Coasts of Cape York

by Christopher Cummings

  “No,” Mr Beck replied. “Norman and his friend Jeff are working on the roof and hope to have that done by next weekend. Then they will start on the walls.”

  Norman now spoke up. “It would go a lot faster if we had a few more workers.”

  “What about a working bee?” Willy’s father suggested.

  “That would be a great help,” Norman answered. “Even if they just held things or passed tools and so on. It would speed it up a lot.”

  “We could do that,” Willy offered.

  “When?” Norman asked.

  “Can’t be next weekend,” Willy answered. “We are searching the jungle near Castor then. It would have to be the weekend after.”

  “That will do,” Norman replied.

  Timings were then agreed on. Marjorie also volunteered and so, reluctantly, did Stick. There was then a discussion about who was going. Capt Kirk was concerned as he explained that none of his vessels were registered to carry paying passengers.

  “I understand there are a few who might come as non-paying passengers,” he commented.

  “That’s right,” Mr Beck answered. He looked at Willy who said, “There are myself and Dad, and Andrew Collins and his big sister Carmen. They are navy cadets so should be useful. Then there might be Stick and his sister Marjorie.”

  “Girls eh? And who is going to chaperone them?” Capt Kirk asked.

  It took Willy a few seconds to work out what the old-fashioned word ‘chaperone’ meant. Then he blushed and said, “Oh, they are all big girls. They don’t need anyone to look after them.”

  Capt Kirk smiled and said, “Maybe not, but I don’t want the responsibility of looking after two or three teenage girls. We need an adult female.”

  “Mum might come,” Kylie suggested.

  Capt Kirk looked at her in surprise. “I doubt it! Are you planning on joining this expedition ‘Hickety Boo’?”

  Having her family nickname used in public caused Kylie to blush deep red. She vigorously shook her head. “No. I am going to Port Douglas with Sally. Besides, we all have to do the trip just before Christmas, don’t we?”

  “Yes you do,” Capt Kirk agreed.

  Dr Williams now said, “I will ask Helen if she will go.”

  Capt Kirk nodded, then turned back to Mr Beck. “Which of these two jobs do you wish to do first Mr Beck?” he asked.

  Mr Beck hesitated. Willy had no doubts. “We must go to Bathurst Bay first,” he said.

  Mr Beck nodded. “Yes, you are right. If we are to beat the opposition that is. Bathurst Bay Captain.”

  Capt Kirk nodded. “That suits me fine. I have to take the mineral exploration people to Bathurst Bay at about that time. Maybe we can fit the two trips together to keep down the costs.”

  They left it at that and the meeting broke up. Willy was now very keen to go on the expedition. He wasn’t quite so sure about Stick and quite undecided over Marjorie. ‘She could be more trouble than she is worth,’ he thought. Then he blushed at the lewd thoughts that flitted across his mind.

  Back in Cairns that evening Willy’s father asked his mother if she would go. She was not happy at the idea, replying that she had been planning various charity events during that time but she reluctantly agreed. That pleased Willy even more. The next hour he spent on the phone, updating his friends on what had been decided. This included talking to Marjorie for half an hour. Knowing how she liked to talk he made this the last call. That done he settled to studying for the exams with a much easier mind.

  The week seemed to drag by, punctuated by three major exams: Geography, Chemistry and History. There was also the added excitement of preparing for their own little expedition to search for the crashed B25 in the jungle in the mountains behind the Castor Mill.

  To Willy’s surprise Graham was not very keen. “I might join you for a little while,” he said.

  “Why? Where will you go then?” Stick asked as the friends sat under the school at lunchtime.

  Graham looked uncomfortable and then shrugged. “Down to Castor.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s on there?” Stick asked.

  “The sugar mill is putting on its annual Christmas Party,” Graham explained.

  “Oh, I see,” Stick commented, obviously not seeing at all.

  Willy understood though. ‘Carol’s father is the Chief Engineer of the mill. She will be there,’ he thought. But Graham’s defection bothered him. He had been counting on Graham’s jungle experience to help with the expedition. He said, “So who is going? Are you going Steve?”

