Flight of the Jabiru (37 page)

Lara found the story horrendous to hear. “Ugh,” she cried, thinking how upset Rick would be to hear something like that.

Jiana came running and stopped in her tracks to take in the scene. Lara had managed to stand up, but she felt dizzy.

“You alright, Lara?” Jiana asked worried, as she dashed to her side, glancing warily at the crocodile.

“Yes ... yes ... thanks to this gentleman,” Lara said breathlessly. The man who had undoubtedly saved her life was in his late forties or early fifties, unshaven, wearing an open short-sleeved shirt, shorts, and canvas deck shoes. His hair needed cutting, and his skin was weathered, leathery, and so dark that his blue eyes stood out like gems in his tanned features.

“Crikey, I haven't been called a gentleman for some time,” he said, squaring his shoulders and pulling his shirt closed. “I'm Ross ... Ross Crosby.”

“Where did you come from, Ross?” Lara asked, forgetting her manners. For the first time in her life she didn't think about her appearance for one second, or the fact that she must look a fright.

“I've made camp about two hundred yards that way,” he said, pointing through the trees behind them. “I was just picking up firewood when I saw something had taken this fella's interest.” He gestured towards the crocodile. “Luckily, I always carry my gun, just in case a croc surprises me.”

“I'm certainly lucky you came along,” Lara said with her hand over her thudding heart.

“Didn't you know the billabong is full of crocs?” He'd noted her English accent and was thinking that she was ignorant of the dangers and lucky she hadn't gone swimming.

“Yes ... we live in Shady Camp, but we've walked from the Arnhem Highway, so we're exhausted. I just wasn't thinking. I'm Lara Penrose and this is Jiana Chinmurra.”

“You've walked from the Arnhem Highway,” Ross said in disbelief. “I find that hard to believe.”

“I'm not surprised. I'm finding it hard to believe myself, but it's true. We got caught up in the first bombing raid in Darwin. We got to Humpty-Doo and then got a lift from a resident quite a few miles along the Arnhem Highway. We are desperate to get home but we've still got a way to go.”

“You certainly have. It's still a few miles from here to Shady Camp.”

“Did you see the Jap planes come over a couple of hours ago?”

“Yes, I did,” Ross said. He'd been fishing when he saw the planes in the distance. He steered the boat under some trees at the water's edge so that he wouldn't be seen.

“Do you know if they bombed the settlement at Corroboree?”

“They passed right over the town. I think they were after a radio tower a few miles from here.”

“Really? We were told there's one near Shady Camp.”

“I don't think they went that far,” Ross said. “But if there is one there, then I wouldn't be surprised if they come back and bomb that one.”

“So you don't think they bombed the settlement at Shady Camp?”

“I doubt it. They're after military targets.”

Lara was immensely relieved. “Do you know Doctor Jerry Quinlan?”

“I certainly do. Why do you ask?”

“Would you know if he's in the area? I believe he has patients in the Corroboree township.”

“I don't know for sure, but I haven't seen him while I've been on the billabong today. Why do you ask? Are you in need of medical attention?”

Lara mentally sagged with fatigue again, and leant on the tree behind her. “No, I was hoping we could get a lift home with him,” she said.

Jiana had refilled their canteens from a stream too shallow for crocodiles that ran off the billabong. She handed one to Lara, who took a good drink.

“If you girls are hungry I'm just about to cook some sausages. I'd enjoy the company.”

“Sausages!” Lara's mouth watered at the thought of eating something conventional. She noticed Jiana had bush plums in her hand and she couldn't face another one. “Do you by any chance have an egg to spare, too?”

“Yes, I do,” Ross said. “My camp is that way, through the trees.”

Lara had never enjoyed anything more than the sausages and eggs that Ross served, but her thoughts were on getting home.

“Is your boat in good condition, Ross?” she asked, eyeing his fishing boat, which was tied to a tree near the water's edge. It wasn't very large and didn't appear to be in tiptop condition, but it did look better than Burt Watson's unworthy boat. Ross had told them he'd been fishing the billabongs for more than ten years after his wife left him and went south with their children. He claimed she couldn't take the weather or the lifestyle in the Top End, but Lara got the feeling there was more to it than that. Still, she didn't pry, but there was a hint that he was often away fishing for extended periods, leaving his wife alone to bring up their children.

“It doesn't take on water, if that's what you're asking,” Ross replied, thinking the question was strange.

