Red Hot

by Cheryl Alldis

  ‘Looks like we got here just in time, here comes the men and they look hot and buggered.’ Win started unpacking the baskets.

  The men straggled in hot, dusty and dry. They got stuck into the food and drink.

  ‘Damn good to see ya, Harry,’ Dave said, shaking the old man’s hand. ‘How’s things been?’

  ‘Good ta see ya too, Dave. How’s tha health goin?’

  ‘Not bad Harry, not bad, no use complainin’,’ replied Dave, taking advantage of the vacant seat nearby.

  The talk in general was about the dry conditions and the men told Harry that there would be a fair bit of smoke later because Frank Smith would be doing some back-burning.

  Harry joined in the lunch Hazel had made and he ate heartily, especially the chocolate cake.

  After the men enjoyed the meat and relish sandwiches, cold drinks, and chocolate cake, they left and headed back up the hill.

  Dave remained behind, saying he thought he should return to Kia-Ora with Win and Ellie because he was feeling a bit tight in the chest. As they were about to leave, Harry remembered something from a few days back.

  ‘By the way, saw somethin’ tha otha day that bothered me a bit. Was sittin’ by tha water tank out back, an’ there among tha trees on tha slope up there, I saw a bloke pokin’ ‘round.’ Harry screwed up his eyes in the effort of remembering.

  ‘Had one o’ them army type hats on his head, he did. He was nosin’ ‘round for somethin’. When he spotted me, he took off right quick. Couldn’t make ‘im out. Too far for me old eyes.’

  ‘Trouble with this place now is they’ve got so many young whippersnappers out at that army base at Bandiana and Bonegilla, what with conscription an’ all, that a bloke doesn’t know who’s roamin’ ‘round!’ Dave started coughing, soon wheezing, prompting Win and Ellie to hurry them along.

  During World War II, Bonegilla was a large military camp and hospital. After the war, it was converted to a migrant reception and training centre for more than 300,000 post-war migrants and war-displaced persons. It was their first home in Australia.

  Now with Australia’s increased commitment to Vietnam, soldiers once again co- located in Bonegilla.

  Hoisting the empty basket over her arm, Win told Harry to keep the leftover cake and biscuits as she held the screen door open for Ellie and Dave.

  Dave paused in the doorway. ‘Might pay to keep your eyes open mate, that bloke might be up to no good and it won’t hurt to be on the alert, ya know what I mean?’

  Harry gave him a toothless grin. ‘Don’t worry Dave, I got me dog and me rifle, any no-hoper comes pokin’ too close, a bit o’ buck shot up the arse’ll move ‘em!’ He laughed and waved them off with a grin.

  Saying goodbye and having a bit of a chuckle at the mental picture of Harry letting fly with buck shot, they promised to visit him again soon.

  The walk back home took longer than usual. Dave’s wheezing had worsened, forcing them to take several rests along the way.

  When they reached Kia-Ora, Dave still copped a scolding from Emmie, who then promptly ordered him to bed.

  Hazel brought a steaming dish of water dosed with liberal amounts of eucalyptus to help clear his airways and a towel to place over his head so that he could inhale the steam. After a while, the wheezing eased and Dave lay back against the pillows to rest.

  The men arrived back home late in the afternoon, sweaty and dirty, exhaustion on their faces. Worry lines were etched deeply on each face.

  The bush was too dense to clear it all and, although Frank and his crew back-burned it, things remained extremely volatile.

  ***

  ‘That Robert’s a lazy brute,’ Karl said over breakfast the next morning. ‘S’posed to be here pickin’ fruit but from what I’m told he kept disappearin’. Mention work and he scarpers. He needs a swift kick in the arse. A stint in the army’d sort him out.’

  Robert was a young seventeen year old. Not cut out for farm work, he was happiest tinkering with old cars. He didn’t mix often with the rest of the family, preferring to keep to himself. However, he could turn up when least expected, taking people by surprise.

  ‘I agree, mate. If he were my son, I’d pull him inta line,’ Digger replied.

  ‘Arthur should’ve kicked his boney arse years ago,’ Karl grumbled.

  Arthur Mason was a rather quiet and religious man. He and his wife Daisy and son Robert attended church every Sunday and, apart from family gatherings, he kept to himself at his own place, where he ran cattle. He had the same rugged outdoors look of his brothers and, of course, the trademark blue eyes.

