Mparntwe

by Peter Wood

  ‘Just a few more minutes, Mirri. We’re nearly there.’

  ‘JJ needs it now. I want it now.’

  He meant it. Karmai looked at the overgrown sidetrack on their right but dismissed it as being too obvious and pointed off the road to their left instead.

  ‘In there. We’ll hide behind those shrubs.’

  Karmai lowered Barega to the ground with the worried realisation that he wasn’t strong enough to pick him up again. Tears came at the sight of the still face. Akama was helping Mirri undo the straps and the need to help them diverted the wash of emotion.

  ‘Akama, be quick. Health machine for JJ.’

  Karmai saw his own startlement at the tone of demand in Mirri’s voice reflected in Akama’s haste to remove his pack. In seconds the complex little machine was set up, the infusion pad fixed firmly round Jarra’s arm, and four different settings deftly adjusted. Karmai was amazed.

  ‘How did you know to do all that?’

  ‘I watch JJ. So I can care for him. Karmai needs the bandage.’

  That was addressed to Akama who was holding the long bandage which had helped keep Jarra secure for the long, long Pig Ride. And indeed, Karmai did need that bandage. His arm, bare since he’d ripped off the sleeve, was a ghastly looking mess of dark dried blood and bright newer ooze, aggravated by constant movement. Karmai reached for the bandage then acquiesced when Akama kept it, opened the first aid kit he’d been carrying and proceeded to carefully clean and dress his wound. Mirri watched for a few seconds then started collecting leaves and grass. JJ was asleep and needed a pillow.

  Karmai smiled when Mirri tenderly lifted Jarra’s head to arrange some soft support. Just as well he’d made them conceal themselves from the track because they wouldn’t be moving again. He relaxed completely when the bandage on his arm was finally pinned. So weary. He closed his eyes, just for a moment, then went to sleep. It wasn’t sleep. It was exhaustion from the combined effect of the effort in carrying Barega over a kilometre and the steady loss of blood through his hastily improvised bandage.

  ***

  Akama saw the smile. He followed Karmai’s look to Mirri’s tending and understood he’d been touched by the action. Yes, Uncle Mirri would care for anyone—that long, long hug would stay with him for the rest of his life—and he’d care for Uncle Jarra most of all. He finished the bandage and watched Karmai’s eyes close. Was he really going to sleep now? Who would know what to do if the bad people came close? … Sixteen minutes till the aeroplane was here. He could have a sleep then. A shake to wake him got no reaction at all.

  ‘Uncle Mirri, I think Karmai is unconscious.’

  Mirri knelt for a close look.

  ‘He is very, very tired. He is like JJ.’

  When Mirri gathered more grass and leaves Akama knew it was now his job to think what to do. They couldn’t move so making contact with the special signal was all that was left. When the operating light on the health bot machine switched off Mirri disconnected the infusion pad then rested a hand on Jarra’s hair and started one of his singing sounds. It was soft and gentle but Akama knew it had to stop and he put a finger to Mirri’s lips.

  ‘We have to keep quiet so those people don’t hear us.’

  Mirri nodded and very seriously made not another sound. Akama activated the signal but there was no response. When Mirri returned from checking Karmai a second time and again gently held Jarra’s head the gesture took on so much importance for Akama that he moved to do the same with his brother.

  The occasional call of a nearby honeyeater went unnoticed as Akama finally allowed the horrible moments back on the road to replay in his mind.

  Another honeyeater call was eclipsed by a sob as he remembered the happy laugh in the Ghost Cave when everyone overreacted to the scary moan.

  Akama remembered Barega’s trademark concentration last night with the effort of finishing a picture for Uncle Mirri and Uncle Jarra before the dusk turned to darkness, and the smile of pleasure at all the fuss when he handed it over.

  Uncle Mirri left Jarra and hugged him close while he cried.

  ***

  Three hunters came to a halt and the leader cursed at yet another sidetrack which would have to be examined. They all agreed the most likely destination was the rocky outcrop at the end of this track where one possibility was an old shelter of some kind, but their maps also showed a small maze of rocks and other tricky concealment options. One of their quarry, probably the ranger, was using enough deception to slow their pursuit and this sidetrack could well be part of it.

