Nature of Ash, The

by Hager, Mandy

  It takes about twenty minutes before she finally drifts off. I tuck the duvet up around her and turn off the light. If she has to come live with me, I guess I’ll cope, so long as I can keep her calm. Though god knows how I’ll ever get to leave the house.

  Out on the streets of Newtown, all hell has broken loose. There are sirens wailing, angry raised voices, flames lapping at the ancient wooden buildings. I skirt around the edges, careful not to get too close. Behind me someone fires a gun, followed by a scream so terrible it worms into my brain. I start to run, desperate to get the hell away. Head down Hanson Street. Cut over into Tory. Dash from one darkened doorway to the next, all my senses working overtime to outsmart the patrols. Twice I nearly run right into them, the second time only escaping when three little thugs bowl up and start to fire rocks.

  When I’m finally under the wharf beside the old museum again I’m so buggered I can hardly breathe. It’s all very well playing these games online, where if you’re caught you only lose the points you’ve clocked. Here in real life this kind of superhero crap’s so intensely terrifying it drains you completely. I can barely breaststroke back around the waterfront, and by the time I dredge myself out of the harbour my whole body screams.

  But the journey’s been worth it. Somehow it has cleared the blockage in my head. I know what I must do now. Know I have no other choice. First thing tomorrow morning I’m going to make The Call.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  I SIT BEHIND DAD’S DESK and take a few seconds to get the words straight in my head. Jeannie and Lucinda are listening intently.

  ‘Here’s the deal,’ I say. ‘I’ll take you to Muru’s hideout as soon as the government negotiates the release of Jiao’s parents from the farm. No parents, no information. It’s as simple as that.’

  ‘Do you have any idea what you’re asking?’ Jeannie says.

  ‘Damn right. And that’s not all. They have to sign in writing that they’ll take Mum alive and get her proper treatment or I’m going to the media. I reckon they’d be pretty interested to know the authorities fed them a crock of shit. And if that doesn’t worry them, tell them I’ll also leak it to the UPR. And the UN.’

  ‘Wow,’ Lucinda says. ‘I’m impressed. You’re a chip off the old block, for sure.’

  Jeannie is less flattering. ‘You’re asking the impossible. They’ll never agree.’

  ‘Fine then. I’ll go to the media right away. As Dad would say, If you’ve gotta feed the vultures, why not choose the menu?’

  ‘Come on, Ashley, think it through. How the hell are the police going to negotiate a deal to release two nobodies in the middle of escalating chaos?’

  ‘I don’t care,’ I say. ‘That’s your job, not mine. But those people out rioting are going to be pretty damn pissed off when they hear they’ve been taken for a ride. I reckon, given the choice of full-scale civil war, grovelling a bit to the UPR is worth the price.’ I look at Lucinda. ‘I’m figuring your friend Simon could be a real help there.’

  She nods and turns to Jeannie. ‘Simon Chan’s already in negotiations with both Niúni and Nifěn Farms. He’s definitely your man.’

  ‘Even if they did agree,’ Jeannie says, ‘it’ll take weeks to pull it all together.’

  ‘Two days, Jeannie, that’s all you have. Jiao’s parents could be shipped home or turned into human shields any day — and I’m not going to wait here like a sitting duck if Mum’s inclined to come after us.’

  Jeannie shakes her head. ‘But don’t you see? They’ll just wait till she comes to you, then take her out — and there’s no guarantee she won’t get to you first.’

  ‘Then we’ll go into hiding and they’ll be answering to the world’s media. Besides, wouldn’t they like a bit of positive publicity? Think how good they’ll look if they take the initiative and bag Mum and Ray. Surely that’s what you guys have been wanting all along?’

  Jeannie’s silent now, obviously thinking this through. I feel a weird sense of calm. I’m pretty sure they’ll go for it, if only to cover up the blood already on their hands. She sighs. ‘Okay, I’ll take your offer to them now.’

  ‘I want the deal signed by tonight or else it’s off,’ I say. ‘Lucinda, would you be prepared to do the paperwork to make sure they don’t screw me round?’

  She grins. ‘I think I can manage that!’