  Emmie came in to breakfast, having had a disturbed night with Dave. ‘He’s resting now. I think he’s over the worst of it but that’s the last time he’ll attempt to do so much. He had a dreadful night,’ she told them, sitting down between Digger and Karl.

  ***

  By evening, Dave improved remarkably. He came down for dinner and then retired to the lounge room with the others.

  The lounge room was large and bright. French doors opened on to a gravel courtyard which looked out to Centaur Road.

  Across the road, the Hansen’s horse stables were visible from the lounge room.

  This particular night was like many past. Ellie and Francis played their music, and everyone enjoying the relaxed atmosphere after a delicious dinner.

  ‘How’s the young priests?’ teased Karl, directing the question to Kathy and Tammi. He was talking about the boys from the nearby seminary.

  ‘If Father Damien catches ‘em sneakin’ out, they’ll be in strife!’ Digger warned them.

  Win agreed. ‘Father Damien will blame you both and Eileen for encouraging them. We don’t want him knocking on our door ranting and raving, now do we?’

  The Divine Word Seminary, a short distance up the road from Kia-Ora, boarded several teenage boys whose families had sent them there to study religion with the intention of eventually being ordained priests. Several priests supervised them, one of whom was Father Damien. The boys often sneaked out when they should have been having quiet time. They would meet up with the girls where the grounds of the seminary adjoined Dawn’s property.

  It was all very harmless. All they did was talk and share Alpine cigarettes from Eileen who had been smoking since primary school, although her mother didn’t know this.

  ‘We’re just friends, Mum, and we kind of feel a bit sorry for them stuck in that place with creepy old Damien,’ Tammi explained.

  ‘As innocent as it is, it’s not a good idea. Father Damien will read something into it that just isn’t there. He’ll blame you girls and the boys will be punished. It’s just not a good idea and you must avoid them. No more sneaking off to meet them, I do mean it girls!’ Win looked at her daughters and sighed, thinking they were not kids anymore. They had grown up so fast.

  Dark-haired Kathy was eighteen and would be leaving school in a few weeks, and then she would be out working. Blonde-haired Tammi, only a year younger, was catching up fast. Too fast!

  ***

  ‘Dig, come here a minute, mate!’ Karl had gone out into the courtyard for a smoke.

  Digger was just about to go into the kitchen to turn the wireless on, ready for their serials.

  ‘Look over there at Wally’s horse jumps. You know those tyres he’s got piled up for one of the jumps? There’s somethin’ wrong, looks like they’re on fire, or am I seein’ things?’

  Digger looked to where Karl was pointing.

  ‘You’re right, mate, doesn’t look like they’ve seen it either! Better get over there. I’ll just yell out to them inside and I’ll be over to give you a hand.’

  The stack of tyres was well alight, sending palls of black smoke into the night sky. The rubber burning was putrid and the men had trouble getting close enough to extinguish it. How it started, no one knew. It was lucky they spotted it when they did because Walter had bales of Lucerne hay stacked nearby and, had the fire gone unnoticed, it would have spread to the hay and to the nea
rby sheds. Eventually, they managed to control it with the garden hose.

  Walter thanked them for their help. ‘Got me stuffed how this happened.’ He stood with his hands on his hips, looking at the ruined jumps. ‘Bloody nothin’ here could’ve started that.’

  ‘Yeah, damn strange, mate. Didn’t see any kids hangin’ ‘round earlier, did ya?’ Digger asked.

  Karl and Walter both looked at him. Karl caught on to what Digger was getting at. ‘Bloody young hooligans. Friggin’ O’Toole’s kids and their pals, I’ll bet me last quid on it!’

  The teenagers were from a couple of families that were not too popular. They went around causing trouble wherever they could. So, of course, the men would assume that it was them who had set fire to the jumps. This was just the sort of thing the rat bags would find amusing.

  ‘Well, we can’t say for sure, but I’m inclined to agree,’ Walter said thoughtfully. ‘Anyway, we got it out, and I’ve got more old tyres in the shed, so no harm done really.’

  Walter tipped his hat back, looking thoughtfully at the ruined jumps.