  To Willy’s surprise Stephen shook his head. “No. I’m going to the party with Graham.”

  “Why?” Willy asked in astonishment. Then he shook his head. “No, don’t tell me. I can guess. So what about you Pete?”

  Peter nodded. “Yes, and young Roger here. And Andrew and his team say they are still interested.”

  “That’s good,” Willy replied. “How are we getting there and back?”

  Details of transport were discussed and then timings. While they discussed these details the sound of radial aero engines came to them and Willy looked out. He was just in time to see a black-painted ‘Catalina’ climbing off out towards the Coral Sea. ‘Mr Jemmerling’s plane. I wonder where he is off to?’ he worried.

  He worried some more when he saw the Pterodactyl in the distance the next afternoon. It was obviously coming in to land and once again he wondered where it had been. ‘I wish we had a plane,’ he thought.

  Each day Willy met with Marjorie. Usually this was in the library. That offered a few hidden corners where they could sneak a few kisses and the odd fondle and fumble. But it was all more frustration than satisfaction. There was no help for it. During exam time Marjorie’s mum would not allow her to play after school, or to go out at night.

  “Are you still allowed to come on the trip this weekend?” Willy asked. He was hoping they might manage something once they were out camping in the jungle.

  “Mum’s not very keen on it,” Marjorie replied. “I can only go if I share a tent with Carmen Collins. If she doesn’t go then nor do I.”

  That was a worry for Willy so he sought out Carmen to check. She assured him that she and Andrew were still going. “And Tina Babcock,” Carmen added.

  “Andrew’s new girlfriend?” Willy replied.

  “She wishes, and so do I,” Carmen responded with a sigh. “Tina is just so nice but Andrew is besotted by Jennifer Jervis.”

  “The Pommy Sheila who goes to Trinity Anglican?” Willy asked, picturing the pretty blonde and half agreeing with Andrew. For himself he still wished that Barbara would notice him. ‘If only…’

  Friday night was Air Cadets. Even though the unit had conducted its Passing-Out Parade there was still training. This was mainly to prepare candidates selected to attend the annual promotion courses to be held the following January. These courses were to be conducted at RAAF Base Garbutt, in Townsville. Willy now learned that his name was on the ‘panel’ for the Corporals Course. It was what he had been hoping for and seeing it in print made him feel even better. Noting that people like Finlay were on it as well did not dampen his enthusiasm. ‘I will show her who is best!’ he told himself.

  At home that night Willy found he could hardly sleep for excitement. Exams were over, he was on the corporals course, the big expedition was now only three weeks away, the own little expedition was the next morning- and tomorrow night he might just get to be with Marjorie. That thought came to dominate, resulting in him becoming very horny. For an hour or so he lay and fantasized about what they might do, the fantasies tinged with irritating images of Barbara.

  Saturday morning dawned clear but hot and humid. Willy was woken by his mother at 0600 and he at once set about his morning routine and packing. By 0730 he had eaten breakfast, dressed and packed. For the expedition he wore a pair of jeans, an old, long-sleeved, dark blue air cadet shirt (without any badges), and a baseball cap. On his feet he wore gym boots. He would have liked to wear his cadet boot
s but knew that to use them for anything but official parades was against regulations so he did not.

  When he was ready his mother bundled him and his pack and webbing into the car and they set off driving. By 0800 they were at Marjorie’s. She and Stick joined him in the car, their assorted camping gear being stowed wherever it would fit. Both wore jeans and short sleeved shirts. In Marjorie’s case this was only a yellow T-shirt which was too tight, so that her boobs strained at the thin material. Willy looked at it and wondered if he should hint at more appropriate dress but in the end he only shook his head.

  Once the gear was loaded Marjorie squeezed in beside Willy in the back while Stick sat in the front. That suited Willy and he allowed himself to relax and enjoy her touch while they drove south out of Cairns. Castor was a small sugar mill town set in the ‘Coastal Corridor’. For many kilometres south of Cairns there is a series of flat river plains, bounded on both side by rugged, jungle-covered mountains. The mountains to the east line the coast, with the Coral Sea beyond them. Those to the west form part of the tangle of ranges on the eastern edge of the Atherton Tablelands.

