by Jack Sunn
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One of the Navajo’s crew, a woman named Laura and an eight-year veteran of the Navy who had been working the kitchen, struck up a conversation with Alf. Alf had returned with extra gas bottles, barbecues and supplies and set up an outdoor kitchen for the duration of the Navy stay in Brisbane. Laura was curious about the relationships between all the Australians who were at the time her rescuers. But Alf just seemed the odd one out. The Governor-General and deputised Government in the likes of Jill and myself seemed understandable. Alf was quietly spoken, but looked more like a bikie than a valet.
It took some prompting, but Alf happily briefly explained his background, his current situation, and his relinquishment of the past, his time when incarcerated, and his present outlook and chosen duties.
Laura questioned him further and Alf tried explaining the four noble truths of Buddhism, but they were both extremely busy and had to resume their work if they were to cater for the ship’s crew of just over a hundred. Laura was unsatisfied, but her curiosity was piqued. She thought to herself, I am on my last few months of navy service and I intend to leave. I guess when I leave I can really leave it behind and not hold on to it. With that she smiled and gave Alf a quick kiss on the cheek and resumed work. With that Alf smiled.
Sometime later that day during a catering lull Alf asked Laura, “Have you thought much about what you will do, like, I do not know if it is possible or what is left of the US – what are your plans?”
“I could jump ship,” she said and smiled.
With the BBQ set up, and new kitchen equipment at the ready, Alf started peeling and cutting onions in readiness for a tomato and onion based pasta sauce. Olive oil, Italian herbs, tinned Roma tomatoes, olives and pasta, as well as new cutlery, bowls and wash tubs and it looked like the American Navy was set for an enjoyable sojourn in Brisbane.
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A few days later the Governor-General took Alf to one side. “Alfred, many thanks my friend. The past few days I could have never imagined. Soon I will return to Grafton. Miss Jill has indicated she would be happy for my wife and I to return to Clunes with her. Alfred, I am getting past my use-by-date and hopefully I will be able to pass on the reigns of my current position and retire. I would like to return home knowing it is not far away from Jill’s base. Given all that has gone on should you find yourself, maybe accompanied with a friend, in need of a new home, or a second one, you have one at our Grafton home. As you saw, we have a secluded farm, and a separate managers-guest wing. I would like to offer you…” The conversation paused, and the Admiral gestured for them to walk a short distance away for greater discretion. “My children left for overseas some years ago, and they… my grandchildren… I have no idea where or how they are fending. I spoke with them about the TaSMAN Group a few years back but they respectfully declined my offer of their involvement in their lives at that time. I may never see them again. Further, and you are the only one apart from my doctor and Elizabeth to know, I may not live much past this year. I have spoken to Jill about our place becoming a satellite for her group and she is happy to consider the offer. Would you like...”
Alf quickly cut in, “Admiral, if I may. Some of the Navy’s crew are being extended indefinite shore leave and residency. One of those may be a lady named Laura who comes from farm land and I am hoping she will stay here with me to embrace the next chapter in her life. Your offer is most kind and gracious. If it was only me to consider I would likely accept. However, I owe Jack and Miss Jill everything for what I currently am, and what I believe is a great debt. Thank-you. I will speak to Miss Jill, and of course Laura.”
CHAPTER 21
After three weeks at Maroon Dam, the two families had not seen anybody other than themselves for two weeks. Vince checked the radio, mobile phone and GPS each day, and each day they did not work. The women and children had enjoyed their holiday but now were repeatedly asking their men folk what they should do next. Over the past few days Vince and Buck had increasingly thought about what to do. They could both go back leaving the others behind, but that was unlikely to appeal to the women. In the end, Vince suggested that the best option was for all of them to pack up, and travel back in two vehicles leaving the camper vans behind, but taking with them a fridge full of fish. Easy to come back to, and without the vans in tow, the trip would be fuel efficient and quite fast. The girls accepted the suggestion, and the next morning they set off.
The first abnormal signs were seen on the outskirts of Beaudesert. The place looked abandoned. Further into town, it was clear that most shops had been looted and trashed. Rubbish littered the once busy roads and footpaths. Through town, and the abattoir yards on the northern side were empty and growing weeds. Not looking good. The trip up to Sunnybank went uneventfully, with Vince and Buck talking to each other with the UHF radios in their cars. Coming into Sunnybank the place seemed like Beaudesert, only on a grander scale.
Ray rushed to find me. “Uncle Jack, the UHF scanner alarm has gone off. Channel 21 has some intermittent traffic. Someone named Vinnie responded to another voice.”
I rushed to the communication room and waited a moment.
“Buck, are you seeing what I am? This is not looking good, but we better continue and see if our houses are still there.”
“Yeah Vinnie. I agree. Only another ten minutes or so if the road is clear.”
I immediately interjected, “Vince. Is that you? It’s Jack Sunn here.” I had seen Vince at the BCF store repeatedly over the past two years, as I had ordered in specialised equipment through local stores as best I could, trying to avoid internet ordering as much as possible. I liked the idea of a community lasting as long as possible.
