Red Hot

by Cheryl Alldis

  ‘I’ve never seen anything like it!’ Emmie said in a timid voice. ‘We’ve never had a dust storm like this before.’

  ‘Yeah, well with this shockin heat, I’ve heard of these in the centre of the country.’ Karl commented. ‘It must be the heat that caused it.’

  Dust storms emanate from the dry heartland. They are known to be more severe during periods of drought and are seasonal. In southern NSW and Victoria, wetter winters suppress dust storm activity until the hot summers arrive.

  ‘Sure has made a mess out there,’ Digger said, looking out the filthy window.

  The storm had passed, leaving a coat of reddish brown dust across the valley.

  ‘We’re in for a lotta cleanin’ up!’ he continued.

  ‘Are you okay, Mum?’ Win asked Emmie. ‘You don’t look so good.’

  ‘Yes, Mum, you could well do with a lie down. You know you shouldn’t get over anxious, so please go and rest. This dust can be cleaned up,’ Ellie said to Emmie who finally agreed she would rest. Hazel went upstairs with her to make sure she was comfortable.

  ‘She can’t take any more shocks!’ Karl spoke with anxiety in his voice. ‘All these bloody fires and shit that’s goin’ on, what next can go wrong? Is this valley cursed or what?’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Eddie Chancellor dragged on his cigarette, inhaling deeply. He was deep in thought. ‘Fuckin’ prison… of all the rotten luck!’ He squinted against the brightness of the hot sun. He stood there until he finished his cigarette. Flicking the butt onto the parched ground, he stubbed it out with his foot and walked around to the driver side of his old car.

  He gunned the engine and spun the wheels, causing his car to fishtail on the gravel road as he sped off in the direction of Albury. ‘Might as well have one last hooraa’

  ***

  Darcy was cruising Dean Street. He was to pick Eileen up later in the afternoon; they were going out for dinner, a nice romantic dinner. Darcy glanced at the small velvet box on the seat beside him. He’d known how he felt about Eileen for a while. He was hoping she wouldn’t think it was too soon. He smiled, visualizing Eileen’s face when she opened it.

  ***

  Eddie floored it as he wheeled into Dean Street from the railway station end. He was in a rotten mood. A glint of malice flickered in his eyes when he saw Darcy cruising along on the opposite side of the street.

  ‘Fuckin’ Burke,’ he swore, slowing down as the cars drew level. He stuck his hand out the window and gave Darcy the old ‘finger in the air’ gesture. Darcy smirked and returned the sign. At the same time, he spun his big pink chevy around to follow close on Eddie’s tail.

  When they got to the intersection of Olive and Dean Streets, Darcy drew up alongside Eddie. They nodded briefly at each other and, with a squeal of tyres, the two cars shot forward. They raced flat out down Dean Street towards the monument.

  People turned to stare as the cars sped along. Other traffic pulled over to avoid them.

  A police car was coming slowly along Kiewa Street as the two cars dragged across the Kiewa and Dean Street intersection. ‘Chancellor and Burke…’ one of the policemen said.

  ‘They’re bloody lunatics! They’ll kill someone one of these days!’ the other one replied.

  ‘Wouldn’t ya think Chancellor was in enough shit? Idiot!’

  Turning on the siren, they took off in pursuit. Eddie screeched around the Base Hospital corner and Darcy wheeled into a side street and they disappeared.

  This was one time they both got away!

  ‘Well I’ll be fucked!’ the cop remarked.

  ***

  ‘Well everyone, Christmas and New Year’s is over and now back to work!’ Beth looked around the breakfast table at everyone. Groans echoed. It was hard getting back into routine after being in holiday mode.

  ‘I need a lift to the salon this morning, please Francis,’ Kathy said.

  ‘Me too please, Francis,’ Tammi cooed cajolingly.

  Francis looked from one to the other. ‘What is this, a taxi service or something?’ he joked.

  ‘Please Francis, just this once, huh?’

  ‘Well, I guess just this once!’

  Beth hadn’t said anything. Francis was still keeping his distance from her and she still couldn’t figure out why. She hadn’t said a word to him about their ‘friendship’. She hadn’t got around to it yet and she was totally confused at his sudden frostiness. She felt uncomfortable.

