Icefall

by Hallowes, Guy

  Rapidly and noiselessly they led the horses out of the stables with their muffled hooves enclosed in sacking. In minutes, they were down the road and into the dark, where they were able to mount having removed the sacking.

  Chloe said, 'I've ridden here quite a bit as I bought most of the original Settlement horses here and tested them in the park. We need to go southwest until we have passed Duffy's Forest Creek and then we can head northwest. There are many paths through the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. We'll have to keep going, even in the dark. With a bit of luck we will be over the Newcastle Freeway by about dawn.'

  After making a few wrong turns in the dark, just as the sky was lightening up in the East they saw car lights, completely stationary, on Bobbin Head Road. The mostly sleeping people in the vehicles, barely noticed them. So they found a gap and all three horses were quickly guided over the road.

  'It may be more difficult crossing the freeway,' said Kim. 'There will be panic and people may behave irrationally.'

  Within two hours, the pair skirted alongside of the Ku-ring-gai Chase road with little interference from people in vehicles. They ran into trouble when they tried to cross the Newcastle Freeway at Mount Colah. Chloe, leading the pack horse, thought she had spotted a gap between two cars and was just about to ride through when the driver aggressively started his car and closed it. Kim realising there was no time for negotiations, or any type of nicety, drew the Webley and shot the car's two front tyres out. The driver emerged and started to protest, with his wife and small children screaming inside the car.

  'Get into that fucking car,' Kim shouted, 'and move it back. You have ten seconds or the next shot will be into your thick head.' She pointed the gun. The man rapidly did as he was told. Kim fired three shots into the car's engine, which then stopped running, as they raced through the gap, crossing the other carriage of the freeway without difficulty, and disappearing into the surrounding bush.

  'Whew!' said Chloe. 'Close one. Obviously we must avoid human contact where we can. It's cross country from now on anyway.'

  Stopping at noon, and unsaddling in some trees they watered and tethered the horses, allowing them to graze. Two hours later they continued the journey, after indulging in a small snack from their limited resources. They rode through Galston and Kenthurst, an area consisting mainly of small holdings, using gates where they could find them. On one occasion they were unable to find a gate, so Chloe held the horses while Kim cut the barbed wire fence, folding all the strands back on themselves to protect any animals passing through.

  If another human was sighted they immediately moved away, where possible, out of sight.

  Finding a small copse as night fell, Kim said, 'There's a house a k or so away. I suppose we can risk a small fire.'

  The horses were in a place where they could graze and were also given a little of the fodder. Kim cooked chops and boiled some vegetables, which she had rescued from Chloe's fridge. 'We forgot the tea,' Chloe announced, taking the kettle off the fire and hunting through their supplies.

  'We must boil the water anyway,' said Kim. 'Leave the boiled water out overnight and I'll fill water bottles in the morning.'

  The night passed uneventfully, with Kim crawling out of her sleeping bag now and then to check on the horses. They were on their way at dawn.

  The routine continued for the next few days. There was some difficulty in finding a ford to cross the Hawkesbury River, but they were now moving into less-settled areas with larger properties and it became easier to avoid being seen.

  'We'll be in the mountains soon,' said Kim hopefully.

  Crossing one major road was a real headache. Many of the cars on the road had run out of fuel and it was clear people were panicking, having eaten all their food. Kim approached the road in hiding, watching for more than an hour before she returned to Chloe and the horses.

  'We should go before dawn when most people are at their lowest ebb. It'll still be quite dark and we'll be well on our way before anyone notices anything. On horseback, we ought to be able to easily outrun any pursuit.'

  'What about midnight?' asked Chloe.

  'We could try that, but we get into thick forest shortly after we cross the road and I don't fancy wandering about there in the dark.'

  Staying well away from the road, they spent an uncomfortable night worrying about the next morning. Both had trouble sleeping without the warmth and comfort of a fire. But they certainly didn't want to give away their presence.

  At five in the morning, Chloe said, 'Come on, I'm sick of this, let's make a move.'

