Brent came back with two beers. Rona took one of them from him. "Thanks" she said, "I guess you twisted my arm." She took a sip. "Fuck that's nice, though."

"Uh-huh." Brent took a healthy swig of his own beer. "I've gotta go after this one, though" he said.

"Where to?"

"You know the anti-racism demo in the city this arvo?"

"In the city?"

"Yeah."

"I knew there was one at St. Kilda tomorrow, I didn't know about one in the city."

"There's one in St. Kilda?"

"Yeah! Two o'clock, on the beach. Here, I'll show you." Rona dug her 'phone out of the pocket of her jeans. She pressed a few buttons and then turned the 'phone towards Brent. "See?"

"Huh." Brent read the text-message Rona was showing him, announcing a gathering at St. Kilda the next day. "Sounds like it's being organised by a different bunch" he said. "But there're posters and everything fro the one in the city today."

"Shit, maybe I better go."

"I'm driving in if you want a lift" said Brent

Rona looked at him dubiously. "After beer?"

"And after a big lunch. It takes more than a couple of beers to get me in trouble."

"I dunno . . ."

"That's cool, mate. If you don't wanna risk your life, I understand." He laughed. "Seriously, though. You know I'm a safe driver."

"Yeah." Rona shut her eyes and took another swig of beer. It fizzed hotly on her tongue before receding like the surf, leaving a tang of bitterness in her mouth. "Do you really think it makes a difference?" she said. "All these protests and demos and marches and shit?"

"Generally?" mused Brent. "No, I don't think so. But that's only 'cause most of them are against the Government, and the Government doesn't actually give a shit what people think." He tapped the side of his bottle thoughtfully. "But this time . . . I dunno if it'll make a difference, but it's not the same thing as a normal demo. You know? It's just saying - all this bullshit in Sydney, it's not the whole story. About this country, I mean. You know? I reckon that's worth going along to."

"If you believe it" remarked Rona snidely.

"Sure" agreed Brent, and gazed slightly dizzily up at the sunshine. "If you believe that."