The Word of God

by Christopher Cummings

  Peter looked around and agreed. They walked quickly on, despite the long grass and the possibility of stepping on a snake. Peter thought about this and was glad that Graham was leading. Five minutes brisk walking brought them to a road junction. It was as described. A bitumen road came down the slope on their right and went on across a bridge about a hundred paces to their left. A two foot gauge tramline also came down through a cutting and went across the same bridge.

  By this time the whole valley was in shadow and Peter was very conscious of the speed at which dusk was setting in.

  Graham paused to study the layout and to scan both high banks for any sign of watchers. He looked at his watch, grunted: “Seventeen thirty.” and resumed walking. He went right along the bitumen. This led them up through a low cutting to the level of the flood plain. This was flat and open. Fields of young cane spread out on both sides. Above them the last of the sunlight lit up the mountain tops.

  A side road went off on the left to a farm house a few hundred metres away. A sign informed that ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’. Another farm was an equal distance ahead beside the road they were on so Graham kept walking towards it. The tramline ran beside the road.

  As they drew closer to the farm several large dogs appeared in the yard of the house. These began to bark and growl menacingly. The boys stopped at the front gate. This sent the dogs into a frenzy of savage action; racing up and down the fence, trying to jump it, snarling and baring their teeth.

  Graham shook his head. “I was hoping we might use their phone,” he said. “But it looks as though nobody is home.”

  “Never mind. The pub is just along there a few hundred metres,” Peter replied.

  They set off walking again, confident things were turning out for the best as the roof of the hotel was now visible above the sugar cane. The tramline diverged, angling away to the right to run across an open field and then to pass through a gap in some trees which Peter knew indicated a bridge across the Little Mulgrave. The line was a branch of the one they had walked along earlier in the day.

  The road curved left and the hotel came into view. Peter felt a surge of relief.

  Safe! Not far now, he thought.

  They came to a T-junction. The hotel stood on a low rise just beyond the bitumen road which now crossed their path.

  “Gillies Highway,” Graham commented.

  Even at that time of evening the highway was busy and they had to wait for two cars to pass from either direction before crossing. A driveway led up to a flat area in front of the hotel so they walked up this. Five vehicles of various types were parked outside. Already it was dark enough for the lights inside to shine out with a promise of safety and warmth. Sounds of laughter and music flowed out into the stillness of the evening.

  Neither lad was old enough to enter a licensed premises and both knew the law could be very strict if they were caught so they hesitated on the veranda of the old timber building. It was a typical two-story structure with a bar and lounge separated by a central hallway.

  Graham led the way into the hallway and looked into the public bar through a doorway on his left. Inside were six men, all with the look of workers about them. The publican was busy polishing the bartop. One of the men noticed them and let out a loud cry.

  “Oi, Oi! Here’s the bloody army. Don’t shoot, we surrender!”

  With that the man burst into drunken laughter and several others joined in. Some just glanced at the boys, then ignored them. The publican at once nodded and came to the door.

  Before Graham could speak the publican said: “Are you the army cadets that Capt Conkey was expecting?”

  “Yes we are,” Graham said. “Has he already been?”

  “About half an hour ago. He left a phone number and wants you to call him as soon as you get here.”

  The publican went back to the bar, picked up a piece of paper and came back. He asked: “Where have you kids been? The captain was real worried about you.”

  Neither Graham nor Peter answered this, not knowing what to say. They were saved by the drunk who called loudly for them to come in and have a drink.

  Graham gave a wry smile. “Where is the phone?” he asked.

  The publican pointed behind them to where a public telephone rested on a small bench in the corner just inside the hallway door. A call from a customer demanding service then caused him to go back into the bar, leaving the boys alone in the hall. Graham took out some coins and fed them into the telephone. He made the call and waited.

  Almost at once Capt Conkey answered. Peter stood close so he could hear. Again he was surprised at how glad he was to hear Capt Conkey’s voice.