“Jack. It is. What in the hell has happened here? We went fishing at Easter time, and the place looks like it has gone to shit.”
“Vince. I am not entirely sure, but I suggest you keep your vehicle doors locked. I have not heard anybody on UHF since Easter, until now that is. I’m not sure if anybody is out there though. You’re going home I take it?”
“That’s if we still have one. Let you know in about ten minutes all going well.”
“I will wait for you Vince. Let me leave you with a thought. If things are not what you expect, I should be able to help you out. I’ll leave you with that. Talk soon mate.”
Vince asked Buck if he heard what he and Jack had said. “Sure did. Let’s go see.”
They soon arrived at Buck and Mary’s house that had the front door partly broken and flapping. Buck got out to get a closer look, while Vince continued down the street. He could see that it looked like his house had simply vanished. Only a few charred remains were left. And when he got closer to Bob’s house it looked like it had been shelled, like in a war zone, but also brightly paint splashed. He and Zelda got out, walked over to where the house had been, looked at each other, and after a pause Zelda said, “At least we took out most of the important things when we went to the dam.”
But she did not sound overly convinced. “Let’s go on up the road to check with Mary.”
At Buck and Mary’s they came to a stop to see Buck sitting on the front steps with a vacant unbelieving look on his face. But he rose out of his gloom to ask, “Hey Vinnie and Zel. How is your place?”
By this time Vince had regained some composure and sense of humour. “If I could put an ad in the paper wanting to sell it, it might read – vacant land with approved development application. My guess is that idiot Bob inadvertently blew it up. Mind you, we did have a lot of gas bottles stored there. And you?”
A little startled by Vinnie’s joviality, Buck thought that his house was now a lot lower on the real estate scale approaching what is often called a renovator’s delight. What a bloody mess. Without answering, he said to Vince, “What do you suppose Jack meant about being able to help?”
“Dunno. I’ll call him.”
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After the US Navy had departed Brisbane, having left within a week of arriving, Ad
miral Gordon and his wife Elizabeth returned to Grafton, to later settle in with Jill at Clunes. Both had become ill within weeks of each other, and decided Clunes was the best place to be tended.
Inevitably the admiral had died, and several weeks later Elizabeth, near bedridden asked if Alf and Laura would visit her.
They embraced her and followed with small talk about the farm and their lives. Elizabeth, however, seemed anxious to say something.
“Alfred, as you know Gordon grew quite fond of you, and indeed you helped him to let go of so much of what you would call baggage. He told me how he was so peaceful in recent weeks, she teared a little, and how blessed he was to have such wonderful friends and family. I too say we could not have experienced a more caring end in our lives had it not been for Jill and Jack, and especially you and Laura. Gordon asked me to give you these three envelopes. He was so proud of you, you know. And Alf, come close you sweet man. I would like to give you this,” and she passed Alf an additional envelope. With that done she said, “And now my darlings, please give an old girl some peace. Be gone.” Before leaving, Alf and Laura both hugged her and kissed her on the cheek.
Alf took Laura to a quiet table outdoors and opened the first envelope.
“Dear Alfred, Alf,
You taught me much in my final months here and I wish to extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude. You made things that are to others so complex, seemingly simple. As you said, if you point at somebody, three fingers point back at yourself. If your intention is well meaning, then you are rewarded three times over. I hope you will accept my apologies for not explaining what I am about to tell you. I could simply not bring it upon myself to tell you, and my dearest Elizabeth agreed that this may be the most appropriate time. When we first met and I saw your tattooed fingers – you remember? and you told me of your grandfather. I am not sure I feel pleased here to have withheld what could easily to you be unwanted baggage, or feel ashamed for not telling you. I knew your grandfather from a young age, since we were cousins, and even served together on the ‘Sydney.’ You look so like members of your family that I knew. It took some time after meeting you that first day for me to make the connection. Envelope two shows a photograph of the two of us, taken in Sydney prior to boarding the ‘Sydney’ in the late 1960’s. Again, please forgive me for not sharing this earlier. I saw you and Laura so happy in the time of my fading that I did not want to spoil it. I have been called many things in my time, and I guess the most ridiculous one, but of my own choosing was Mr Ed, so named after the talking horse or gg in the TV show Mr Ed, by the crew of the USS Navajo, particularly Indian Chief. But I have never been called Uncle Gordon by family in Australia, yet alone Great Uncle. So here my Great Nephew let me burden you with envelope three. I hope you laugh and enjoy. Cheers mate, Love, Uncle Gordon.”
Alf passed over the letter and photograph to Laura and then opened the third envelope. By this stage, Alf was a little stage struck, but proceeded to read the paperwork in the third envelope, where he found that the Alexanders had signed over their farm at Grafton to him. Calmly Alf asked Laura if she would witness his signature in a moment, and she nodded agreement. Alf then annotated the paperwork, passing over the Grafton property to the TaSMAN Group and duly signed it. Laura witnessed his signature and simply said nothing. Alf passed her the documents and then opened Elizabeth’s envelope.
