The Days of In Between

by Peter Valentine Fenton

  ‘So I thought we’d get a good feed into us before we head up to the wharf.’

  He listened and nodded as he filled his plate with the fabulous delights on offer. Her voice was kind yet clear. She spoke in the way of small town country people, straight forward, and with wisdom and care.

  ‘Thank you so much. This breakfast is really nice,’ he said, their eyes meeting.

  ‘It’s really okay,’ she answered. ‘It’s been a funny couple of days for you.’

  ‘It sure has,’ he agreed. ‘So Dad’s really alright?’

  ‘Yeah, yeah. I can take you up to see him if you like, I’ve a shift later. But he’ll be fine. And your stepmum too. They were driving in the forest on the other side of the bay and ran the car off the road into a ditch. Your dad said he heard gunshots.’

  Toby’s eyes widened. ‘Wait, the shots from the wharf! From the sharkies? And Dad had a bit of a freak out?’

  Boo looked at him, and nodded. ‘Yep, sounds like it. He’s done that before has he? Does that happen much?’

  ‘Well, sometimes. Mum says it’s because of the war, in Vietnam. He seemed sort of okay when he got back but he’d get angry around Anzac Day ... he wouldn’t march ... but most of the time he was fine.’

  ‘But then he wasn’t fine, is that right?’ Boo asked gently, encouraging Toby to continue.

  ‘Umm ... he found it hard to keep a job. He’s working now, though.’

  ‘Oh, that’s good to hear,’ Boo said.

  ‘Yeah. He’s a radio technician on the big new tower on Black Mountain. I think he really likes it. But before that, he wasn’t doing much and he’d just got sort of quiet. He never used to be. And he’d get annoyed really easily. Most noises started to bother him, even just us sometimes. I think my brother might still get under his skin a bit.’ Toby managed a small smile at Boo, who nodded her understanding.

  ‘That all makes a bit more sense, now, given his background. Happens to a lot of returned vets. Can’t blame them for being a bit jumpy. Especially if there’s a sudden loud noise. You said he’d freaked out like this before?’

  ‘Well, I wasn’t there, but a couple of years ago he was walking home from the shops and a dog started barking at him and that really ...’

  ‘It got to him, did it?’

  ‘Yeah, it really did.’

  Boo shook her head. ‘Oh, Toby, I’m so sorry to say that is sadly a common story. Something happens and suddenly the war is unleashed in them again ... must be terrifying.’

  Toby thought about this for a moment. He had seen his dad angry, frustrated and withdrawn, but even knowing how hard things had been for him, he’d never thought that his tall and broad-shouldered dad was actually someone who was capable of being terrified.

  ‘And was your dad okay, that time?’ Boo prodded.

  ‘Not really.’ As Toby answered her, he suddenly realised, that no, his dad hadn’t been okay. He had heard the words ‘shell shocked’ whispered but he had never contemplated the actual relentless fear his dad must have experienced. ‘Mum told me that he sort of froze and didn’t move for ages. He only got home because a neighbour was walking by and helped him.’

  Boo’s eyes closed for a moment. ‘They sent him to see somebody about it though, didn’t they? They should have.’

  ‘Well, only after he stood outside the Veterans’ Affairs building for days holding a sign with his service number on it.’

  Boo looked visibly upset. ‘Oh ... that’s dreadful. Really? So, they did send him to see a counsellor?

  ‘Yes,’ Toby shrugged. ‘Well, that’s how he met Judy.’

  ‘Ah, I see,’ Boo said, joining the dots and slumping back in her seat. ‘Still, the sound of a rifle. Ol’ time-bomb Tim and his mates up at the wharf really should know better.’

  ‘Who?’ he asked.

  ‘Oh, Tim Jones, I mean. That’s another sad story, I’m afraid. He grew up around here and then moved away when he was about seventeen. There wasn’t much work around here for a young bloke like him, so he headed for the city, keen to get ahead. Met a girl, Sarah, had a couple of kids – his son Josh who is a chip off the old block – and Tara, who’s a friendly little thing.’

  ‘Yes!’ Toby exclaimed, ‘I know her! I met her yesterday on the mountain ... and the beach the day before. She’s really nice!’

