Soldier on the Hill

by French, Jackie

  Smoke. Someone had lit a fire. The smell was comforting, human, after the days alone. A hand touched his forehead. The voice spoke again; a reassuring, almost chanting sound. And then he slept.

  ‘It’s him! Crikey, Jack, it’s him!’

  ‘I said it was. I said when I saw the smoke, that’ll be the kid I said, he’s had the sense to light a fire.’

  ‘Give it a rest, Jimbo, we all know you’re always right. Give me a hand here with the stretcher.’

  ‘Jeez, Jack, he looks crook there.’

  ‘He’s still alive. That’s the main thing.’

  What … Joey tried to open his eyes, but the darkness seemed to hold him tight.

  ‘Don’t you worry kiddo. We’ve got you now. You’re safe, all right. Good thing you lit that fire. We went right past here yesterday afternoon, we might have missed you this time too. For Pete’s sake, Jimbo, give him some water there.’

  ‘Ahhh …’

  ‘That hurt then? It’s his shoulder,’ said the second voice seriously. ‘And his ankle by the look of it as well. We’ll get you back down to the hospital in two shakes of a lamb’s tail, kiddo. You just hold on there.’

  Canvas underneath him. Something stretched on top. Moisture at his lips.

  ‘Don’t give him too much there till the Doc’s seen him. Right Jimbo? Off we go.’

  Joey tried to find himself in the haze of pain. He had to tell them … he had to tell them something … ‘Jap! Jap!’

  ‘What’s that kiddo? Hey, stop for a second, Jimbo. The kid’s trying to tell us something.’

  ‘There’s a Jap …’

  ‘What’s he mumbling about? Something about the nips.’

  ‘There was a …’ The world began to fade. His lips felt too fat, too stiff to move.

  ‘The poor coot’s conked out again. Hey, go carefully there, Jimbo. If you trip you’ll have me down as well, and the kid …’

  ‘You watch your own bally feet then.’ The voice chuckled suddenly. ‘You know Jack, Lallie Dennison’ll probably give you a nice big kiss for bringing her nephew home safe.’ The voice was far away.

  ‘Not if I see her coming first she won’t. That woman’d make a crocodile look like a pussycat.’

  ‘She does a lot of good but.’

  ‘Lord protect us from good women …’ and then the voices faded.

  chapter three

  In Hospital

  * * *

  From the Biscuit Creek Gazette, 1942

  ENEMY SUBMARINES CLOSE TO SYDNEY

  A communique from Allied Headquarters issued today announced that enemy submarines attacked two small cargo vessels 35 miles south of Sydney and one off Cape Howe.

  * * *

  The room was quiet. It had a sort of bathroom smell, no hint of soil at all. Even though his eyes were shut he could tell there was daylight all around. Morning daylight, cool blue daylight, not the yellower light of afternoon.

  A blanket was stretched tight over his chest. It was a pale fawn blanket with a pale blue stripe. Joey lifted his good hand and stroked it. It felt like cat fur, prickly but soft.

  ‘Joey? Joey darling, are you awake?’

  ‘Mum? Mum!’ Suddenly he couldn’t speak.

  ‘Lallie telegraphed me.’ Mum’s eyes were wet, her hair even messier than usual. ‘She said you were missing. Darling, we’ve been so worried …’

  ‘Where am I?’

  ‘In the hospital. Your shoulder was dislocated, but they’ve set it now, and you’ve sprained your ankle. Oh Joey, I can’t believe you’re safe. You’re really safe.’

  ‘How long was I …?’ His voice sounded like it was coming from way down the plughole, thought Joey.

  ‘Two days, two nights. I didn’t get here till this morning. I had to get a permit to travel, you know how complicated that is, and the train was so slow, I can’t tell you how slow it was, I felt like getting out and giving it a push. Then we had to stop for hours for a troop train to go through …’

  ‘I … I’m sorry Mum.’

  ‘No. Shhh … it was an accident, that’s all. I’m just so glad you’re safe, I couldn’t have stood it if … I’m just so proud you had the sense to light the fire.’

  ‘No!’ Joey tried to sit up, then fell back against the pillow. ‘It wasn’t me. It wasn’t me Mum! It was the Jap!’

  ‘The what?’

