Jack & Harry (20 page)

‘No. We do what uncle Warri say, 'e know best.' Reynold walked off to join Warri at the fire.

Reynold and Warri spent time checking the supplies and getting the packhorses ready. Jack noticed that Warri occasionally glanced at the sun then out across the horizon but said nothing. Reynold was equally quiet and sat on his saddle by the fire fondling the ears of his blue heeler cattle dog, one of three that accompanied them on the trip.

As the time neared noon, Jack began to get really anxious and paced about the edge of the camp, his hand raised to shield his eyes from the blistering sun as he searched for some sign of his friend. Warri and Reynold lounged in the shade seemingly unconcerned. ‘Jack, yu save energy. Not 'elp if yu wore out by walkin' round 'n round laik blind rabbit,' Warri advised.

Jack didn't understand why they wouldn't start a search and was about to ask when the dogs began to bark, alerting them to movement in the distance. ‘Here he comes now,' Jack yelled excitedly, squinting into the distance. His excitement turned to dread when he realised that the horse trotting toward them in the distance was riderless, stirrups flapping empty from the saddle.

‘This bad ting, 'e musta fallen off somewhere.' There was concern now in Warri's tone.

‘Now we have to go and look for him.' Jack strode determinedly toward Brehardie grabbing the saddle from the ground as he went.

‘Jack, yu stay put … Now!' Warri's authoritative command stopped him in his tracks. ‘Yu go out now 'n we 'ave two bloke to look for … we wait.'

‘But, uncle Warri, Harry might be hurt somewhere and out of water, we have to go.' He was breathing heavily, anger in his voice.

‘We wait!' Warri was adamant.

‘Wait! Wait for what?' Jack yelled. ‘Until he bloody well dies! You're trackers aren't ya, why can't ya track him and find him?'

‘Jack.' Reynold walked over to him. ‘I know yu worried 'bout Harry, we worried too but we don' know where to look jus' yet. He coulda ridden in lotsa direction and all over.' He swung his arm in a wide arc. ‘It'd take long time to track where 'e go. We wait, Jack. Know soon 'nough where to look.'

‘How? Where?' Jack was unconvinced, beginning now to get very angry that no effort was being made to find Harry.

Warri got up from under the tree and stood motionless for some time staring around the horizon without speaking. Reynold watched him and Jack wondered what was happening. ‘There, Rennol, yu see 'em?'

‘Yeah, long ways off. 'Bout two, tree mile I reckon.'

‘See what, Reynold?' Jack stared in the direction they pointed to, seeing nothing but the shimmering heat causing dunes in the distance to dance like waves on the ocean.

‘We know where Harry is, Jack, we go find 'im now. Grab that waterbag, Rennol and lead Dolly wit' us.' Warri sprung into action throwing the saddle on his horse. Jack only just had time to cinch up the girth strap on his saddle and jump on Brehardie before Reynold left the camp with his uncle.

They were ahead of him but he quickly caught up.
It must be that
Aboriginal intuition,
he though to himself.
They always seem to know
things
in a strange way.
When he reached them he asked how they now knew where to look for Harry
.

‘Can yu see 'em now, Jack?' Reynold pointed skyward ahead of them.

‘I can only see a few birds in the distance, Reynold, nothin' else.'

‘That's what we waitin' for Jack. Those birds, they tell us where Harry is.'

‘What?' Jack was astounded. ‘How can the birds tell us where he is?'

‘Those birds, they see an animal or somethin' not right out in the bush, they watch. If they think 'e 'urt or somethin', they watch 'n watch then they follow, circle above 'im. Waitin' to see if it safe to go down 'n maybe get a feed. We watch them birds 'n they tell us where Harry is.'

As they closed on the region where the birds were circling Jack could see two eagles, a few smaller hawks and some black crows riding the thermals in the afternoon heat. It was obvious now, even to Jack, that the birds were concentrated on one area not far ahead so he knew it wouldn't be long before they found Harry – but would he be all right or badly hurt or worse still …?' He refused to think beyond
hurt
.

They topped a low rise that fell away to a gully dotted with spindly bush and noticed the marks that Harry had made in the sand as he had stumbled toward the scrub seeking shelter form the sun.

Warri kneed his horse forward in a run toward the spot where he knew Harry had crawled. He was off his horse before it stopped, waterbag gripped in his hand as he fell to his knees beside the still form partly hidden by the bushes. Jack was immobilised by fear and remained seated on Brehardie as Reynold dismounted and passed Dolly's reins to him before running to where Warri was kneeling.

