Ross River Fever

by Christopher Cummings

  Forman appeared. He was digging in the pockets of a pair of trousers which he held in his hands. He fished something out and cast the trousers over the bank into the water. More angry calls greeted this act, the high-pitched voices of younger boys; and mostly obscenities.

  Andrew took hold of Carmen’s arm. “I think we should keep out of this. I can see at least three of those bullies, and I don’t want you hurt.”

  “They wouldn’t dare!” Carmen replied. She kept walking, her face set. Andrew shook his head but kept up with her. He began to psych himself up for the fight he knew would be almost inevitable.

  Shaun of the ‘Megadeath’ appeared, also searching clothes and tossing them down the bank. Andrew glimpsed heads in the water, at least five of them. Then Jay came into view on a bike. He said something to Forman and Forman nodded and bent to pick up his own bike. By then Andrew and Carmen were only fifty paces from them but the bullies did not seem to have noticed them yet. To Andrew’s relief Forman and his cronies all climbed on their bikes and pedalled off the other way, shouting crude obscenities at the boys in the water.

  The filthy words made Andrew blush on behalf of Carmen. He glanced at her and saw her jaw was set and there was a glint in her eye. Then more crude language, this time from the boys in the water, made him blush again.

  Twenty paces ahead of them five boys came scrambling up the bank out of the water. Andrew noted first that three of them wore only brief underpants while the other two wore swimming costumes, and secondly that they were the urchins who had been jumping off the bridge when they had rescued Martin. The boys screamed crude insults after the rapidly vanishing bullies.

  On hearing that Andrew called out: “Hey! You kids stop that!”

  The boys spun round in astonishment. One of the boys: Rat, pointed along the path and yelled angrily: “Those mongrels threw our clothes in the river!”

  By then Andrew and Carmen had closed the distance. Rat stood there defiantly. A red-haired, red-faced boy, fled back down into the water, as did Toad.

  Andrew put his hands on his hips. “So dive in and get them and don’t offend my sister,” he said.

  Carmen touched his arm. “It’s alright Andrew, don’t get out of your tree,” she said. Turning to the urchins she asked: “What’s going on?”

  “Them mongrel bullies!” Maggot cried. “They came along while we were in the water. Then they chucked our bikes in and threw stones at us. Look at this!” He showed them a livid bruise on his left upper arm.

  “Then they robbed us!” Rat added angrily. “They went through the pockets of our clothes while that bastard Jay chased us with rocks. Then they threw our clothes in the river.”

  The fifth boy came scrambling up the bank with an armful of wet clothes. He dumped these on the bitumen path. Maggot picked up a sodden shirt and looked at it disgustedly. “What’s my mum gunna say? Now she’ll know I went swimming. I’ll be skinned alive!”

  Rat retrieved a pair of shorts from the sodden pile and proceeded to pull them on with his back to Carmen. Toad, the chubby, brown haired lad, now dressed in wet shorts, went down to help the red-haired boy, who had now pulled on wet jeans, to push a bicycle up the bank.

  “Did they take much money?” Carmen asked.

  “I had ten dollars,” Rat snarled angrily.

  “And I’ve lost four,” Maggot added as he climbed up with his bike.

  “Then you must tell the police,” Carmen said.

  Rat made a face. “What could they do? It would only be our word against theirs.”

  “No it wouldn’t,” Carmen insisted. “We saw what happened.”

  Rat looked sulky. He shook his head. “That would just make it worse. Then the bullies would come looking for us.”

  “That’s right,” called Toad as he fished in the water for his bike. “They would make life hell for us then.” He turned to the red-haired boy. “Come on Ryan, give me a hand with me bike.”

  Maggot nodded vigorously. “Those bullies already give us hell,” he added. “They pick on us every time they see us.”

  “Have they ever robbed you before?” Carmen asked.

  Rat made a sour face. “Yeah. They often come along and demand money,” he agreed.

  “An’ they belt us if we don’t give,” Ryan added miserably.

  Carmen was appalled. “But that is straight out robbery. You must tell the police.”

  “You tell ‘em,” Rat replied. “I gotta work out how to dry these clothes fast or my mum will ground me for sure.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be here?” Andrew queried.

