Launched! (15 page)

Bryce hated the fear that weighed him down and he hated the wooziness that swamped his head, making him feel as if he might lose his grip at any second. He wished he’d never started. But somehow the thought of climbing down was just as bad as the thought of climbing up. He decided to go for it. Jaw clenched, he pushed himself higher. Every step led to infinity.

But Bryce refused to stop. He glanced up, and saw the orange bike being hauled onto the platform. Bryce quickened his pace, and as the rider unlooped the flying-fox rope, Bryce propelled himself onto the platform, screaming, ‘Stop!’ He crab-crawled across the wooden floor, an outstretched arm reaching for the orange bike. The
rider positioned themselves in the gap in the railing and swung his legs out. By now the people below were peering up, wondering what was going on.

‘Must be some stunt,’ called a voice.

But this was no stunt. The rider was adjusting his grip, taking the flying-fox one-handed, the other clamped to the top tube bar slung over his shoulder.

Bryce couldn’t believe the sheer guts of him. ‘No!’ he bellowed. As the rider hurled himself into the air Bryce latched onto the bike. There was a tug-of-war. The rider hung suspended, half on the platform, half dangling.

Shrieks rose from the crowd.

Bryce was faced with a decision. Let him go? Or try to pull him up? It was no contest. Tucking his legs around the railing, and still with a grip on the bike, he reached for the flying-fox rope, intending to drag the rider back up, but his hand waved in midair, several centimetres short. The rider started to jerk and kick, trying to make Bryce let go of the bike. He could feel his fingers loosen. The future flashed before him. He would lose everything! Again, Bryce snatched for the rope—this time he got it.

More cries rose from below.

Bryce heaved on the rope. The rider came close, tantalisingly close…but not close enough.
He swung his legs wildly, trying to twist out of Bryce’s grasp. But like a football bounces the wrong way, the two rebounded closer. Bryce seized the moment, one hand fastened onto the rider’s jacket, the other on the bike. Bryce’s thighs, locked in position, felt like they’d explode. Suddenly the rider let go. Now Bryce had the bike in one hand and the rider in the other. He hurled the bike with a clatter onto the platform, and with a superhuman effort hauled up the protesting rider. Quick as a whip he wound the rope around his fist to stop the rider from trying again.

Shouts of relief went up from the crowd, followed by clapping.

Still clutching the rope Bryce leant over and slipped the helmet off the rider’s face.

It was the girl in the tyre hideout! The one with stringy brown hair.

Bryce reeled, but quickly recovered. There was something he had to do. Scooping the bike up with one hand he flung himself towards the flying-fox handle and launched into space.

Rider with bike suspended in air.

Thwack!

His palm slapped the handle and monkey-gripped on. His foot slipped into the loop.

Whoosh!

He was going down.

Over the heads of spectators he flew like a human pegasus.

The air thundered in his ears, surprising Bryce with its loudness.
I’m flying!
he thought as he whizzed down. ‘Clear the way!!!!’ he yelled as the ground loomed up all too quickly. The crowd scattered. Just before his feet touched down Bryce let go of the bike. He somersaulted as he landed, a painful tangle of arms and legs and head. But there was no time to inspect the damage.

Racing to the bike, Bryce hurled a leg over, wincing as he fell heavily on the top tube bar.
That’s done it,
he thought.
Now, I’ll never have babies.

Babies?

Cara!

Bryce descended The Peak in record time, skidding and sliding past spectators who were as unpredictable as a herd of sheep. At the bottom, he shrieked, ‘I did it!’ and sped for home.

When the spectator delivered Bryce’s bike at the end of the trials, babbling about orange bicycles and flying-foxes, Clem and Darcy knew something serious had happened. They took the bike home and late that night Clem phoned Bryce. Darcy listened on the extension, saying nothing.

‘Have I got some news for you!’ crowed Bryce.

‘And we’ve got some for you, too,’ said Clem. ‘Let’s get together.’

‘Awesome!’ Bryce was too excited to hear Darcy plonk down his receiver.

‘How ’bout we meet at The Van tomorrow at twelve?’ asked Clem. ‘We’ll bring your bike.’

‘I’ll be there. And I’ll swap it for Tong’s.’

When Clem told Darcy about their plans he shook his head and announced, ‘I’m not coming.’

Clem wheeled around to face him. ‘Why not?’

‘Because he let us down.’ Darcy’s fists coiled like eagle claws.

‘No, he didn’t.’ Clem’s lips pursed.

‘Did.’

‘Didn’t!’ Clem grabbed Darcy with such force that she scratched him. ‘He got Tong’s bike back, didn’t he?’