Inside was a letter. “Dearest Alfred. You now know a little of your family’s history. Gordon’s library holds much that may interest you. I hope it fills a few gaps, though you appear to have none, especially as you have Laura to share in your life. Enclosed is my engagement ring that Gordon’s grandmother, your great great grandmother gave to him, which he gave to me when he asked if I would marry him, which obviously, I did. I now pass it on to you dearest, now back in the family after six generations. Both you and Laura have given me so much joy of late, and I wish you all the best in the future that is yours. Love always, kisses and hugs, Elizabeth.”
Alf passed over the last letter to Laura and felt a moment of calm, and witnessed the simultaneous passing of several trains of brightly coloured butterflies, and the flying by of a pair of king parrots. Alf looked up and squeezed Laura’s hand. Without hearing anything, he turned to see Jill waiting nearby. Alf kissed Laura on the cheek, stood and walked over to Jill. Jill, not prone to showing much emotion looked straight at Alf and was about to speak when he said, “She has left us, hasn’t she. I feel she has left but has also said goodbye.” Jill simply said yes and embraced Alf for a moment. Alf passed the third envelope to Jill, then calmly as ever, turned and walked over to Laura and with no flourish, said to Laura, “Will you marry me, and accept this ring as a sign of our engagement?”
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A few hours later, Jill caught up with Alf. “You know Alf. I think you set a record today. An absolute all-time record. A family farm of inestimable value, and an engagement ring that had been your great-great-grandmothers, both yours but for fleeting minutes before being passed on. I am truly humbled. I guess now I really must take the Admiral’s suggestion of the farm becoming a Northern Rivers satellite very seriously. Do you think you can help us with that one, or should I sign it back to you and Laura?
“Ahh, Miss Jill.” Alf shook his head and walked off in search of chores.
CHAPTER 22
Mrs Chung was going about her chores wiping benches and dusting when she caught sight of movement in the nearby bed sheet. The movement stopped, but started again in about ten seconds’ time. Not wasting any time, she hurriedly walked down the corridor to the visitor’s lounge in time to catch Jill. “Miss Jill, Miss Jill. Mr Jack is stirring. Come quickly.” With Jill in the lead they quickly got back to my room. Jill only slowed after reaching the door. Inside she sat down on the chair beside the bed, where I was later to find out she and Mrs Chung had spent countless hours in the previous five weeks. I apparently stirred some more and Jill took hold of my left hand. It was mid-morning by the look of it with clear blue sky to be seen through the window. What window? Where am I? I guess I was wakening slowly, but I was instantly startled when two US Navy Seahawk helicopters flew past a short distance away. Slightly flinching, I then noticed Jill, which surprised me even more. Now with both hands, she caressed my exposed arm. At first, I could not talk. Mrs Chung held a bottle of water to my lips and I took a sip. Damn. Why do I have an IV drip stuck in my left wrist? They both saw my dismay and bewilderment, but had no idea why I was so surprised, indeed taken aback. With a forced but low voice, I asked if the power was on.
They looked at each other and looked even more surprised and confused than before. “Yes. Of course, Jack. Why wouldn’t it be?” Jill replied. I closed my eyes for a few moments. I opened them again and with a whisper asked, “Where are we?”
“Jack. Just relax.” Meanwhile, Mrs Chung had alerted the nurse’s station down the corridor.
“It’s good to have you back Jack. You have had us worried for weeks now. About five weeks ago, just before Easter you had an accident giving you a head injury. You were aboard a US Navy submarine on sea trials, submerged at 500 feet. We do not know for sure what happened, but you were found unconscious. After surfacing you were airlifted directly here at Queen’s Medical Centre in Honolulu. The Navy expedited all manner of tests and brought in their own specialists from the mainland to confer with the staff here. They say you experienced a severe concussive blow to the head, for which they eased the swelling with minor surgery. You were lucky it appears. A few centimetres either way could have proved fatal. Even so you have been in a coma for five weeks. Mrs Chung, who you just met a few minutes ago, works here as a cleaner, but also volunteers to talk to coma patients. I came across from home as soon as I heard, and between Mrs Chung and myself, I think you have heard a thousand stories. Mrs Chung is Chinese, but her family has lived in Japan for several generations. She told you all sorts of stories about her family and Japan. Even Mr Chung would join in. He works here as a wards-man, but told you a lot a
bout his award-winning bonsai collection. The important thing is that you are back. Here comes the doctor.”
“Hello Mr Sunn. My name is Timothy Porter. I am head of neurology here at Queen’s. I see you have finally stirred. You had us all worried. My apologies for being delayed a few minutes. I was under strict instructions from the Navy to ring them the moment you woke up. As you have been in a coma for an extended period, your rehabilitation to normal life will take some time. We will keep you on the IV for a few more days at least while slowly increasing the food you can eat. Most of your muscles will need to readjust, and we will start by slightly elevating your head and torso. The surgery we did has healed well and should not give you any grief. You have avoided getting bed sores which should allow you to have a shower in a few days’ time. I suspect you have a lot of questions but may I suggest you reacquire your voice gently. We will bring in an iPad to assist you. Now please rest as I suspect you will have visitors arriving shortly. Should you need anything, please use the call button at any time. I will come by again in a few hours to check on your progress.”