Valley of the White Gold

by Tony Parsons

  They walked slowly through the rain to casualty and it felt wonderful. Dorothy had phoned the hospital to tell them they were on their way and had given a brief outline of what had happened at Mattai so the resident doctor was waiting for them.

  ‘You don’t have to stay, Dorothy. I’ll get Alec to come and get me,’ Rod said hoarsely.

  ‘Shhh,’ she said, putting a finger against his lips.

  Rod lay on a table while the doctor and a nurse began cutting away his blackened shirt. Pieces of the shirt had been burned into his skin and had to be eased out. The worst area was just below the point of his right shoulder and from there the burn spread down onto his bicep. There was a smaller patch of burnt skin on his back below the shoulder. The wounds looked excruciatingly painful.

  Dr Miller tut-tutted and shook his head. ‘You’ll have to stay here for a day or two, at least. This is quite nasty and needs special attention.’

  ‘Do I have to stay?’ Rod asked.

  ‘Yes, you do. Burns are tricky things. No more heroics for you for the time being. I’ll give you something for the pain, otherwise you won’t get much sleep.’

  ‘I’ll have to ring my overseer and let him know the score,’ Rod said croakily.

  ‘That’s all right. This rain will put out the fire so that won’t be a concern. If this doesn’t heal, we might have to send you to Sydney,’ Dr Miller said, his brow furrowed as he continued to examine the burns.

  ‘Surely not?’ Rod said.

  ‘I kid you not,’ Dr Miller answered solemnly.

  ‘I don’t have any pyjamas or shaving gear.’

  ‘Shhh,’ Dorothy said again. ‘Rest your throat, Rod. You sound like an old bullfrog. I’ll go out and buy what you need and then I’ll head off home and see what I can do there. Now you behave yourself.’

  ‘You’ll be in trouble when Dan hears that you’ve been carting me about.’

  ‘After what you did today, Dan ought to offer you a partnership,’ Dorothy retorted. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ Dorothy said, kissing him goodbye. If Rod’s actions today didn’t change Dan’s mind for good about their new neighbour, nothing would.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Dan sat silently beside Jim as they drove along the Mattai road towards their property. They had driven through one storm after another and the smell of the rain on the dry earth was wonderful. There was nothing quite like it. But Dan’s overriding thoughts were of what he would find when he reached home. The Bathurst police had contacted him and told him there had been a serious fire situation on his property. He and Jim had left the cricket immediately and rung home. Bella had filled them in on what had happened. Dan cursed himself for being stupid enough to leave home while the whole area was tinder dry. Bella had told him that sheep had been lost and a lot of fencing had burnt down. She’d also told him that, thanks to Rod’s intervention, the house and sheds had been saved.

  Driving up the track to the homestead, Dan and Jim could see burnt posts, blackened paddocks and small heaps of dead sheep scattered randomly like outcrops of smooth dark rocks. These were some of their good young rams. As they drew even closer to the house, Dan could see a mob of ewes clustered together in a small holding paddock. Beth must have shifted them from a paddock that had lost its fences, he thought. Sensible girl.

  The first thing Dan noticed when he and Jim got out of the ute was the John Deere tractor, black and blistered. ‘Whose tractor is that?’ he asked as Bella walked out to meet them.

  ‘It’s Rod’s,’ Bella replied flatly. ‘He came through the fire in it.’

  As they walked inside, Bella gave them a rundown on the day’s events. ‘Rod was pretty sick because of all the smoke he inhaled and his shoulder looked crook so Mum took him in to the hospital,’ she explained.

  ‘Where’s Beth?’ Dan asked.

  ‘I don’t know exactly where she is right now, to be honest. She put down the burnt young rams in Clancy’s and then mustered some ewes from alongside Glen Avon where the fence was burnt. Then she took her dogs and rode off somewhere else,’ Bella said.

  ‘We’ll get changed and go and see what needs to be done,’ Dan said.

  ‘You’d better have a cuppa and something to eat before you go out. I made some scones for the firefighters. They’ve not long gone. The storm put the fire out except for some smouldering in logs and stumps. Then we’ll take a drive and I’ll show you something,’ Bella said.