“That's a relief to hear,” Lara said. “Are you short of fuel?”

“No, why?”

“I know it's an imposition, and rather forward after you've just shared your food with us, but could you take us to the other side of the billabong?”

Ross seemed surprised by the question. “It's pretty wild country over there.” He couldn't imagine ladies getting very far. “What do you plan to do from there?”

“Keep walking until we got home,” Lara said. Just the thought made her even wearier.

Ross dismissed her plans with a shake of his head.

“I'm sorry ... I shouldn't have asked after you've been so kind,” Lara said.

“Shady Camp is miles from here, through inhospitable country and creeks,” Ross said.

“We know,” Lara said. “We'll find another way to get cross the billabong. Thank you for your hospitality. I can't begin to express how much I enjoyed our meal.”

“I won't give you a lift across the billabong, but I will take you home in my boat,” Ross offered. “Corroboree billabong meets up with the Mary River and that goes all the way to Shady Camp billabong.”

“Are you serious? You'd take us all the way home?” Lara couldn't believe their luck.

“I'm not going to let two women walk all that way. It's a miracle you made it this far, and I can't forget that your near exhaustion almost cost you your life.”

“Oh, bless you, Ross,” Lara said, eternally grateful. Then she remembered the fuel situation. “But the military have confiscated fuel supplies, so we can't let you use all your fuel for us.”

Ross laughed. “I have a truck full of fuel that the military don't know about. There's enough gas in the fuel tank to see me through any war, but please keep that to yourself.”

“A truck! If it's seen by the military they'll just help themselves to the fuel.”

“I doubt they'd come out here looking for fuel. Besides, the truck hasn't been roadworthy for years, so no one would even suspect it contains any fuel, but just in case, I've got it camouflaged in the bush. It can't be seen from the air, or by anyone on the river. Now when do you want to get going?”

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

As Ross packed up the campsite and extinguished the fire, gathering clouds darkened the sky.

“If only it would rain,” Lara sighed as the humidity became even more oppressive.

“You'll get your wish,” Ross claimed without a hint of doubt.

“I admire your optimism, but I'm sure I'll be disappointed, yet again,” Lara said. It had been cloudy almost every afternoon since they left Humpty-Doo, but she'd had her hopes quashed every time she thought it might rain.

“Granted, it hasn't rained for the past few days, which is unusual at this time of year, but my lower back is aching, so trust me, it will rain today,” Ross said. “I slipped on the decks of a fishing trawler ten years ago and broke a bone in my back. Ever since then I can tell when it's going to rain because it aches. If I didn't love this billabong so much I'd move south because my back gives me Hell every ‘wet'.”

Within an hour, in which time Ross collected a drum of fuel from his hidden truck, and just as they were about to set off, they were pelted with stinging rain that came down hard, and straight.

“Told you,” Ross said. “My aches are never wrong.” Terrifying lightning lit up the darkened sky, cracking like a whip, while thunder rumbled and boomed.

Ross steered his boat out onto the billabong as the rain continued to pelt them. There was little shelter on the small boat and Ross's sleeping quarters were too small for the two women to share. Instead, Lara and Jiana huddled under the inadequate canopy so they couldn't see the lightning so much. They still got wet, but that was not unpleasant as the rain was cool and it washed some of the dirt and sweat off their bodies. Ross apologized for the lack of deck space, but said the boat was the perfect size for him.

“I could pull in and shelter under a tree until the storm passes,” he offered. “But that's not always safe during an electrical storm.”

“Why not?” Lara asked but then her thoughts went back to Sid who had pronounced the same warning on her very first day at Darwin. The memory brought tears to her eyes, but before she could think any further a bolt of lightning lit up the sky and zigzagged to earth, striking the top of a tall gum tree on the far side of the billabong. The tree literally exploded; sending sparks flying in all directions. Both girls screamed with fright, covering their ears. The top of the tree was blown away and the few branches left burst into flames.

“Whatever you do, keep away from trees,” Lara suggested earnestly.

Corroboree billabong was massive, much bigger than Shady Camp billabong. It seemed to take forever to reach the Mary River, which had many twists and turns with creeks running off it in all directions. The rain didn't let up until they reached Shady Camp billabong. By then true darkness was only an hour away. Even so, Lara kept a sharp lookout for Rick's boat.

Without warning or discussion, Ross pulled under some trees and turned the motor off.

“Why are we stopping?” Lara asked, thinking perhaps he needed to answer the call of nature.

