The Mudskipper Cup
Page 35
The sergeant nodded. “So the old cannon came in handy eh?” he asked with a grin.
“Very!” Graham replied.
“That’s what attracted us. Lucky for you we were out on patrol. Now son, let’s have that lifejacket and shirt off,” the sergeant said. Then he turned and called to Graham’s dad. “Captain Kirk. Can you tow this catamaran back to the Water Police base for us? We can get these boys to the ambulance faster then.”
Graham’s dad agreed but was concerned and the runabout came alongside. The constable helped Graham to remove his lifejacket and shirt. The cut was about ten centimetres long across the front of the shoulder and was at least a centimetre deep. It bled profusely.
Captain Kirk looked up at it. “Humpf. You won’t die from that. It’ll need stitches though,” he observed. Then he saw Peter lying on the seat nursing his speared arm. “Quick! Give me that tow line and get going.”
The rope was untied and passed across. The sergeant again cautioned not to touch anything and added, “I’m going to ask your boy what the story is as we go back. Do you want to come aboard and leave the navy do the towing?”
Captain Kirk looked at Sub Lt Sheldon who readily agreed.
“Send those other two boys up as well,” the sergeant added. Roger and Alex scrambled aboard and were horrified to see Peter’s injury. As soon as the tow was passed the police launch edged clear and accelerated to full speed.
They were all seated along the side and stern of the open cockpit. Graham’s shoulder was bandaged and the police sergeant took Graham and his father into a small cabin, then cautioned him that what he said could be used in evidence against him but that he wasn’t being arrested.
Graham nodded. He then related the whole story. The sergeant noted it down with some amazement.
“Incredible!” he said. “We’ve been after those three for a while for theft, illegal fishing and so on but haven’t had any proof.” Then he chuckled. “I think we have them this time, and not just for attacking you. The Fisheries Officer found a box of undersized female crabs in their boat.”
Graham began to relax, then felt dizzy and shivered. The sergeant pointed aft.
“You go and lie down son.” Then he turned to Captain Kirk. “I’ll just interview these other boys as well to check their story if you don’t mind?”
So Alex and Roger were taken in one at a time to be questioned while the launch thundered across the bay. Graham sat next to Peter but the constable would not let them discuss the incident. Reaction now set in and several times Graham shivered violently.
Within ten-minutes the launch nosed in to the Marlin Jetty. An ambulance and two police cars waited, along with a crowd of curious onlookers. As Graham climbed up onto the jetty he saw the girls among the people being held back by a policeman.
Margaret’s face registered horror and she let out a cry and ran forward, ignoring the policeman. Graham went to meet her. She hugged him, carefully avoiding the bandaged shoulder.
“Are you alright?” she cried anxiously.
“Yes,” Graham replied. “We had a fight with the bullies. Pete’s been speared through the arm.”
Margaret gasped in horror and looked. Peter was being helped up and was eased onto a stretcher, the wicked looking spear shining in the sunlight. Kylie cried out in dismay and also ran forward to him. The sergeant allowed her, then took charge.
“Later. Let’s get them to hospital. You other boys, in that police car.”
Graham was put in the ambulance with Peter and the constable. Roger and Alex, plus Captain Kirk went into the other police car. As the doors were closed Graham saw Burford brought up onto the wharf, handcuffed to another policeman.
The ambulance and police car both set off along the Esplanade with sirens going. Peter gave a weak grin. “Getting our money’s worth,” he said. “I wonder who won the race?”
Graham had completely forgotten the race. An hour later, when he was released from casualty to find all the others in the waiting room, it was the first question he asked.
“Peter wants to know,” he added.
“The girls won,” Andrew said. “But only just.”
“A miss is as good as a mile,” Carmen said with a grin. “And these misses are even better. So don’t sulk little brother. I told you girls are better!”
That led to much chaffing of each other. They all wanted to know what happened and so did the news reporters, who were only kept at bay by the hospital staff and Graham’s dad. Graham’s mum wanted him to go home but he insisted on staying until he knew Peter was alright.