Darcy made no reply, watching the red welt forming on his wrist.

‘Bryce wouldn’t let us down,’ said Clem. ‘He’s a good person. You’ll see.’

Darcy gulped a mouthful of air then said, ‘Dad’s a good person but he sometimes lets me down.’ Darcy pierced her with his stare, defying her to disagree.

Clem sighed. This theme was familiar. ‘Dad doesn’t mean it…’ she began.

‘Then why make promises he can’t keep?!’

Clem thought of the number of times her father had promised to come and watch their hockey game and the equal number of times he hadn’t shown. To her it wasn’t important, but to Darcy? The sight of all the other dads twisted in his gut. Clem eased her grip on Darcy’s arm. ‘You’re right. He shouldn’t make empty promises,’
she said, ‘but you can’t take your anger at Dad out on Bryce.’ Without waiting for a reply she left the room.

That Sunday Clem and a reluctant Darcy met Mio and Tong at The Van and waited for Bryce. ‘I’ve got a sister,’ announced Bryce, pulling up on Tong’s bike, his smile so wide he could barely squeeze the words out. ‘I cut the cord and everything.’

‘How gross!’

‘Yuck!’

‘Ew!’

Finally Mio remembered to ask, ‘What’s her name?’

‘Dunno.’

‘Dunno is nice name,’ said Tong, trying to be polite but itching to get to his bike.

Bryce threw back his head and laughed. ‘Dunno’s not her name, silly. I haven’t chosen yet.’

‘You?’ asked Mio.

Bryce looked around with a shy smile. ‘Cara and Dad said that because I got Cara to the hospital I get to name the baby.’

‘Lucky you,’ said Mio.

‘Aren’t I, just?’

Unable to contain himself, Tong sidled up to his bike and eased the handlebars from Bryce’s hands. Bryce didn’t even notice.

‘In Japan we choose names to symbolise: longevity, intelligence, peace, that sort of thing.’

‘Sometime Vietnamese baby not get name for three months,’ said Tong.

‘That’s way too long,’ said Bryce. ‘I have to think of a name real quick. Not any old name. It’s got to be just right.’ Running his fingers through his hair he added, ‘I was thinking of Olivia…Olivia Tarrant.’

‘I like it,’ said Clem. ‘Probably she’ll get Liv or Livvie.’

‘And it’s so appropriate,’ said Mio. ‘The olive branch of peace.’

Bryce’s face lit up. ‘Hey, yeahhhh!’

Darcy, listening from his milk crate inside, said, ‘I can’t believe you actually made Cara get on the bike and rode her to the hospital.’ He stepped outside, shaking his head.

Bryce chuckled. ‘What was I supposed to do?’

‘Call an ambulance.’

‘Get a neighbour.’

Bryce shook his head, saying, ‘There wasn’t time.’

‘Lucky the hospital’s close,’ said Clem, cuddling Bella in her arms. ‘Come to think of it, that’s one very lucky baby.’

‘Yes, she is.’

‘Lucky to have you, I mean,’ said Clem with a smile. ‘We’re all lucky to have you.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Tong, his hands fluttering over the metal bike frame, checking for damage.

‘We are,’ agreed Mio. ‘Very lucky. Aren’t we, Darcy?’

When Darcy didn’t respond Clem’s heart missed a beat. She waited, watching her brother, willing him to make peace.

Aware of Darcy’s continuing distance Tong announced, ‘We have in my country.
Âm-Duong.
’ He searched for the words to express himself better. ‘Mean day need night. Fire need water.’

‘I think I know what you mean,’ said Mio. ‘We call it yin-yang. It’s where one can’t exist without the other. Sort of like opposites that complement each other. Moon and sun. Masculine and feminine.’

‘Earth and heaven,’ said Clem.

‘
Âm-Duong,
’ repeated Tong, pointing at the two boys.

Still Darcy resisted, so Tong tried again, ‘
Âm-Duong
, Darcy-Bryce.’

The air crackled.

As Darcy hesitated, Clem’s words rang in his ears.
You can’t take your anger at Dad out on Bryce.
Darcy looked at Bryce, noting the way his clothes seemed to itch his skin, and how the muscle in his cheek twitched. Clem was right. With one stride he stood before Bryce, his hand outstretched as he
said, ‘We
are
lucky to have you, Bryce.’ And if Bryce was slow to grasp his full meaning, Darcy’s beaming smile sealed it. Ignoring the hand, Bryce gave Darcy a playful slap instead.

Darcy slapped him back.

Even Tong knew that this rough play meant they were friends.

Pulling away Bryce asked, ‘How’d the rest of the bike trials go?’

