“Friends, you really frightened us! Can you give us a hand? My wife has sprained her ankle and we’ve got a baby here.”
The owner of the voice had now emerged from the bush, and they immediately recognised each other as fellow Italians.
“Where on earth are you going?” Sergio asked.
“Where do you think? We’re escaping. Everyone’s running away from Boulder. A few people are getting organised to defend the houses.”
The three friends moved closer and found the woman in tears, with a baby on her lap and a girl of about six sitting motionless, leaning against her mother. Gently Sergio took the baby from the woman, who gave him up reluctantly. The man helped his wife to her feet.
“There’s water there, and other stuff”, he said, nodding towards the ground. Gino lifted up the little girl, who o