  “Nah. My mum and dad, they said they’d give me what for if they ever caught me down by the river,” Rat replied. “That’s why we was swimmin’ in our jocks. Sorry Miss.”

  Carmen smiled. “That’s alright. Look, you have to report this or it will just keep on happening.”

  Rat shook his head. “It will anyway. Even if they get arrested and go to court they’ll just get a slap on the wrist n’ be back out again. Then they’ll really come lookin’ for us.”

  Carmen did not agree but could not convince the boys otherwise. In fact both she and Andrew secretly conceded that what the boys said was at least partly true. The law did not seem to deal very effectively with delinquent juveniles.

  By this time the urchins had dressed themselves and had retrieved all their bikes. Carmen tried to convince them but they were now more concerned with drying clothes and stopping rust in their bikes. They mounted and rode off the way Andrew and Carmen had come. Carmen shook her head as they went. “They should stand up to them,” she said.

  “Easier said than done,” Andrew replied, memories of bullies at his own school coming to mind.

  They set off walking again, passing out into an area of park with trees lining the river on their left and an open lawn sloping up to a road, then to houses. The path curved slightly and as they rounded a bend Andrew felt his heart skip a beat. There were the bullies again, about a hundred metres ahead.

  CHAPTER 6

  CANOEING

  The four bullies were standing on the river bank throwing stones at something in the water. They hadn’t seen Carmen and Andrew so again Andrew suggested they stop and wait. Carmen shook her head emphatically.

  “No! I’m not backing down from bullies like them. They are really just cowards.”

  Andrew wasn’t so sure. He had met several bullies who weren’t; and had read that their real weakness was a cruel streak in their personality, rather than lack of courage. He braced himself for trouble as they continued to walk.

  As they got closer Jay, the tall, black-haired bully, let out a whoop and threw his hands in the air. “Got one!” he shrieked.

  Now Andrew realized what the bullies were doing. They were creeping along the river bank and throwing stones at tortoises which were sunning themselves on floating debris. Carmen let out a hiss of anger as she saw this.

  The four bullies moved to pick up their bicycles, their voices cheerful with cruel laughter. For a moment Andrew hoped they would just ride away; but even as the hope crossed his mind it was still-born. Forman looked their way and hesitated, one leg thrown over his bike. For an instant his face looked puzzled. Then an evil grin spread across his face.

  “Well, well! Look who it is,” he said to his cronies. They stopped and turned to look and Andrew felt his heart sink into the pit of his very uneasy stomach. Forman dropped his bike and moved to stand in the middle of the path, thumbs hitched aggressively into his silver-studded leather belt.

  As he and Carmen came up to them Andrew veered to by-pass Forman but his cronies moved to block his path. Carmen walked straight up to Forman and said: “Excuse me, you are blocking the path.”

  Forman burst out laughing. “She’s bright this one!” he said. His cronies all laughed and jeered. Andrew came to a halt beside Carmen. His breath began to come in ragged puffs as he braced himself for a fight.

  Carmen looked Forman up and down as though he was some sor
t of unpleasant insect. Very calmly she said: “Excuse me. Let us past. This is a public footpath.” She moved to step around him.

  Forman stepped sideways and blocked her. “You owe us, bitch!” he hissed.

  Carmen ignored him and again tried to pass. This time Forman reached out and grabbed her arm. Andrew tensed to start swinging punches, his eyes meeting those of Troy, and noting unhappily that the bully was at least half a head taller and proportionally longer in the arms. Troy, he noted, had a real thuggish cast to his features.

  Carmen stopped and said very quietly: “Take your hand off me or I will have the police charge you with assault.”

  “Crap!” Forman jeered. “You call the cops and you’ll regret it. Besides, who would believe ya? It would be our word against yours.” But he took his hand away. Andrew noted his black eyes move shiftily around.

  Carmen stood her ground and looked him straight in the eye. “You are wrong there. What about those people over the road on the steps of that house? And the man coming this way with his dog?”

  Andrew hadn’t noticed these, but now he thankfully took in the middle-aged man with a black Labrador heading their way.