“I can hear planes,” Ross said worried.

“Oh, no,” Jiana said. All she could think about was seeing her mother again and they were so close, only a few miles from home.

“Look,” Ross said, peering through the leaves of the overhanging tree branches, dripping with moisture.

By now the girls could also hear planes. In less than a minute they spotted three Japanese bombers. As they flew over the tree they were sheltered beneath, they saw the red spot under the wings and horrible memories flashed through Lara and Jiana's minds.

“Damn wars,” Lara vented, unapologetic for her language. “Why don't the Japs go home and leave us alone? I hope they get hit by a lightning strike.”

“Why they do this?” Jiana asked.

“Because they want to take Java and Timor and Northern Australia is being used as a base by the Allies to stop them. They'd already captured Ambon, Celebes, and Borneo in December, our close neighbors. I guess if they got Australia too, then that would be a bonus,” Ross said.

“Are you saying they attacked us because the Americans had based themselves here?”

“That's right. We had several of their naval ships sitting in the Darwin Harbor, along with many Australian naval vessels, merchant ships, ketches, and airboats. They were like sitting ducks.”

“I thought they were here to defend us,” Lara said incredulous.

“They would have, but just like Pearl Harbor, they were taken by surprise.”

They jumped with fright when they heard three successive explosions. Boom! Boom! Boom! Lara and Jiana looked at each other. They didn't need to say a word. They were both thinking of those they loved in Shady Camp and worried sick about them.

“I guess they've bombed the other radio tower in the wetlands,” Ross said. “I thought they would.”

“Are you sure it's not Shady Camp settlement?” Lara asked.

“I don't think so, but we're not yet close enough to be sure.”

They approached the Shady Camp jetty in the dark, and the girls were terrified about what they might find. Thankfully, the jetty appeared to be intact. Lara looked for the familiar outline of Rick's boat amongst the others, but it wasn't there. She was terribly disappointed and worried he might've gone looking for her. Ross told Lara that he'd have a sleep on the boat before heading back to Corroboree billabong, but insisted that he intended to moor his boat under some trees away from the jetty. He didn't say he was worried the Japs might return, but Lara understood.

“Don't leave without saying goodbye,” Lara made him promise as she and Jiana climbed onto the jetty. “We want the opportunity to repay your kindness somehow.”

“That's not necessary,” Ross insisted. “I'm just happy to know you are home safe.”

“I won't ever forget you saved my life,” Lara said emotionally.

“I was just in the right place at the right time,” Ross said, uncomfortable with being thought of as a hero.

“At least let me buy you a few beers at the pub tomorrow.”

Ross brightened. “I like the sound of that.”

“You'll like the locals, too. They're a friendly bunch. You're also welcome to use my bathroom at the rectory anytime later, if you'd like to,” she added.

“Do you have a real shower, with plenty of water?”

“Yes, I do, also a tub, and the water tanks are full.”

“Wow. I'm only used to a rusty bucket with holes in it, suspended from a tree. I'll take you up on that offer after I've had a sleep,” Ross said with a grin.

It had begun to rain again, so Lara and Jiana made a dash for the rectory. Everything looked just as Lara had left it and it felt so good to be home. She surprised herself by thinking of Shady Camp and the rectory as home, but that's what it had become, thanks to the locals and Rick. They'd made her feel part of a big family. It would've been a perfect homecoming if only Rick had been there to greet her. She hated the idea that he'd been worrying about her.

“I want to have a quick wash and change before I go to see Betty,” Lara said, dreading what she had to tell Colin's wife, but feeling so uncomfortable and filthy.

“I want to go home and see my mother,” Jiana said.

“Of course you do, and she'll be so happy to see you,” Lara said, happy for Netta, who must've been sick with worry.

Lara washed and changed as quickly as she could, and felt human again. She knew she'd never take being clean and wearing clean clothes for granted again. Picking up an umbrella, she headed for the store with a heavy heart.

To Lara's surprise, the store was in darkness. Betty didn't serve in the evenings, but the door was always open so that customers or visitors could go in and knock on the door to the Jeffries private quarters for service or a social call. Even more surprising, the door was locked. She'd never known Betty to lock the door, day or night. The pub was also deserted, with the shutters closed and the door locked. This was most strange. When Lara glanced around the town, she didn't see any lights in the houses, something she hadn't noticed before. It then dawned on her that the residents were most likely in the air raid shelter. The planes flying overhead, dropping bombs nearby, had obviously frightened them.