  ‘Yes she is. A lot like her mum in many ways. I used to see them together, she and Tara, darting about from one thing to another, always laughing.’ Boo smiled at the recollection. ‘They came here every summer holidays, just like you.’

  ‘So, Tara’s not from here?’

  ‘Well, she’s lived here a while now, but no, they’d come to stay with Tim’s mum. They were all living further up the coast before. Tara’s mum was quite something you know, one of those people that was great at whatever they tried their hand at. She was a competitive swimmer in the day, and quite creative too. She’d been a set decorator in the theatre, even TV ... I think that’s how she met Tim, he was getting some work for a while in the city on a couple of things, building sets for the ABC I think?’

  ‘Wow,’ Toby said, impressed. ‘That would have been fun.’

  Boo nodded. ‘Oh, I’m sure it was. Very different to the sort of work you’d get around here. Quite the odd couple, really – and it sure got the tongues wagging when they settled down with each other! I keep an eye out for Tara now her mum’s not around, and make sure I say hello when I can. She sure is a sweet one.’

  ‘Did something happen to her mum?’ Toby asked, suddenly concerned.

  Boo’s face dropped and Toby could tell by the lines on her face that she was clenching her teeth together as she searched for the words.

  ‘Ah.’ There was a long pause. ‘Yes. She died about five years ago.’

  ‘Oh wait ... what?’ Toby suddenly recalled Tara cheerfully talking of her mum, and about their secret cave, and his heart dropped. ‘She didn’t ... I thought ...’

  ‘No, you won’t find anyone speaks of it really,’ Boo explained, sensing Toby’s confusion. ‘It was awful. She and Tim were swimming one morning after dropping the kids at school.’ Boo took a moment in equal measure to remember something but forget something as well. ‘A shark took her. They say Tim did his best to ward the shark off but ... there isn’t a lot you can do. It all happened so quickly.’

  They held each other’s gaze for a while until Toby looked away, staring at the faint boomerang pattern on the laminate table as he grappled with what he’d just heard. His eyes clouded a little, recalling the pang of saying goodbye to his own mum for just a few weeks. But to never see her again? He couldn’t imagine what Tara must feel.

  Boo’s tone changed, suddenly fresh and positive. ‘Alright, let’s finish this off and face this day. And Toby,’ she said, reaching across the table and squeezing his hand, ‘I’ll be with you every step of the way.’

  ‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘Thanks a lot. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if you hadn’t shown up.’ He felt his eyes well again, this time with the sincerest gratitude.

  ‘I’m happy to help. Why don’t you head off to grab a shower, and I’ll clean up here,’ she smiled. ‘And when you get back I’ll do something about that leg of yours. I’ve got a first aid kit in the car. I’m sure we can patch you up a bit.’

  Toby returned from the shower to find all signs of breakfast gone, replaced by a neatly arranged row of gauze, antiseptic cream and bandages.

  ‘Sit down, this will only take a minute.’ Boo used the gauze to gently dab the cream gently around the cut on Toby’s thigh and then wound the bandage around it, fixing it with small, elasticised clip.

  ’Ready?’ she asked.

  ‘I think so.’

  ‘Then carpe diem!’ Boo cried.

  ‘What’s that?’ Toby asked, not understanding.

  ‘It’s Latin. It means “seize the day”. So let’s go,’ she grinned.

  Grinning back, Toby headed to Boo’s rusty silver Volvo station wagon, seizing the day a
s best he could.

  Toby looked at his reflection in the car window as he waited for Boo to lean across and unlock his door, which she did with a practised ease.

  As he sat down, his bare leg hit the black vinyl seat, now sizzling from the bright morning sun. ‘Owww!’

  He lifted himself off as Boo said, ‘Oh, sorry, mate, geez. Hang on and I’ll get something.’

  Quick as a flash, she was out of the car and pulling his towel from where it was hanging over the plastic orange rope that held the annex in place. She opened his door and expertly laid it under him. ‘Sorry about that.’

  Toby smiled. ‘Sort of the least of my worries at the moment.’ He sat back down on his towel, which was still a bit stiff from the salt water, and quickly wound down the car window so that the stifling morning heat could escape.

