by DB Daglish
The main complex - usually unoccupied at night, was swiftly checked and being empty, was also abandoned to the flames. Now on the beach they lingered near the sea, ready to wade in if necessary for the smoke and heat were overbearing. Finally, after many anxious minutes, it became clear the fire was not spreading west and a call went out for people to come into the streets and back to harbor-side.
Confusion was everywhere and people rushed this way and that, trying to find individuals. Being night-time, it was already hard to see and fear scattered everyone anyway. During the night a few were sent back toward the fire front to see who might still be trapped. They reported the brick apartment building above the surf club as alight and no one was to be found, whether alive or dead. But the good news was that the fire had burned itself out northwards and was just reaching west a little, as it could find combustible trees and shrubs. From the upper levels of the youth complex the extent of the fire was monitored and advice dispatched to those on the ground. As a faint light appeared in the west; indicating morning was coming, the fires seemed to run out of fuel, once they reached the multilevel apartments beyond the residential homes. For these homes once had gardens, and twenty seven years of growth had created ample fuel for fires which burned ferociously until as that was left was concrete where little dry vegetation existed. Only one apartment on the harbor side had succumbed to the flames. As it burned - the structure weakened, causing it to collapse amid screams from a few watching some two blocks back. And as it fell, sending dust and ash high into the sky, the rays of the morning’s sun cast finally cast its reach over the peninsula hill to reveal a scene of utter devastation.
The first task involved checking who was missing. No drills had been carried out for over ten years, therefore it took some time to find that only one resident from the College Green and five of the youth were missing. So far no one had been able to ascertain what had occurred at Colin’s Beach until a group of four appeared along the road. These four had taken the roads to ‘jump rock’ where they had seen the extent of the true extent of the fire. With most buildings at the retirement area alight they climbed down to the beach and up the rock cliff on the other side. Heat and debris held them back until they heard some cries for help. Bravely, Jermaine stood and ran, bursting into the door of the last building not fully alight, pulling out the only person he could find back across the grass and to the cliff edge. Even the grass was now catching fire and the vegetation around them burst into flames at treetop level. There was no way they could get old Foggarty down quickly and although they tried to shield him, the heat forced them over the edge.
“Where is he then?” asked Carol. She was quite fond of old Foggarty.
Mik shook his head. “We tried, but as we had to leap into the water, we had no option but to push him off with us!”
“And?” she asked desperately.
Mik shook his head once more and he would not speak of it. For they had tried, but as the old man had fallen, already burned and in panic, his head had hit the only rock in the water at that spot. He was killed instantly. Jon’s arm was hurt from hitting the same rock, and he was taken away by some of the women to get attention for him.
An urgent meeting was held on the wharf area. Germaine was the closest thing to a community leader and he organized three groups of six to enter the burned zones and report of damage and causalities. If any were found alive, one was to come back immediately and report. Eventually Ricky decided to join them.
Gingerly they scoured the western flank of the peninsula, checking where the elderly had been living, but all buildings were now burned to the ground. Three bodies were found outside that had escaped the flames but were overcome with smoke. Foggarty’s body was found on the beach where the boys had dragged him.
Up the hill they followed the path of the flames until they came to the College Green row of houses. Inside the third house, on the lower floor, Jack was found where he had been attempting to get old Mrs Miles down the stairs. It appeared that the smoke had overcome him before he could reach the outside air, just five meters away. The large building that housed the main meeting and meal halls was destroyed, but inexplicably the kitchen area was largely untouched. Following the main path of the fire, they ended up at the beach and returned to the inner harbor wharf to report.
Will and Bianca scoured the upper reaches of the hill, circling back to where the community was waiting. But Joel and Rhys took more time at the retirement area to try to find the source of the fire. Here they found Ricky. Everything south of Barney’s house was largely untouched. It seemed the fire may have started there. His cottage was burned but the outside south wall still had paint upon it, indicating that the winds that had picked up as night fell, pushing the fire in the other direction. Inside his charred body lay on the bed which had collapsed to the floor amid the ceiling tiles and debris that littered the small house. An empty jerry can lay on its side on the floor. Ricky knelt to examine the scene a little closer upon seeing a bubbled substance in a line on the floor. His eye could a glimpse of something colored as he moved some of the still warm debris. Near the bed a small piece of hosing lay – melted, but still distinguishable. He carefully picked it up, wrapped it in his shirt and came outside to Bianca.
“Find anything?” she asked.
“I think so. Let’s go back and I’ll explain it there!”
“What is in the shirt?” she asked again.
He opened it to reveal the hosing. She looked at Will with a questioning look. “Why are you bringing this back Ricky?”
“There was a can with what we used to call petrol. You may not have seen it, as most of it would have gone rotten by now. If you inhale it long enough you die a quiet death!”
The two younger ones looked at each other. They had no idea of what Ricki was talking about.
“It is also flammable. Like the meth’s you guy use…you know the purple liquid stuff?” he questioned.
