Simi’s hand is worse, much worse, by the third batch of sausages. The ache has been there since she woke up, but now the pain feels deeper. She can no longer use the hand, and its uselessness does nothing to improve her mood, neither does Marybelle’s constant cheer, nor the clattering of the kitchen.

She is wiping one arm across her forehead, when Rudd comes in through the swing doors. As he comes over to her she half-raises her spatula in greeting, and notices his grey, stare-eyed look. She wonders if he’s had any sleep at all.

 “Hi Simi. Thanks for your help.”

“No problem,” she says trying to sound cheerful, while she pushes the crusted sausages one by one into the serving dish beside her.

“Can I do that for you?” Rudd asks.

“Sure. Thanks,” she says, passing him the pan. She stands back and studies him as he takes over her cheffing duties.

“Do you need to get in touch with anyone?” he asks, as he scrapes out the crisped remains. “No comms here but I think the doctors should be able to help. So maybe when they’re back?”

“No. No need.”

“Really? Helicopters should be in before dark.”

Who would I call anyway? Nobody missing me right now. Free and single. This is it.

“No. No thanks. All good. How are the doctors?”

“Worried, that’s for sure. Aid gurus will come next,” Rudd says, his voice flat.

 “Don’t you need the help?” Simi can’t see Rudd’s face but she can see the tension in his shoulders.

“Maybe.” She watches him place the pan back on to the gas ring. When he speaks there is an angry tightness to his voice. “Maybe we do, but I don’t like aid. Stops us helping ourselves. Adventure time for them. Hiding the rot. Half the funds going to the wrong place.” He takes a deep breath, lets it out slowly, then runs both hands up through his hair, then down to massage his temples. He turns to face Simi. “Sorry. I know we need the help right now.”

“You look knackered,” Simi says. “Have you slept?”

He shakes his head.

“Eaten?” she asks

“Bits,” he says, trying a smile.

“Why don’t you grab a sausage now?”

“No. I’ll wait. Thanks. I’ve got to keep moving or I’ll stop for good. Like aid – give me too much and it makes me sit-back stupid.” He nods at Simi, and walks away. Also keeps you going, she thinks turning back to the sausages.

She is counting them when she hears a pot being bashed. She turns to see Rudd in the centre of the kitchen. “Hi,” he begins as the noise stills. “Thanks everyone. Really appreciate all you’re doing. Just a quick update. The doctors should be back soon. Half an hour max. They’ll need food. Also Jacobus managed to get a message through to us. I don’t know if you know, but he left this morning on foot with Tonderai. Sounds terrible out there. They still haven’t reached Tonderai’s home. Seems we’ve been lucky, so for the next few days may be a bit of coming and going here.”

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023