Outback Exodus (12 page)

I fall on my sleeping bag and doze off to sleep quickly as the sun goes down. It’s been a long day on top of a very busy night. I don’
t hear a thing until Sandra comes to wake me just on midnight. Sandra hands me the steaming mug of coffee she is holding in her right hand and then flops down on the sleeping bag beside me.

“Our party just grew by five in the last hour.” She says with a grin. “A family saw the dust trail and decided to come out and investigate. They arrived just an hour ago and are getting settled now. Two more adults and three kids, not a scratch on any of them either.” She finished, knowing that I would want to know if they needed help.

“Do they have food, tents and bedding?” I ask quickly

“Yes, and clothes, the dog is also with them.” Sandra
replies. “The vehicle is a 4 x 4 too, so they should present no problems as far as transport goes.”

“That is good news; I was worried for a moment that we would need to find room in the other vehicles if necessary. Still we can always find room for a few more. It just means putting kids on adult laps and I am pretty sure that Gavin won’t be handing out tickets if we have to do that at some stage.” I laugh as I say the last words, the image of Gavin, ticket book in
hand; wandering up and down the convoy handing out tickets seems laughable.

“Where are they camped?” I ask Sandra
“I will go over and introduce myself on the way to my shift at the hospital tent.” I tell her.

“They ar
e in the old green and cream 4 x 4 with the trailer on that is parked just behind our tents.” Sandra informs me and goes on to say “They won’t need an intro; this will be more of a reunion for you.” She smiles widely and opens the flap.

There standing outside is my sister Jasmine and her family. The twin boys David and Jacob and her daughter Carol have grown so much since I last saw them six months ago. Jasmine jumps forward and throws her arms around my neck in a huge hug. Her husband Stewart smiling enfolds us both in a bear hug and the children try and squirm into the family cuddle. Jasmine’s dog Diamond is tail wagging at the sitting position and waiting for a pat. Tears of joy course down our faces as our family holds each other close.

“Who put manure in your boots?” I ask David and Jacob, their identical faces are looking at me and I try once again to sort out who is who. “Okay, tell your Auntie Jenn which of you is which before I get totally confused.” I say to the 10 year old faces.

“I am David and I have this scar on my face
, Jacob has no scar so it’s easy to tell us apart.” David giggles as he points to a small scar just above his right eye. I laugh down at his solemn face and tell him that I remember him doing that long before Uncle Ken died. He was running around at the farm and ran right into the door post.

Carol hangs back just a little, her tiny face surrounded by wild blonde curls. At just five years old she doesn’t know me as well as the boys do and is just a little shy. Hardly surprising though as she has also been thrust into a situation that is so out of the ordinary. Jasmine draws her forward gently and places her in front of me. Her deep brown eyes glow behind those beautiful curls and she smiles shyly. I lean down and touch those soft curls and smooth them away from her face and then her smile lights up her face. She remembers me doing that so often last time we were together.
“Hewo Auntie Jenn.” She lisps quietly. “Where is puppy, I want to play with her.” She has not forgotten the friendship that she formed with puppy during the week that the family came to stay at the farm.

“Puppy is sleeping in the fire truck.” I tell her and she scampers over to the truck to open the door and scramble up to play with her friend.

“Jasmine, I have to go across to the hospital now and help out.” I tell my sister. “Do you want to come over and chat when I get my breaks or are you still setting up here?” I fire questions quickly as I am going to be late if I don’t get going soon.

“I’ll come over shortly.” Jasmine says. “We need to catch up and find out what has happened to each other so I need to talk to you.”

Jasmine and I are close as we lost our parents when we were in our teens and have been each other’s closest confidents ever since. As I am the oldest I had taken on the mothering role with Jasmine and we had always shared our problems. They always seemed lighter when we shared them. I had been worried about my sister and her family, but as I had not been able to contact them had hoped that they were okay. To my joy those hopes had been realized, Jasmine had found me.

As I step away from the family I turn to look back and wave, walk a few more step and turn to gaze at them again. I am finding it hard to believe that they have survived and we are together again.
Finally I turn towards the hospital, take a deep breath and continue walking towards the single tent that now comprises our hospital.