‘It was a tie.’

‘We nearly died,’ said Mio.

‘Cried more like it,’ admitted Clem.

‘But then they did a points check.’

‘And because of Darcy’s clean run…’

‘The
only
one in the trials…’

‘We won!’

Bryce almost choked. ‘You’re kidding! How are you going to spend the money?’

‘New gear for my bike,’ said Darcy.

‘Bank it,’ said Clem and Mio in unison.

And Tong? He had intended to save for a new bike, but now he had his old one back he was stumped. He’d never known so much money.

‘What about you, Bryce?’ asked Mio.

Bryce shuffled back a step, saying, ‘I didn’t win any money.’

‘Freewheelers share,’ said Clem, her voice ringing clear as she held out her hand.

‘Freewheelers,’ said Mio, placing her hand on Clem’s.

‘Freewheelers.’

‘Freewheelers.’

Darcy put his hand on the top. ‘Freewheelers!’

The resounding cheer rocked The Van. Bella joined in with an ear-splitting yowl, stopping only when Clem bribed her with a dog biscuit.

When everyone had settled inside on their milk crates and Tong had lovingly secured his bike with the others, Darcy asked Bryce, ‘Out of interest, why’d you enter the bike race?’

Bryce hesitated, wanting to help Charlie and her kids but not wanting to betray them. ‘For the money,’ he whispered.

Clem leant over, her voice gentle as she asked, ‘And what would’ve you done with all that money?’

Bryce’s cheeks stained pink.

‘Shared it with us?’ teased Darcy.

Bryce inspected a bruise on his arm, a legacy from tower-wrestling. He thought of Charlie and how desperately she needed the money, but how keen she was to stay in hiding, and wondered how much he should tell.

‘Shared it or spent it?’

Clem noted how quickly Darcy flared and inwardly she sighed. She wondered if he would ever stop being angry.

‘Not spent it,’ snapped Bryce. ‘I was going to give it away.’

‘Since when were you a charity?’

Bryce reared back. ‘Since being on the streets. There’s this girl…’

‘Oh! A
lur-r-rve
charity.’

‘It’s not what you think,’ began Bryce, and then he realised there was no other way. He’d have to tell them about Charlie and the kids…

‘And we thought you were a total heel, when in actual fact, you’re a hero to those street kids.’ Clem planted a kiss on Bryce’s ear. ‘I’ve no doubt about who should get my money.’

‘Neither have I,’ said Mio.

‘Me know, too.’

‘And me,’ said Darcy, thinking of Jonas, Bruno, Tim and Drew and how much it would crush him if they had to live on the streets. ‘Those kids need all the help they can get.’

Hands stacked high. Voices rang out.

Freewheelers!

The kids decided to deliver the money straight away. Five riders on five bikes took off, one orange, one with a beagle in her basket.

At the train station they secured their bikes with a chain to the bike rack, then Clem clipped Bella’s leash to her collar and they were ready.

‘Let’s find this Charlie,’ said Darcy.

‘First I want to show you something special.’ Bryce advanced toward the fence. ‘Follow me.’

Five minutes later the kids were safe on the other side. Bella wasn’t too impressed at being pushed under the railing, but once she was placed on firm ground she scampered around with a funny little step-hop, step-hop that looked like skipping. With her nose to the ground she bolted.

‘Wait for me,’ cried Clem as she tottered behind.

Once in the courtyard they all stopped. No-one talked. It was like when you enter a sacred or holy
place. Finally, Bryce broke the silence. His voice swooped, then rose to the heavens:

Wanting to fly

Willing to try

I don’t know why

I crash to the ground

Soaring up high

Touching the sky

Never say die

Look what I found.

‘That’s beautiful, Bryce,’ said Mio. ‘I could play that on my violin.’

‘There’s more.’

‘What?’

Bryce gave a wry chuckle. ‘I’ll sing it for you when I know what it is.’

Suddenly Bella started to growl. It was gruff, urgent. Everybody stayed still. A little head appeared around the corner. Then another. The growls stopped. Bella’s whiskers twitched in their direction as if she was trying to read scent braille.

‘Hi guys,’ cried Bryce. ‘We’ve come to see Charlie.’

At the mention of Charlie’s name more kids revealed themselves, among them Markus and his
brother. Markus stepped forward. Clem watched like a proud mama as Bella sat patiently while his little fingers poked and prodded.

‘Good girl,’ said Clem, fondling Bella’s ears.

All of a sudden, Bella sprang to her feet and started to yap, running in tight circles. Then she took off around the corner and down the dingy walkway, with everyone in close pursuit. On she ran, through the workroom and out into an entranceway, down the stairs and along a corridor.