  Ever since her girls night out, he had changed. They had exchanged Christmas gifts and pecked cheeks but that was all.

  Now he looked up and caught her staring at him. His face reddened. He squirmed in his seat. He knew it would be nasty not to offer her a lift, especially as she worked in the same department store. Common sense prevailed and reluctantly he asked her to accept a lift too. He told the girls he would wait for them in the car. Informing Ellie that he wouldn’t be home for dinner, he gave her a quick peck on the cheek and left.

  Emmie watched them all leave. ‘I hope all this turns out alright,’ she thought, worried.

  ***

  ‘What a scorcher!’ Karl wiped sweat from his forehead with his arm.

  ‘You alright, mate? You look a bit off!’ Dig asked, concerned.

  Although sheltered from the sun by the shade of the fruit trees, it was still extremely hot. Karl looked a bit peaky and Digger felt worried. Karl should have been up at the house on such a hot day. He still wasn’t a hundred per cent from the accident and everyone felt he was doing too much too soon.

  ‘I’m just hot, cob. Just hot.’ As Karl spoke, he sagged to the ground.

  ‘Strewth!’ Digger dropped the bucket he was holding and darted across to grab Karl. ‘Hey, Tige, don’t go passin’ out on a bloke now!’

  He helped Karl to the shade of a nearby tree and sat him down. ‘Come on, I think I’d better take you home, mate.’

  ‘No… No… I’ll be okay in a minute. Just the heat, mate… It got to me, that’s all.’ Karl was adamant that he didn’t need to go home. ‘Seriously mate, I don’t need ta go home. I’ll be alright in a minute.’

  ‘Well shit mate, just take it easy then. Just sit there and rest a while.’ Digger passed him a drink from the canvas water bag they always carried.

  The day stretched on. Morning turned into afternoon and afternoon became early evening. Although the sky looked overcast now and the sun was shielded by clouds, it remained uncomfortably hot.

  ***

  The evening shadows closed in and the shops turned on their lights. He stood outside watching the staff entrance to Mates Department Store. Waiting… watching.

  Finally, she appeared, adjusting the strap on her bag before slipping it over her shoulder. She walked briskly along the dim footpath. She was alone and the laneway between Mates and the TNG building was not lit up. He followed her. Sensing something was not right, she turned to look behind her. There was nobody there.

  He stood still after deftly slinking into the alcove of a small barber shop.

  She moved on again, quickening her step. He followed. She crossed to the footpath on the opposite side. He did too! Quickening her steps even more, she hurried down the lane behind the Coles Supermarket, in the direction of the Olive Street taxi rank.

  He made his move quick and silent. He swooped like a hawk on its prey.

  Beth’s handbag lay in the gutter at the edge of the laneway. The strap broken from the futile struggle she had put up.

  ***

  ‘Beth’s late coming home,’ Win remarked as it grew darker.

  ‘Mmm, she is,’ Ellie replied absently. ‘Maybe she decided to stay in town with friends.’ She shrugged.

  Win poured them both a sherry. ‘Have you heard anything from Harvey? You haven’t mentioned him since we spoke on New Year’s Eve.’

  Ellie sipped her sherry and frowned. ‘I haven’t heard a word from out that way since our argument. I’m a bit worried, to tell the truth. I’ve had an uneasy feeling for a
while now.’

  Win looked puzzled. ‘Why? It seems pretty cut and dried to me. You refused him money, he abused you and you told him to go to hell. It seems to me he’s got the message.’

  ‘Yes I know, but I just can’t get rid of this uneasy feeling.’

  ***

  ‘There… That should do nicely,’ he thought, a smirk creeping across his face. ‘I’ve been waiting for this day.’

  Standing up, he looked down at his handiwork. ‘They’ll never guess in a million years who’s been doin this,’ he rasped. ‘Nice little surprise. This’ll keep ‘em busy for a while.’ He threw his head back and laughed loudly. It echoed around him, as if bouncing back from the tinder dry hills.

  Rubbing his hands together excitedly, he turned and walked away. The lone figure vanished into the dark of night.

