Below stood a kitchen bench. Robyn wriggled through feet first,
dropping to the bench and then the floor. Within seconds she
was struggling with the bolts and soon had a door open.
Just as they wheeled the last bike inside, the rain came down.
Peter and Billy explored the hall, testing for parts where the floor
might be rotten. Robyn fixed a hot drink by using their small
Metho burner, which she placed, in the kitchen sink. It was the
first time that Robyn had used it, and she was pleased that she
had thought to buy one.
“Thisisacommunityhall– from the days when lots more people
usedtolivearoundhereThere’sanhonourboardintheother
roomwiththenamesofmenwhowenttotheGreatWar”Pete
said withauthority“Bythelookofthisplaceithasn’tbeenused
fortenyearsatleast”hedrainedhiscupofMiloandadded“I’ll
clearawaysomeofthedirttomakeasleepingplaceforus”
“I’llworkonthekitchen”putinRobyn“There’sevenwater
comingthroughthetapabovethesink”
“Teddyandmewillplaycars”
announcedBillygrandly“Then
wewon’tbeinyourway!”
It rained off and on for three
days.