  Jeannie jots down notes as I explain about the rendezvous with Mum. I tell her how last night I phoned Monica’s and spoke with Ana. It took a whole lot of grovelling to talk her round, plus a promise that the cops won’t shoot Ray. But in the end she said she’d pass on my request to meet with Mum sometime in the next two days. I also asked her to tell Mum I’m beginning to understand what’s going on — just that and nothing more. Let her make of it what she will. By the end of today Ana should, all going well, hear back with instructions for a time and place. But I’m not a fool. If I reveal the location to Jeannie now, the cops will go straight there.

  ‘I’ll tell you where we’re heading closer to the time,’ I say.

  Jeannie rises to her feet. ‘Okay, but just be careful, Ashley. There are one or two police at the top I have serious doubts about. Be careful who you trust.’

  ‘I know that.’ I stand and walk around the desk. ‘And I know you did your best for us. I get that now. It’s unfair to hold you responsible for what’s happened.’ I reach out and give her a hug. At least she tried to help.

  She squeezes me so hard it hurts.

  ‘One more question,’ Lucinda says, as Jeannie makes for the door. ‘Are there any more forms of surveillance here or on the phone?’

  Shit, I didn’t even think of that.

  ‘The phone,’ she says. ‘Mobiles and internet too, though that’s irrelevant for now.’

  I’m about to explode all over again, but Lucinda wraps a restraining arm around my shoulder. ‘Good. Just so we know.’ She waits for Jeannie to leave, then lets me go. ‘Keep that in mind when you talk with Ana again — it may be worth using a public phone or even one of the neighbours’ phones to call her back. That’s if there are any neighbours still around.’

  ‘I can’t believe I’ve been so thick. I’ll be much more careful from now on. But tell me, honestly, what do you reckon are the chances of making this thing work?’

  She taps my nose. ‘You’re a clever little bugger, that’s for sure. The police will try all right. And there’s no way the PM will want to be caught out. But whether they can actually get Jiao’s parents out is quite another story — I have no idea.’

  I blow out a tired breath. ‘I saw Grandma last night.’ She opens her mouth to tell me off. ‘I know … but I hate the fact she’s there alone. Dad used to drop in twice a week.’

  ‘He felt he owed her quite a debt. She stepped into the breach when Grace shot through.’

  ‘I know. I’m going to bring her home, okay? There’s no way I’ll let her go to one of those crappy state-run homes.’

  ‘Are you sure? It’ll take over your life.’

  I shrug. ‘What life? Uni’s already down the tubes.’

  ‘Well, I’ll help you all I can,’ she says. ‘Meanwhile, be extra vigilant. Until we know exactly who’s calling the shots in all this, you’re at risk.’

  ‘Tell me something I don’t know.’

  The rest of the day goes past in a haze of nervous anticipation. Jiao does her best to keep Mikey entertained, and I work my way from room to room, collecting up a pile of things to take down to the pawn shop to convert to cash. The fact is, there’s not much: a vintage music collection, a couple of original paintings by Dad’s friends, four first-edition books from back last century, some of the jewellery Grandma gave to Dad. I’m pretty sure if she was well she’d understand me hocking it. Shit, I have no choice. Most of our stuff’s already second- or third-hand and worth bugger-all. After hours of sorting I head off to the shop, making less than a hundred bucks all up. The guy doesn’t even bother writing out a chit — no one ever has the cash to buy things back.
Rumours are he flogs all our treasures to rich pricks overseas.

  For the rest of the day the three of us just blob out on the sofa. It’s almost peaceful, after everything we’ve been through — so long as I don’t think ahead. But by five o’clock I’m growing jittery. By six I’m so churned up I can’t eat. It’s not till after nine I finally get the call.

  ‘They’ve agreed to try,’ Jeannie says. ‘They’ll have a copy of the deal to Lucinda by eight-thirty tomorrow morning. Will that do?’

  ‘They’ll get Jiao’s parents out?’

  ‘They’ll try. Simon Chan is up there at the moment and says he’ll help.’

  ‘Thanks, Jeannie. I hope this hasn’t got you further in the shit.’

  She laughs. ‘Too late for that.’

  We agree to meet at Lucinda’s in the morning, then I use the spare key good old Mr Ferris left with us and sneak into his flat. He left in such a hurry, his phone is still connected, thank god. I ring through to Ana.