  ‘We’ll just have to let it go at that, but I’ll be keepin’ me eye out now. Don’t like the idea of someone snoopin’ ‘round me property, that’s for sure.’

  Thanking Karl and Digger again for their quick action, he shook hands with them and they wandered back to Kia-Ora.

  On the short walk across the road, they discussed how the fire could have started.

  ‘Ya know Dig, I bet those bloody kids did light that. I’ve a good mind to jump in the ute and go an’ front O’Toole. Friggin hell, if that had’ve got a hold on it, it would’ve caused some pretty major damage!’

  ‘Yeah I agree with ya mate. But it won’t do any good frontin’ O’Toole. Ya know what sorta bloke he is. He’d punch ya in the mouth the minute ya mentioned his kids. Haven’t got any proof it was them either. Nah, mate, I reckon we let it go for now.’

  ‘Yeah, I know ya right, but it pisses me off that they just run wild like they do, and if they did light those bloody tyres they should be punished for it!’ Karl spat on the ground and reached into his pocket for his tobacco. ‘You go on in, Dig, and let ‘em know what happened. I’ll have a smoke, calm down a bit before I come in. I’m just so bloody annoyed! Just wanta’ kick their arses, they always get away with shit!’

  Digger knew how Karl felt. He too would like to front the kids, but without any proof they just had to let it go.

  ***

  Kathy, Tammi and Eileen were excited about the approaching summer. It meant holidays and Christmas. It also meant Kathy and Eileen would be leaving school.

  They were sitting in the school canteen talking about their plans when Dot McLaron sauntered up.

  Dot had quite a reputation. She wasn’t popular with the girls and didn’t have a lot of friends. Her attitude did nothing for her either. She had a tough upbringing that accounted for a lot for her behaviour. It was rather a pity because she was quite attractive underneath all the makeup she piled on her face.

  ‘How’s it goin girls? Been doin’ anything interesting lately?’ Dot stood with her hip out, her hand confidently placed on it, obviously thinking she looked sexy.

  ‘Little bird told me ya got the hots for Eddie Chancellor, Eileen? He’s a real spunk isn’t he? I can tell you a thing or two about him if you like!’ she smirked

  Eddie Chancellor was another valley local with a bad reputation. He had been in trouble with the law on several occasions and if there was ever any strife in the valley, the finger was pointed straight at Eddie. He couldn’t care less though, as far as he was concerned, he didn’t give a shit!

  His father had died while Eddie was very young and his mother had to work long hours to make ends meet. Eddie spent a lot of time home alone as a kid. When his mother was home, she was always tired.

  Eddie fell into the wrong company as he grew older, eventually coming to the attention of the cops, and gained a bad reputation in the valley. Despite this, he held down a good job at Bilsons Tyre and Service Centre in South Albury.

  Not for the life of him would he ever allow anyone to see beneath the thick skin he wore. He was tough Eddie Chancellor!

  As for the girls, well, his dark sexy good looks spoke volumes!

  Dot turned on the fun for him with the hope he might become her steady bloke. Eddie had other ideas about her though. She was very eager to gloat about him to Eileen Mason and Eileen’s uppity cousins.

  Her smug attitude did exactly what she wanted it to do… get under Eileen’s skin. She had hit the nail on the head with her comment; Eileen did have a small crush on the sexy Eddie, but she would rather die than admit it.

  Eileen’s face went bright red. ‘Piss off, Dot!’

  ‘Now, now, don’t be like that. I just meant I know Eddie and what he likes and just thought you might like a few hints.’

  Kathy could see Eileen’s temper rising. Any minute she would lose control and send Dot flying across one of the tables.

  ‘Listen Dot, no one here is interested in your crap stories about Eddie or anyone, so get lost before Eileen flattens you!’

  ‘Gee Kath, no need to be like that. Hey, how’s it goin with the wannabe

  priests? You and your little sis getting’ any from ‘em yet? They’d be horny little buggers, I’d reckon,’ she laughed loudly.

  Before either Tammi or Kathy had time to reply, Eileen shoved her chair back and tossed the remains of her Coke in Dot’s face.

  Dot spluttered and staggered back, bumping the chair behind her and losing her balance.

  Eileen grabbed a handful of Dot’s Coke-splattered blouse.

