Free Maralinga by Judy Nunn

writer full-time. Isn’t that the most incredible good luck?’
    â€˜Incredible, yes. A fortnight, you say? But what about The Courier-Mail ?’
    â€˜Oh, Henry’s been marvellous, he’d let me go tomorrow if necessary. I think he’s rather proud of the fact that he was the one to launch my career. He’s certainly the reason Lionel Brock’s taking me on. He’ll miss me, he says, but –’
    â€˜So will I.’
    Elizabeth stopped mid-stream. Danny looked quite bereft, she thought – how sweet. ‘I’ll miss you too,’ she said. And suddenly she realised how very much she would. She’d never had a friend like Danny. ‘I’ll miss you a lot.’
    â€˜Will you, Elizabeth?’
    â€˜Of course.’ She was touched by his obvious concern. ‘But we’ll still see each other, this isn’t goodbye.’ Shesmiled fondly. ‘Heavens above, you’re part of my life, Danny, you’re the best friend I’ve ever had.’
    That was all he needed. ‘Then marry me,’ he said.
    A stunned silence followed, and he regretted having blurted the words out so clumsily as he watched her astonishment become suspicion.
    â€˜Are you making fun of me?’ she asked.
    â€˜Of course I’m not.’ He spoke lightly, careful not to alarm her with any outburst of passion. ‘But surely the best friend you’ve ever had would be a good choice for a husband, don’t you think?’
    â€˜If this is a joke, I’m afraid I’m missing the point.’
    â€˜Why would I be joking?’
    â€˜I have just announced the career opportunity of a lifetime and you suggest marriage ?’ Elizabeth gave a snort of derision. ‘It’s either a joke or it’s some sort of statement about a woman’s place being in the home and her life’s purpose marriage, in which case it’s an insult. Either way, it’s not particularly funny.’
    â€˜But I wouldn’t expect you to stay at home,’ he protested in earnest. ‘I’m proud of your achievements. I would never wish to change one thing about you, Elizabeth, and that includes your commitment to a career.’
    She stared at him, speechless, as the realisation that he was serious finally registered.
    â€˜Your career is who you are,’ he continued, ‘I know that. Why should I want to change the very person I fell in love with?’
    In love? Elizabeth couldn’t believe what she was hearing. In love!
    â€˜But … you’re so … young!’ She couldn’t think of anything else to say; she was flabbergasted. ‘You’reso very young. I mean … surely you must see that this … this …’ She fumbled foolishly for the right words; she seemed incapable of expressing herself intelligently. ‘This … feeling you have is just some sort of … infatuation …’
    His proposal had hardly met with the reception he might have wished, but Daniel laughed nonetheless. ‘I’m not a teenager, Elizabeth,’ he said. Then he added good-humouredly, ‘You’re patronising me the way you did when we first met – it’s not frightfully flattering, I must say.’
    Yes, she remembered how she’d patronised him that day. And she remembered how he’d come back with the perfect response. Men younger than me have died for this country , he’d said. She’d been impressed. Everything about him had impressed her that day, which was why she’d allowed their friendship to develop. And now he was spoiling it all.
    â€˜But you’re like a little brother to me,’ she began.
    â€˜No I’m not,’ he snapped. ‘Don’t demean our relationship.’ He fought to curb his exasperation. ‘I’m not your little brother, Elizabeth,’ he said as patiently as he could. ‘I’ve never been your little brother, and you know