Priceville had been developed as a bedroom community with Sugartown just 15 kilometres to the west. What set it apart from other communities in the area was its heavy reliance on Northern Hemisphere deciduous trees — London plane and Lombardy poplar plus American species of elm, oak, sweetgum and tuliptree. The Londoners were in the throes of a blight which had shrivelled most of their leaves, and the other species were reacting to drought. Even though the year was only two weeks old, autumn colours were everywhere as if it was already well into April. Tires crisped on fallen leaves. Some households were keeping their lawns tidy, but not many. Every lawn had been bleached blond.
At the house Cam wanted, a thin eight-year-old blonde — Marjorie, grown since he last saw her — was raking leaves while a toddler boy — Jack, known only through letters and pictures up to now — hurled a boomerang at the tuliptree which was the source of those leaves. Marj looked at the Mercedes and her eyes widened. Then she rushed in the house. Little Jack picked up his boomerang and stared at Cam.
Tarr parked the Mercedes. A yellow leaf landed on the windscreen. For all Cam knew the impact of Jack's boomerang, which he was throwing again, had shaken it off. Marj and Charlize ran out, shouting with joy. Jack kept throwing.
"If that thing strikes my car you'll pay extra," Tarr said.