Desert Strike

by Leo Nix

McFly couldn't understand how he lived with the tribe in the dreaming where he was taught by an uncle who wasn't here. Plus he met Billy who died months ago, and why did this fierce warrior, his uncle, have no name?

  “That uncle of yours taught you things didn't he,” said Roo.

  “Yeah, he frightened the life out of me. I went into the dream world with his spear in my chest, it felt real. I thought I was dead,” replied McFly and there was a pained look on his face as he recalled the fear he felt.

  “He did that to drive you out of this world into the other, it worked,” said Frank simply as he and his cousins walked beside the camels.

  It was a long walk. Only three camels and eight men, all fit and healthy. They walked the desert in the early morning and slept through the middle of the day giving them time to talk and bond. McFly felt part of this new family, and shared when asked. He soon learned what was men's business, secrets, and so punishable if he spoke of it.

  That evening they settled for sleep and Wiram asked everyone to join him to send mind-talk to his wife, Donna. They came back smiling, even McFly.

  “Ah fella's, that last bit, you weren't supposed to be in on it. That was just for me and the missus,” Wiram chuckled. “Wait till I tell Donna she had an audience.”

  They met Riley on their way back to the hot springs. They could see him riding his camel for some distance but it was Dog who could smell better than Riley could see. Dog raced towards them to leap into Roo's arms licking his face faster than Roo could wipe the wetness off.

  Riley brought another camel at Sundown's insistence, now they all had a ride except Roo's aboriginal cousins, who refused anyway. At lunch they relaxed around the fire as Riley explained why he couldn't get away until the next morning. Jeda and Jenny had told him that he wasn't allowed to interfere with the initiations, so he had to wait.

  “The girls were frightened something might happen to me if I arrived at the wrong time. Anyway, I let Dog off my camel's back and he led me here. He was pretty keen to see you, wasn't he Roo,” laughed Riley. But he was still puzzled and waited for one of the boys to explain what was going on.

  “I can tell you, Riley. It was McFly, he's now Gangardi, same as me and my mother's people, and my cousins. He's not allowed to talk about it, if he does we can spear him.” For the first time Roo smiled at a joke, his own joke.

  McFly looked at him over his cup of tea. “Did you just make a joke Roo… or was that serious?”

  Wiram decided to rescue him. “It's OK, McFly, Roo made a joke. Just never speak to anyone of what you did or the lessons you've learned, especially to Shadow. It's simple, women aren't allowed to know what we men get up to. The uninitiated aren't allowed to know either, especially white fella's like you.” They all broke up laughing but both Riley and McFly just looked puzzled. “McFly, as we said earlier, no talking, got it?” McFly noticed the fierce looks of Roo's desert cousins. They were all dead serious he realised.

  Riley asked, “But how did Jenny and Jeda know? They're women and they knew about it.”

  “They only knew it was secret men's business and nothing else. They knew because Wiram mind-talked them to keep everyone away,” said Nulla. That satisfied Riley. He'd lived long enough with the aborigines to know they often knew things associated with their family and loved ones.

  “There's a soak not far away,” offered Roo.

  “How much further? I want to get back to my wife,” said Wiram looking up at the afternoon sun.

  “Not far, two hours maybe.” He saw the nods from his cousins. “If we start now we'll get there by dark. Frog dreaming time, for McFly.” Roo looked up into the sky to check the sun's position.

  Nulla stood up and began packing their camp gear straight away. They quickly distributed their loads between the camels and rode with Roo in the lead. They came across a muddy patch of ground, a small oasis in the middle of the desert. Wild animals had dug a hole in the middle of the oasis to form a puddle, it produced enough water for survival.

  “Nice work, Roo. We'll teach Matjuri frog dreaming tonight.” Frank now spoke to the initiate. “Frogs dream while they wait for the monsoon rains to wake them up. Right now there's not enough water to keep their skin moist, so they've buried themselves deep in the mud where they sleep and wait for the rains. We'll show you how to tap into their dreams. Sometimes we do other things which I can't talk about with Riley here.” Frank helped McFly pull the saddle and gear off his camel and hobbled it so it wouldn't wander too far during the night.