“Oh, now I know!” Will said. “So how did this make the fire start…oh…” he said working it out for himself. “The candles!”
“Exactly. And look at the destruction that came of it! I’ve already told your leaders that open flame candles are an accident waiting to happen. There are those of us from New Haven, Don and Ryan in particular, who have experienced a loss of life due to a candle!”
As they returned, their private thoughts and feelings remained unspoken. Sometimes things were best left unsaid.
Back with the others, discussion began about the fire’s origins. Some asked why the Major would have a can of flammable liquid beside his bed. But Don already knew. Barney was using the hose to inhale enough fumes to die; maybe as he did he knocked the candle and can over. There was no doubt in this mind that Barney had tried to end it. The comment at Marcus’s burial confirmed it.
So Barney’s attempt at a quiet death to end it all and save him the pain, and others the hassle of looking after him, ultimately cost nine lives. None more tragic than the young life of Jack who was only eighteen.
A second day of burials now began. The first being the elderly who were buried at the edge of the unburned bush near where they had died. The second was Mrs Miles, who was buried in the College Green beside Marcus, and the third was Jack. He was laid to rest in a deep sand grave at the end of the harbor beach were the old marine-life building was. Jack was a much loved young man and a favorite of the girls, already having three children to his name. He was sorely missed and many would go to sit at Jacks spot when lonely or hurting, to talk to him; for Jack had been a very willing listener, maybe the reason he had scored so many girls?
The next week was a somber one. But life had to go on, and it was the visitors who rallied the locals into setting up new premises. They helped transfer goods and kitchen gear to a new headquarters although eventually the old seminary would become the favorite of the older ones, as it had been in the very early days. But they needed to start doing something, and the activity allowed changes and by the end of the wee
k everything was transported up the hill to the old building. In honor of old Barney, for few would let the truth be known, a flag was flown from the turret but this time was left up permanently. Four weeks of activity were put into making the old seminary grounds useable - for this old complex had been unused for many long years. As everyone, including children, were used to help - the old grounds were quickly knocked into shape. A stone cairn was built over Marcus and Alice’s graves, and it could see seen from the third level of the seminary and the turret.
By this time the New Haven crews were becoming restless once more. While helping others was pleasing, they needed to finish their task and prepared to embark on the second phase which was to sail up the coast to Brisbane. Dirk and Rosa, two of the three from Lord Howe, were thinking of staying behind on the mainland. If they decided to stay permanently they could do so before Fallon and Donny were collected off the island for the sail home in several weeks time. But the sense of adventure had them decide to go. After all, they could decide on staying at Manly upon their return.
As the yachts were getting their final check, by Tia this time, Lenny and Janie were sitting with some friends on the dock discussing the past. Lenny revealed the events at Picton where firearms were used and his life prior with the gang Frigo led. Discussion moved to firearms in general. It was true many firearms were kept, but as life continued in the years after the deaths, danger from roving bands of thugs reduced as solid communities formed. It was true Melbourne was the exception, but talk moved toward America, where the problems started.
“Many ordinary people owned firearms,” Lenny explained. “I imagine there would be a lot of gun violence and arguments!”
“Why?” asked Phoebe. “Just owing one doesn’t make you use it?”
“In desperate times, having a firearm would add security, and in my personal experience, if those in the city had firearms we wouldn’t have dared attack them.”
“Well there you go,” she said. “Guns sometimes prevent violence!”
Janie shook her head. “I don’t know Phoebes…having something to fire in anger might not be a good thing.”
“Well, it’s a circular argument because we don’t really know, and I imagine eventually things would settle down. But I would hate to think of fortresses being needed just to survive. Surely mankind is better than that?”
“You’d hope!” Lenny added as he gazed to his right where three rather scraggly looking people were dragging a cart behind a scrawny looking horse. “Hey look…”
They stood to their feet as these were obviously travelers who had come a long way; by the looks of them. With them was a Blue Heeler, one of the famous Australian cattle dogs. By the time they began to approach, others had joined them to view this strange looking sight. Janie gave them all a hug as it looked like they desperately needed one. They were taken the lower level of the wharf complex and Lenny followed even as Chris indicated they were getting ready to sail. The strangers were welcomed, fed, allowed to shower and change their clothes while the horse was taken to the farmer paddocks for care and attention. ‘Blue’ their dog was fed, and allowed to romp on the beach with some of the children but the dog was tired and eventually sought solace in the shade of some trees after a quick swim.
Lenny could hear the ongoing discussion in the lobby area. A weird comment surfaced about lack of cats, when he was eventually called for. The yachts were about to leave.
“Can we delay leaving?”
“Why? We are not responsible for them!” Chris advised.
“Still - it’s fascinating. I’ll be there in half an hour or so!”
The yachts were set, and the two smaller ones were already sailing toward the harbor entrance when Lenny arrived back. Jumping onto the schooner, they cast off and proceeded to follow. Chris was secretly hoping those on the island would allow them to keep the schooner for their return journey home. Eventually they caught up with the others as they entered the Pacific, and began to sail past the Manly ocean beach.
