Icefall

by Hallowes, Guy

  The stretcher and patient were precariously winched into the helicopter and strapped down.

  'Is she okay by herself with Amaroo?' asked Tanya anxiously as they closed the door of the helicopter.

  'Stephanie is young, but as cool as a cucumber. Our patient wouldn't have survived without Stephanie's ministrations. She'll be fine. I'm quite sure she trusts Amaroo.'

  Landing at The Settlement thirty minutes later, the patient was examined, in situ, by the local doctor. 'We will deal with this here. Any delays will put her life further in jeopardy.'

  The other groups struggled in over the next few days followed by Stephanie and Amaroo two days later.

  'There needs to be some sort of medal given to Amaroo, Stephanie, Kim, and Tanya,' David said to Mark when it was clear the patient was out of danger.

  'Count me out,' said Tanya firmly when consulted. 'All I did was pilot the helicopter, which is well within my comfort zone. The other three deserve the highest honour though. If Amaroo hadn't dashed back here, she would have died.'

  David held a ceremony some days later. 'Due to the bravery of some of our own, we have decided to make the first Settlement bravery awards.'

  'To Tanya, The Settlement George Medal for bravery in the face of danger.'

  'To Amaroo, Stephanie, and Kim, the highest award for extreme acts of bravery, The Settlement Victoria Medal.'

  The applause continued for ten minutes. Tanya had meant the emphasis to be placed on the other three, but many in the community noticed Tanya's attempt at self-effacement and their admiration grew.

  'I don't want to spoil your party,' Chloe whispered to Tanya afterwards, 'but what the hell did you do to those horses? It will take weeks, if not months to get them right. Both have strained fetlocks and all the shoes need replacing.'

  'I offer no excuses. Kim tried to slow us down, but I wouldn't listen. Maybe it was some sort of divine intervention, if we hadn't picked up the patient when we did I don't think she would have survived.'

  'You were by far the quickest. I suppose it tells us what's possible in an emergency.'

  Chapter Twenty

  Final Preparations

  The Brownings spent three months in The Settlement staying in Evan's house, a place he had never seen, and another three months travelling around Australia.

  On the eve of their departure, Charles made a rather formal farewell speech to David and Chloe, 'What you have done here is amazing. We are not sure about the forecasts and have decided, if necessary, we would rather face our demise at home in familiar surroundings. Anyway, at our time of life it is difficult to see what we could contribute here. So thank you for your hospitality and we will keep in touch.'

  Chloe glared at David, nodding as if to say, 'Just how I have always felt.'

  Others from Beryl's family paid visits, and one couple stayed. Several made a point of visiting the pool with Tanya and a new group of the young, now of all colours, being introduced to living in the bush. Chloe always led the expedition, with Tanya still playing her vital role.

  For most visitors, the pool experience was transformational and they returned home as advocates for the science and further action.

  When Derain was asked for a date when the Ice Shelf would collapse, in his improved English, he said, 'White Goddess always talk about Ice Shelf. We know nothing of it. Big waters will rise, where from we do not know.' He spoke in his own language then, translated as, 'I will tell you one year from when big waters will rise, ancestor will tell me then.' Derain also made a point of saying to the group, 'Ancestor pleased with White Goddess and Settlement and David and family. Very pleased with brown and black people now coming to Settlement. Ancestor say that when big waters rise much land will return to Aboriginal people so we can look after land again. We, much help to Settlement, maybe Settlement much help to our people.'

  Kim had spent many happy hours helping out in the hospital from the age of twelve. She was now at university in Sydney studying medicine. 'I'm going to stay there as long as I can, in other words until the Ice Shelf collapses. I'll come back here as often as I can cadge a lift either from Tanya in the helicopter or Granma,' she told her mother.

  'Keeping up-to-date with The Settlement is important,' advised Patricia, 'but not at the expense of your studies.'

  'The Academy is pretty important.' Kim quietly added, 'I wonder if I will be able to kill someone if I have to, or if I will just wimp out.'

  Patricia had always seen her daughter as being helpful and concerned with the welfare of others, despite her forthrightness. She couldn't bear to think of her having to fight a real war, 'Don't worry about that at the moment, focus on your studies,' she said sympathetically.

  Jason, Joe and Patricia's second child, had almost completed several electric and electronic engineering courses where he could find them, mostly on the Internet. He had worked with his father on many projects within the community and was as proficient as Joe in keeping all electrical installations functioning. He had even helped Joe build their first computer.

  Always enthusiastic, he bounced into Joe's workshop one day saying, 'I don't think I need to complete a degree, but I want to learn from some people overseas. I've been in touch with some I'd like to visit. This is a rough itinerary. If I don't do it now I'll never get the chance.'

  Joe finished what he was doing, before looking at the itinerary, 'Probably a good idea … and maybe some more places too.' The pair spent a companionable hour revising Jason's itinerary.

  'Business class travel?' said Jason smiling. 'The Settlement will pay.'

  Joe smiled. 'Chancer. Nothing but the very back of the plane for you mate, and the cheapest accommodation. We need information, not lessons in fancy travel. I'll speak to David as he's sensitive about using Settlement money for family members. But don't worry, we'll manage somehow.'