  In this area the main North-South railway (The Sunshine Route) and highway (Bruce Highway) from Cairns to Brisbane run along the floor of the valley. Most of the level country is sugar cane fields with patches of swamp and tropical rain forest on the hills. Small towns and numerous farms dot the valley. It was a very pretty drive which Willy had done many times before and always enjoyed. This journey, with Marjorie cuddling up to him, he found particularly enjoyable.

  The town of Castor began as a scatter of buildings astride the highway- a hotel, and some shops and a petrol station and mechanics workshop. A bitumen side road led west for half a kilometre with more buildings along one side. The buildings were all old, late 19th and early 20th Century designs made of timber or corrugated iron. They included several shops, another hotel, and more houses. Opposite these was a marshalling yard for cane trains and then a creek and open cane fields. Near the end of the road stood a small primary school and then a large park through which ran a ring road. The park was dotted with very large trees and had for its centre piece an old steam locomotive. Buildings made up the other three sides of the ring road. On the southern side stood four very large and gracious ‘Old Colonial’ style houses provided by the mill for the senior staff: the manager, chief engineer, etc. These residences were set in beautiful gardens. Opposite them on the north side of the park were a dozen much smaller low wooden houses for the permanent specialist workers. Between the two, but still outside the ring road, were the mill offices. The huge buildings of the sugar mill stood behind them to the west.

  As planned Willy’s mother dropped them off near the steam locomotive. She then waited until more members of the expedition arrived. These were Peter and Roger, driven by Peter’s mother. The two mothers sat on a nearby park bench to talk while the teenagers all climbed onto the old 2’ gauge steam loco. Both Peter and Roger wore their calf-length army boots and army camouflage trousers and cloth hats but had long-sleeved work shirts. For the hike they had brought their army basic webbing and packs. They were obviously better prepared for the conditions but Willy had expected that. ‘After all, they are the ‘Hiking Team’ and have a lot more experience,’ he told himself, while still wishing he had worn his cadet boots.

  Andrew and his sister were the next to arrive. Willy was pleased to see Carmel because then Marjorie could stay. He was also interested to see that Tina Babcock had come. All three wore dark blue long trousers and long-sleeved shirts. These had the appearance of being navy cadet issue, as did the black boots and dark blue baseball caps they wore.

  While talking to Tina Willy studied her carefully. ‘She seems nice enough,’ he decided, noting a very pleasant but freckled face and liking her friendly style.

  While they waited for Graham and Stephen two teenage girls dressed in shorts and cotton tops appeared from one of the manager’s houses, which were set in well tended gardens. As they got closer Willy noted that one of them was Carol Battersby.

  Carol said hello to Carmen and Marjorie then said, “Graham not here yet?”

  “Not yet,” Carmen answered. “He says he is going to some party here.”

  “Yes, the mill Christmas party,” Carol replied. “The mill puts it on for all the workers and their families. There are usually hundreds of people there; kids everywhere.”

  “I hear there have been some terrible accidents at the mill recently,” Stick commented, gesturing to the sugar mill, which was in full production and spurting clouds of smoke and steam from the huge steel chimneys.

  Carol looked upset. “Yes, it’s been horrible. There have been four men killed and a lot of trouble with the workers. It is the worst year in the mill’s history, and that is more than a hundred years.”

  Willy remembered hearing about some of this on the TV News and from Graham. So had Stick, who, in his usual tactless style, said, “I heard they were real gruesome, that one guy fell off the chimney up there and hit the steel ladders so hard his head flew off.”

  Carol looked sick. “That’s right. We saw it. I’d rather not talk about it thank you.” She looked away, then muttered, “Oh no, here comes that little tease Betty Morrow!”

  Willy looked and saw three more girls approaching but this time from along the ‘main street’. One was a busty teenager of about 12 or 13 while the other two were at least a year younger and had a primary school look about them. One was obviously a little sister. “What’s wrong with her?” Willy asked, eyeing the named Betty with curiosity.

  “She’s a real little pain,” Carol replied. “She is always butting in where she isn’t wanted and keeps flirting with Graham and Steve.”

