Kakadu National Park Arnhem Highway
Scene 6
«So, how's our Hercules faring?» asked Marie over the telephone: «Yesterday, Odette showed me how Hercules wrestled with the Creten bull. I was the bull. She was the hero. It was very funny.»
Maille imagined Odette and Marie romping in mythological fighting-ring fashion through the offices of the Lemusan secret service. Odette crouched over Marie, the defeated animal, perhaps even in Mercier's office, on the Afghan carpet with the tankd, that the patron had bought on mission on the eastern front.
«I'm pleased to hear that you are not bored in the absence of the chief and myself», Maille retorted, immediately feeling a sense of fright because he had unwittingly clubbed Mercier and himself together – something that conjured up an image of intimacy: almost as though the two of them had formed a men's self-help group.
«Your next Hing-point lies in the middle of Kakadu National Park», Marie continued calmly: «You must rent a car to get there. Almost like a holiday, no? But watch out for the saltwater crocodile. We want to see you back here in one piece.» Coming from Marie, who normally had an acerbic tongue, that was an almost tender statement. Perhaps there was still hope.