  ‘The Jap! The Jap soldier! Mum, have the Japs invaded? Have they taken us over?’

  ‘No, darling, no, of course they haven’t. They haven’t even landed yet.’

  ‘What? But they must have!’

  ‘Joey, be quiet. Shh, love, shh. You don’t know what you’re saying.’

  ‘Yes I do! Mum, the Japs have come! There was a Jap, up on the hill! I was in the hole, and he pulled me out. And it was him that lit the fire, not me!’

  ‘Love, you’re imagining things. It couldn’t have been a Japanese.’

  Joey forced himself upright. His head swam as he grabbed Mum’s hand. ‘Mum, you’ve got to tell them! Tell the police! Or the army, or something! The Japs are really here! They are!’

  Mum hesitated. She held his hand in both of hers. ‘Are you sure Joey? Are you really sure?’

  ‘Positive. It was a Jap face, just like in the posters. Well, not really like the posters — but it was a Jap. I’m sure of it!’

  ‘It … it could be possible.’ Mum blinked. ‘Maybe they’ve landed on the coast, from submarines or something, or maybe a plane came down like those ones that flew over Sydney. All right, I’ll go tell Sergeant Williams. Joey, you’re sure?’

  ‘Absolutely. I couldn’t’ve climbed out of that hole by myself. I tried and tried …’ Joey’s voice began to shake. He swallowed to steady it. ‘I didn’t light the signal fire. I didn’t even have any matches!’

  ‘Shhh. Calm down. Calm down. I’ll just pop down to the police station. Or maybe Sister will let me use the phone.’

  Joey realised he was shivering as she left the room.

  chapter four

  Sergeant Williams

  * * *

  From the Biscuit Creek Gazette, 1942

  ANOTHER JAPANESE CLAIM!

  A Japanese spokesman in a nationwide broadcast from Tokyo declared that Japanese forces were able to occupy most of the Australian continent. In particular they had targeted the following towns for immediate occupation …

  * * *

  ‘Are you sure it was a Jap face?’ Sergeant Williams looked up from his notebook.

  Joey nodded.

  ‘Not a Chinese face?’ Sergeant Williams rubbed his loose grey jowls. He was older even than Grandpa up in Sydney, thought Joey. Aunt Lallie said Sergeant Williams would have retired by now if it hadn’t been for the war. ‘Sure it wasn’t one of the Chong boys? Sam Chong maybe?’

  ‘I’m really sure. He spoke another language too and he didn’t understand me either.’

  ‘Well, Sam would’ve understood you right enough. And if it’d been one of the Chong boys they’d have stuck around or come on in for help. Come to think of it, they were all on the search party looking for you over Wilson’s Hill way, so it couldn’t have been them. Except for old Bruce, and he needs a stick to get around now. You wouldn’t catch him gallivanting round the hills. But still, I’ll ask them.’

  ‘You’ll send someone up the hills though to catch the Jap?’ asked Joey anxiously. ‘Maybe there’s more of them. Maybe they’ve landed troops down on the coast and …’

  ‘Well, our boys would have tackled them if they had,’ said Sergeant Williams comfortably. ‘You can trust the Royal Australian Army. I remember in the last war … well, that’s enough of that. You get your rest now. Yes, I’ll send a couple of men up there, take a recce.’

  ‘Maybe he came in by parachute,’ suggested Joey. ‘Or one of the subs ran aground and he escaped and swam to shore and …’

  ‘Could be. Could be.’ Sergeant Williams cracked his false teeth thoughtfully. ‘Well, here’s your Mum again. Had a good cuppa tea, Fee
mie love? And don’t you worry about that Jap, young feller me lad. If he’s up there we’ll track him down.’

  ‘He’s there,’ said Joey.

  Sister brought lunch — rissoles and gravy and mashed potato, and tropical fruit salad and strawberry junket.

  Joey slept after that. It was good to feel the softness of the pillow, the smooth cool sheet, the scent of cow manure and sunlight through the window floating over the smells of disinfectant … to know that Mum was near … even Auntie Lallie. He’d never even dig the garden again, thought Joey sleepily. He never wanted to smell dirt again.

  What was the soldier on the hill doing now, he wondered suddenly. Soldiers didn’t have pillows did they? Not like this. The enemy would have to travel light.

