by Leo Nix
“Sir?” said McFly, “Wiram has new arrivals doesn't he. Are they involved and what numbers?” Most of this news was new to Sundown's staff.
“Yes, there's five fighters and they're now part of Ahmet's patrol. We've been chatting with them for months on the CB, not everyone knows that. They just got in last night and now they're in contact with the enemy. The poor buggers are probably exhausted. They've been fighting the Revelationists in Adelaide all year and escaped through the Flinders Ranges. They had a few contacts with the terrorist supporters there too.
“They've brought back Roo and Bongo and more survivors from the region. Roo and Bongo are both out of action though. It seems they had a tangle with the terrorists in the ranges and got themselves pretty badly shot up. They're recovering well though.” He stopped and asked his 2IC, Thompson, to continue.
“Thank you, Colonel, yes, Birdsville have new additions, five active fighting age men experienced in battle. They also brought back your two from the Flinders who were wounded fighting the Revelationist supporters out there. Your Roo and Bongo, as Sundown said, they're both recovering well. Our Sergeant Ahmet has gone as support with Cambra and Pellino, plus the five extras on bikes. It's going to be an interesting contact in this rain.” They all stopped to listen to the rain falling heavily on the tin roof just as Pinkie and Lorraine brought in trays with sandwiches and pots of tea and coffee.
“Colonel Vic, sir, any news on the bikers and Assassin? We know our Bushmaster One One Charlie was knocked out but we've been kept in the dark by the general's staff here,” said Shadow, she wore a serious look on her face.
“They're on their way in. Seems they've had a hell of a time but should be back at Birdsville by evening. They've had serious losses and I'll give more details when we find out.” Thompson stopped to consider what to say next.
“To sum it all up, the Stosstruppen ambushed our patrols. Their tactics appear to be somewhat different to previous contacts you lot have had and they've been successful in knocking out both patrols. It also helps that they had Javelins and overwhelming numbers. They outsmarted us, they read us like a book and took advantage of our complacency. We need to smarten up or it'll happen again.” He turned to Sundown. “Sir, I think it's now time to eat our sandwiches then speak to the men, I can see they've formed up and are waiting.”
'You may look like you've stepped straight out of Dad's Army, Thompson, but you're a damn fine officer,' Sundown thought to himself.
Pedro wheeled himself over to Sundown's chair and they chatted with Pinkie and Thompson. A few minutes into their sandwiches Bill arrived, his arm in a sling and a uniformed officer in tow.
“Good morning, Sundown, hi everyone.” Bill smiled around the table noting how everyone looked so formal in their uniforms. “I thought you should meet Captain Walker. He's interested in helping scour the countryside for survivors once I'm able to fly again. I've also found a half dozen pilots who know this place like the back of their hands. There's a few other planes and helicopters out there we can use as well.”
“Thanks, Bill, good work. I've heard of you Captain Walker, nice work on the retreat from Darwin. I believe you rescued the armoured corps, thank you.” Sundown invited the two to sit and eat with them.
After their hurried breakfast Sundown inspected his command with Lt Colonel Thompson and Major Lewis. It continued to rain but no one cared. Sundown noticed their bright, expectant faces as he quietly performed the inspection. He then announced they had their own flag and there arose a spontaneous cheer as Lt Colonel Thompson brought it out.
Thompson was clearly moved as he held up the replica Lulu and Danni made for his ASLAV. Alice Springs Command, Third Army now had their own flag and the Mount Isa battle honours sat proudly at the very top.
“Gentlemen and women, this is the start of something special. You will have noticed this is just a replica, the original is at Birdsville, which I promise you, I'll bring back to its rightful home, Alice Springs Command,” said Lt Colonel Thompson proudly.
Major Lewis and his company worked furiously to get their armoured carriers ready. Even though they were in storage he, Walker and Thompson had continued to service them on a regular basis for such a day as today. It wasn't until the next day that the convoy was ready.