  It was still raining lightly as they drove away from the homestead. The storm had taken the heat out of the day, much to everyone’s relief. As they drove down the paddock, Dan saw through the rain-spotted windscreen the long strip of ploughed earth and the burnt ground right along the border of it. ‘Who ploughed that break?’ he asked.

  ‘Rod and Beth. Rod should have been burned to a crisp. If it hadn’t been for him, the fire would have taken everything,’ Bella said.

  Dan drove on further and parked where Bella said Rod had driven through the fire. The ground was now soaked with rain but he had a very good idea of what it must have looked like when the fire was roaring across the paddock with the big westerly behind it.

  ‘Well, I’ll be damned,’ Dan said.

  ‘It was the craziest yet the most wonderful thing I’ve ever seen anyone do,’ Bella said. To her dying day, she would not forget the sight of Rod’s tractor bursting through the line of flames.

  ‘Did we lose all the rams in Clancy’s?’ Dan asked.

  ‘Every one, Dad,’ Bella said.

  ‘Damn,’ Dan said and shook his head. More than a third of his young rams had been running in Clancy’s. Fortunately, the very best of them were in the ram shed, but losing young sale rams was a big financial loss. Then there was the cost of new fencing. It wouldn’t break him but it was a big setback. And not good timing, as he reckoned Jim would want a house built on the property soon – blind Freddy could see that he was pretty keen on Helen Blake.

  They drove back to the homestead and Dan walked around the blackened John Deere. He found it hard to believe that the machine had kept running and that anyone could have survived the heat that caused such damage. ‘How bad is Rod?’ he asked.

  ‘He’s got a very nasty burn on his shoulder. I think it was hurting a lot but he didn’t let on,’ Bella said. She wondered what her father was thinking. She hoped he recognised just how heroic Rod had been.

  Dan pushed back his old wide-brimmed hat and looked at Jim. ‘What to do first is the question.’

  ‘The fence between us and Glengarry is burnt but still standing because of the steel posts. The one between us and Glen Avon running up from the Mattai road is down because of the wooden posts on that boundary. I’d say the ewes in the yard are from over there. Beth must’ve checked out that area after she put down the young rams. She’s probably up along the Glengarry side by now. Rod cut a couple of fences when he was ploughing the breaks. He cut his own fences and our back boundary fence to get here cross-country but he had Alec tailing him in the Fergy and I know he repaired them straight away so things ought to be okay up there,’ Bella explained in a businesslike tone.

  ‘Righto. Jim and I will check the fences before we do anything else. If there are any ewes boxed, we can sort them out in the morning. We’ll have to do something about those ewes in the house paddock, too. Maybe throw some hay out,’ Dan said.

  ‘Is there anything you want me to do?’ Bella asked.

  ‘You can ring Ken Buchanan and tell him we’ve lost fences in the fire. See if he can get out here and do some fencing for us. When you’ve done that you could saddle one of your horses and head out to look for Beth. She might need a hand. You’d better take some more cartridges in case she needs them.’ Dan looked at his daughter proudly. Obviously, both she and Beth had already done wonders that day.

  It was late afternoon when Dan and Jim got back to the homestead. Dorothy was just getting out of the Fairlane after her trip to the hospital and Dan made a beeline for her. ‘How is he?’ he asked without preamble. />
  ‘Sleepy. They’ve given him something for the pain. He has to stay in hospital and Dr Miller says they might even have to send him to Sydney.’

  ‘As bad as that, eh?’

  ‘It’s a bad burn, Dan,’ Dorothy said wearily. ‘I really hope you realise, whether now or some time in the future, just how much that man has done for us.’

  When Rod opened his eyes again it was morning and Dan and Dorothy were standing beside his hospital bed. Dorothy bent over, kissed him on the forehead and whispered softly in his ear. He thought she said that everything was going to be all right, but because he was still dopey from sleep and whatever it was they had given him for the pain, he couldn’t be sure.

  ‘G’day, Dan. What are you doing here? There must be lots to keep you busy back home,’ Rod said groggily.

  ‘It’s being done. As to what I’m doing here, I came to see the damned fool who took on a bushfire and saved my place,’ Dan said gruffly.

  ‘Who’d be stupid enough to take on a bushfire?’ Rod said, smiling weakly.

  The room seemed to be moving up and down, and Rod wished it would stay in one place. His head felt as if it would float away any old tick and his throat was dry and rough. ‘Dorothy, would you mind pouring me a glass of water?’ he croaked.