  Beth was petrified. She feared for her life. Her hands were tied behind her back and her feet bound to the rickety makeshift bed where he had dumped her. He had gagged her to silence her cries for help in the car while he drove to his destination. He hadn’t taken it off and she was finding it hard to breathe.

  She prayed silently for help and strength to get away from this lunatic.

  When he had grabbed her in the laneway behind the supermarket in Albury, she had fought like a feral cat, but he had been so much stronger.

  Beth had struggled desperately, biting and kicking her abductor. Her screams attracted no one as he kept muffling them with his dirty big hand. He had picked the perfect time and place. While he gagged and bound her in the back seat of his car, she had got a good look at him.

  She felt the hysteria rising inside her because she recognized him. He punched her in the face and then burst into tears apologizing, ranting how he was so sorry but she had to be quiet because he didn’t want to hurt her. He kept calling her his little blue eyed beauty…

  Now, as she lay on the old camp stretcher, she realised she was in the hands of a mad man. She asked herself over and over… ‘Why?’

  ***

  ‘Maybe Beth is with Francis,’ Tammi commented at dinner.

  ‘I doubt it. He hasn’t been that friendly to her lately,’ Kathy replied.

  ‘Why is everyone so worried? Maybe they had a meeting at work. Anyway, she’s a sensible girl,’ Dig said.

  ‘Yeah, she’ll be home soon. I reckon she’s with Francis,’ Karl said, stretching. ‘That was a bloody good dinner. I’m goin’ outside for a while. Anyone gonna join me?’

  Emmie had barely touched her dinner. She said she was going to bed early but wanted to know when Beth came in. She was worried about her being so late.

  They all knew when Emmie had a troubled mind. Tonight it was evident.

  ‘I will, mate.’ Digger got up with Karl and they went out to the back veranda. Eventually, the others followed. It was cool in the evenings on the back veranda. The valley looked gorgeous lit up by the moonlight.

  They had only been outside a short time when Karl sniffed the air. ‘Can anyone else smell smoke?’ he asked.

  They all sniffed.

  ‘I reckon I can. Shit, I hope not, not again,’ Karl growled.

  ‘Hell, I think you’re right, mate,’ Digger said seriously

  ‘It is smoke!’ Ellie and Win said together.

  Kathy and Tammi said they could smell it too.

  ‘Can’t see anything, but sure as hell can smell it!’ Karl said as he scanned the night sky. ‘Smells like grass. I don’t like this one bit. It’s so friggin dry out there. I’m gonna give Frank a call.’

  ‘Good idea, mate. If there’s a fire out there somewhere and no one knows about it, soon enough…’ Dig’s voice trailed off.

  Win interpreted the look on his face. ‘We know what you’re saying,’ she said. ‘It could develop into a major bushfire!’

  ‘I’ll get Frank on the phone!’ Karl strode inside.

  ***

  Mick tugged at his beard. His foot kicked backwards and forwards in the gravel as he stood outside the red phone box.

  ***

  Harvey sped towards his home at Jindera. His anger showed in the way he handled his car. ‘You’ll give in this time, you bitch! You’ll give in… or else!’ he shouted at the windscreen. He pushed his foot harder on the accelerator. The car shot along Urana Road at a dangerous speed!

  ***

  Mary relaxed in her bath. She smiled drunkenly as she soaped first one long slender leg, then the other. Her suitcase was packed and waiting to be put into the boot of her car.

  She had been waiting for the right time and now it had arrived.

  She reached her hand out for the half empty whisky bottle. ‘What nice way to enjoy my last drink in this house,’ she slurred and laughed at herself. ‘Harvey Winters, you can stick this marriage wherever you want to stick it.’ She splashed bubbles into the air and giggled drunkenly.

  Since Harvey had broken up with Ellie, he had been at home more. No more cabin at the Weir. Mary had not been able to see Karl as often as they had when Harvey was otherwise occupied. Harvey had kept pestering Mary about the money even though she made it clear he wouldn’t get any more. He thought he could break her down if he kept at her long enough. This only encouraged her to reach for the bottle. The only saving grace was that she had made a decision to leave him. She knew her heart was with Karl.

  ***

  The back wheels of Eddie’s car spun as he gunned the motor.