  Graham did the talking. “Sir, we are the Little Mulgrave Hotel. I can’t tell you more on the phone but could you please come and get us and bring the police?”

  Capt Conkey asked what the problem was. Graham replied: “Same as yesterday sir. Please hurry. We will wait here.”

  At that moment a black 4WD drove slowly up the driveway and stopped just out of view. Peter felt a stab of worry and leaned forward to look around the door post. What he saw made him go cold with shock. A man dressed in a dark green camouflage jacket and black trousers stepped out of the rear passenger’s seat into the band of light outside the bar.

  The man turned his face to the light and Peter almost froze in terror. It’s him! he thought. The Sniper! As the man started walking towards the hotel entrance Peter wrenched the phone from Graham’s hand.

  “Captain Conkey sir! Come quick! They are here. They are at the hotel. We will hide. Quick!” With that he slammed the receiver down and grabbed Graham by the jacket. “Quick! Out the back! The Sniper!”

  Graham grasped the situation instantly. Both boys fled along the hallway even as they heard the sound of the Sniper’s boots on the veranda. The hallway lights were not on and the hall ended in a T-junction. The corridor to the right led to a lighted room which Peter thought might be the kitchen. To the left was darkness.

  “This way,” Graham said. He led the way left. This took them past an open door which obviously connected with the bar via a storeroom. Beyond were several locked doors and then an open door which led out into the back yard.

  “Outside,” Peter hissed. Instinctively he knew he was safer out in the dark bush than trapped in a building. They quickly went down a short flight of steps into the semi-darkness of the back yard. This was also a driveway with several large trees beyond it, plus a couple of outbuildings.

  Peter led the way across towards the nearest tree. As he did the driveway further along was lit up by a vehicle’s headlights. For a second Peter feared they would be illuminated by the lights but the vehicle was moving away from them as it came into view beyond the side of the hotel. It was the black 4WD. For an instant Peter thought it was moving to cut off their escape but it pulled to a stop in the shadows under another large tree further along.

  The boys reached the shelter of the aerial roots of a large Banyan and crouched in the darkness behind it. By then Peter’s heart was thudding as though he had run a race.

  Graham peeked out. “I don’t think they saw us,” he said.

  “No, but they will soon know we are here. The drunks in the bar will tell them.”

  “Do you think they have been watching us?” Graham asked. Peter noted that Graham had the pistol out and the sight of it sent another shiver of fear through him.

  “No I don’t. If they wanted to get us they wouldn’t have allowed us to reach the hotel,” Peter replied.

  “So what are they doing here?” Graham asked.

  Peter shrugged. “Search me. Maybe they just want a drink.”

  At that moment a man came into sight around the end of the hotel near the 4WD. He walked over to the vehicle and stood talking quietly to someone inside. Peter moved to get a better view. As he watched the lights of a truck coming down the Gillies shone through the windows of the vehicle, silhouetting two figures seated inside and lighting up the man standing beside i
t. He was the Sniper.

  Graham looked as well. “Two more of them in the four wheel drive,” he hissed.

  “Yes. I wonder if… Shhh!” Peter had been going to speculate if the figure in the passenger seat was the Black Monk as he thought the shape had looked odd in the light but a sound down to their left made him grip Graham’s arm and freeze into silence.

  It was the crunch of boots on gravel. A man came along the back driveway up the slope from the direction of the Little Mulgrave River. Peter and Graham crouched low in the shadows as the man walked past only a few metres away.

  That their caution was justified was confirmed when the new arrival went straight to the 4WD and began talking to the people there. Peter strained his ears to hear what they were saying but their voices were just a murmur, half lost in the sound from the river of flowing water.

  Ten anxious minutes passed. Peter began to feel cold and cramps began to set in. He carefully moved to change position and gently massaged his muscles.

  Graham nudged him and whispered in his ear: “With a bit of luck Captain Conkey and the cops will arrive and catch them.”

  Peter nodded, then shook his head. “Hello. Off they go.”