  ‘I said, to piss off, bitch,’ she snarled through clenched teeth. ‘Go get screwed seein’ you’re so good at it.’

  ‘Stop it you two,’ Tammi said, grabbing Eileen’s arms.

  ‘Let her go, Cuz, before a teacher sees you. She’s not worth it.’

  ‘You bloody bitches! I won’t forget this!’ Dot angrily tugged her stained blouse into place, glaring at them.

  ‘You’ll be sorry!’ She pushed past Eileen and strode away furiously.

  Eileen raised her eyebrows at Tammi and Kathy. ‘Well that was a bit of fun, eh! Bitch made me waste my Coke though!’

  They all had a chuckle at what had happened. The girls were used to Dot and her catty jibes; she just pushed the envelope too far sometimes. They weren’t fazed by her threat. After straightening the table and chairs, they sat back down again and continued with their plans for the summer holidays.

  ‘I’m going to ride Lightning over and check up on old Harry this arvo,’ Eileen told them.

  ‘You’re so kind to him,’ Tammi said, ‘He’s lucky to have you.’

  ‘Yeah Eileen, you are good to him,’ Kathy agreed.

  ‘Yeah, well, the poor old bugger has no one else and he’s harmless. I hate it when I hear some of the people around here talking about him and saying he’s not right in the head! He’s just old, he’s not nuts!’

  The bell buzzed. It was time to head back in for afternoon classes.

  Across the road from the school, a figure stood up from leaning against a telegraph pole. The shadow it cast on the sunny footpath showed it grinding a cigarette out on the ground, then it disappeared.

  ***

  THE RELEASE

  A wisp of wind lifted his hair as he raised his craggy face upward, enjoying the warmth of the brilliant sunshine. A sigh escaped his lips as he murmured, ‘Ah, free at last.’

  He fumbled in the breast pocket of his old coat, a coat one would not see in today’s stores. He took out a worn photo, the edges tattered from frequent handling. His eyes filled with tears, then his expression abruptly changed to a scowl. Tucking the photo back into its place of many years, he lifted the shabby suitcase holding his few belongings and ambled down the hill.

  ‘I’m coming blue eyes… I’m coming.’

  The guard shut the huge wrought iron gates behind him.

  CHAPTER TWO

&
nbsp; Kathy was taking a shortcut back to Kia-Ora through the orchard from her Uncle Arthur’s place. It was something she had done many times. This time, however, she felt slightly uneasy. There was no wind to stir the trees and the silence seemed to close in on her; a prickle of fear ran down her spine.

  She sensed someone was watching her. She stopped to look around, but she couldn’t see anything unusual. A chill shot down her spine. Twilight had fallen, giving the trees an eerie appearance in the dim light.

  ‘Stop it!’ she reprimanded herself out loud. ‘You’re just spooking yourself!’

  Hastening her pace, she hurried on through the trees, but as she neared the edge of the orchard, she heard a twig snap quite close behind her. Her senses were screaming that she was not alone. ‘Crap! That’s not my imagination!’ she whispered to herself.

  ‘Robert! Is that you? Come out now you little shit!’ she called, thinking it could be Robert trying to scare her. He had a reputation for his pranks, especially on his cousins.

  She stood still to listen… There was not a sound…

  Feeling very afraid now and certain someone was following her, she broke into a run, glancing back over her shoulder only once.

  She ran as fast as she could the rest of the way up to the house and through the back door into the kitchen.

  ‘Glory be, love, you’re in a hurry!’ remarked Hazel. She was fussing over dinner as Kathy burst through the door.

  ‘Love, you’re as white as a sheet. What is it, dear?’

  ‘Oh, Hazel, just now I could have sworn someone was watching me outside. I couldn’t make anyone out because of the dim light and the trees, but I really think someone was in the orchard!’

  ‘Oh, love, are you sure? Maybe it was your imagination. Who would be hiding among the fruit trees, and why would they anyway?’

  ‘I don’t know Hazel, but I swear there was someone there. I thought it might have been Robert being his usual painful self.’

  ‘Here dear, sit down and I’ll make you a warm drink. I’m sure it was all your imagination,’ Hazel soothed. ‘Twilight can make your imagination run away with you!’