‘Is … is … is he still alive, uncle Warri?' Jack could hardly speak, his voice a fearful croak in his throat.

‘Rennol, give me a 'and 'ere.' Warri gently turned Harry's inert body over and leaned close to his face ‘Not good, need water … quick!'

Jack reluctantly stepped from the saddle, dropping both sets of reins without thinking, but fortunately the horses stood quietly as they had been trained to do. He walked toward where Warri and Reynold were bent over the motionless figure, fearful of what he would see and was shocked to see Harry's swollen lips and puffy face. Harry's eyes were shut and Jack was sure he was dead.

Warri cradled Harry's head on his lap, holding his hat up to protect his face from the sun. ‘Rennol, pour some water slow now in 'is mouth. Only little bit at a time.'

Reynold put the tip of the waterbag close to Harry's mouth and began to pour the life-giving water. It ran down Harry's chin with no response from him.

‘Open 'is mouth little bit, easy now, Rennol.'

Imperceptibly at first Harry's lips moved then he opened his cracked lips and sucked at the stream from the waterbag. He coughed and his head rolled aside. Warri held his head gently, telling Reynold to try again.

Harry responded better the second time and swallowed as the water trickled into his mouth. He took a few mouthfuls of water and his eyes opened slowly but he was unable to focus. He tried to speak but his voice was just a croak and no words came.

‘Shhh, Harry, no need yu talk, mate, jus' lie there 'n 'ave some more water, eh?' Warri's voice was soothing.

‘Is he gonna to be all right, uncle Warri?'

‘Soon 'nough, Jack. Harry 'e all dry out from the sun, very lucky we get to 'im when we do, 'e not last long if we didn't.'

The three of them sat on the hot sand beside Harry and coaxed more trickles of water through his cracked lips shading him from the lowering sun with their bodies. After some time Harry started to come around but was disoriented and mumbled unintelligibly.

When Warri thought it was safe to do so he put his arms under Harry's legs and around his shoulders lifting him up to carry him to where the horses were patiently standing. ‘Harry too crook to ride, Rennol, 'elp me git 'im up on me 'orse. I ride him back to camp. Yu lead Dolly, Jack.'

Reynold helped put Harry astride Warri's horse and then Warri leapt easily into the saddle holding Harry's slumped form against his chest as he kneed his mount forward toward the distant camp. Reynold followed with Jack bringing up the rear, Dolly trailing behind on a long rein.

Back at camp Warri laid Harry on the swag, placing a blanket over him as the evening was beginning to chill as it often did in the desert, even though the days were unbearably hot. ‘Open that tinned stew there, Jack, and Rennol … mix it wit' some water to make little soup on the fire for Harry.'

Warri left Harry lying on the swag and walked off into the bush. Jack wondered where he was going as it was dark but knew better than to ask. When Warri returned he was carrying a small leafy bush that he had obviously pulled completely from the ground as it still had roots and dirt hanging from it. Warri stripped a handful of leaves from the bush and, crushing them in his hand, threw them into the bubbling pot of soup.

‘What's that stuff, uncle Warri?' Jack was mystified.

‘Jus' some medicine to make 'im well.' He didn't explain so when he pulled some roots from the bush and put them in his mouth Jack again asked what it was he was doing.

‘Yu too young to learn 'bout this, Jack. Anyway, only ol' blackfella know these tricks.' He chewed the roots into a paste that he spat into his hand before walking over to where Harry lay on the swag. Pulling back the blanket he rolled Harry's shirtsleeve up and Jack noticed for the first time the large deep graze on his forearm. It was red, swollen and angry looking. Warri patted the chewed fibrous mass over the wound and bound it with a strip of cloth.

‘That stop it goin' bad, be good as new coupla' days.' Warri inspected his handiwork and stood up. ‘Now for the soup. It do Harry real good wit' them leaf in it. Harry shake little bit tonight but in the mornin' … no fever 'n 'e be OK. Bit weak maybe 'n we prob'ly stay camp 'ere 'nother day or so but 'e be fine, Jack. Yu don' worry no more, OK?'