  Boo pulled the car onto the gravel road of the park and they were on their way. She looked across at him briefly and then back to the road ahead. ‘You know, you don’t have to worry about all this. It’s going to be alright. I’m going to make sure of that. I grew up in this town and know most of them, plus,’ she said, suddenly laughing, ‘I’m the local nurse so when the time comes for them to get a needle in their backsides, I’m the one holding the needle!’

  Toby did a little snort laugh through his nose that made them both laugh even more.

  They fell into a comfortable silence and Toby watched the morning pass by through his window as they drove away from the small group of stores across from the beach – the newsagency, the fish and chip shop and a store that sold sporting gear and bait. That gave way to a roller skating rink that led to the bowling greens of the local club, nestled up in a little valley. Then the sharp corner as they crossed a small creek with its hanging willow trees and up the hairpin turn onto the wharf road.

  Within a few short minutes, they had passed the big hotel and were pulling up outside the wharf. He reluctantly stepped out onto the roughly tarred road and looked back across the bay. He could see the surf club, nestled at the back of the beach, and could make out the small figures of people already coasting on the waves heading into shore. Finally he turned his attention towards the wharf. He saw Tara’s dad among a small group, all looking very concerned. An older lady, wearing the white uniform of the Red Cross, had her hand on Tara’s dad’s upper arm, trying to offer some comfort.

  Toby’s mind whirled, wondering what was going on. Maybe the shark had come back? Maybe something had happened to the bait-boy in the canoe? He swallowed hard. Just when he thought things were going to be cleared up.

  Boo was ahead of him and quickly joined the circle of people as Toby hung back, leaning in the shade on the covered side of the wharf.

  Boo and the Red Cross lady talked intensely with Tara’s dad, who was shaking his head like he couldn’t believe what was happening. Nearby a seagull squawked and waddled among them. Toby was grateful for its innocent intrusion.

  Behind him a car door slammed and he quickly looked around to see a policeman, helping Tara’s brother from the back of the blue police paddy wagon, his head hung low, his lips pursed tight with worry. Tara’s dad stepped forward, looking first relieved but then even more concerned.

  ‘Geez, Josh, where have you been?’ The boy didn’t respond, so he turned to the policeman. ‘What’s goin’ on?’ he demanded. The two men looked each other in the eye. The policeman spoke very calmly and quietly. ‘Mr Jones, I’m Sergeant Ayres. I picked up Josh last night as he was causing a disturbance, throwing rocks at caravans. He wouldn’t talk to me and then thought he would take a bit of a swing at me, so I had no choice but to hold him for the night. I’m a little surprised though as this morning he has told me he was out looking for his sister, on your instruction. Is that right?’

  ‘Yes! Yes, it is!’ Tara’s dad shouted, starting to lose control of his temper. ‘Tara ran off yesterday after that stupid boy THERE,’ pointing now at Toby, ‘made the shark go wild.’

  The policeman remained calm.

  ‘Well, no, that’s not what happened at all, but we can discuss that at some other point. Right now, I would say the priority here is the welfare of your daughter.’

  Her dad quietened at that, and looked pale. ‘Yeah, well, I thought Josh and her were both together. I’ve always been very firm with her. I ... just ... stayed at the club a bit longer than usual ...’ His voice trailed off.

  ‘So, when did you see her last?’ the sergeant asked, pointedly.

  ‘Well ... ah,’ he began, looking around, peering into the past. ‘It was here ... here on the wharf yesterday.’

  The policeman zoned in. ‘And what time was that?’

  Tara’s dad started to shake his head as he suddenly realised he was in a lot of trouble.

  ‘I don’t know. I DON’T KNOW! Middle of the day, I suppose,’ he said, his panic affecting his voice strangely.

  Toby listened in disbelief. Tara was missing and it was her brother who was throwing the rocks.

  The policeman raised his voice a little for the first time. ‘Do you have any idea where she is?’

  The dad looked to the boy and the boy looked to his father, and both shook their heads in a silent terror.

  ‘I think I know where she might be,’ Toby found himself saying.

  All heads turned towards him. He felt Boo move beside him as he looked into their grimacing faces.

  ‘Where, Toby? Where do you think she is, mate?’ she asked.

  He paused for a moment but felt sure. ‘I think she’s on the mountain.’

