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           ThegrapevinesaysLuke’sthebestcookonthecuttingcircuit—learnedtocookwhenhewaslowmanontheshearingtotempole,andshearersaremuchfussiereatersthancutters.Meanscookingdoesn’tupsethim,youknow.Probablyfindsitaseasyasfallingoffalog.That’sthespeed,then,Meggie.Youslapthenewsonhimwhenhe’sfeelingrealgoodafteraweekinthebarrackskitchen."

           ItseemedtoMeggielatelythatshehadgonealongwayfromblushingdays;shelookedatLuddiesteadilywithoutgoingtheleastbitpink.

           "CouldyoufindoutwhichweekLukecooks,Luddie?OristhereanywayIcouldfindout,ifyoucan’t?"

           "Oh,she’sapples,"hesaidcheerfully."I’vegotmybranchesontheoldgrapevine.I’llfindout."

           ItwasmidSaturdayafternoonwhenMeggiecheckedintotheInghampubthatlookedthemostrespectable.AllNorthQueenslandtownswerefamousforonething:theyhadpubsonallfourcornersofeveryblock.Sheputhersmallcaseinherroom,thenmadeherwaybacktotheunlovelyfoyertofindatelephone.TherewasaRugbyLeaguefootballteamintownforapre-seasontrainingmatch,andthecorridorswerefullofhalf-naked,whollydrunkplayerswhogreetedherappearancewithcheersandaffectionatepatsonthebackandbehind.Bythetimeshegottheuseofthephoneshewasshakingwithfright;everythingaboutthisventureseemedtobeanordeal.