  Bidjera said there were dingoes in that area so they decided to keep a night watch. There was no way they wanted their camels to come to any harm or run off. With a rope around their ankles they would certainly break a leg if chased by a dingo pack. None of them wanted that for their precious beasts.

  Once their gear was unpacked and their swags ready for sleep, Bidgera led the small group to the edge of the muddy soak. The mud flat spread over an area the size of a tennis court. He positioned everyone in a circle and indicated for Riley and McFly to watch and copy he and the others.

  Bidgera began to sing in his tribal language. As he sang he tapped two sticks together softly, then eased off as the others joined in to sing together. It had no words McFly could understand.

  McFly hummed until, with his eyes closed, he saw a frog buried deep in the mud. He was instructed by someone to shift his focus, to move his mind and enter the frog, 'become the frog'. The drone of the song pushed him into the dreaming - he became the frog.

  McFly felt pleasant sensations which he couldn't interpret, but then he slowly entered a state of peacefulness and timelessness. His dreaming was of an indescribable sensual beauty. McFly revelled in sensations of being in a womb of joy, love and security. It was a nurturing experience which somehow reminded him of his spirit mother.

  During the night they heard the dingoes calling to each other. Riley quietly positioned himself near the camels and sang softly to calm them. He could see a dozen or more dingoes in the starlight. Riley knew they were working up the courage to attack the young camel which Roo had borrowed from Bongo, Star.

  The cattleman unslung his rifle and stood up. He walked slowly among the frightened camels, continuously singing softly to calm them down and soothe their fears. He knew the animals now considered their human owners as their protectors, they trusted Riley to protect them. When morning came the dingoes were gone, deciding that despite their hunger, it wasn't worth their lives to challenge these humans.

  Over breakfast it was decided that McFly would continue his training with his tribesmen. The four desert aboriginal warriors waved their goodbyes and headed back into their country, escorting a curious but excited McFly. Their belly's full and their curiosity sated, they told the initiate they would continue his training the traditional way.

  Bidgera laughed as he walked gripping his spears and war boomerangs. “Hey, Matjuri!” he called loudly, “next time you see a spear flying your way, don't forget to duck!” The four men burst out laughing.

  The patrol arrived at the hot springs a few hours later. Everyone had departed for Birdsville except Donna. She was all smiles and couldn't wait to tell Wiram her own big news.

  “Well everyone do you want the good news or the bad news?” asked Donna.

  Wiram was too tired to play games, he'd had a long walk, so he said, “Come on love, just tell us both at once can't you?”

  She looked coyly at him. “Well big boy, Tricia said you gonna be a daddy and we've got a long way to get back to Birdsville by camel.” She smiled then laughed when she saw the look on her husband's face.

  “Wiram!” cried Nulla before anyone could respond and he stepped forward to shake his big mate's hand. “Congratulations, daddy.”

  As the other men stepped forward to do the same, Wiram hugged his wife. After days of exhausted patrolling he broke down and started to cry. They were all aware that, despite the enormous horrors of the apocalypse, sometimes hope made it through.

  Riley look
ed on and said to no one in particular. “What a crazy holiday this trip turned out to be.”

  Chapter 23 - Negotiations

  The commando had more than enough cattle on the property to feed their community. With the absence of humans managing their properties the wildlife had exploded in numbers allowing the Commando access to a variety of game for the pot. The girl's garden now provided enough vegetables for the growing population and a barbeque every month was a welcome respite from the heat and boredom of routine.

  Growing fresh vegetables wasn't easy though and required careful management. As Fatima liked to tell the teenage boys when they came back for seconds and thirds, “Sufficient, is as good as a feast.”

  There was a problem though, grains. Bread requires wheat grain and wheat needs an enormous expanse of productive land to grow. They could never grow enough wheat to make bread in this arid sanctuary anyway. Sundown's years as a bread scientist came in handy but without basic grains even the berserker didn't have an answer. The Australian desert produces edible grass seeds but they're tiny and few in number. These seeds were treasured coffee substitutes and added flavour to some of their dishes, but they were useless for bread making.