  Packing up quietly, and making certain all their horses and equipment were in order, the little entourage crept towards the road.

  Kim again went ahead. The vehicles were scattered everywhere, but everyone appeared to be asleep, staving off another dreadful day.

  She chose a place with a decent gap between vehicles and while it was still dark they crossed over the road quietly and quickly, disappearing into the bushes on the other side. Finding a path, they had the horses moving at a fast walking pace.

  'I hope we weren't seen,' Kim whispered, 'but I saw movement to our right. We'll go on a bit, until it gets light, and then I'll double back to see if we're being followed. Don't worry Granma, I won't be far away. Just putting into practice some of Derain's lessons.'

  When it was fully light, Kim told Chloe, 'Keep going on this path, I'm going to double back. If there's anyone following they are going to get a very big surprise.'

  She left the path and quietly rode her horse back to where, still hidden, she could see the path they'd taken; there she waited. Not more than ten minutes later, three men in their thirties came running along the path.

  They were talking. 'I saw three horses. That's the way to go; there's no chance now with the car. We're all going to die on this bloody road if we stay here.'

  'How many people?'

  'Two women; should be easy meat. We'll fuck 'em and dump the bodies in the bush. Nobody will miss them with all this chaos around. They'll never be found. Maybe the dingoes or dogs will eat them.'

  Kim had made sure the Webley was fully loaded and ready. Her blood was now boiling. She considered taking all three men out there and then, but it was too late and they had gone past. She made herself calm down and riding her horse, followed the men, keeping just out of sight. It took a few minutes before the men caught up with Chloe. She was quite serene, knowing Kim was on hand.

  'A fucking granny,' said one of the men. 'Fancy fucking a granny!' He made a grab for the reins, but with Chloe's skill she managed to evade his grasp for a minute until two of them cornered the horse and one held the reins.

  'We are having the horse and you,' said the apparent leader. 'Off or you will get hurt.'

  'I don't think so,' said Kim, still mounted. None of the men had seen her approach.

  The man just stood there grinning. 'You won't dare use that gun. I bet you don't have a clue how it works anyway.'

  'I am going to count to ten,' said Kim through gritted teeth. 'If you are still holding the reins of that horse you will get a bullet between the eyes. One, two, three ...'

  'Ah, bullshit, you couldn't hit a barn door at ten feet,' the man blustered.

  '… eight, nine, ten.'

  A split second's flash of apprehension crossed the man's grinning face as Kim calmly lifted the Webley, took aim, and shot him between the eyes. He was lifted up and thrown back a metre with the impact of the heavy bullet. The horses skittered, but were just kept under control.

  'Jesus Christ,' shrieked one of the others, making to run.

  'Stay exactly where you are or you'll both get the same treatment.' Kim fired another shot at one of the men's feet. 'Hands above your head.'

  'We didn't mean anything. It was just a joke,' one of them pleaded.

  'You mean, "We'll fuck them and leave their bodies in the bushes for the dingoes" was just a joke!' Kim retorted angrily. 'You,' Kim yelled at one of the men, 'undress, and get a move on. Y
es everything. Off now!' The man hesitated. Kim fired a shot at his feet and he quickly stripped. Soon naked, he was shivering in fright.

  'I just need my money and credit cards,' he pleaded.

  'No you don't, not where you're going. Stand over there and if you move one inch you'll get one in the head.' Kim waved the gun in the direction of the dead man.

  'You're a bloody maniac!'

  Kim ignored him. 'Now you, the same thing. Quickly.' The second man complied and, like his companion, soon stood shivering.

  'Put the clothes in a pile. Then both of you, strip your dead friend, and put his clothes on the pile too. Hurry up!' They jumped as Kim fired a shot next to them. 'Okay, now light the clothes.'

  'There's no lighter.'

  Wordlessly, Chloe tossed the man a box of matches. The pile of clothes was lit. Both men had crapped themselves and were crying as they watched for ten minutes as their clothes burned to ash.

