Me?
Him? Richard exchanges glances with the others.
You, I say.
What are you doing, Taylor? Richard asks in that voice of his with the warning in it.
Im asking
my deputy to do what deputies do. To negotiate, I say politely, standing up.
Ben mouths deputy to me like its a dirty word and then Raffaela walks by and he mouths deputy to her as well and even she looks a bit worried.
And by the way, Murrumbidgee and Hastings House, I say, looking at both the girl and Richard. I read the Little Purple Book last night. Written in 1986 by the first of the UCs. The leader, I think, referred to himself as Chairman Meow. Pretty bad handwriting, but its all there, including the fact that no House leaders can fraternise with each other in a romantic sense. Dont know why but probably because it takes away the competitive edge. I look at Ben. Lets go.
Raffaela follows us as well. I dont say a word until we get outside.
Where were you last night? I ask her.
I got town privileges. My best friends brothers best friends teammate
Get to the point.
had a message for me. The Townies are ready to meet us. Tonight.
The halfway hut where negotiations take place with the Townies is dark and musty. The flashlights offer little light and no one dares sit down for fear of sitting on the unknown. In front of us there are three Townies. I only recognise Chaz Santangelo, far too handsome for his own good, but at least he doesnt have that mean, hard, feral look that Townie leaders from the past have had. Santangelos sidekicks are typical hoons. Is there a manual out there that says Townies have to have mullets? Raffaela beside me is fidgety and I figure that they are all waiting for me to begin negotiations.
So lets make a deal, I say.
What makes you think were here to make a deal? Santangelo asks.
Because river rats dont usually warn us that theyre coming up to see us. They usually cruise around the place and create havoc and then expect us to negotiate just to stop the mayhem.
I dont operate that waywe dont operate that way.
Judging by his sidekicks Im not too sure.
Well then, Santangelo. Is that what I should call him? I turn to ask Raffaela. She doesnt answer. Shes still fidgeting.
Chaz, he answers for her.
SantangeloChaz, whatever they call you down there, lets make a deal.
Then you start. Tell us what you want.
First rule of negotiation: never let them think you want something.
We want access to the Prayer Tree, Raffaela blurts out.
Raffaela failed negotiating class in year eight. The seniors in our House once had her in mind for leadership after I went through my arsonist stage and burnt half of the oval. We have a collection of arsonists at our school. There are at least two in year seven in my House who are going to set fire to us in our beds one day.
We want access to the Club House, Santangelo states bluntly, looking at me and not her.
Club House isnt ours. It belongs to the Cadets.
Yeah, but its a massive hike for them unless you let them use the river. They want access to the path that leads to it, and youve got that.
Why the Club House? Ben asks.
Limited options. We cant get into any of the pubs, so its hanging out at the Seven-Eleven at night or the car park at Coles. Were looking for peaceful coexistence, here. One night a week, Saturday night, maybe even two.
Youre talking to the wrong people. The Cadets will never allow you in.
They might if you give them access to the path.
I shake my head. The path is too close to the school boundaries.
And the problem is? he asks.
We have junior girls, Raffaela says. We dont want strangers that close to our boundaries.
Why? Because last time the Cadets got that close you ran off with one of them? The three Townies exchange looks and I am suddenly suspicious.
You dont know who you ran off with, do you? one of the Mullets says, stepping towards me. You are one stupid
Is this the best you can do? Raffaela snaps at Santangelo, pointing to his morons, her finger almost an inch away from the bigger Mullet. He growls and makes a bite for it and Ben drags her back.
Still nothing from Santangelo and then I realise hes deliberately ignoring her and that they have some kind of history.
You two know each other well, I presume.
Just a sigh and pursed lips from her and a hellish scowl from him.
This is ridiculous, I say, walking to the door.
No its not. Its called coexistence. Santangelo blocks my exit. Once you and the Cadets get it right, we might even try to sell the idea to the Israelis and Palestinians. What do you reckon?
You havent told us what you have to offer us yet, I say.
The Prayer Tree, Raffaela says
immediately.
Im not negotiating with her.
I glare at Raffaela. Personally, Im not interested in the Prayer Tree. Im curious about what theyre going to use as a bargaining tool.
Ive got information, he says to me, that you might want.
About?
No answer, and for a moment I think were dealing with an amateur who has come with nothing to offer.
What? Ben asks.