  Beer brewing can also use wheat grain. Although malted barley or wheat, plus starch or sugar are the most basic of ingredients for brewing, these were next to impossible to get, much to the soldiers dismay.

  A few days after their return to the palace, Sergeant Ahmet prepared to go to the Diamantina homestead to meet with the Longreach Crusaders delegation. He was to pass on the news to Shadow and Pedro that McFly was off in the desert undergoing initiations with his new desert brothers. Sundown wasn't sure how to explain it so he decided he'd leave that up to Ahmet, who'd already discussed it with Nulla and Wiram.

  Sue-Ellen now managed their treaty arrangements with the Longreach Crusaders. As a master of the art of negotiations she knew that with the Crusaders in a full scale battle for survival against their ex-church comrades, the Mount Isa Revelationists, she could twist the Abbess Leonie's arm.

  “I'm worried we've made a 'pie-crust' deal with the Crusaders - easily made but just as easily broken,” said Sundown musing out loud.

  “Sundown, I know what I'm doing so just back-off and let me get on with it.” Sue-Ellen was polite but firm. The tension between them had grown on their return to the palace and even Pinkie kept well away - from both of them. Sue-Ellen snapped at him constantly and Sundown bit back. It was unpleasant for everyone.

  Sundown missed his mate Pedro, he could talk to Pedro about anything. But his mate was in Longreach on his honeymoon. Andy was always too busy to chat while Pinkie simply avoided him. He couldn't talk to Vic because Vic was in Alice Springs. Sundown thought to speak with Wiram or Nulla but they were in a nice place with their partners and he didn't want to burden them now they were both going to be fathers. So he kept it all inside where it festered like a pus-filled sore.

  “Sue-Ellen, I'm happy to leave it to you, but if we don't get them on-side we lose our right wing and an ally. I want our boys up there working with theirs on patrol and you want access to their spy network. How you do that I don't care right now.” He stood up and began pacing which had now become a habit of his.

  “Damn it, Sundown, sit down will you,” she snapped. “I once thought it cute but now it just makes me annoyed.” Sue-Ellen said irritably. Sundown sat back down and a black cloud settled over his normally calm features. Sue-Ellen continued. “You know I'm the expert here. I've worked intelligence longer than you've baked bread. So just trust me on this, got it, commander?”

  Sundown knew she was close to cracking it with him again so he just nodded. He made to stand up again but thought better of it and settled back into his chair.

  “Sue-Ellen,” Sundown looked at her feeling his demon's disturbed energy, “you know what? I just want us to be friends again. We've not had a nice word for each other since our trip to the Diamantina spring. What's wrong with us?”

  She looked at him like he was crazy. “We didn't have a nice word back then either.” She stopped what she was about to say and her face softened. “Yeah, I know, Sundown, let's call it a day. I'm bushed and I think we need to step out of this and send Ahmet off with a simpler set of demands. How about I write up our proposal and we'll finish it tonight on the rooftop over wine?” Her smile said more than he expected.

  “Hmm, yes?” he said slowly as he looked deep into her now bright eyes. “I'd like that but I think Pinkie mightn't.” His face broke into a more pleasant version of his self than she'd seen all week.

  Sue-Ellen shook her head. “Naughty fellow, I didn't mean that, I meant work. But if you've a nice quiet place maybe we could finish this conversation some other way?” she offered without even thinking of what she was saying.

  “Oh boy, we are tired and fanciful aren't we.” Sundown shook his head from side to side slowly as the lines in his face formed into a lively smile. “Sue-Ellen, if I had a choice I'd…” he stopped himself going there. “I'd not be able to make that choice.” He reached across the table. “Damn, you make me feel something inside that I just don't know what to do with. But let's do that wine thing tonight and get this damn treaty proposal done. I'm sick of it and this bickering.”

  Sue-Ellen put her hand on his and looked at him. “Sundown, we both have decisions to make.” She bit her lip and Sundown's face reddened. “OK, until tonight then.” She got up and walked from the room.

  Sundown was left alone, thinking.