  At that moment Carmen noticed something beside the track. She let out a gasp. Andrew looked. It was large tortoise and its shell had been crushed into fragments by a large stone. The creature was dead. Then Andrew noted another dead tortoise floating in the shallow water, its head smashed to pulp.

  Carmen shook her head and disgust showed on her face. “You revolting animals!” she spat.

  Forman flushed and snarled back: “Mind your own business, moll!”

  “Oh, how big and tough you are!” Carmen sneered. Andrew winced inside and wished she wouldn’t provoke them. One middle-aged man with a happy looking dog wasn’t much of a potential reinforcement. Carmen went on: “I shall report this to the RSPCA; and I will tell the police about you robbing those boys back there.”

  Forman’s face went livid with rage. “You do ya bitch and you’ll regret it. I’ll make sure ya pay if ya do!”

  Carmen ignored him and stepped around him. This time Forman made no attempt to block her. Andrew followed. Troy jostled him but took no other action. For an instant Andrew thought he was going to be punched by Jay. Then he was past them and walking beside Carmen, his heart hammering wildly.

  Forman jumped on his bike and pedalled towards them. Andrew turned to guard himself but Carmen ignored him. The other bullies followed. As Forman went past he snarled: “You dob on us an’ I’ll rape you, ya slut!”

  Then he was away. Jay and Shaun followed, then Troy. As Troy went past he reached out and knocked Andrew’s hat off. Andrew ducked, fearing a blow, but the bullies rode on, calling insults and obscenities back at them.

  Andrew watched them pedal off under the Nathan Street bridges and vanish out of sight up the bank. “Sorry about that Car,” he said.

  Carmen shrugged: “Disgusting low-life,” was her comment.

  She increased her pace and stepped it out. They went up the bank and set off across the bridge. As they crossed Andrew looked down and shuddered at the memory of his near drowning.

  As they walked Andrew found he was perspiring heavily and wiped his brow repeatedly. He looked up at the rugged face of Mt Stuart, deciding it was an impressive mountain. As on the previous days dark rain clouds loomed beyond the mountain, with drifting curtains of drizzle beneath them. The humidity became very oppressive.

  By the time they arrived at the Schipholl’s both were a lather of sweat. Letitia met them at the door. To Andrew’s mixed disappointment and relief she wore jeans and a long-sleeved shirt which showed only a little cleavage. She led them through to the side patio and offered them cold cordial.

  As Andrew seated himself Snoopy scampered in and jumped up, tail wagging and tongue lolling out of his grinning mouth. “Nice doggy!” Andrew said, ruffling Snoopy’s ears and patting him. Snoopy rolled on his back and Andrew obliged by rubbing his tummy. Tiptoe the cat appeared and sniffed disdainfully at Andrew, then stalked gracefully over to Carmen and rubbed against her leg. She scooped the cat up and settled it in her lap before tickling it under the chin.

  Martin joined them and Andrew asked how the repairs were going on the model of the Cutty Sark.

  Martin brightened and replied: “Quite good. I’ve cut off all the broken or loose bits and cleaned them. Come and see.”

  Andrew followed Martin along the passageway. As he passed Letitia’s bedroom he noted the scent of her perfume and found it very stimulating. Then the sight of the bathroom caused another flood of memories. It was almost a relief to reach Martin’s room. Once again he admired the other ship models, the Dutch ‘East Indiaman’ and the Titanic. He indicated the Titanic and said: “Do you ever sail this one?”

  Martin grinned and shook his head. “Not game to. I reckon that would be tempting fate.”

  They both laughed and Andrew studied the collection of small timber spars and masts laid out beside the Cutty Sark. The model looked sadly unbalanced with more than half its rigging missing but at least the damage was repairable. While they discussed this the front doorbell rang.

  It was Jill and Mark. Andrew felt his heart skip. Jill! Now he could find out if she and Mark were still going together. He fidgeted while listening to Martin’s explanation of how he was going to re-rig the model. All the while Andrew’s attention was transferred to the sound of voices at the front door. At last Martin led the way back to the patio.