Krystal is already in the tent when I arrive and Helen is curled up on a stretcher in the corner. James is awake and propped on pillows. The other seven patients are sleeping quietly. I am hoping for a quiet night tonight.

“Hey James, how are you doing?” I ask as I walk over to the bed.

“I am good Jenn, not too much pain; Helen gave me some morphine a little earlier though as it had crept up to a seven on the pain scale.” James smiles at me as he fills me in on his pain. “I did have a fantastic day though Jenn, I never thought that I would leave Smithtown again. The destruction is terrible from the earthquake, but I know that you are all strong enough to rebuild and make new lives no matter what you find. I just hope that I can hang on for a while and see how things go. I am planning on it for sure.” His blue eyes twinkle as he says this and his lips are set in a very determined line.

“I have a feeling that you just might hang around for a while too James.” I say. “I have seen people who are determined to hang on do so for far longer than medical science can account for. You have a very strong will and I have the feeling that it will burn for quite a while yet.” I finish with a smile.

“Think I’d better get some shut eye though girl.” James says quietly. “It’s going to be another long day tomorrow. G’night Jenn.”

“Goodnight James, sleep well.” I say as I settle his pillows and he snuggles beneath the light blanket on the bed.

I quietly walk towards the tent flap and the two folding chairs and a table that are sitting just outside. Krystal is already there and settled with a coffee in her hand. There is another steaming mug on the table waiting for me. I take a mouthful and grimace, I never was fond of long life milk, but that is all we have for the moment, so it will have to do.

“What a surprise you would have had to see Jasmine.” Krystal states as I settle in the chair beside her.

“It was a bit of a shock to be honest Krystal. I had hoped that they had come through okay, but I had to wait to check on them to get this convoy organised and everyone out of Smithtown.” I say. “I knew we would be passing their place on the way to Gunnedah and had planned on stopping there to check on them and see if they wanted to come with us.” I finish quietly.

“Looks like they have made the decision to come with us mate.” Krystal says with a smile. “Jasmine was over the moon when she found us and then to hear that you were okay had made her day. They were heading through to John Creek and then out to your property when they found us.” She said.

We both look behind us as a quiet murmur and a rustle is heard. Someone is turning over in their sleep and we watch until they are settled again. Soon the tent is quiet again and only the dim glow of a dying torch lights the space.

“It’s a great way to use up the older batteries that are running out of charge, whose idea was this?” I ask Krystal as the movement inside the tent stops.

“My ever practical husband thought of it. I mentioned that is was harder for the patients to sleep with a full torch light and impossible for us to navigate between the beds without light. His idea was to use up the old batteries that were fading to light the hospital.” Krystal says, proud of Raymond’s practical streak.

“No wonder it bloody works then, Raymond is always full of good ideas and a very practical person.” I say smiling at Krystal.

We talk quietly for a while and glance back through the tent flap often to check on our patients. All remains quiet behind us though. Everyone is tired from the travel. Even though we did not get a great deal of distance between us and Smithtown it was exhausting for those still recovering from injuries.

Footsteps rustle through the grass towards the tent and Krystal and I both look up. A tiny figure of a woman with long dark hair emerges from the darkness and Jasmine smiles as she comes towards the table.

“Got a spare coffee and a seat for a tired sister?” She asks.

“Sure have, pull up a log and sit down.” Krystal stands and heads for the coffee mugs and the kettle swinging above the glowing fire.

Coffee’s in hand the three of us sit quietly for a while and just enjoy the stillness of the night. A Tawny Frog Mouth calls softly into the night and is answered by its mate. The gentle sounds of night are around us and we sit and just relax with our coffee and each other.

“Okay you two fill me in on everything that has happened since the quake and don’t miss a thing.” Jasmine opens the conversation quietly.

Krystal and I smile at each other and I start to tell Jasmine what has been happening to me since the quake. I tell her that Rhys, Caren and I are the only survivors from John Creek that we could find. Sadness tinging my voice as I list the mutual friends who did not make it out alive.