  ***

  Akama gathered his wits. Uncle Mirri had startled him from his misery by suddenly squeezing him tight and covering his mouth, and now they were sitting, frozen like statues, while the murmur of voices came through the shrubs. Some bad words sounded clear and loud and then there was silence. Akama wondered briefly if his Uncle Mirri might decide to confront the bad people and held tight to the hand which had now moved away from his mouth. Uncle Mirri was unpredictable sometimes.

  Taking care not to snap a twig or make any noise because silence was so important, he activated the contact signal. Nothing! And they were meant to be here in 9 minutes. With the InfoPad next to him, and holding Uncle Mirri’s hand because it felt good, Akama sat quietly till Uncle Mirri knelt up and looked towards the south-west. That was scary because it was the direction he thought the bad people had gone, but then he heard an engine sound.

  Yes! Yes! It must be their rescue.

  He checked the InfoPad again but there was nothing. Uncle Mirri stood up and pointed to the sky where the rapidly swelling sound indicated an approaching aircraft. Akama grabbed him and pulled him down. There was no signal and their help should come from the east.

  ‘Bad people, Uncle Mirri.’

  With mounting fear Akama watched the rotary-bladed air vehicle position itself almost directly above then start a steady descent.

  ***

  Yet again the team leader swore. The communication device on his wrist was beeping with the emergency abort signal. This lucrative mission was now compromised for some reason and they had minutes only to reach a suitable pickup position or face abandonment. The sound of their base aircraft coming from behind the rocky outcrop was big trouble because the use of the abort signal, and now their homing devices, meant the fundamental mission rule against use of any electronics was broken. He pointed back along the track and, at the appearance of the aircraft overhead, started running. That last intersection had a cleared area beside it large enough for a touchdown. Two minutes later, barely above treetop level, they were racing to the south-west.

  ***

  The noise and throb of nearby rotors renewed Akama’s fear. The chopper must have seen them and was landing to come after them. What to do?

  ‘Uncle Mirri! Carry Uncle Jarra with you and hide him, then come back for Karmai.’

  Mirri nodded his understanding and started to lift Jarra, but when the thunder of the engines abruptly built powerfully then started to recede, he looked for more guidance.

  ‘It’s gone, Uncle Mirri, so we’ll stay here. I think it must have come to meet the bad men. Listen really hard in case anyone is still here.’

  Mirri made Jarra comfortable, with his head resting on the grass and leaves again, then stood to follow Akama’s clever idea. Akama checked the InfoPad then rushed to show Mirri the blinking blue light.

  ‘The good people must be close, Uncle Mirri. I think they frightened the bad ones away.’

  He pointed to the east.

  ‘That’s where they’ll come from.’

  Akama watched the Stapylton Range with Mirri, willing their help to appear. The signal was flashing steadily, so surely it must be close. He looked down at Karmai and Uncle Jarra, hoping they’d be all right for just a little longer, and then at the still form of his brother with his head and shoulders covered by a jacket.

  The alarm calls of a dozen nearby honeyeaters were swallowed by the powerful rumble of five military
aircraft sweeping suddenly from behind the range.

  ***

  Pinpointed by the signal from the InfoPad, sent to Melbourne by military-strength transmission and then to Central Australia by data cable, the first enhanced image from the high resolution aircraft equipment sent shock and dread through the people gathered in the Alkere Security Centre. One of the twins and Mirri were standing, waving, but the other three were supine, still and unreactive to the commotion above. Alira took in the jacket covering the face of the small body and understood what it meant even before Yirgella.

  ‘No! No! We were too late.’

  There was silence. Silence which lasted for almost 8 seconds. Silence of disbelief and need for understanding. A silence which saw Yirgella initiate a multitude of actions.

  Now fully linked with Jarra’s InfoPad by close proximity he sent commands to all five ComPatches, gathered, received and examined each record.