  She poured him the water and he sat up enough to allow it to trickle down his inflamed throat.

  ‘Rod’s very tired, Dan. We should let him go back to sleep. I’ll wait for you near reception.’ Rod heard her footsteps as she retreated across the polished floor. Now that he was alone with Dan, there were several moments of awkward silence.

  ‘It was raining when we came in,’ Dan finally said. ‘The storm turned into general rain. It’ll make a huge difference.’

  ‘Did you lose many sheep?’ Rod asked.

  ‘About a third of my young rams and a couple of hundred ewes. Luckily, the rams weren’t all running together in Clancy’s or I’d have lost the lot. I would have lost the shedded ones too if you hadn’t ploughed those breaks. That would have finished me for the big sheep show.’ Dan felt so humbled he could barely look Rod in the eye.

  ‘It’s too bad about the sheep. I couldn’t do anything about them. I know fine-wool growers don’t like turning over ground but it was the only thing I could do, Dan. Even if I’d known it was going to rain, I’d have still had to plough those breaks because the fire would have taken your house and sheds before the storm arrived.’

  ‘I reckon you did more than anyone else would have attempted. I’ll always be in your debt after what you did yesterday. I was wrong about you and I want to say that I’m sorry,’ Dan said.

  ‘We all make mistakes, Dan. I’ve made a few in my time. But as for the fire, well, it’s people pulling together at times like these that makes the bush what it is. And I’ve got to tell you that your wife and daughters did a terrific job out there. You’re damned lucky to have them. They’re Extra Super AAAA,’ Rod said.

  ‘I reckon they are,’ Dan agreed.

  ‘How are your rams coming along for the big show?’ Rod asked. He reckoned that as Dan had made his apology – and he recognised how difficult it must have been for such a proud man to do so – it was time to get him back to talking about sheep, where he was most comfortable.

  ‘They’re looking okay, Rod. They’ve come up better than I expected. If you’ve got any rams as good as those two ewes you showed last year, my rams wouldn’t be good enough, but the two of them are as good as any I’ve ever had.’ He wasn’t disposed to tell Rod that he’d been putting a lot of milk powder into the top rams. He reckoned Rod was cluey enough about sheep without being handed any extra tips.

  ‘That’s good,’ Rod said. ‘But I think I’ll have to talk to you some other time, Dan. My eyes won’t stay open and your head keeps going up and down…’

  ‘I understand. We’ll talk some more when you’re feeling better. Beth said she’ll come in and see you later,’ Dan said. He realised he was talking to himself. Rod was already asleep.

  Beth came to see Rod after lunch. He was feeling marginally brighter after plenty of sleep.

  ‘How goes it, big fella?’ she asked cheerily.

  ‘All the better for seeing you. You were really amazing yesterday.’

  Beth blushed. ‘Did you know that Sergeant McDonald is at reception waiting to see you? He told me he thought I had preference over him, though,’ she said.

  ‘Well, he’s right. There’s no one I’d rather see. Have you got things sorted out at Mattai?’

  ‘We haven’t stopped. Dug holes and buried sheep. Fixed some of the internal fencing. Ken Buchanan is coming out to put up new lines of fencing on the boundaries. Oh, and Dad said to ask you if it’s okay for us to proceed with your boundary fence. It needs new wooden posts.’

  ‘Of course. Tell him to go right ahead,’ Rod said, grateful for Dan’s gesture.

  ‘Do you know how long you’ll be in hospital?’ Beth asked.

  ‘Too long. It seems they might have to send me to Sydney for a week or two,’ he said.

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘What is it?’ he asked. Her forlorn expression was impossible to miss.

  ‘I was hoping you’d be able to take me to the dance in Gulgong next Saturday, but it can’t be helped. Getting that burn fixed up is the first priority,’ she said.

  ‘What else is on your calendar?’ he asked.

  ‘I’ve got the Turella sheepdog trials the week before the big sheep show. There’s plenty on my plate.’

  ‘How are the dogs shaping up?’

  ‘They’re going well. Bonny is a nice easy bitch to handle. She isn’t as good a sheepdog as either Trump or Troy but she’s calmer in the ring. I think she’s ready to win a maiden trial,’ Beth said excitedly. ‘Anyway, I better go, Rod. I have to pick up some fencing stuff for Dad. You do as you’re told and get that burn fixed up so we have you back as soon as possible.’