The major made sure his crew chiefs, drivers and gunners had light-enhanced night vision, no doubt they would be fighting at night. If they left now it would take them three to five days to cross the Simpson Desert to Birdsville if the rain cleared but that might be too late to save Sundown's community.
Chapter 22 - The Christian Palace
The commando's safe house was a luxurious cattle station a few hours out from Birdsville, an oasis in the middle of the desert. The money that must have gone into what was known as the 'Christian Palace' belied description. The new arrivals spent their first few hours just walking around admiring the artworks and the opulence of the forty bedroom mansion.
“Hey! Why didn't we move in here in the first place? We could have been living like royalty all this time, Lulu cried out when she saw that each bedroom was like a luxury apartment, complete with bathroom, gold plated taps and all.
Wilma explained over a late lunch, that the 'palace' belonged to a church leader, not one of the Revelationists though.
“You know, those blokes on TV, they sing and dance and get up to all sorts of things with people they shouldn't. Praise the Lord, thanks for this gift in our time of need.” Everyone laughed, they were in high spirits. Nothing could go wrong now, even the rain couldn't dampen their spirits.
The children were in their own piece of heaven. When the rain forced them indoors they were mostly under people's feet until they were shown the games rooms. The dogs had free run of the palace too, but when Mel caught them pooping on the expensive rugs she chased them out, everyone was fed up with them by then.
Eventually Sundown's Commando settled into their new home. The local ladies were all experienced in running motels, hotels and caravan parks, they had the organisation side down pat. They even put Fat Boy in a room nearest the kitchen.
Charlene told Mel she wanted to sleep in the staff quarters outside because she needed solitude. Mel knew it was really so she could be close to Roo. Roo carried what gear he could in his one arm and insisted he sleep outside in his swag with Dog and Cat. Jenny made him choose one of the staff quarters instead. These opened to the back of the house where they overlooked the tractor and work sheds. It made him feel a lot happier than having to stay inside the big house.
Charlene asked Lenny if he would help them move their gear from the trucks into their rooms, which now happened to be next to each other.
Lenny and the children were all smiles, they helped the two wounded heroes and were chuffed when Roo let them play with Cat. Cat had a reputation for cussedness and would only let 'very special human slaves' touch him. He put up with the children's attention because it allowed him to stay with Roo.
Dog on the other hand was more interested in Red Dog. It turned out that Red Dog was on heat and much preferred Dog's attention to her brothers Black Dog and Blue Dog. The dog's behaviour perplexed the city kids but simply amused the country ones, they'd seen all kinds of animals in the act of mating, wild and domestic.
It was Katie who helped Fat Boy set up the kitchen. Between the two of them they looked after Elle and little Harry while they went through the cupboards and began to make out a list of what they needed to bring back from Birdsville. In between rain squalls Fatima was outside with Phil and Andy pegging down the damaged chicken coup fence so the dingoes, foxes and feral cats wouldn't get in and kill Fatima's new lodgers.
“They're my pride and joy,” said Fatima. “We've kept these poor birds alive through a whole year of terrorist hell followed by a thousand kilometre drive with them stuck on the roof of the trailer. It's amazing they're still alive.”
Phil added, “It's amazing Nulla's driving didn't blow their feathers off.”
Fatima ignored him as she continue
d with what she wanted to say. “Andy, did you know that bloody rooster nearly cost us all our lives?” Andy looked at the scrawny thing and shook his head. “Well, we pulled into a motel not realising it was right next to the terrorist's road block. The damn thing wouldn't stop crowing so they came to investigate. That's when Arty got shot, poor boy, he was so brave.”
Phil cut in, “Arty saw them and fired at the same time they fired at him. He knocked one down but one of their bullets sliced his arm from elbow to wrist, nasty it was. He'd only just recovered from being shot in the leg and blown up by a grenade. He's a great kid, he's our good luck charm,” said Phil, with a proud smile.
Bongo was the only one who couldn't help and he felt completely useless. He spent most of his time sitting, watching. He peeled potatoes for Fat Boy; spliced some rope ends for Phil and Andy; then packed pots and pans into the cupboards, all the while moving awkwardly on a foot stool around the enormous country kitchen. Eventually he gave up, not even Roo was available for him to sit with, he was always with Charlene these days.