  He hoped the men would catch him soon.

  chapter five

  Vanished!

  * * *

  From the Biscuit Creek Gazette, 1942

  CAMOUFLAGE NETS

  On Wednesday afternoon ladies of all denominations will meet at the Congregational Hall to make camouflage nets. All welcome — newcomers will receive instruction. The twine will be supplied by the CWA and over 100 nets have already been made. This is a great opportunity for social fellowship and service for any woman.

  * * *

  Mum was reading to him when Sergeant Williams returned — some silly stuff from an old Girls’ Own Annual of hers she’d found at Aunt Lallie’s.

  Joey hardly listened to it, but it was good to hear her voice. He could sit up now without feeling giddy, and his shoulder hardly hurt unless he moved it. Even his ankle was just a dull, insistent throb.

  Sergeant Williams poked his head around the door. ‘You up to company, young lad?’

  ‘Course.’ Joey sat up straighter. ‘Did you catch him? Did you bring him down? Were there more of them up there?’

  Sergeant Williams sat heavily on the chair next to Mum’s. He gazed at Joey for a moment, then shook his head. ‘Not a sign,’ he said at last.

  ‘Then he must be hiding! He’d have seen you coming and … and gone to ground … and —’

  ‘No sign at all,’ said Sergeant Williams firmly. ‘You must have just imagined it lad, what with being hurt and without anything to eat and drink all that time.’

  ‘I didn’t imagine it! Who got me out of the hole then? It was too steep to get out myself, not with my foot and shoulder!’

  Sergeant Williams clicked his false teeth again, so a drop of spit flicked out onto his lip. ‘People can do all sorts of things when they’re desperate,’ he said.

  ‘But I was desperate two days ago, and I couldn’t get out then! How come I got out yesterday?’

  ‘Because the hole caved in,’ said Sergeant Williams. ‘I asked the lads that. They said you must have disturbed the wall and the lip fell in and made a mound of rocks below, and you were able to climb up that.’

  ‘But it caved in when I was dragged out!’ cried Joey.

  Sergeant Williams was silent.

  ‘The rope! He pulled me out with a rope. Except it wasn’t a real rope, it was made of vines or something!’

  ‘Nothing like that there,’ said Sergeant Williams. ‘No sign of rope marks either. I asked the lads ’specially.’

  ‘How about the fire? I didn’t light that! I didn’t even have any matches.’

  ‘Maybe you just don’t remember lighting it,’ said Sergeant Williams, not unkindly. ‘You were pretty much out of it by then, boyo. Besides, the boys found the match. A normal Redhead by the look of it. You wouldn’t find Japanese carrying Redheads now would you?’

  ‘But —’

  ‘What was he wearing?’ asked Sergeant Williams suddenly. ‘A uniform …?’

  Joey tried to remember. Nothing seemed quite clear, like someone had pulled lace curtains between him and what had happened. ‘I’m not sure,’ he said finally. ‘White trousers I think … something pale anyway.’

  ‘A jacket?’

  Joey shook his head. ‘Not a jacket. A shirt. A sort of faded shirt. Blue or green checks or something. It was too big for him, down to his knees almost.’

  Sergeant Williams grinned, so his teeth clacked again. ‘Doesn’t sound like the uniform of the Imperial Japanese Army, son. Not a checked shirt. Or the Navy either. Besides, why would a Jap soldier pull you out of a mine shaft? It doesn’t make sense. If there was anybody up there they’d be hiding themselves away, not dragging kids across the hillside and lighting fires that half the neighbourhood could see.’

  ‘But Sergeant Williams —’

  ‘The lads looked for tracks. There weren’t any. No boot prints, no footprints even. Nothing to say there was anybody there at all.’

  ‘He must have wiped them clear! I saw him!’

  ‘You thought you saw him,’ said Sergeant Williams soothingly. ‘All this talk about invasion, no wonder you young ’uns have nightmares. You have a good rest now, young man. A good sleep does wonders. And if you remember anything else tomorrow, you just let me know.’ He inclined his head to Mum and nodded at the door. ‘If you’ve got a moment, Feemie.’

  Mum followed him out the door.

  Joey tried to listen, but their voices were too low. He could only catch a word or two …

  ‘… up in Singapore … his father …’

  ‘… nightmares …?’

