Combustion (38 page)

Scott forces a grin right back. ‘Sounds great.’

‘I’m sure it will be.’

Scott jabs a thumb over his shoulder. ‘I should get…’

Lola nods. ‘Yeah, you should.’

Scott holds out a hand to Corey. ‘Really great to meet you.’

Corey shakes it. ‘Pleasure’s all mine, mate. What was your name again?’

Scott keeps shaking, crestfallen. ‘Scott. Scott Ford.’

‘Oh! Sorry. Didn’t recognise you without your tights.’

Scott pivots and leaves. Lola closes the door behind him. ‘Ba-bye.’

Corey watches him go. ‘Well, he seems pleasant enough.’

‘He’s a complete wuss, but he’ll be perfect for
Zompire.’

‘Yeah?’

‘Yeah, and I have a feeling he’s going to love it. You should write it up.’

~ * ~

Corey takes this in, intrigued by the idea. The movie had completely slipped his mind since 7/27. ‘Maybe I will.’ Maybe
that’s
what he’ll do after the reno.

They move back into the living room, where Judd reaches into the wall cavity. ‘There’s something in here - I can’t quite - my arm’s not quite long enough.’

Spike barks. He also wears a dust mask.

Corey suppresses a smile, but everyone sees it.

Judd’s not amused. ‘Ha ha. What did he say?’

‘Nothing.’

Lola leans in and Corey whispers it to her. She laughs.

Judd sees it. ‘Yeah, yeah, very funny - oh, got it!’ He pulls out a wide, flat, circular tin. ‘What is this?’

Rhonda knows. ‘A film can. Looks like 16mm.’ She turns to Lola. ‘Is it your grandfather’s?’

‘Don’t know. Never seen it before.’

Corey gets excited. ‘Maybe it’s a home movie.’

Judd brushes dust off the can. ‘Why would a home movie be bricked into a wall?’

‘Maybe it’s not very good.’

Lola takes the tin from Judd. ‘Only one way to find out. I saw a projector around here somewhere. Think it’s in the garage.’

~ * ~

Lola threads the film onto an old Elmo film projector. She follows the diagram on the side of the machine and after a little trial and error gets it right. On the opposite side of the room Corey and Judd finish clearing up the last of the debris.

‘Here goes.’ Lola flicks the switch and the projector clatters to life. Rhonda pulls the faded curtains across the window and the far wall is illuminated. All that’s projected is white film leader marked with a series of random letters and numbers in black felt tip marker.

Corey whispers to Judd: ‘No wonder it was cemented into the wall’

Rhonda turns to Lola. ‘So what did your grandpa do?’

‘Worked for the government. Something in the Department of Agriculture, I think. He never really talked about it.’

The white film leader ends and an image is projected on the wall. It’s in black and white and there is no sound. They all watch it.

Lola takes in a sharp breath. ‘What the hell is this?’

Corey’s eyes don’t leave the image, his words slow and surprised. ‘I don’t think it’s a home movie.’

Lola frowns in confusion. ‘I don’t think it is either.’

Rhonda takes a sharp breath. ‘What the hell
is
this?’

Judd steps forward to get a closer look, to make sure his eyes aren’t playing tricks on him.

They’re not.

Stunned, Judd turns to his friends. ‘Did we just find proof the moon landings were
faked}’

THE END