  ‘Grace says she’ll meet you at the old farmhouse — apparently you know the one. She’ll be there from six o’clock tomorrow night, and says if you don’t turn up by 3 a.m. the following morning you’ll have blown your chance.’

  This seems way too straightforward. ‘You reckon she believed you?’

  ‘You’d be bloody stupid if you thought she did.’

  ‘Yeah, you’re probably right. Hey, thanks so much for this — I know how risky it is for you.’

  ‘Probably not nearly as risky as it is for you.’ I hear her sigh. ‘Okay, good luck.’

  After this reassuring little chat there’s no way I can sleep. Have I just signed my own death warrant? Mum and Ray are much too cunning to take the bait without thinking through all the consequences. I’ll have to insist Jiao’s parents are rescued first, then make damn sure I stay super-alert to what’s going on around me.

  Mikey keeps waking with nightmares and in between he bloody snores. I lie here in the dark and wonder how Dad felt about seeing Mum after all those years. Why didn’t he say? That bullshit in his letter about a photo on the phone was obviously a cover. Poor Dad. I wish he’d trusted me and talked. I have a pretty good idea how much it must’ve bloody hurt.

  The thought of facing Mum again freaks me right out. I struggled long and hard last night, thinking through the handing over, knowing there’s a damn good chance the cops’ll try to mow her down. Or she’ll shoot me. Or she’ll not show. But somewhere deep down I know Dad and Grandma would want to see Mum getting help. Who knows? Maybe if she’s given treatment she’ll come right. Surely she still has some good buried inside?

  In the morning, I force down some of last night’s cold dinner and walk to Lucinda’s office to read over the deal the cops couriered her first thing. She seems to think it’s sound, though warns me they’ll still try to weasel out.

  ‘Then I’ll be on the phone to every media outlet who’ll take my call.’

  She smiles a little sadly. ‘Your father would be proud.’

  I know she means it as a compliment but it really hurts. When I was young I used to help Dad with his campaigns all the time, but in the last few years I backed right off. It got too much, too damn depressing. All I wanted was to get away, and I started to resent his support of people from the UPR. They took up so much of his time — and that meant I was stuck with Mikey. Talk about self-absorbed. I feel ashamed. It’s not as if Dad didn’t warn me all the time: Play the issue, mate, never the person …

  Jeannie arrives with two of her bosses and a police lawyer in tow. I let Lucinda do the talking, chipping in only when they make moves to take control — and then I just remind them that I’ll follow through with my threats. It seems to work. In less than an hour we’re signed into a pact.

  When I get home round ten, I sprint up the stairs two at a time, keen to let Jiao know it’s all signed up and under way. But it’s clear that something’s wrong. Jiao’s sitting on the sofa sniffing back tears while Mikey hovers over her, not knowing what to do. The TV’s on, but muted. It’s the news.

  ‘What’s up?’

  ‘There’s been an explosion at the farm.’

  ‘You’re shitting me. You think it’s Mum?’

  She shakes her head. ‘Don’t know. But someone fired a missile into the main administration building. So far it looks like at least a dozen people have been killed.’

  The TV has live coverage of a building engulfed in flames. I turn up the sound: ‘… have been contacted, though there’s still some confusion over whether emergency services will be allowed in to help. Currently the management refuse to respond to requests for information, other than to say this latest development has all the hallmarks of offensive action by the Western Alliance. The government, on the other hand, has hinted that it may well be the work of anti-Asian separatists Muru …’

  ‘I bet the psycho bitch did it as a fuck-you to me.’

  ‘So far they won’t let anybody in to tend the wounded,’ Jiao says. ‘If Ma and Ba are there—’

  ‘Don’t even think it,’ I say. ‘We have to stand firm — not let the cops see we’re thrown or they’ll screw us over faster than you can blink.’

  ‘But it could all be for nothing …’

  ‘They’re going to be okay, you wait and see.’ I try to inject some certainty into my voice but I sound about as believable as a sleazy TV evangelist promising instant redemption in exchange for cash.

  ‘But what if they’re already dead?’

  ‘What if they’re not? Come on. Take a few deep breaths.’

