He was tall and thin, and wore the same kind of battered Akubra as Adam. As they walked across the gravelled driveway Sarah saw him take a step forward before grabbing the railing to hold himself up. Adam bounded up the stairs ahead of her, taking hold of the man’s arm in order to steady him. ‘Pop, you all right?’ he asked. ‘I’m fine,’ the older man croaked. Sarah saw a frown of worry crease Adam’s forehead. ‘Do you want me to call an ambulance?’ she murmured softly. Her voice seemed to jolt the older man out of his momentary state of confusion, because he instantly straightened and shook off Adam’s hand. ‘I’m fine. I don’t need an ambulance.I just stood up too fast,’ he muttered, clearly embarrassed. Adam didn’t seem completely reassured, but he stepped back to allow the man to sit down in a beautifully handcrafted rocker on the verandah. ‘This is my granddad. Pop, this is Sarah. She’s out here doing some research.’ Sarah smiled and stepped forward.