  Suddenly Tara’s brother spoke sharply. ‘Nah, no way. I looked there.’

  He stared at Toby, his eyes narrow, but Toby didn’t care what the other boy thought now. He never felt so sure of anything.

  ‘Over there, on that mountain?’ the policeman said, pointing beyond the beach at the peak behind the town, and raising his eyebrows.

  Toby felt encouraged. ‘She mentioned a place up there her mum showed her.’

  ‘What place? Did she tell you what it is?’

  ‘No, she just said a secret cave. I never saw it.’

  ‘So, lad, tell me, what is your name?’

  ‘Toby Rhone, sir,’ he said quickly.

  ‘Alright Toby, thank you. And what did Tara tell you about the cave?’

  Toby felt uncomfortable and shifted on his feet, suddenly unsure of his recollection. ‘Just that there was one. I never saw it. She said she’d show me another time.’

  ‘But you think it’s a special place for her?’

  Toby nodded. ‘It was the way she said it ...’

  Sergeant Ayres stayed silent a moment, thinking, then he seemed to make a decision. ‘Alright. That’s good enough for me.’

  It was then Boo came alive. ‘Okay, I’ll head straight there. Toby, you come with me. Are you fine with that, Bill?’ she directed at the policeman.

  ‘Righto, Boo.’ The sergeant turned to Tara’s dad and brother. ‘You two are not to leave my sight. You are to stay with me at all times. You are to follow all directions I make. Do you understand that?’

  ‘What?’ said Tara’s dad, taken aback. The policeman continued. ‘You heard what I said. Now, Boo, you take the young lad and I’ll take these two in my wagon. You follow me as I’ll be lights and sirens.’

  ‘Yep, got that,’ was Boo’s simple reply.

  Sergeant Ayres then addressed the lady in the Red Cross uniform. ‘Ah, Mrs Thompson, you’re welcome to come along with me. It’d actually be good if you did.’

  ‘Of course, Sergeant,’ she replied.

  Sergeant Ayres now returned his attention back to Tim and Josh Jones. ‘Now, I understand that you are in possession of a firearm?’

  Tara’s dad seemed surprised by the question. ‘Yeah, I’ve got my rifle, which is licensed and registered and all that.’

  ‘And where is that firearm now?’ the policeman asked firmly.

  ‘It’s in the boot of my car,’ he replied, pointing out towards the road.

  Sergean
t Ayres nodded and looked over at the battered car with its mag wheels that might have shone a long time ago, before the rust and salty air took hold. ‘Alright. And you have the keys to that vehicle on your person now?’

  ‘Yeah ...’ replied Tara’s dad, his forehead creasing as he realised that he was being treated with great suspicion. This seemed to make him angry. ‘Listen, mate, I don’t know what all this has got to do with my missing daughter.’

  The policeman held his ground and did not seem in the least bit threatened, in fact, his voice remained steady and firm. ‘Firstly, don’t call me mate. I’m not your mate. Secondly, I am working my way through this situation with the welfare of your daughter very much in mind. So, I’m going to ask you once and once only. Hand me your car keys and accompany me in the police vehicle and we will search the mountain. If we cannot find your daughter, I’ll be calling in all resources available to me through Police Command and I’ll be asking further questions of you back at the station.’

  Tara’s father listened with his arms crossed and then nodded as the words sank in. He slowly uncrossed his arms and reached into his pocket and handed over his car keys.

  ‘Right,’ the sergeant said. ‘Let’s go find Tara.’

  The group stood around the bonnet of the police wagon as the sergeant spread out a worn map that had been folded and unfolded many times. He was quick to find the mountain. ‘I see. It overlooks the van park,’ he said, looking pointedly at Josh. ‘There are some old roads going in here but I would think they’d be well and truly overgrown now, but it might get us closer than going straight up. How long does that take would you say, mate?’ he asked, looking at Toby.

  Toby thought about it for a moment. ‘I know it’s about an hour and a half to walk up, heading up from the caravan park, so maybe an hour if we can get some of the way there?’

  ‘Alright. We’ll go around the back and as far up as we can. We can smash our way in by foot from there.’ He turned to face the others. ‘Just for housekeeping, you Jones boys will have to ride in the back, as Mrs Thompson will ride in the front with me.’