Lara went around the back of the hotel and lifted the trap door to the shelter, expecting to be greeted by lamplight and the faces of the locals. Instead, it was pitch dark inside and silent, and she hadn't thought to bring a torch. “Is anyone down there?” she called, to be greeted by silence.

“They've evacuated,” she said aloud, in disbelief. She couldn't believe it. She'd walked miles and miles to get home, and everyone had gone!

By the time Lara got back to the rectory, Jiana was waiting for her.

“I can't find anyone,” Lara said, still shocked.

“My mob have gone, too,” Jiana said. “Where do you think they are?”

“They must have evacuated,” Lara said. “They must've been convinced the town was going to be bombed and didn't want to risk the shelter being hit. I can't think of any other explanation for why they're not here.”

Jiana shook her head. “My mother wouldn't go. She'd wait for me to come home, just like before.”

“It is strange,” Lara agreed. She couldn't imagine Betty leaving without knowing Colin's whereabouts. “Maybe we'll find some clues when it's light.”

Jiana had a shower and put one of Lara's clean dresses on and then they both lay down on her bed and slept for a few hours.

February 23

Lara woke first, at dawn. She went to the kitchen, intending to make tea. When she looked out of the kitchen window she saw the top of a head outside the window. “Rick,” she cried in delight. She opened the door to find Ross sitting on the seat outside. Hiding her disappointment she invited him in.

“You should've knocked,” she told him. “I've been awake for a little while.”

“You were exhausted yesterday, so I thought I'd let you sleep in. Were the residents happy to see you?” he asked.

“No one is here,” Lara said, still perplexed.

“I thought the town was quiet,” Ross said.

“That is nothing unusual,” Lara said, realizing she'd grown used to it.

“They must've evacuated.”

“Maybe, but Jiana is convinced the Aboriginal community wouldn't have gone anywhere.”

Jiana overheard her comment as she came into the kitchen looking sleepy. “They wouldn't go,” she added, more convinced than ever.

Ross went to use the bathroom while Lara lit the camp stove to make tea. “Do you think everyone is hiding in the bush somewhere, Jiana?” she suggested.

“Yeah, maybe,” Jiana agreed. “I'm gonna look for them.”

“They must've been worried the town was going to be bombed or invaded by Japs,” Lara said, hoping they were safe somewhere. “They wouldn't have gone, otherwise.”

While they had tea, Lara thought about it. Like Jiana, she was convinced the Aborigines would be somewhere close by. “What if I ring the school bell? Perhaps Banjo, Toby, or Jed will hear it, or even Ada and Rosy. Then they'll know we're back.”

Jiana thought this was a brilliant idea.

“I'm not spending another night in this stinking cave,” Betty complained. She'd reached the end of her tether. “I don't know which is worse, Monty's water-logged shelter, or the stink of bat pee, but I'm going home and heaven help any Japs who get in my way.” She feared she'd never get the smell off her clothes or skin. It was as strong as ammonia.

“I'm coming, too, mama,” Robbie said eagerly. After grumbling all night and being disagreeable, his mood came full circle at the prospect of going fishing. Richie and Ronnie were fed up, too. Being stuck in a cave all night was boring.

Ruthie had stayed close to her father the past few days. In the cave, she'd huddled beside him all night. She'd never seen him so quiet and sad all the time, and it worried her. Her younger brothers were oblivious to all but fishing, but she knew her dad felt responsible for what had happened to Miss Penrose. He hadn't said so, but she could tell that's how he felt. She had no idea what to say, or how to comfort him, and her mama seemed cross all the time lately, so she'd stayed close to let him know she cared.

Colin still couldn't understand why he'd survived the bombing while Lara and Jiana hadn't, and he didn't think he ever would. But he appreciated Ruthie's quiet company.

“No one is going anywhere until I check if it's safe in town,” Rex Westly said. The biggest part of the cave was actually smaller than the air raid shelter, and a sanctuary for fruit bats prevalent to the area. When Rex rang the school bell after spotting Japanese planes, the Aborigines suggested the cave was the best place to take cover. With no other choice, the residents went with them. Crammed in the cave like sardines in a can, conditions were hard to endure. Unfortunately, one wall in Monty's bomb shelter had collapsed. He blamed the vibration of the bomb blasts at the site of the radio tower, and rain from the heavy downpour, but Betty and a few others blamed his engineering skills.