  Mum’s voice grew choked and just a little louder. ‘Of course. Him and me both since it happened. Half Australia has nightmares like that now.’

  More mumbles.

  ‘Thank you, Sergeant Williams,’ said Mum at last. ‘I’m sorry about all this bother.’

  ‘Don’t mention it, Feemie girl. You just look after that fine son of yours. That’s what your Allen would want you to do, you know.’

  ‘I know,’ said Mum.

  ‘He was a fine man … is a fine man,’ Sergeant Williams corrected hurriedly. ‘You call me if there’s any way I can help. I mean that now. We’ll see you at church on Sunday? Beryl will be that glad to see you. She was saying only last week, I wonder how Feemie O’Connell is coping up in Sydney all by herself. Of course, you’re Feemie Smith now, but still … we’ll see you Sunday then?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Mum. ‘I’ll see you on Sunday.’

  chapter six

  Staying in Biscuit Creek

  * * *

  From the Biscuit Creek Gazette, 1942

  WHERE DO YOU BELONG?

  What is YOUR war job? Every woman must realise and fulfil her democratic responsibilities. There is urgent and vital work with the AWAS and the VAD for every woman who is physically fit and between the ages of 18 and 45.

  The AWAS and VAD have proved conclusively that Australian women can, with courage, intelligence and endurance, take over much of the work that used to be done by men, thus releasing the men for more active combat duties …

  * * *

  ‘Mum?’

  ‘Mmmm? Sorry love, I was nearly asleep.’ Mum pushed her head back against the backrest of the chair and blinked heavily to wake herself up. ‘I didn’t get much sleep last night. Or the one before that.’

  ‘Sorry,’ said Joey guiltily. ‘Mum, I really did see the soldier.’

  ‘I know you think you did,’ said Mum soothingly, trying not to yawn.

  ‘But Mum!’

  ‘Not another word about it,’ said Mum. ‘I don’t want you upsetting yourself till you’re better. You settle down now and try to sleep. We’ll talk about it later.’

  Later never comes, thought Joey drowsily. ‘Mum?’

  ‘Yes love.’ Mum yawned again.

  ‘When do you have to go back to Sydney? Can you stay here a few days? Please? I heard you telling Sergeant Williams you’d see him next Sunday. Can you really stay till then?’

  Mum hesitated. ‘I’m not going back to Sydney, love.’

  ‘Not at all? But what about your job?’

  ‘I’ve handed in my notice. Bernice didn’t mind. She’s got a niece who’d like to take my place — if she didn’t get somethi
ng soon she’d be caught by manpower and land up working in a woollen mill or something and you know what it’s like there. Work that breaks your back and tuppence ha’penny in your pocket at the end of the week. No, love, I’m coming back here for good.’

  ‘Then we’re going to live here? In Biscuit Creek?’

  Mum nodded. ‘What do you think of that?’

  Joey was silent. It was wonderful to be with Mum of course. But living here — not just down here for a few months, but all the time …

  ‘Will we have to stay with Aunt Lallie?’

  ‘For a while. Till we get a place of our own.’

  ‘How long will that be?’

  Mum bit her lip. ‘It might be a while, Joey. There’s not much around here, not with evacuees and all. And we haven’t much money either. I’ve put our place in Sydney up for rent, but no one’s renting now, especially not so close to the harbour with all this talk about —’

  ‘Then why can’t we go back to Sydney?’

  ‘Because it’s safer here. Because I’ve had enough of warships and planes buzzing overhead. Because every time I look down the street I expect to see your father swinging his briefcase. The house just seems to echo with both of you gone.’

  ‘But Mum …’

  Mum shook her head, sending a bobby pin flying onto the bed. ‘Because I want to be near my family, even if it’s only Lallie. We’re both alone now. Uncle Don is overseas, and Merv and Bruce. It’s like the war goes on and on and on and we’ll never get out of it, never, not till everyone is … oh, Joey, don’t listen to me. Just because. All right?’

  ‘All right, Mum,’ said Joey. He patted her hand, as though she was the one who needed comfort now.

  Visiting hours were over. Sister’s hands were firm as she tucked the blanket round him. ‘Your Mum will be back to see you tomorrow,’ she said comfortingly.