  ‘I’m really sorry about the dance, Beth. Can you get someone else to take you?’ he asked.

  ‘I’ll think about it,’ she said non-committally, trying not to let her disappointment show. He obviously wasn’t too concerned about her going out with other blokes.

  ‘See you, Beth,’ he said, wistfully watching her retreating figure.

  Beth had no sooner left him than Sergeant McDonald was beside his bed. ‘I’ve been talking to Dorothy and she told me what you did, Rod. You’re a damned lucky fellow. Nobody drives a tractor through a bushfire.’

  ‘If I hadn’t done it, Dave, the Staffords would have lost their house and sheds. The Sesqui-Centenary Sheep Show means a lot to Dan and Jim, and they deserve to do well. After all, the family has been here since sheep were first run in the Half Moon.’

  ‘I understand all that, but you took a terrific risk. How are you feeling?’ McDonald asked.

  ‘A bit dopey and the shoulder isn’t the best. Anything on your mind?’ Rod asked.

  ‘Not really. I’m here to see you. We’re interested in how fires originate and we had a look at where your fire kicked off. We reckon it began from a camper’s fire. There’s no doubt they covered their fire, or thought they did, but an ember or two must have stayed alight and the wind did the rest. The fire definitely traces to that point. We don’t have a clue who was camped there. They’re probably long gone out of the district by now,’ McDonald said.

  ‘And probably wouldn’t connect the Mattai fire with their campfire anyway,’ Rod said.

  ‘That’s right,’ McDonald replied. ‘How are your sheep looking for the big show?’

  ‘All right,’ Rod said.

  ‘You’re not giving much away,’ McDonald said with a grin.

  ‘I’m unhappy being in here. I’ve got big plans for Glengarry,’ Rod said.

  ‘You’re damned lucky you’re not in a coffin. And what more can you do at Glengarry?’ McDonald said, and waved his hand in a parting gesture.

  ‘Lots. I can do lots,’ Rod said softly, but his words were lost on McDonald, who was a
lready at the door of his room.

  Rod’s immediate concern was that his burn was not healing very well. Dr Miller tut-tutted every time he dressed it. ‘You’ll have to go to Sydney,’ he told Rod. ‘It’s a bad burn and they have better facilities for treating tricky things like this.’

  ‘I can’t stand Sydney. Hate the place. There’s too many people, for starters,’ Rod protested.

  ‘Burns are serious, Rod. The tissues are destroyed,’ Miller said.

  ‘It’s healing, isn’t it?’

  ‘Not well enough. If you stay here, it may heal eventually, but it will take weeks and you’ll end up with an awful scar on your shoulder. I’ll show you the wound in the mirror before I redress it.’

  Rod saw an angry red mess beginning at the top of his shoulder and running down to his bicep. ‘Not pretty, is it?’ he admitted. ‘All right. Sydney it is. But can I go home for a couple of days first?’

  ‘You’re incorrigible! I should say no, but I know how much you love that place already, so I’ll let you go for one night. You’ll have to be really careful of the shoulder, though – there’s a much greater risk of infection outside. Is there someone who can come and collect you?’

  ‘Alec will come,’ said Rod gratefully. ‘I’ll phone him now.’

  While he was waiting for Alec, Rod received a visit from Mudgee’s mayor. He was a descendant of the original Cox family, which had been one of the first of Mudgee’s great sheepbreeders. The Cox name was synonymous with merino sheep, and members of the family had bred them continuously for more than a hundred and fifty years. Rod’s visitor and the current bearer of the Cox name was a man built in the mould of a rugby front-rower. He was regarded by many people as one of Mudgee’s great men. William Cox regaled Rod with stories of the Cox men who had helped to found the families of superfine sheep that produced the wool that made Mudgee famous. This was music to Rod’s ears, because it was the great sheepbreeders who had set Australia on the road to prosperity and nationhood. He had visions of founding a family of his own that would one day be remembered in the same breath as the Coxes and Merrimans. Although he was not a sheepman himself, the mayor was heavily involved with community affairs and very much concerned with Mudgee’s place in the overall scheme of things.