His leg was swollen again so he asked Katie to put some of her magic mixture on it. It helped ease the feeling of ants biting him. The wounded scout then climbed up the stairs to sit in the enormous covered patio and watched the rain. Cat jumped into his lap and began to purr. Bongo decided that if he was to be of any use he needed to heal.
He thought of Lucy again. During the desert trek to Birdsville, they'd only spoken a few times, and that was about the meal or the weather or some other boring subject. He tried, but every time he got near her, he was struck dumb. He even stuttered a few times when he tried to speak about how he liked her, and he'd never stuttered in his life. So he gave up. The final week he just said hello and didn't bother to go near her, she didn't even notice the difference. He felt miserable.
Floating up to him came the comforting sounds of ducks on the lagoon, children laughing and the noises of families sorting out their holiday lodgings. So he eased back, patted Cats tangled fur, and fell asleep to the sound of rain on the roof. An unfinished game of solitaire on the table beside him.
Heidi, Danni and Lulu weren't idle either. When they arrived the first thing they did was put on their rain gear and patrol the perimeter of the palace. Tricia asked Lucy to stay inside the building and just hang around to guard the house itself, while the three warrior girls were out patrolling.
Tricia noticed Lucy was acting awkward and lost. The poor woman couldn't hide behind Annie because her daughter was busy running around with the other kids. Despite attempting to draw the newcomer into conversation, Tricia finally gave up and went back to running their new household. But as she observed the newcomer she sensed that there might be trouble if the woman didn't settle in soon.
Lucy occupied her mind with thoughts of Nulla. His strong arms, his manly scent and his deep brown eyes. It wasn't that she'd fallen in love with the aboriginal soldier, rather, thinking of him made her feel safe, safe from harm, but more so safe from loneliness. It didn't occur to her that Glenda would be jealous. Glenda was so… she thought for a moment, Glenda was always so comfortable just being Glenda.
The main property was enormous, there were machinery sheds; outhouses for the stockmen and house servants; what looked like an outdoor cinema; and a swimming pool kept to capacity with bore water rising out of the ground at around thirty degrees Celsius. There was even a labyrinth of native bushes complete with statues and ponds.
None of the commando had been out to the Christian Palace for months. When Bill and Pellino visited they hadn't done any serious patrolling, just walked in through the front door and out the back. The warrior girls were told to be on their guard in case there were residents hiding out there somewhere.
Before dinner was called the three girls returned to see the children playing by the lagoon and sat with them for a few minutes to enjoy the scenery.
“Will ya look at that. Beautiful ain't it?” said Lulu. “But them bloody dogs, weren't they suppose to come with us and help patrol?”
Heidi was excited to be part of this little group of lively, like-minded teenagers. “Yes, but all they've done is chase that poor Red Dog.”
She could now see Roo's Dog and Red Dog, it looked like they were getting overly friendly with each other. “What's going on with them? They're acting really strange.”
The two aboriginal girls laughed delightedly. “City girl, don't you know what dogs do? They're getting ready to mate, you know, make puppies!” squealed Danni. “Red Dog is gonna have puppies, they're going to be so much fun.” The three girls laughed for the sheer joy of being alive.
That afternoon Tricia, Harry and Andy sat down with everyone as they sorted out rosters and routines. Everything went through them, any decision that impacted on the community was their jurisdiction.
“Why the hell do we have to go through you lot? Who put you in charge then?” was Lucy's contribution after a horrid day managing Annie, four dogs and Jenny's three kids. Lucy was frazzled and stressed, but Tricia wasn't going to let this attitude continue. She knew it was now or never to establish the order necessary to maintain harmony in the commando.
Running the wing of a busy city hospital taught her a lot about diplomacy and communication. She rarely needed to assert herself these days because everyone in the commando pulled together as a family. But here was this new arrival with a divisive attitude.
“I'm sorry? Lucy, isn't it?” she said politely. “Where you came from I guess no one bothered to pitch in to help?”