  Jill looked lovely. She wore hip-hugging jeans and a white long-sleeved shirt. On her head was a large straw hat which really suited her. She smiled warmly when Andrew appeared and he noted that she sat on the other side of the room from Mark. ‘Mark does not look happy,’ he thought. ‘Maybe I have a chance?’

  The teenagers all sat and chatted while Mark and Jill were offered cool drinks. Jill came and sat in the chair next to Andrew. He found her smiling and looking at him. Letitia plonked herself in the chair on his other side and tried to join in the conversation. Andrew also noted that Martin was sitting next to Carmen and was deep in earnest conversation with her. Mark was left sitting on his own looking unhappy.

  After a time they gathered themselves up and went out to the back yard. At the shed Andrew again hinted that he would like to see Martin’s mysterious ‘machines’ but Martin firmly declined. The canoes were hauled out of the shed and laid out on the lawn for inspection. Paddles, lifejackets, bailers and ropes were added. Andrew now sensed a slight tension:- who was going to go with whom?

  Letitia took the initiative. She bent to the first canoe and said: “Grab hold Andrew. You can come with me.”

  Andrew did as he was told, but gave Jill a wistful look. She seized upon this and said: “I’ll come with you too.”

  Letitia frowned but said nothing. Mark looked unhappy. Carmen looked anxiously from one to the other, her face a half-smile; half-frown. Martin grinned and added: “You come in my canoe Carmen. I need an expert paddler.”

  That left Mark with no option but to go in the canoe with Carmen and Martin.

  The canoes were carried out across the road and down the lawn to the river’s edge. Here they launched them before donning lifejackets. Now the next minor social crisis arose: who was to sit where? Again Letitia pushed the decision.

  “You go in the middle Andrew. I will go in the front. You can be the thorn between the roses.” She giggled and winked at him. Andrew blushed but did as he was told. He climbed into the canoe and steadied it while Letitia and Jill boarded. Letitia wasn’t very skillful and stood teetering nervously until she managed to settle herself. This put her back just in front of Andrew’s knees. Jill settled behind him without any fuss.

  They picked up their paddles and pushed off. This time Andrew noted that the canoe seemed to wobble a lot and rocked from side to side. It was obvious he was not with a skilled team. “Sit still!” he commanded. “And all paddle on the same side. Jill, you have to steer and give the orders. You are in the capta
in’s seat.”

  The second canoe was manned and pushed off with much less fuss as both Carmen and Mark were well trained and Martin had a good sense of balance. It surged out beside them, Carmen in the stern and clearly in command.

  “Which way?” she asked.

  “Downstream to Aplins Weir first,” Martin suggested. As no-one else had any objection they set off in that direction. Carmen’s canoe quickly slid ahead, the paddles moving in unison. Andrew found his canoe still wobbling and tilting from side to side.

  “Don’t shift your weight so much,” he warned Letitia. “The canoe is top heavy. You will have us over if you aren’t careful.”

  Letitia confirmed this by saying: “It isn’t only the canoe that is top heavy. I am too. My sense of balance is terrible.”

  Andrew was shocked at her directness and he thought he heard a sharp intake of breath from Jill indicating disapproval. He said, “Come on, paddle harder. The other canoe is getting away from us. No Letitia, use your arms! Don’t lean over the side when you paddle. We nearly tipped over then!”

  They proceeded down the river, slowly falling further and further behind the other canoe. Their course was a bit erratic as well, sometimes taking them through patches of weed and lilies which dragged at the hull and tangled the paddles, making it very hard to paddle; sometimes taking them out into deeper, clear water.

  “Steer us into the middle of the river,” Andrew urged. “All paddle on the starboard side for a while.”

  “Which is the starboard?” Letitia asked.

  “Right,” Andrew replied, a bit amazed that she didn’t know.

  Jill immediately contradicted this: “I’m the captain. Both of you paddle on different sides and I will steer us from the stern.”

  Andrew opened his mouth to dispute this, then accepted the wisdom of it and said nothing. He paddled on the left as Letitia was paddling on the right. Jill dug her paddle in and used it as a steering oar to turn them. The canoe dodged a snag and swept close past some overhanging paperbarks before curving away from the bank and into deeper water.