Krystal then tells the tale of how her family and Sandra’s were camping down near the billabong just outside of Smithtown when the quake struck and that is probably the only reason that they all survived. Both houses had been totally demolished by the quake.

I then take up the story of how we have all been working together to get everyone away from the town. I skim quickly over the collapse of the hospital and the loss of life there. Then go into the preparation for the journey and tell Jasmine where we are heading.

Jasmine then fills us in on how they all survived the quake as Carol had been sick and they had been heading for the local hospital when it struck. It was chance only that they were not home and when they turned around to drive home they found the house partially collapsed and were able to get inside and retrieve many of their possessions, clothing, bedding and food. Diamond had come
creeping out from under the edge of the garage just after they had arrived home and their family was complete.

A couple of hours talking covered all that had happened to all of us and soon we were sitting contently sipping another coffee and waiting for the sun to rise. The early chorus of Kookaburra’s started to sing just as the sun’s first rays lit the far horizon and the camp started to stir. It was time to get breakfast and organise everyone back into their transport for today’s travel.

Tents are pulled down and packed away in the trailers, fires put out and bedding wedged tightly into every available corner. Toilet trenches are filled in and the hospital patients are loaded on their buses and into the ambulances. Children are placed in car seats and dogs are tethered to trailers and the fire truck.

The convoy is once again ready to roll.

The sun is gathering strength as we start the convoy rolling towards Gunnedah. We have so many miles to go before we get there and no one knows what we will find at the other end. Gavin’s voice comes through the emergency radio.

“Jenn, I have been thinking a bit about what we should do as we get closer to Gunnedah.” He says quietly.

“Me too mate, I am not sure that taking everyone straight into town would be the best idea.” I say, checking in the rear vision mirror and seeing Andrew nod in agreement.

I’ve had those thoug
hts too Gavin.” Andrew’s Scottish accent rumbles through the radio.

“I’m glad that we are all on the same wavelength and thinking ahead. Apart from the risk of disease, there is a chance that the folks in Gunnedah won’t be happy to see a mob of more than 200 of us heading into their town. Supplies will be low and people don’t react well when they are under that type of stress.” G
avin speaks quickly and clearly. “I have been thinking that it would be better if only a couple of us scout out the town before we take the rest of the convoy down there.” Gavin finishes his transmission.

“I have to agree that it would be better for just a couple of people to go in, it might just create trouble if we arrive as a mob.” I give Gavin my agreement.
“Any idea who you want to do this?” I ask flipping the transmit button quickly.

“Have not thought that far ahead yet Jenn, but would like to have a full committee meeting tonight to discuss it I think.” Gavin replies.

“Great idea Gavin. I will put up my hand if you like. An old bloke like me should be non-threatening enough.” Andrew offers quickly.

“We will discuss that tonight Andrew, but I will make a note of your offer and thank you.”  Gavin says. “We
need input from the rest of the committee on this one. How does nine pm suit you two” Gavin ends his transmission with a question.

“Nine pm is fine mate.” I tell Gavin and hear Andrew confirm that it is okay with him.

We close the conversation and I place the microphone back on its bracket quickly and concentrate on my driving. David is in the seat beside me and is half turned in his seat belt talking to the younger children and telling stories to keep them amused. His stories are sweet gentle stories of the animals he has seen in the bush. He tells of where they live, their friends and what they do. He has Robin chuckling away and because Robin is laughing so are Tammy and Caren. It is such a lovely sound to hear as the miles tick slowly by.

“Jenn, you are going to have to stop the convoy, we have a very large tree on the road just around the corner.” The crackly tones of Thomas come through the headset. “There is a creek here that is fast flowing and deep on one side and a crevasse on the other, so we are going to have to clear it from the road.” He finishes explaining why there is no alternative route.

“Thanks Thomas.” I say quickly picking up the mike for the general communications and keying the talk button. “Okay everyone, time for a break and get the chainsaws out, as it is one o’clock we can have a lunch stop anyway.” I quickly make sure that everyone is ready to stop and the chainsaw crew are ready to cut this tree up so that the convoy can move forward.