“Where I came from they murdered my husband and I live to see every Revelationist pay for it with their lives. I didn't sign on to be told what to do by the likes of you three. I'm an adult, I have a child to care for and I'm not going to kowtow to you,” Lucy spat back.
She was tired and knew she was being unreasonable, but with Nulla on a dangerous patrol she was becoming frantic. In fact she felt lonely and lost.
Nulla came into her life at her lowest point, just when she needed someone. He'd even made her leader of the group that day in Arkaroola. He trusted her, he believed in her. The handsome aboriginal warrior was the rock she leaned on, but now he was off fighting and might never come back, like Tony. Lucy was frightened, and close to tears.
“I'm sorry, lovey,” said Tricia smoothly, “but you don't have to be here if you don't want, no one is forcing you to stay. If you decide to stay then please accept that we need to do things for the safety and harmony of our community.” Except for the 'lovey' slip, Tricia felt she handled this quite well.
“Well screw you and your 'community'. I wasn't brought up to…” Lucy was just standing up when Glenda quickly stood and forced her back into her chair with a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Sorry, Tricia, Lucy's had a hell of a time. Let me look after her.” Glenda looked towards the three at the end of the table and then down at Lucy.
The fragile lady with the fiery temper sat silent for a moment, the sound of her choking back wet tears made everyone quite uncomfortable. She wiped her sleeve across her eyes.
“I'm sorry, I have to go now.” She stood quickly and strode off to the front door and down the steps. Glenda limped after her.
She met Lucy at the duck pond which was once a beautiful, manicured lagoon. Now it was unkempt and neglected. Andy had commented that the potential to bring it back to it's former glory was still there. The two house rats sat down in a covered picnic setting and stared at the ducks floating quietly on the pond surface as the rain came sheeting down once more.
It was quite surreal, until Black Dog and Blue Dog came racing over. Thinking it was their right to chase the ducks they barked and ran into the water.
“I'm sorry, Glenda,” said Lucy, “I'm scared for Nulla. I know he's yours and all but he's my closest friend. I love him… but not in that way, you know what I mean.” She felt awkward and vulnerable right then so Glenda just sat quietly and listened.
“I'm a moody bitch when I want to be, you know, just ask ever
yone. But until Nulla comes back I don't know how I'll be able to cope.” She started to tear up and that started Glenda feeling miserable.
They sat there crying on each others shoulders until little Annie came running over, calling for her mother. Liam, Danielle and Lenny were running, trying to keep up. The rain had stopped, but rain or shine, nothing stopped the children having fun that day.
“Mummy! Mummy! You've got to see this!” she yelled from across the park-like front lawn. “Roo's Dog was pushing Red Dog and now they're stuck!”
Lucy and Glenda turned to see what she was talking about. Lucy looked across the lawn and saw the dogs, “What on earth?” she mouthed softly her face a perplexed frown.
Lenny helped them out. “Miss Lucy, me mum usually throws water at them. That sometimes makes them unstuck,” he said, laughing at Annie and Lucy's reaction.
“I think we might just leave them alone for now, Annie,” said Glenda, she'd seen the same thing as a kid in Malaysia, she knew they were doing what dogs do. “Just don't go near them, they might bite you.”
Annie was the happiest child now she had friends, not just friends but friends who loved to play with her. She had all the toys she'd brought from Adelaide and they played up a storm in the car trip to the 'Christian Palace'. They were as close as a pack of dingo pups.
“Glenda, do you think we can go for a walk?” asked Annie completely forgetting about the dogs. Lucy noticed she and Danielle were holding hands, they were much the same age and were almost like sisters. The scene softened Lucy's heart and she started crying again.
“Glenda, can you and mum take us around the property before it gets dark? Please? We want to see the cattle sheds but they look scary. Lenny said there might be ghosts.”
“Sure, let's go. But we stick together, and no running off without telling us. Got it? That's the commando's rules here, no one does anything without telling someone.” Glenda reiterated the rules the adults had already told the kids a dozen times that day.