  'If I ever see either of you again,' said Kim, 'you'll get a bullet between the eyes. Now get the hell out of here.' She fired two shots just wide of the pair. There was momentary hesitation and then they ran, tearing themselves on bushes as they scampered down the path, naked and barefoot.

  Kim, still holding the gun, slumped down on the saddle. 'Jesus, I didn't think I'd ever be able to do that. The Academy,' she explained, glancing at Chloe, while she reloaded the gun's magazine.

  Chloe, shivering in fright at their close call, edged her horse over and put an arm around Kim, 'You saved our lives. Thank you. If I'd been on my own I'd be a goner by now. Those bastards, did they really say those things?'

  'Definitely, I was only a couple of metres away. They were deadly serious.'

  'We'd better get going. What are we going to do with the dead man?' asked Chloe.

  'Nothing. If his friends don't fetch him, he'll suffer the same fate as they had planned for us.'

  They continued along the ill-defined path, climbing steadily into the mountains, without stopping, putting as much distance between them and the road as possible.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  First Weeks of Isolation

  Apart from Kim and Chloe there were two others who had not returned before the Ice Shelf collapsed. The families of the two absentees had badgered David to do something to somehow return their loved ones home.

  'I've explained to you that Kim and Chloe are also missing. Patricia told Kim where to find Chloe, but we haven't heard from either of them since and mobile phone contact hasn't been possible. So we're in exactly the same position as you. The only hope is that they can somehow walk back here. If we don't hear anything within two months, we will have to assume they didn't make it and are dead,' David looked off into the distance, impatiently wiping away a tear.

  'Do you have any idea of your family members' whereabouts?' he asked.

  'We've had no contact since the day before the collapse,' David was told by Graham, the father of one of the absentees.

  'Did they intend to return?'

  'We think so,' was the uncertain reply.

  David looked at them. Somehow they expected him to wave a magic wand and their loved ones would suddenly appear.

  'Mark and Tanya are organising a number of horse patrols to go out in various directions from here. Speak to them and maybe join one of the patrols. In any event, make sure the leader of each patrol knows who is missing and what they look like.'

  'What about the helicopter? Many others were rescued in that way.'

  David shook his head. 'Tanya was wounded on the last trip. She's the only pilot and is out of commission for the moment.' He shrugged. 'I won't be making any further attempt to find Chloe and Kim, however tempting that might be. It would be a wild goose chase and put other people's lives at risk unnecessarily. I am desperately hoping they are alright and heading back here. But our job now is to look after the people here and ensure their safety and welfare. I know how you feel. It's desperate. I'd do something if I could.'

  David saw a number of black looks, hearing a comment as they left, 'Bloody Bowers just look after their own. They don't care about the rest of us.'

  David was infuriated by the unjust remark, but kept his peace. They were in Joe's ward and he would be briefed on the issue.

  Mark had organised ten patrols with four members in each. They were equipped for a two week journey. Graham was eventually persuaded by Joe to join a patrol. 'It's the least you can do,' Joe told the man.

  'You should be sending the helicopter out again,' said Graham.

  'We have one pilot who can't fly. For heaven's sake, use your sense, man. What you are suggesting is like committing suicide. The helicopter almost crashed last time.' If they wanted to return, why did they leave it so late? They were given a year's notice, he thought. Joe was desperately worried for Kim and Chloe, but Joe knew Kim was resourceful and could manage herself as well as anyone in the bush. He had unsuccessfully tried to calm Patricia's fears with that thought. For weeks after the collapse of the Ice Shelf, Patricia cried herself to sleep in his arms.

  Mark briefed the patrols before they left. They all knew the people that hadn't made it back. 'What we need is information, so just observe what you see. It may be tempting to try to rescue people. Don't try it. The likelihood is that you will be torn to pieces. Don't put yourself or your patrol at risk.'

  Joe made sure Graham was included in his patrol. Virtually every member of the community, except the aged and infirm, had been through the training provided by The Academy, so Graham was a competent horseman and could handle a weapon. Tanya had planned each route with Mark's help and they were sent out over a two day period with Joe and his group leaving last.