I pull the truck up and ask David to keep an eye on the little ones and puppy while I go and look at the tree. Walking around the corner I see a large, dead gum tree fallen over the road and blocking both lane
s of traffic. It will present no problems for the chainsaws though as we have several different sized saws and plenty of chains and bars, fuel is mixed and ready. The men are already gearing up and checking equipment as I return to the truck.  I go to gear up too, but hear David’s voice above the roar of the chainsaws.

“Auntie Jenn, can you go to number one ambulance?” He says quickly. “There is a problem there and Grant, the driver, wants to talk to you.”

“Okay mate!” I call as I remove the safety gear and start to move quickly towards the vehicle that is parked three behind the fire truck.

As I approach the ambulance Grant steps down from the back and walks towards me. His voice is calm and his eyes are twinkling. From the expression on his face I know that this is not a major disaster.

“Jenn, you had better put your nurse’s hat on and quickly. Wendy has gone into labour and it looks as if Faith is going to need a hand. It’s her first baby and things are moving along quickly.” Grant smiles as he gives me a run down on Wendy’s labour.

As I enter the rear of the ambulance I hear Wendy groan and Faith’s calm tones giving instructions for her to breath.
Across on the other stretcher I see James propped up and smiling gently towards the twisting sweating girl across from him.

I quickly check Wendy over and it is far too late to get James out of the ambulance, Wendy is fully dilated and the head is starting to crown. This baby is in a hurry to be born.

“You are doing great Wendy.” I tell her gently as I take her hands. “Your little one is in a real hurry to join our adventure. I will just go and call Doctor Helen to come up and help with this and you will soon be cuddling your baby.” I smile as I turn towards the doors.

“James, we are not going to be able to get you out before the baby comes, so it looks as if you are going to witness the miracle of birth today.” I grin at the old man as I tell him this.

“It’s not my first birth Jenn, and I can assure you that I won’t get in the way.” James twinkled back.

I go to the front cab of the ambulance and find that Grant has anticipated our need for Helen and has already called her and sent Thomas and Kevin to fetch both her and Gavin on their motorbikes. He smiles as he tells me that both boys were puffed up with their own importance as they headed off on their errands.

The sound of engines approaching fast heralds the return of the boys with their passengers. Helen, hair mussed, is looking slightly uncomfortable as she gets off the back of Thomas’s bike and Gavin is laughing with Kevin as they pull to a stop just a couple of feet from me.

“What’s the problem Jenn?” Gavin asks as he dismounts and gives Kevin a whack on the helmet for going too fast. It’s a gentle one though and Kevin just grins back at Gavin.

“No problem Gavin, in fact it is good news for a change.” My smile growing wide I tell Gavin and Helen about the situation and Helen bustles off to attend the birth alongside Faith and James.

“Well mate, it looks as if we had better set up camp here for the rest of the day and overnight. Gavin states and quickly heads for the radio to tell everyone that although it is an unplanned stop we are going to organise our camp here for the time being. When he gives the reason for the unscheduled stop there are cheers and yells of happiness all up and down the line of vehicles.

“We can use the paddock on the left as a camp spot for the night, there is water in the creek and plenty of wood from the tree that the boys are cutting up.” Gavin’s voice crackles across the airwaves and can be heard clearly from the nearest vehicles. “Let’s get to it folks.” He says and hangs the mike back on its hook beside the radio.

Vehicles pull off through the gate in the paddock and soon there is a bustling as they are unloaded and tents are being erected. Rhys has come down and driven the fire engine into the paddock
and unloaded the children and dogs while the small band of close friends and family are putting up tents. The older children are gathering wood from the tree and fetching water from the creek. A feast is being planned to welcome our newest arrival.

This solitary ambulance is now the only vehicle on the lonely road and the occupants are very busy currently.

I can hear James encouraging Wendy between contractions and Wendy’s groans are getting closer together as the contractions gain strength and the baby’s arrival is imminent.