  He designated the receding radar image as a priority for pursuit and capture, passed all the information through their underground links to the other Australian AIs, and alerted Jarra’s already forewarned doctor that his assistance might be critical.

  Ten NanoFactories temporarily ceased all action while the five AIs combined their resources to send signals through the cable networks of the InterWeb and close down every factory run by Earth’s third largest Corporation.

  ‘I am deeply concerned for the physical condition of both Karmai and Jarra, and medical attention will be with them in moments. Karmai has a wound in his upper right arm and has apparently passed out from exhaustion and the loss of blood before Akama dressed his wound securely. Jarra’s body closed down when the shock of Barega’s death overwhelmed his already heightened stress levels. Burnu and Alira, your nephew, Barega, was killed by a projectile. Information from the ComPatches indicates he was in the trajectory needed to disable the personal carrier and that action was taken without regard for his life.’

  Burnu responded first and spoke into the deep silence.

  ‘You mean he was killed just because he was in the way?’

  ‘My best reconstruction leads me to that conclusion.’

  An angry murmur ran round the room.

  ‘Does my brother know what has happened?’

  ‘Not yet. I believe it is fitting for family to convey such news.’

  Alira looked at Burnu then nodded with apprehension and left the room to find a private link. Darri watched her go then looked at the display screen where one of the aircraft was in the process of landing at the same cleared area which had been used minutes before.

  ‘Are we going to catch these people?’

  ‘With certainty. Two of our aircraft have a strong radar lock and will be able to take action in just over 4 minutes. I have disabled the Corporation directly involved and others will likely follow when we gather more evidence.’

  No-one said anything because their attention was riveted on the screen where four people were sprinting along the track, followed by two more with big loads of equipment.

  ***

  When the noise from the landing aircraft lessened, a voice called from the ground near Akama’s foot.

  ‘Akama! Mirrigan! Can you hear me?’

  Akama pounced on the InfoPad and held it towards Mirri. He recognised that voice from many discussions.

  ‘It’s Yirgella.’

  ‘Yirgy!’

  ‘Hello, Mirri. Hello, Akama. You have been very, very brave and the people from the aeroplane which just landed are here to help. Here is someone who wants to speak to you.’

  ‘Mirri!’

  ‘Daddy!’

  Akama watched his Uncle Mirri burst into tears.

  ‘Daddy! The bad people hurt Barega and Karmai and JJ is very sick. I don’t like bad people.’

  ‘We don’t like them either and we are bringing you all home. Mirri, would you give Akama a hug for us? He is very sad and everyone is worried about him.’

  ***

  The gathering in the Alkere Security Centre watched the rescue, the medical attention, the transfer to the waiting aircraft and the takeoff for the rushed trip to Adelaide.

  Karmai was given a plasma transfusion and, under his doctor’s supervision, Jarra was reattached for monitoring by his health machine. Akama spoke with his family.

  Yirgella passed on the information that Karmai would be sedated for the trip to Adelaide but then awake and watched by a doctor for the 21-minute Vac Train trip to Mparntwe. Jarra would stay asleep for another 10-12 hours and, according to the readings from his health machine, was relatively stable. The image on the main screen shifted to the short-lived resistance by the fleeing aircraft where a quick burst of desperate defensive firing was cut off by a carefully targeted shot from one of the heavily armed military pursuers and a landing forced.

  While this was happening the security room crowded with the arrival of most of the Mparntwe Council.

  ‘Welcome, Councillors. We are watching the capture of the team which was sent to kidnap Jarra, but now that you have arrived I will present the course of events I have reconstructed from ComPatch data. You will be distressed by the callous brutality but profoundly affected by the courage of Burnu’s sons and the presence of mind of Jarra and little Akama.’

  Heads turned everywhere to look at Burnu, then turned again to the display where Mirri’s laugh sounded and flames from a little campfire danced merrily.

  The glory of the aurora showed briefly, followed by Akama’s spaceship question, then Jarra pointing Akama’s arm to the sky and promising a trip to the Moon. The scene changed for a few seconds to laughter inside the Ghost Cave then focused on the close-up view of the trigger plant being teased, then the hasty actions after a beeping sound intruded.