  Mark did not accompany any of the patrols. He, Roger, and Tanya planned to fly over the catastrophe about to engulf Sydney, making sure there was a full record of the event they were certain would destroy the spectacularly beautiful city. They had already watched in horror, while the TV was still functioning, the pictures of the dreaded tsunami roaring up from the Antarctic. As Derain and his people had predicted, the massive wave was due to hit the Australian coast on April 25th 2026.

  On the appointed day, Tanya had woken with a start while it was still dark. After a split-second it hit her. Today was the day the world she had known would change forever. The fifteen metre tsunami hurtling its way towards the Australian coast at one hundred kilometres an hour would crash into Sydney, with a destructive force such as the world had never before witnessed—Sydney, beautiful Sydney, her home town, where she had grown up and flourished. She shuddered, wondering how she would cope.

  Trying to create a sense of normalcy, Tanya woke the rest of the family—Mark and their two teenage children. She managed her usual ten kilometre run, with her injured shoulder causing little discomfort. Easing the helicopter from its base on the parade ground of The Settlement, she flew the machine easily with her usual skill.

  Mark occupied the right hand seat of the machine, holding his camera carefully. Roger, in one of the rear seats, was in charge of a further two cameras. Circling, they all admired with pride their small Settlement, created from a raw piece of Australian wilderness. 'We'd better bloody well make sure all this survives and us with it,' Tanya muttered to her companions.

  Mark was idly wondering how he would cope with the inevitable changes to his life wrought by the tsunami. Tanya smiled at him, trying not to display her nervousness at what they would soon witness. Slim and brown-haired, Roger's benign looks belied his competence. He had spent most of his life in The Settlement and was pleased to be asked to accompany his two much admired leaders on what was bound to be a life-changing experience.

  Flying southeast, Tanya headed directly to the iconic harbour city into increasingly heavy rain.

  'Does the weather have something to do with the tsunami?' Mark asked, looking nervously at Tanya.

  'Probably, but it's going to take more than a few drops of rain to stop me,' said Tanya, anticipating Mark's point.

  Mark r
emained silent.

  The city was eerily quiet. All the major roads leading out of the city were completely gridlocked. It must have been that way for many days now. There were people standing around their vehicles. Many of them waved desperately.

  Mark saw a man aiming a rifle at them, 'Look out,' he pointed, but Tanya had already seen the danger and swiftly manoeuvred the machine downwards and away to safety.

  'Well, it hasn't hit yet,' said Tanya, as they circled the city centre. 'I'll head out to sea for ten minutes to see if we can spot anything.'

  She directed the helicopter over the beaches and the grey Pacific Ocean. The machine was now being buffeted by high winds.

  'Don't worry,' said Tanya, noticing her passengers' discomfort as the machine dropped suddenly and bounced back just as quickly, 'this thing can cope with much worse.' Mark and Roger concentrated on their cameras and tried to ignore the discomfort.

  'Jesus Fucking Christ, look,' yelled Mark, fifteen minutes later, pointing through the rain-swept windscreen. And there it was, a huge wave, looking threatening and lethal even from the relatively safe vantage point of the helicopter; stretching from horizon to horizon.

  'I'll follow it in,' announced Tanya as she carefully turned the machine around, hovering a few metres above the wave as the cameras whirred. Her apparent calmness belied the inner turmoil engulfing her. Although she and David had forecast this very event more than fifteen years earlier she, mentally, had to pinch herself. Speaking into the headphones, she said, 'This is real, it's almost too difficult to believe that we're not in some ghastly dream.' She glanced at Mark, who was giving nothing away, focussing on creating a clear record of the catastrophe about to engulf them all.

  Minutes later the massive wave crashed into the coast, with a destructive fury difficult to believe. Tanya followed it as it swept through the famous Sydney Heads and into the harbour. The many small craft scattered around the shores were picked up and tossed about like children's toys, many of them smashing into each other and into buildings innocently lining the shore, ending up like so much matchwood.