. ‘I guess I just love too much.’

‘Well that sounds like bullshit. What’s it supposed to mean?’

‘I have a—difficulty remaining faithful.’

‘Really? You have “a difficulty”? Oh poor diddums. Here’s an idea: keep it in your pants. Problem solved.’

Claude studies the Australian like it has never occurred to him before.

‘You can see her now.’

They turn to the nurse.

‘She’s in room eleven-thirty-eight. Level eleven.’

Billy takes this in with a nod. ‘Oh, right. Thank you.’ He pulls in a deep breath, clearly nervous. ‘Why am I doing this?’

‘Because after all is said and done, love is the only important thing.’ Claude claps him on both shoulders. ‘Just remember what I taught you.’

‘I can’t. I blocked it out while you were speaking.’

‘Then here are the highlights: Be a man. Strong like bull. Not a soft-cock.’

‘That’s why I blocked it out.’

‘Tell her the truth. You pulled her out of the car and you love her.’

‘I don’t love her and she cannot know I pulled her out of the car.’ Billy shoots him a smile. ‘But thanks anyway.’ The Australian turns and walks away.

Claude watches him go, then pivots to the nurse, leans on the reception desk and shoots her a grin. ‘And what’s your name?’

She studies him for a moment. ‘Karen.’

He tries to hide his disappointment.

~ * ~

Billy moves along the hallway, reaches the door to room 1138, peeks around the corner and looks inside. Franka lies in bed. He pulls back. He’s having second thoughts, can’t help but think it’s odd turning up like this, to the hospital bed of somebody he doesn’t really know, unannounced. Okay, sure, he saved her from a blazing inferno but she doesn’t and can’t know that. It’s all just a bit weird.

Then the Frenchman’s words ring in his ears:
Be a man. Strong like bull. Not a soft-cock.

‘Christ.’ He takes a breath and makes a decision. ‘Okay.’ He steps forward, props against the door and looks in at Franka. ‘How are you?’

She sees him and sits up in bed. ‘Hi.’ She’s surprised but, he also thinks, happy. Her blonde hair is tied back in a loose ponytail and she looks a little pale, but otherwise seems to be in good health. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I was in the vicinity and I thought I’d drop by to see how you were travelling.’

‘Oh, thank you. I’m travelling—well, not so great actually. I have one hell of a headache.’

‘I bet.’

‘Apparently it was a ten g hit, so, lucky escape.’

‘Wow, that’s more than the Apollo 16 re-entry.’ He takes a moment. ‘I’m full of these useless pieces of information by the way.’

She smiles at this. ‘So did you see it?’

‘No, I was—in the simulator.’

‘Right. Have you heard anything about Vandelay or Alonso?’

‘Nothing about Vandelay but apparently Alonso’s fine.’

She takes this in with a nod, then studies Billy. ‘You took off yesterday, missed all the excitement at the mall.’

‘Yeah. I heard there was a robbery or something. At the jewellery store?’

She nods.

‘You see it?’

‘A little. Not much. Cops arrived pretty quickly. Where did you go?’

‘Oh, I—I was called to a team meeting. Had to skedaddle.’

‘Really? I’ve never had to “skedaddle”.’

‘I prefer to saunter but sometimes you just have to skedaddle.’ ‘It’s not a word you hear very often.’

‘I’m trying to bring it back into circulation. You should use it sometime.’

Good god, what am I banging on about?

‘I’ll keep it in mind.’

‘Great.’

It is silent for a moment.

She looks up at him. ‘So why are you here?’

‘Oh—I’m—I was just—you know, in the vicinity ...’ He trails off.

She makes the snaky movement with her hand. ‘You said that already. Why were you in the vicinity?’ She notices his blistered hands. ‘Oh god, did you burn your hands? Wow, that looks really painful. What happened?’

Christ, my blistered hands. I forgot all about them. I should have worn bloody gloves.

He improvises. ‘Oh, they’re okay. It’s why I’m here actually.
They’re
why I’m here. I need to have them looked at. I’ll go down to the emergency room in a sec.’