  As they watched the Sniper passed something to the other man, then climbed into the 4WD which started up. Its headlights were switched on, starkly silhouetting the other man. It then drove off, turned out onto the Gillies Highway and roared off up the range. The man stood for a minute, then quickly melted into the darkness, walking away from the boys. They glimpsed him briefly in the lights of a passing car before he was lost to sight in the darkness, walking quickly up the highway.

  “I wonder what that was all about?” Graham asked.

  “Co-ordinating their search probably,” Peter replied. “Come on, let’s move to where we can watch the front so we know when Capt Conkey or the police arrive.”

  He stood up, stifling a groan as stiff muscles protested, then walked quickly across the back of the yard. Keeping well over near the trees he went around the side of the hotel and then down the driveway towards the Little Mulgrave.

  Both boys had been there before for swims and picnics at the picnic area just across the small river. They moved down to the line of trees along the river bank just near the end of the concrete highway bridge. From there they could watch the front of the hotel and both driveways.

  Half an hour of waiting followed. They settled down under cover and Peter tried to relax but he knew he was scared. He kept straining his eyes for any sign of the other man returning, the fear fed by his inability to hear properly because of the rippling murmur of the river close behind him.

  Graham seemed quite relaxed and even grumbled about being hungry. This only made Peter annoyed and conscious that he was also very hungry.

  At last, at 7:30pm, three vehicles drove across the highway bridge and turned up into the driveway. Two were white cars and one was Capt Conkey’s station wagon.

  “Here they are,” Graham observed. “About bloody time too! I’m famished.”

  They rose, stretched, then walked quickly up the driveway. As they did Peter recognized Inspector Goldstein and Capt Conkey as they went into the front door of the bar. The boys arrived to find them talking to a mystified publican who was explaining that they had been just here a little while ago.

  As the boys stepped up onto the veranda Capt Conkey turned and saw them; “Ah! Here they are. Where have you two been?”

  “Just down there resting sir,” Peter replied. He turned to the publican. “Excuse me sir, did anyone ask about us a while ago? We saw a man get out of a black four wheel drive and wondered if he was sent to find us.”

  The publican shook his head. “Nope. That bloke was lookin’ for a mate. Said he’d arranged to meet him here.”

  “Thanks,” Peter said. He then pointed outside and said firmly: “We have things to tell you sir, but not here. Outside please.”

  Capt Conkey did not argue. “Where are the others?” he asked as they walked down the steps and across to where the vehicles were parked. Peter noted two more men there, whom he presumed were plain clothes police.

  Once they were safely out of earshot Inspector Goldstein snapped angrily at them: “OK you kids, what’s the go? I’ve been dragged away from my dinner again and it had better be good. Tell me what is going on.”

  As quickly as they could Peter and Graham outlined the day. Inspector Goldstein was instantly mollified. When they described the mysterious meeting at the back of the hotel he at once reached into one of the cars and began giving instructions over the radio. He then ordered the second car to drive on up the highway.

  After hanging up the radio handset he turned to them. “OK, let’s go to where the others are and make sure they are safe,” he said. “You can give us the details then. You lead the way. Move!”

  Peter moved at once to Capt Conkey’s car and sat in the front passenger seat. Graham climbed in the back. As soon as Capt Conkey was in and had the car started Peter said: “Thanks sir. Boy, are we glad to see you!”

  “I can imagine,” Capt Conkey replied. “I got to Cardwell at about one O’clock and was back here at four. When there was no sign of you I drove back along the way to Gordonvale and checked out places you might have been. I was pretty worried by the time I got back here. Now I understand why I didn’t see you.”

  “Sorry sir. We didn’t mean to cause you that much worry and inconvenience,” Peter replied. He was very conscious that Capt Conkey was giving up his time and would probably rather be at home with his family.

  Capt Conkey drove quickly along the farm road till he came to the side track. Here he swung the car to face the track and stopped. In the headlights the long grass and wheel ruts looked almost impassable. “Can I get along that in my car?” he asked.