  BOOK TWO

  Chapter Twenty-one

  The Date

  2025

  Derain accompanied Chloe, Tanya, and the group to the pool in the Blue Mountains in April 2025. Everyone wanted to be there. It was predicted to be a watershed event in the life of the now very well-established community.

  'There aren't enough horses for everyone,' said Chloe. 'We could take about fifty people, but that's too many. Fourteen's the number, plus Tanya and me. We'll decide by ballot, apart from a few.'

  Derain was asked his opinion. 'Same as first trip, too many people there last one, two years. Ancestor not like it so much.'

  The Bandstand was asked to fill four places, as they did on the first trip. Roger, Rachel, and Kim were also allocated places. The other seven were allocated by age group ballot, so one person each from ages thirteen to nineteen were selected. There was some grumbling, but most accepted the procedure was fair.

  David was asked if he wanted to take part in, perhaps, the last visit to the pool before the collapse of the Ice Shelf.

  'There's no need,' he said. 'I've been there many times with Derain. He told me roughly what time the moon will emerge and strike Tanya standing on the rock. We can arrange a barbecue on the parade ground and be with you all in spirit.'

  The group were now very experienced in the bush; setting off very early one morning, travelling light, since they were only to spend the night at the sacred pool. The sun was setting just as they arrived at the pool and camp was efficiently and quickly set up. Derain met a contingent of fifteen from his village at the pool.

  There was an enormous air of expectation among the group.

  'It would be smart to have finished dinner by eight thirty,' said Tanya.

  Derain was quite unconcerned. 'Moon come up when moon come up, makes no difference if you eat then or not.'

  Nine o'clock came and went. Then nine fifteen. By nine thirty there was some fidgeting among the contingent from The Settlement. At ten o'clock, Derain and the Aborigines performed a dance in front of Tanya, lasting about thirty minutes.

  'What's going on?' asked Chloe.

  Tanya concentrated
on the ritual. Halfway through the dance she stripped off and swam to the rock. Effortlessly, she drew herself up on the rock, facing the group, as the moon emerged and bathed her nakedness in its unearthly, ethereal light.

  The group silently watched, as the Aboriginal dance continued. Tanya was about to dive off the rock, when she saw the distinct shape of a crocodile in the water. She quickly looked over at Derain. He had his eyes closed and appeared to be in some sort of a trance. A feeling of intense euphoria came over Tanya as she realised there was no danger, so she dived off the rock and swam twice around the pool as she had done now for seven years in a row. There were some shrieks from The Settlement group as they saw the crocodile swim alongside her, but make no move to touch her. It then disappeared as Tanya emerged from the water to dry off and dress.

  'My God, my God,' said Chloe, shivering, as she touched Tanya all over as if to make sure she was alive. 'I really thought you were done for! Didn't you see the croc?'

  'Oh yes, I saw it all right,' answered Tanya, as the rest of the group gathered around. 'Somehow, I knew there was no danger.'

  The Aborigines had all melted away into the night. There was excited chatter from the group, who were far too animated to contemplate sleep.

  'Where have they all gone?' asked Rachel, expressing the group's curiosity.

  'We should wait and see,' said Tanya. 'Most of this has never happened before. They will come back, probably at dawn. Tonight is obviously seen as a very special occasion.'

  The chatter continued for another two hours after which they all fell into bed except for those on watch. Tanya shared her tent with Chloe. There was no need for supervision anymore as the group ran the camp competently.

  'I think that having sixteen of their own people at the pool tonight was a sign of equality and a willingness to share this land,' Tanya said to Chloe. 'They believe the floods will completely change the fortunes of the wider Aboriginal community.'

  'How on earth do you know all that?'

  Tanya shrugged, 'I just do.'

  'Does that mean trouble for The Settlement?'

  'I don't think so. It is more of a live and let live sign.'

  They were having breakfast as the dawn broke when all sixteen of the Aboriginal group appeared out of the half-light.

  Derain came to Tanya and said, 'Waters will rise three hundred and sixty-five days from today. This is the word of our ancestor.'

  'That means April 25th 2026,' said Tanya.

  'Anzac Day,' said Chloe. 'Extraordinary!'

  'The Ice Shelf will probably collapse about a week earlier than that around mid-April 2026. So now we know,' added Tanya.

  Some of the group surrounded Derain. They all knew him well from his bush craft expeditions.

  'Crocodile?' said Derain in a genuinely disbelieving voice. 'There was no crocodile.'

  'Yes there was. We all saw it swim around the pool with Tanya.'

  'No, too much cold for crocodile here, definitely no crocodile.' He did not seem to be joking and was quite certain.

  'There was definitely a crocodile swimming beside me,' said Tanya.

  A confused Derain began an animated discussion within his group. They then came and prostrated themselves in front of Tanya.

  'What's all this about?' asked Tanya as the hairs on the back of her neck stood out.

  'This ancestor, not crocodile,' said Derain. 'Will look after you always. This very big sign. Maybe happen only once before, long ago, long ago.'