  The following day Sergeant Ahmet left with the Bushmaster patrol for the Diamantina homestead to meet with the Longreach party. Before he left Sundown called him aside.

  “Ahmet, I don't want you to accept anything less than what we've planned. They'll try to negotiate for more, of course, but we've got the upper hand and they'll eventually have no choice but to accept. I'd say they're backs-to-the-wall with the Talons and Ravens Claws so we only have to let them simmer some. If it comes to the boil we'll have everything we want.”

  Sundown slapped him on the shoulder. “Besides, I'd say Shadow and Pedro have been working on them for us.” He nodded to the sergeant and his Bushmaster crew and sent them on their way to the Diamantina homestead. He was sure the Longreach delegation would be impressed to see the Bushmaster and the quality of his soldiers. It just might turn the cards in their favour.

  Two days later Ahmet was back, with a smile on his face and a gift the committee hadn't expected. “Sir, firstly the fighting around Longreach has been fierce but patchy. The Mount Isa fellas don't quite have the numbers to overwhelm the Crusaders so their delegation managed to get through the blockade surrounding the town. They said the next time might not be so easy. Pedro talked them into keeping their delegates at Longreach because of the fighting, so we'll meet at the homestead next fortnight.” Ahmet went on but this time his dark, weathered face broke into a broad grin.

  “They agreed to 90% of what we asked for this time around. I reckon they're ready to crack. We need to plan who we'll be sending across as their support, it might be soon.” Sue-Ellen smiled as Ahmet's face broadened and he said, “Plus we've got a dozen wheat grain sacks in our wagon, two of barley and two of rice. Plus there's a promise of more where that came from.”

  Tricia laughed for joy. “You did it!” she cried, “Sue-Ellen, you are a genius and Ahmet, you're my new hero! Now we have access to wheat so we can start baking bread again. We've got rice and barley for our soups and casseroles and I can make genuine shortbread the way my grandmother taught me, woohoo!”

  “A dozen bags of wheat grain should last two hundred people… now let me see…” Andy smiled broadly, “about one day! And Tricia, I'm very sorry but I'm going to confiscate some of that barley for our brewery, the boys need it, it's medicinal.”

  The news ignited some excited conversation around the table, it was their first win and it bode well for further negotiations with the Longreach Revelationists. It showed their 'goodwill' just like rescuing their
girls, sending ambassadors and caring for their wounded sisterhood was Sundown's goodwill.

  “We've got them in a corner and they know it. A sweetener like this is a good sign but it could also be a ploy, a game. Sue-Ellen, you're our expert negotiator, what do you think?” asked a bemused Sundown.

  “Yes, it's a good sign. Shadow knew what we needed before she left and obviously pushed for them to include the bags of wheat. I would have done the same thing, it's a sweetener for sure. They want our cavalry and weapons and we want a secure flank and grains. But we've their church elders, their Apostles or whatever they call them, to deal with as well as the Abbess. I'd like to meet her myself if I could.” It was more a question than a statement and she looked around at everyone.

  Pinkie spoke first. “Sue-Ellen, I thought you planned to return to Pine Gap and prepare for the Darwin incursion, what's happening there?”

  “I do,” replied Sue-Ellen looking at Pinkie curiously. She quickly realised there was no malice to her question. What an incredible woman, she thought. “My Black Hawk crew found the electrical problem and they've finished repairs. I plan on heading back in a week so a trip across to Longreach is not out of the question, just highly improbable at this stage. I could fly in but I don't want the world to know our secret, nor do I want to use it as a people ferry. My Black Hawk is a weapon to be used sparingly. So to answer your question, yes, I am leaving, soon. Although I'd like to go to Longreach and handle the negotiations personally, I don't think it will happen.”

  “It's a long drive through enemy territory,” interrupted Major Lewis now back at the palace while Captain Walker was back at the Birdsville outpost. “I'd not recommend it commander. If you were caught and tortured, and we know they'll do that, we compromise everything we've worked so hard to achieve. I for one vote against a trip to Longreach for you, and for any of our other committee and headquarters staff. Shadow, Pedro and McFly should be the last we put at risk.”