So he stayed and Margaret sat on one side holding his hand and Kylie sat on the other, all anxiously fidgeting. While they waited he told the story of the ‘battle’, with Alex and Roger adding their bits.
“I thought you blokes would get eaten by sharks,” Graham added.
“So did we,” Roger said with feeling and they all laughed.
Sub Lt Sheldon came in. Graham looked up.
“Is the Mudskipper OK sir?”
“Yes she is, safe and snug in the police yard. They love your cannon.”
“Thanks sir.”
At that moment a nurse came and said they could see Peter, but only four at a time and for a few minutes.
Peter was propped up in a bed with his mother beside him.
“How’s the arm Pete?” Graham asked.
“She’ll be right. The doctor says nothing vital appears to have been damaged. Who won the race?”
“The girls.”
Peter pulled a face. Kylie tried to laugh but then burst into tears and turned to Carmen who hugged her.
Peter shrugged in embarrassed surprise. “And is the old Mudskipper OK?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We will need her again,” Peter said. “She’s a good boat.”
From the look on his mother’s face she didn’t agree but she made no comment. They talked for a few more minutes before the nurse chased them out. Graham felt very weak and shivery by then. He allowed himself to be led down to the car. The family squeezed in. Margaret let go of Graham’s hand reluctantly and waved goodbye as they drove off.
After a couple of minutes driving Graham’s mum turned to him. “Oh, by the way, it’s not all bad news Graham. Your model ship has won a prize at the Show.”
Graham smiled. Kylie squeaked with delight. “Ooh mum! That’s wonderful. How did my model go?”
“Graham’s won First Prize in the model-making category and yours won Second Prize.”
“Oh pooh!” Kylie sniffed. She looked at Graham and squeezed his arm. Graham smiled back and sat back, thinking about his model ship.
“At least there’s one thing I’m good at,” he thought.
THE NAVY CADETS SERIES
Davey Jones’s Locker
The Navy Cadets: Book 1
Christopher Cummings
Fourteen year-old Navy Cadet Andrew Collins enrols in a SCUBA diving course on the Great Barrier Reef to impress Muriel, the girl of his dreams. There’s only one problem: Andrew is terrified of diving, not to mention the sharks, eels, and every other dangerous critter inhabiting the Coral Sea.
Despite his fears, Andrew inadvertently stumbles onto an old family mystery: the mysterious disappearance of his grandfather, lost at sea many years before. The deeper they delve into the mystery the deeper they are caught in a deadly web of lies and danger.
Andrew must face some agonizing choices and do battle with his worst nightmares.
THE AIR CADETS SERIES
Coasts of Cape York
The Air Cadets: Book 1
Christopher Cummings
Fourteen year-old Air Cadet Willy Williams jumps at the chance to take a flight in a restored World War 2 PBY ‘Catalina’ seaplane along the Queensland north coast. During flight however he makes a shocking discovery, one that endangers his very life.
Willy is tested to his limits, both emotionally and physically, as he travels to the remotest and most dangerous parts o
f Far North Queensland. He soon learns that there is more to the world of aircraft wrecks and vintage planes than meets the eye – rivals, false friends, and dangerous enemies.
What is the mystery and how do Willy and his friends cope? To find out read on and join the flight up the coast of Cape York.
THE ARMY CADETS SERIES
The Cadet Corporal
The Army Cadets: Book 1
Christopher Cummings
Now in his 2nd year as Army Cadet, trouble-maker Graham Kirk is faced with the biggest crisis of his cadetship. The annual field camp has begun and over nine gruelling days he will be forced to face challenges and temptations that test his integrity, courage and loyalty to the limit.
Top of the list is Pigsy and his gang, soured by jealousy and resentment. And of course the girls. Will they stand in the way of his promotion to sergeant or will he rise to the challenge and become the leader nobody thinks he can be?