‘Bella!’ roared Clem, cross with herself for letting Bella off the lead.

But Bella wouldn’t stop. She knew exactly where she was going. On and on she ran, till she came to the darkened tunnel.

RUFFF!

Breathless kids surrounded the entrance.

‘Charlie?’ called Bryce. ‘You in there?’ His voice echoed in the blackness.

‘Bella?!’ joined in Clem.

‘We’ve got money!’ said Bryce. When Clem answered, ‘Bella doesn’t care about money,’ he fixed her with a look and went on, ‘Lots and lots of money.’

Out of the inkiness emerged Charlie, and with her was…that girl!

‘You?!’ said Bryce, pointing an accusing finger. ‘You stole Tong’s bike.’

The girl didn’t react, so Bryce went on, ‘You punched me between the eyes. And kicked me on top of the tower. Why?’

‘I was going to hock the bike, but Charlie, here, told me about the bike trials and I decided not to. I wanted to win that money.’ The girl raised her chin in defiance. ‘You wouldn’t’ve got hurt if you’d’ve kept out of my way.’

Bryce took a step closer, saying, ‘Quite a fighter, aren’t you?’

The girl held her ground. ‘Gotta be.’

Just then Bella came bounding out of the tunnel, head high, ears flouncing. And in her mouth she carried a doll’s head.

‘Bella!’ scolded Clem, reaching down to extract the drool-covered head.

‘What’s with the doll’s head thing?’ asked Bryce.

Charlie looked at the girl. ‘You might as well show them.’

The girl spun around on her heel and headed back into the tunnel. A few minutes later she came back out, cradling a baby on her hip. Bryce and the others were gobsmacked.

‘So you’re the one who slept at The Peak?’

The girl nodded then asked, ‘D’you remember, Bryce? From last year? The girl you fought over a French loaf.’

Bryce closed his eyes.

‘In the alley. Behind the bread shop.’

His eyes snapped open. ‘I remember that girl.’ His voice was hushed and he squirmed as he said, ‘She was having a baby.’

‘Uh, huh.’ The girl held the baby out in her arms.

‘Oh my God!’

Unable to resist, Clem planted herself in front of the baby, crooning nonsense words of greeting. The baby gurgled and smiled. Markus sidled over to join them, followed by his brother.

Bryce turned and said, ‘Charlie. We’ve brought you some money, but…’ More kids came forward, eyes overly bright in their pale faces. ‘It’s not enough. You guys need more.’ He looked around the dark and dank quarters. ‘This’s no way to live. You have to get out of here.’ He looked at the girl. ‘You have to find a home. This is no place to bring up a baby.’

‘It’s alright for you,’ snapped Charlie. ‘You in your fancy house with your fancy family. But where do kids like us belong?’

‘Yeah, where?’

The question hung in the air until finally Bryce spoke. ‘We’ll ask someone—the school counsellor maybe, or our friend Mr Lark.’

‘Or our mums and dads,’ said Clem.

‘There’ll be somewhere,’ said Mio. ‘All we have to do is find it.’

Bryce held out the money. ‘Tonight, get yourselves a decent feed. Tomorrow we’ll find you a warm bed and someplace to stay.’ Bryce could see the struggle playing out in Charlie’s face. He knew that struggle. That distrust of this elusive place called ‘home’, the fear of losing ‘family’.

The kids waited without protest, knowing that Charlie’s decision would be final. Charlie looked from one to the other. Suddenly Markus coughed, his stick body jerking like a marionette.

Charlie took the money from Bryce’s outstretched hand. In a voice warm with gratitude she said, ‘Thanks, Bryce. Thanks, guys.’ As she put a reassuring arm around Markus’s shoulders she added, ‘This means everything.’

‘The world,’ whispered the girl, nuzzling her baby’s downy head.

As the Freewheelers left the station they were all solemn and proud, but then they came to a slight hill and Bryce yelled, ‘Let’s be pelicans!’

‘What pelican?’ asked Tong.

‘The pelican,’ said Darcy, coasting down the hill and swinging his legs like a real pelican trying to take off, ‘is something only a true dork can appreciate.’ The others did the same, swinging their legs as far forward and as far back as possible.
‘Together!’ yelled Mio. They swung in unison, front, back, front, back. For the finale they flapped, their ‘wings’ like Bella’s ears. And Bryce started to sing:

Wanting to fly

Willing to try

I don’t know why

I crash to the ground

Soaring up high

Touching the sky

Never say die

Look what I found.

Seamlessly he continued:

My turn has come

Fun in the sun

Come everyone

Friends all around.