  The gathering watched parts of the difficult progress through 50 metres of bush with the personal carrier, Jarra’s continual instructions of where to go and what to do, the relief at setting off along Pohlners Road and the shocking moment when tragedy struck.

  When Mirri’s song of sadness filled the room Alira collapsed in the nearest chair while everyone else struggled with the loss it conveyed.

  Alira, Burnu, and Darri brought the reconstruction to a halt when they cried aloud at Mirri’s avowal to carry Jarra in a Pig Ride, and a shaken Alira explained its meaning to the gathering before Yirgella continued.

  Disbelief and wonder built at the sight of Mirri single-mindedly trudging on and on while Karmai battled exhaustion and worry with his own sad burden.

  A murmur of appreciation grew when eleven year old Akama so competently cleaned and dressed Karmai’s wound. Kyrra said later he was about to start clapping when Karmai’s pale face smiling at Mirri’s tenderness took his breath away.

  The reconstruction finished and the heavy silence in the Security Centre lasted till Alira stirred in her chair, placed a hand on Burnu’s shoulder in a gesture of support, then stood to face the quiet watchers.

  ‘Before I speak, can we all stand quietly for Akama and his family.

  ‘… Friends, we have just seen barbarity and callousness countered by acts of care and determination which will remain always with us.

  ‘Greed and the reach of powerful nations has been thwarted by the same elements which have changed the course of not only our Community but, in all probability, that of human civilisation. The young man who brought Yirgella to our Community lies asleep and safe because of the efforts of his friends. The brilliant mind we just heard offering the world a new way to travel through space rests secure through an act of pure care and indomitable will.

  ‘A Pig Ride, Mirrigan’s own term, over that distance defies understanding, yet he didn’t falter and somehow still had the strength at the end to care for everyone round him.

  ‘The life of Akama’s twin brother has been taken by those same forces of greed and power which have assaulted us in the past, and I believe you are with me in saying enough is enough. At the soonest opportunity I am calling an emergency meeting with Yirgella to
develop our active response.

  ‘Mparntwe honours your sons, Burnu, and their actions today will always be treasured by our Community.

  ‘Yirgella, once again you have our gratitude. Without your assistance and actions the outcome of today’s events doesn’t bear thinking about.’

  Alira paused and glanced at a sub-screen on the display which showed the interior of the single-section Vac Train which had been commandeered for the journey between Adelaide and Mparntwe.

  ‘Councillors, we will officially meet this train to support our own and our friends from Birringurra. Yirgella, do you know what happens when the train arrives?’

  ‘At his doctor’s insistence Jarra will be brought straight to his dedicated medical facility here at Alkere. Mirrigan won’t be parted from him, and Karmai and Akama say they want to stay with him as well. Akama’s family has arrived at Mparntwe and will accompany him here to Alkere.’

  Alira nodded thoughtfully, asked Yirgella to invite anyone involved with either Jarra or Mirrigan to gather at the Mparntwe Vac Train terminal, then led the way from the Security Centre.

  ***

  Jarra was first to leave the Vac Train through the pressure portal but knew nothing because he was asleep on a stretcher trolley. Karmai and Mirri, following close behind with Akama between them, paused in startlement at the size of the waiting crowd.

  Closest of all were the two families, who watched silently while Jarra was wheeled past and towards the Alkere terminal then swamped the trio. The muted nature of the welcome lifted when Mirri’s laugh sounded loud and clear. His youngest sister surprised him with an excited sibling punch to the chest. The happy sound lightened the atmosphere only briefly, though, because Burnu and Alira motioned for Akama’s family to lead the way to the Mparntwe-Alkere terminal and the hush of respect fell as mother, father, and now, only son walked past.

  Karmai told Jarra later that watching Akama walk, almost proudly, with supporting arms across his shoulders was the saddest thing he’d ever seen.

  ***

  ‘How much do we know?’

  The full Council and Yirgella were meeting in a small Alkere conference room with Alira taking unusually forceful leadership.