“So who were those people Lenny?” Ryan asked.
“They are from down south at Melbourne,” he replied.
“And they came by horse?” he asked. “That is a long way on horseback man!”
“They’ve been traveling for three weeks plus non-stop...”
Suddenly a call came from Chris, “Hey dudes…the beach?
And they looked back they could see people waving frantically.
“Ha, we are finally getting a decent goodbye,” and they waved back as they set the sails and picked up speed to catch up with the others.
Later that night the discussion continued about the bedraggled travelers they had seen earlier that day. But one comment caught the attention of Bryce and he quickly interrupted.
“You say one of them was sick?”
“Yes. Just one of them mind you!” Lenny stressed.
“And he came from Melbourne too?”
“Too? From what I heard only the one who was sick did…can’t remember his name. But Janet and Forty…that’s a weird name aye!, well they used to live in Melbourne in a small community but things got a little too weird so they went out on their own to run a farm just north of the city. That’s where the other guy appeared one day after finding the city in the grip of a panic. Some were sick and things were once again getting violent; so he left. As I recall…when he told them about some local warfare occurring, they decided to ensure they were well away from it and try to get to Sydney to see if it was better up here. They used pack horses…I can’t remember what she said about why they only arrived with one. Anyway - that’s all I know!”
“Cats!”
“Aye?”
“Cats. You mentioned something about cats?” Ryan stated.
“Yeah…a lack of cats or something?”
“Like they all died off?”
“I don’t know, they said a lack of cats not no cats. Look – I don’t know? Ask him yourself when we get back,” Lenny said. “I want to eat and get some sleep.”
But Ryan was thinking of Newcastle – the first place they had arrived at on their journey. That place had no cats!
Chapter 6
David survived the first virus outbreak along with a few others. He wandered Melbourne looking for company and reassurance at such an emotional time. Sixty people eventually found each other at the end of three days, but squabbles began very quickly and they splintered into three groups by the end of the week.
One group grew as others arrived adding to their number. Yet other groups reduced in number with a moody darkness seeming to capture the hearts of younger ones. It was at this point that David left for the community who had settled out east nearer the reservoir. Here he met Janet and a friendship developed over several months before they started sleeping together and paired permanently. In conversation he had let it be known he dreaded turning forty. Still only twenty-one, the nickname ‘Forty’ stuck with him all his life.
In the eastern suburbs, they were now all armed and able to defend themselves. However, attacks from the southern group and yet another senseless murder caused them to flee north some forty miles or so. Here they eventually set up a farm on the hill and away from possible interference. But the day they left was not a pleasant one. Janet had been in the gardens, weeding around the vegetables when a face appeared over the fence. She screamed in fright - not because it was a stranger, but that she was startled. But when she realized it was not one of her companions, she yelled for help.
Bryce was the first on the scene but he had no weapon. A shot narrowly missed him as now a group of five crossed into the property. Janet was quickly taken, and they moved carefully toward the building where others now arrived, some with weapons.
“We don’t want to hurt you?” one called out.
“Then why shoot at us?”
“Just to let you know our intentions,” the same one replied.
“And what exactly are they?” Max asked as he strode forward with a rifle in hand. He tried to
look as menacing as he could; that was not hard as he stood some six foot four inches tall.
“Food. We want food!”
“Well why not come and ask for it instead of demanding it?” Max asked. “It’s not like we wouldn’t help you. Now let Janet go, and we’ll talk!”
Janet was being kept back by a younger one some ten meters behind, near the fence line. He held her arms tightly to prevent her from wriggling free.
“Nah. I think we’ll have some food and keep this one with us. She’s cute!”
“Hey. We don’t want any trouble mate, but she is not going anywhere with you!” Max insisted.
“Just let her go Mike,” one of the gang said to their leader.
“Shut up Dan, you’ll do what I say,” and at that Rory burst through the gap between the buildings with a rifle aimed at the one they called Mikey.
“I think his suggestion was a wise one,” he called, as he paced forward.
Mikey turned behind him. “Hold her tightly Jonno, if I’m hit - kill her!” and he faced backed towards Rory who now stood about six meters away. There was nothing on Mikey’s face to indicate he was worried. In all his years since the great death, he had always had his way, and fear was his greatest weapon. He knew they’d capitulate eventually; they always did, and when they did they would pay dearly for it.
Forty had seen the commotion, and also where Janet was being restrained. He was by now halfway way along the fence line, crawling quietly in the grass. In his hand was a small ax he had been using on some fruit trees further down the property. In addition, strapped to his side was a pistol he had quickly retrieved from one the buildings when he first saw the strangers arrive. It was a dangerously tense state of affairs for none of the eleven in this community knew what to do, and they waited for leadership from Max and Rory. Insults were traded back and forth but the situation was getting hopeless. Both sides knew this had escalated to a point where retraction was not an option, and there was no way this was ever going to end peaceably.