  With a massive show of willpower, Jiao breathes her way back to calm. She wipes her nose on her arm. ‘I’m sorry. I’m just so frightened.’

  ‘I know. But how likely is it that your parents would be in that building? I thought they worked out on the farm.’

  ‘They do, yes, but … I guess you’re right. It’s more likely to be the officials.’ She shudders out a sigh. ‘My nerves are shot.’

  I laugh. ‘No kidding?’

  We agree to turn off the TV — there’s nothing we can do and it’s too stressful to watch. Instead we all get stuck into cleaning Dad’s office — if Jiao’s parents are rescued, they’ll need somewhere to stay for a while. I take on all his papers, trying to decide which ones will be needed by the union and which ones I can safely chuck. Jiao sorts the overflowing bookshelves, more interested in flicking through and reading bits than cleaning off the dust, and Mikey’s supposed to be on skirting-board and window-sill wiping duty. Instead, he spends his time stalking flies for Winston Churchill. Nevertheless, a couple of hours later we’ve vacuumed and the room looks almost presentable.

  We’re just sitting down to a late lunch (of sorts) when there’s a knock on the door. It’s Jeannie, in uniform. She looks so drawn and tense, I immediately assume the worst. Nerves knot my gut.

  ‘Okay,’ she says. ‘We’re ready to roll. Grab your jackets and we’ll be on our way.’

  ‘Now?’ This is way too fast. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes. You’re flying up to Eltham. Don’t ask me how they organised it so quickly — you really don’t want to know.’

  ‘They’ve rescued Ma and Ba?’ Jiao’s so bloody excited she’s bouncing — and, with tits like hers, that’s quite a sight.

  ‘They will have by the time you land.’ She rubs her face, drawing the skin tight against her skull. ‘Have you ever been in a helicopter, Mikey?’

  Mikey’s smile swallows up the rest of his face.

  She drives us to the airport, Mikey so bloody wired even I have trouble deciphering his jabber. I try to get in some questions about the details of the rescue, but Jeannie blatantly ignores me. It’s not until we’re about to board that she draws me aside.

  ‘I need you to give me a rough idea where to send our interception team. We can’t work completely in the dark till your say-so.’

  ‘Tell them to have some people out of sight near Owhango,’ I say. ‘Up past National Park.’

  ‘So they are
near Maungaroa …’

  ‘Not close enough that you’d ever find them on your own.’ Jeannie’s about to walk away. ‘But that’s not all — the actual meeting’s about twenty ks south of Eltham. The other place is their home base. I’ll reveal all the details once I know for sure that Jiao’s parents are free.’

  ‘You’re playing a very dangerous game here, Ashley. Commissioner Hargraves is not a man to dick around.’

  ‘Give me a break. I promised Jiao I’d help them. You know you’d do exactly the same thing.’ I like Jeannie. I hope she knows it.

  ‘Even so, I’m starting to get the feeling we’re just pawns … I want you to keep your eyes open wide.’

  ‘What the hell does that mean?’

  But she doesn’t answer. She climbs back into her patrol car, presumably to relay through the information I’ve given her, and flaps her hand at me to hurry up and join the others boarding the helicopter.

  Even if I weren’t spooked by Jeannie’s weird remarks, I wouldn’t share Mikey’s excitement about this machine at all. It’s totally unnatural to travel through the air in a craft that feels so flimsy and is powered by flammable fuel. Despite our ear muffs, it’s so noisy that when Mikey presses his nose to the window and prattles on, there’s no way I can hear him. But as the cone of Mount Taranaki looms ahead, a flutter of hope rises up in me. I take Jiao’s hand and squeeze it, grinning at her as we start our spiralling descent. I can see the haze of smoke that surrounds the farm now. My heart hammers in time with the beating blades.

  We land not far from where we were supposed to rendezvous with Travis in the car, just through the trees beyond the bridge. Returning here’s unnerving — it’s like my body’s having flashbacks on its own. My knees are weak, my pulse racing. I have a dry, dry mouth.

  A top-brass army guy comes out to meet us, and he guides us towards a waiting ambulance.

  Jiao starts to run. ‘Ma! Ba! It’s Jiao! Are you all right? I’m here—’