  Graham answered. “Easily sir. It isn’t rough,” he replied.

  Capt Conkey grunted a reply and set the car in motion. The car nosed forward and began pressing flat the tall grass between the wheel ruts. But as Graham had said, it wasn’t rough and within two minutes they were driving slowly up the steep slope onto the mound at the edge of the trees.

  “Stephen should be just up here,” Peter warned.

  “But he won’t know it is us,” Graham cautioned.

  As they reached the top Capt Conkey stopped and Peter called through the window: “Steve! It is us with Captain Conkey.”

  From out of the long grass almost at Peter’s elbow Stephen materialized. He stepped out so quickly that Peter got a fright.

  “About bloody time! I’m half frozen,” Stephen grumbled.

  “So are we, and hungry,” Peter replied.

  Stephen chuckled. “Oh well I’m not. I’ve at least had tea. I thought you would have had a roast dinner at the pub.”

  The lights of Inspector Goldstein’s car showed behind them so Capt Conkey engaged the gears and drove on down onto the river flat. In the light of the headlights all that could be seen was a campfire and red taillight reflectors on the Devil Worshipper’s 4WD.

  “Nobody here,” Capt Conkey observed.

  “Hiding. They won’t know who it is,” Peter replied. Capt Conkey parked the car and they climbed out. Peter called out and out of the darkness came Gwen’s cry of relief. She walked quickly into the firelight followed by the others. Stephen came down to join them, followed by the Inspector’s car.

  Joy came straight over to Peter. “Oh I’m so glad you are back. I’ve been so worried,” she said, touching his sleeve as she did.

  “We were alright,” Peter replied, patting her shoulder, and very conscious that Megan was watching them.

  Inspector Goldstein strode over to the fire. “Right, let’s hear the story in full. Jacobs, go up to the top of the hill and act as lookout.”

  “Stephen is on guard up there,” Graham cautioned.

  Inspector Goldstein nodded and called, “Send him back here Jacobs.”

  The other plain clothes policeman walked quickly up into the darkness.
Gwen piled several dead branches on the fire and fanned it to life. Megan looked anxiously around.

  “Shouldn’t we just get out of here?” she asked.

  Inspector Goldstein shook his head. “Not till I know the details of what has been going on. Now, tell me everything, from the moment you left us at Gordonvale this morning.”

  Chapter 14

  NIGHT BESIDE THE RIVER

  The group settled around the fire. Inspector Goldstein, looking very grim in the flickering firelight, told them to start. Graham did most of the talking but from time to time he would pass the narrative to Peter. While he was listening Peter studied the scene intently. Inspector Goldstein, he noted, was wearing old clothes and a short windcheater type jacket. Capt Conkey was in cadet uniform. The knights were in their soiled suits and Mr Jones his work clothes. He looked thoroughly worn out and miserable.

  Peter also realized that Megan was giving him frequent looks across the fire. That caused him to study her when he thought she wasn’t looking. Did she really like him? It was a novel thought as girls did not figure strongly in his life.

  She is certainly very pretty, he decided.

  The play of the firelight on her cheeks and hair was fascinating and he noted that her blue eyes seemed to sparkle when she looked his way. He also saw with some surprise that she had her top button undone so that when she leaned forward to push sticks into the fire he was granted tantalizing glimpses of the soft white swelling of her breasts.

  Heavens! That is nice. How can I tell her that the button has come undone without drawing everyone else’s attention to it? he wondered.

  Even as he puzzled over this Megan leaned forward again and gave him an another glimpse. As he glanced she met his eyes and smiled, then leaned over even more to move a smouldering branch. Something in her look and actions made Peter become suspicious.

  Maybe her button didn’t come open by accident? He shook his head. No. It had to be an accident. She wasn’t that sort of girl; and girls didn’t do that sort of thing to attract his attention. But then, maybe…?