  Willy now studied Betty with more interest, noting that she had a round, fairly plain face with a cheeky grin on it. But her main attributes were a pair of very prominent boobs which stuck out and bobbled inside a very short T-shirt which was cut off to reveal her midriff and navel. Her breasts looked to be twice the size a girl of her age should have. ‘Yes,’ he thought, ‘they would get Graham’s attention, and Steve’s!’

  As the three girls arrived so did the Kirk’s car, driven by Mrs Kirk. Out of it climbed Graham and Stephen. Both wore the same army boots, camouflage trousers and hats as Peter and Roger and both had long-sleeved shirts. In Graham’s case it was an old jungle green one and Stephen’s was khaki. They also had army packs and webbing.

  Willy was then entertained by watching how Carol and Betty went into almost open competition to get the attention of the two boys. Carmen watched this and said, “No love lost between those two girls. I can see why Carol calls her a pain.”

  Tina pursed her lips and muttered, “If I was that Betty’s mother I’d smack her behind and tell her to dress decently.”

  Willy did think that Betty’s top was a bit revealing but he had been enjoying the sight. Now he was careful not to openly ogle. He also wondered how Tina and Andrew might get on. ‘Tina might be bit of a prude,’ he decided.

  Graham and Stephen greeted the girls and then their friends before unloading their gear. This included two bags which were handed to Carol and her friend. Mrs Kirk cast a frowning glance at Betty before going to chat to the other mothers.

  Peter now took charge. Indicating his watch he said, “Let’s get moving. It is after half past nine and we have a long way to go.”

  “Where are you going?” Carol asked.

  Peter had both a map and a book. He orientated the map, an army 1:50 000 scale topographic map, and then pointed to the jungle covered mountain a kilometre to the west. “The book says that the local farmers saw a big flash up near the top of Mt Graham there, and then a glow from a big fire. They said it was just on the other side of the peak,” he explained.

  Roger looked at the map and then at what could be seen of the mountain through the trees and mill buildings. “We could go up this ridge that runs up directly behind the mill,” he suggested.

  “That’s
what I thought,” agreed Peter. Turning he said, “What do you think Graham?”

  Graham was not even looking. Willy saw he was busy chatting to Betty, who was smirking up at him and wiggling her bottom from side to side. A look of annoyance crossed Peter’s face while Roger made a wry face. Carol blushed and looked unhappy while Stephen just grinned.

  When asked again Graham merely shrugged and said, “Whichever way you think best.”

  Peter pursed his lips and shook his head before saying, “Fine, I will lead. Packs on and let’s go!”

  As he moved to hoist on his pack Willy was very aware of the undercurrent of tension. It was obvious that Graham did not want to go and that both Carol and Betty were giving each other hostile glares. ‘This is not a happy group,’ he thought.

  Marjorie nudged Willy and whispered, “If Graham doesn’t stop flirting with that Betty then I don’t think his affair with Carol is going to last very long.”

  Willy glanced again at Graham and noted he was smiling at something Betty had just said. Carol was looking quite peeved and Graham seemed to be quite unaware of this. “You are right,” he replied. He then bent to pick up Marjorie’s pack.

  After helping Marjorie to pull on her pack Willy started walking, following Peter and Roger, neither of whom waited for Graham and Stephen. Stick, Andrew, Tina and Carmen all set off after them. Peter detoured across to say goodbye to his mother and the mothers then waved and called the usual ‘Take care’ and ‘Don’t do anything silly,’ and ‘Watch out for snakes’. Peter’s mother asked him to check that the mobile phone he was carrying was working and Peter did so, then resumed walking.

  Fifty paces along the ring road Peter looked back and then shook his head. Willy turned to look back and saw that both Graham and Stephen were still standing talking to the girls. ‘Graham isn’t very keen on this expedition,’ he thought.

  When he said this to Marjorie, who was now walking along beside him, she snorted and replied, “He’s not thinking with his brain!”

  ‘Nor am I,’ Willy thought, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the way Marjorie’s shirt front bobbled provocatively. ‘Maybe….?’