  The conversation and arguments went on for some hours and the group decided to stay another night at the pool.

  Derain and his people had left when Tanya emerged from her sleeping bag before dawn.

  At the community meeting the following day, Kim, Rachel, and Roger described all the usual and unusual events at the pool. Most people were by now quite used to the naked images of Tanya appearing after these visits and took no notice. But in all the pictures from the trip, there was no sign of the crocodile. The whole group, including Tanya and the ever-sceptical Chloe, swore they had seen it in the pool with Tanya.

  'Anyway, we now have a date for the collapse of the Ice Shelf. We, as a community, must really focus on that and make absolutely sure we have done all that we need to help us survive into the future. There are community people regularly travelling to places outside, and we have people at university in Sydney and elsewhere. Individuals will have to make their own choices, but I would suggest the whole community should be safely back here no later than the end of March 2026. That will give some leeway for mistakes in the forecast.'

  Over the next few months, Tanya tried unsuccessfully to persuade her police contact and friend George and her Aunt Cara to move to The Settlement.

  Cara paid one visit but said afterwards, 'I'm too old to move to such a place. If it happens, then I will die here among people I know.'

  George wouldn't even visit.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Icefall

  April 2026

  David was sitting quietly in his office on April 16th, two days before the expected collapse of the Ross Ice Shelf in the Antarctic. He was busy ticking off the extensive list of things he and the community had agreed they should accomplish prior to the collapse; something he'd done a hundred times in the past few months. He knew Chloe was still in Sydney as well as his granddaughter Kim and some others. He hoped they would be back that day or no later than the morning of April seventeenth. Chloe had cut things fine all her life, and he wasn't particularly worried about her. He knew Kim was trying to complete a project and there was some discussion about a recalcitrant boyfriend. He phoned Patricia who told him not to worry.

  A few minutes before midday he received a phone call from his youngest son, Jonathan, aged thirty-four, now a Brigadier in the Australian Army. A call which turned him absolutely cold. 'Dad, the Ice Shelf has just fallen into the sea. There will be an announcement on the ABC at noon. I had hoped to give you an hour or two's advance warning, but there is no choice but to issue a public notice.'

  David was silent for a short minute.

  'Dad, are you still there?'

  'It's your mother,' he said in a desperate voice. 'She's still in Sydney. So is Kim. They were supposed to return today or tomorrow. Once there has been an announcement it will be too late. There will be pandemonium in the city and gridlock within hours.'

  'Maybe Tanya could pick them up in the helicopter.'

  'I will try.'

  He quickly found Tanya and Mark. She immediately ran to find Patricia, telling her the news. 'If you can contact Kim, tell her to make for this address,' she handed Patricia a piece of paper with Chloe's Manly address. 'I will try to pick people up at Brookvale Oval at Manly.'

  Patricia looked bewildered.

  'Just get hold of her, it's the best hope she has. If we can contact Chloe, I might be able to pick them up together.'

  Mark and David called an urgent assembly in the community hall.

  David rang Chloe a half-dozen times in the few minutes he had before the gathering. He left several messages on voicemail telling her the news. They switched on the television set in the packed hall just as the news broadcast started.

  There was the usual stuff, irritating David—a middle class welfare initiative, a grisly murder in Melbourne, a monetary scandal from a senior Government minister. The people in the audience moved restlessly wondering what was so important.

  The fifth item on the news finally caught the full attention of the audience. David quickly pressed the record button on the TV.

  'The Ross Ice Shelf in the Antarctic has detached itself from the mainland and collapsed into the sea.' There was a collective gasp from the audience as the news report included a summary on the Ice Shelf.

  The Australian Prime Minister appeared on the screen and said, 'The Government is monitoring the situation together with a panel of experts here in Canberra. People will be advised what, if anything, they should do but I am advising calm. At the moment please do not t
ake any action. There will be another address on this subject when we have something to report within the next few days.' The picture faded.

  Pandemonium reigned for a few minutes, mostly from people who had family members and friends still outside The Settlement.

  Tanya stood up, waiting for the room to quieten down. 'There are a few people who have not yet returned. Regardless of what the Government has said, Sydney will soon be in gridlock. The best chance anyone outside has of being rescued is to make their way to Brookvale Oval at Manly Beach. I will be leaving in a few minutes by helicopter. I will try to make a few trips. Please tell them to hurry. Manly Beach,' she repeated.

  There was a flurry of conversation, but Tanya rushed out of the room, leaving others to field the anxious questions.

  David requested people's attention and said, 'Please reassemble in two hours or so, when the gorge will be blown. I will have more words for you then.'

  Tanya took off, having armed herself with a handgun and the defence force issue, short-barrelled automatic rifle. Dear God, I really hope I don't have to use any of these things, she thought.

  An hour later she circled the oval and easily managed to land. Several people rushed towards the machine. At first she didn't recognise anyone and then three Settlement people emerged from the crowd, shoving their way to the front of the throng. Tanya waved the handgun and fired a shot into the air. The crowd backed off slightly so the three could climb aboard. She looked about in vain for signs of Chloe and possibly Kim.

  'Anyone else there?' asked Tanya.