Jack stood awkwardly by as Warri fed Harry the soup slowly from a spoon. At first Harry shook his head but Warri persisted until he finally took a little of the thick beverage. Soon he had eaten most of what was in the pot so Warri then gave him a little more water. He shivered under the blanket but Warri said that was natural and that he'd be all right in the morning. Jack was still concerned for his mate but reassured by Warri's positive statement that left no room for doubt.

Jack didn't sleep much through the night. Harry moaned and rolled around a lot and, although Jack catnapped, concerns for his friend close by on the swag consumed him, making sleep almost impossible.

Sometime just before dawn Jack realised that Harry was still and not groaning as before so he crawled over to listen. Relieved to know he was breathing deeply he went to the fire and stirred it into flames. Pouring the last of the water into the billy he placed it on the coals when the flames subsided. He sat cross-legged on the ground, waiting for the water to boil, wondering if the decision to come out this far was a wise one realising there was no professional medical help within miles. He doubted that Warri or Reynold would return to Mt Margaret so they could get Harry help in Laverton and the prospect of travelling back without them with Harry so sick alarmed him.

Warri and Reynold joined him at the fire as the sun crept toward the day, light wispy clouds resembling reddish pink brush strokes on the pale morning sky. ‘Mornin', young Jack,' Warri greeted him. ‘Guess yu not sleep too much last night, eh? Harry 'e toss 'n turn a lot.' He checked the billy and grunted approval when he noticed it was near to boiling.

‘Yeah, uncle Warri, he groaned and moaned most of the night but quietened down early this morning. Should we wake him, see how he is?'

‘Nah, let 'im sleep, do 'im good, 'e wake up when 'e ready. Yu see, Jack, 'e be much better then. Rennol 'n I we go out to the waterhole, fill up for the trip. Yu stay 'ere to be with Harry and when he wake up …' He crushed some more leaves and tossed them in the tea, after they had filled their own mugs. ‘… Give 'im a mug of this after it brew little bit. Put plenty sugar wit' 'im, Jack, 'cause 'e not taste too good in tea but it do 'im good.'

Saddling their horses Warri and Reynold slung empty waterbags over one of the packhorses then headed out of camp toward some low hills in the distance. Jack noted it was in the opposite direction to where Harry had been found.

They had been gone for about an hour when he heard Harry calling him. ‘Jack! Are you there? … Jack?' His voice was a little husky but strong.

‘I'm here, Harry, comin'.' Jack splashed the brewed tea and leaves into a pannikin, stirred some sugar in then took it to Harry who was now sitting up. ‘How you feelin', mate?' He handed him the mug.

‘Bit stiff.' He arched his back. ‘Me head feels a bit funny but not too bad.' He looked around, confusion in his expression. ‘How did I get back here, Jack?'

‘Drink up the tea, Harry, it's got some special medicine in it to get you better.' He urged after Harry took a sip and frowned, peering into the mug. ‘We went out and looked, mate. Uncle Warri found ya. Waited until the birds told us where ya were.'

‘What birds? How did the birds tell ya where I was?'

‘Never mind, I'll explain later. The main thing is that you're OK. I was worried about you and then
really
worried when we found ya. You were as crook as a dog and couldn't speak or move. Just lyin' there in the hot sun under a bush. I thought you were dead, mate … honest! What happened?'

‘It's all a bit fuzzy, can't remember anythin' about bein' under a bush or you blokes findin' me.' He finished the tea and shuddered. ‘Tastes pretty horrible that; what's in it?'

Jack explained briefly about the leaves but didn't elaborate how Warri had chewed the roots to put on the cut on his arm when Harry noticed the rough bandage and asked what it was.

‘I got pretty scared out there, Jack, when I came off Dolly. I musta been knocked out or somethin' 'cause the first thing I knew I was lyin' in the sand with the sun beatin' down on me and no horse in sight. I thought I knew where the camp was but I musta just wandered around in circles because I can remember crossin' over me own tracks once or twice. Hard to get yer bearin' out there.'

‘We've both learned a big lesson from this, Harry. How did ya come off Dolly? You were ridin' real good.'

‘Snake,' Harry said. ‘I was ridin' along and saw a bit of a gully with a few mulga trees and thought it could be the water hole. I went down the slope past a fallen log when this bloody great snake …' he held his arms outstretched. ‘… Musta been six feet long easy, whipped out from the log right beside us. Before I had time to think, Dolly shied, reared up and turned at the same time. I wasn't ready for it and just fell off. Musta hit me head on the log.'