Page 101 of Resist

“No, the illusion is it seems higher. It’s not.”

Another strangled laugh. “Oh, good.”

“Okay, whenever you’re ready.”

My legs began to tremble. “Just give me a second.”

The crew were shouting my name from below and cheering me on. It didn’t help my cause. It didn’t fucking help at all.Just breathe, Helena.

“All you have to do is let go, baby,” Lucas said from behind, his voice calm.

I glanced back and he nodded. Once. He was right. Part of this experience was about me letting go and doing something spontaneous, something wild and free. It was literally about taking a leap. I just had to let go and take it.

“Okay, I’m ready.”

“Here we go! Three, two, one, bungee!”

I bent my legs and jumped, screaming my lungs out as my feet left the only thing from keeping me airborne. Wind whistled past my face and whisked my scream from my body, and everything was a blur before the tug on my legs, the flail of my arms, and the abrupt thrash of water on my face. Then it was wind again, and trees, sky, tugging and flailing, blur, blur, blur.

Gathering my senses after what seemed like minutes of bouncing and falling, I focussed on my crew as they clapped from their position on the bank of the river, Josh wolf-whistling, Cori snapping pictures. I waved, my body suspended and swinging metres above them.Oh my God! That was amazing!

* * *

Morale washigh when weboarded the two helicopters I’d chartered to fly us over the Great Barrier Reef to Lizard Island. Lucas, Cori, Josh, Brad, and I were in one aircraft, while Noah, Matt, Johnno, Baz, Dex, and Patsy were in the other. We’d first headed north over the Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge, flying close to three stunning waterfalls before heading out to sea over the northern section of the reef.

“Helena, this is amazing!” Cori yelled into her mouthpiece. “Thank you so much.”

I peeled my eyes from the crystal blue waters below and smiled back at her. “You’re welcome.”

“Yeah, thanks, Helena,” Josh added.

I noticed him squeeze Cori’s knee when he spoke, and it warmed my heart. Hopefully neither of them will ever forget experiencing this together. As I took in Lucas, his eyes fixated on the coral reef below, his face in awe, I knew I wouldn’t.

“I wish Em was here too,” Brad added. “She’d have loved this.”

“I know! I miss her.” Cori shot him a sympathetic look before she raised her camera and snapped a few shots. “But, yay, we get to see her next week.”

“You do?” I asked.

“Yeah, we’re flying back to Melbourne for a couple of nights during our break in Darwin.”

“Oh, nice.” I glanced at Lucas again, my stomach sinking faster than the dip of the chopper. “Are you going back to Melbourne too?”

He smiled. “What … and leave you behind? Fuck no.”

My stomach elevated like a feather, and I smiled.

“Okay, folks, dead ahead is Lizard Island.” The pilot pointed to the windscreen of the aircraft. “See the highest point? That’s Cook’s Look, named after Captain James Cook when he climbed it to try and chart a course out of the maze of reefs surrounding the island.”

“Cool. Can we climb it too?” Josh asked.

Cori groaned. “Oh my God! What is it with you all and heights?”

“As a matter of fact, yes, you can climb it,” the pilot continued. “When we touch down, feel free to take a stroll along the beach, snorkel the coral lagoons, or climb the peak for amazing views. You have two hours before we serve lunch and refreshments and then head back to Cairns.”

The helicopters landed, one after the other, and we were set loose to explore the island. We started off snorkelling the shallow waters of the beach and lagoons then Lucas, Matt, Josh, and the twins climbed to the peak of Cook’s Look while Patsy, Cori, and I sunbathed on the pristine white sand. Dex, Baz, and Johnno kept snorkelling, their plastic tubes and bottoms bobbing on the surface of the water nearby.

“This is the life. I think I might stay here forever.” Cori let a pleased sigh escape through her lips as she rolled onto her front.