  ‘Prison…’ he shouted. ‘Fuckin’ prison. I’ll go away for sure!’ He thumped his fist on the steering wheel. ‘I’m an idiot, shoulda said no to those blokes. Was just easy money! Fuck, I’m a fool!’

  He sped recklessly along Urana Road towards Albury, passing another speeding car going in the opposite direction. He had been bailed after he was charged with being an accessory. He had been the getaway driver in the robbery. The court case to follow would definitely result in prison time for him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Karl hurried outside to tell the others what he had learned from Frank.

  ‘Frank’s had a report of a grass fire just out passed the Gap. He’s got trucks goin’ out there now.’

  Win felt her heart miss a beat. ‘Not another Gap fire!’

  ‘Frank’s distraught. We all know what this means. He’s feared the worst for weeks. It’s a potential furnace out there!’

  ‘If this gets out of hand, I don’t want you involved, Karl,’ Emmie said firmly. ‘You have only just started to get back on your feet after the accident. You’re not strong enough to go out fighting fires.’

  Emmie had heard the commotion and came outside.

  ‘Em’s right, Karl,’ Digger agreed. ‘If this does get a go on, your best place is here at home.’

  The shrilling of the phone interrupted them. Kathy ran inside to answer it.

  ‘Dad,’ she called out. ‘It’s Frank Smith!’

  He wasn’t long on the phone. He hurried back to face his anxious family.

  ‘It’s bad?’ Karl looked at Digger, his face grim.

  Digger nodded ‘Yes, several more grass fires have been reported out at Jindera and they’re spreading rapidly towards the hills!’

  The colour drained from all their faces. If the fires got amongst the hills… Hamilton Valley would be in dreadful danger. In fact, if that happened, evacuations would be enforced. ‘I’m gonna take the water truck and head out there. Don’t even think of coming, Karl. We have a new truck now and you’re on the mend, we don’t want any more injuries or accidents. You go and phone Sam and get him to have Des and Eric ready. I’ll pick them up on the way.’

  Poor Karl knew it was pointless arguing. He felt useless but he knew he would probably be a hindrance to the blokes anyway.

  The smell of smoke was stronger now.

  Win cast Ellie a knowing look. ‘I think Mum should go back up to bed. Get some rest while she can!’

  Ellie agreed and, after some coaxing, Emmie gave in and went back up to bed. Before she lay down, she made them promise
to keep her informed on the fire and Beth.

  They said they would, knowing they had to protect her as much as they could from any stress.

  Digger had the water truck ready and, after kissing Win and the girls, he shook Karl’s hand and gave his shoulder a squeeze, telling him to look after the family.

  The fires spread quickly. Fire brigades from Lavington and Albury raced out to Jindera. Burrumbuttock brigades were there when they arrived and brigades from other towns arrived soon after. Farmers and fruit growers rallied together to help control the fires before they destroyed their properties. They poured gallons of water on to the blazes, but as fast as they got one fire out, another flared up. It was too much for them. The flames raced into the hills and spread out, linking up to form a monstrous wall of fire!

  ***

  ‘We can’t hold it!’ Frank bellowed. His face was smudged with ash and his eyes streamed tears from smoke. ‘It’s outta control! We’ve gotta have more help!’

  ‘We’ve got every available unit from every town around us, mate!’ Digger shouted back.

  ‘We’ll have to call State Emergency. This bastard’s gonna beat us if we stuff around with it. We just haven’t got the equipment.’

  The fires had burnt into the hills despite the frantic efforts of the firefighters. Surrounding country towns had sent every piece of firefighting equipment they had but it wasn’t enough to battle this monstrous blaze.

  Frank radioed in and the State Emergency vehicles were despatched to the scene.

  Flames leapt from tree to tree, fed on undergrowth that fuelled them on. Terrified animals tried in vain to escape, unable to outrun the intensity of the monster bearing down on them. Birds fell from the trees, already dead from the heat of the flames. On and on it roared, across the parched ground, swallowing everything in its path. It was driven by a demon with a force directly from hell!

  Men armed only with knapsacks risked their lives as they rushed into the hills to try and fight the fire they had all feared would happen. ‘We can’t even hold it back with the State Emergency equipment!’ Frank shouted.