by M C Rooney
“What?” asked Sam, who was squinting as well. One of their parents must have had really bad eyesight.
“Nothing,” Alex replied.
“What do you mean nothing?”
“The other is a girl,” replied Carter.
“Oh dear.” Ian sighed.
“What?” asked Cheng.
“These two seem to go a bit mental when they see a pretty girl,” replied Ian.
“We do not,” Alex and Sam replied together.
“Yes, you do.” Ian sighed again. “You always compete.”
“We do not,” Alex and Sam said again.
“Anyway, she could be ugly,” said Hockey, who had noticed that Sam and Alex now seemed to have very eager faces.
“I hope so.” Ian heaved another sigh.
“They have stopped,” Carter suddenly said as he saw the two horsemen and dogs turn around.
“They are waiting for us,” Cheng said.
“Someone better go and tell them we mean no harm,” Hockey added with a frown.
“I’ll go,” Alex and Sam said together.
Hockey ignored them. “You go, Carter,” he said, “and put that friendly fatherly face on that you carry so well.”
“That’s his normal face,” Cheng said.
“I know,” Hockey lamented. I just wish I could meet someone with an angry face like myself for once.
Soon, after some coaxing from the friendly face of Carter, two rangers, two horses, and four dogs from the south joined the company of six tribesmen from the west.
“Pleased to meet you,” Hussein said with a smile. Everybody flinched except Hockey.
“Pleased to meet you as well,” Hockey replied with his own harsh smile. Finally someone he could relate to. “My name is Hockey, and these are my old mates John Carter, whom you have already met, and Craig Cheng.”
“Why did that man just sneer at me?” Ian said quietly with a worried frown.
“I think it’s just his normal face,” Sam replied as he and his brother maneuvered their way around to the pretty girl on the horse.
Ian sighed again then noticed the four dogs.
“My name is David Hussein,” the man said and gestured to the girl on his left, “and this is my companion, Kirstin Bartel.”
“Hello, Kirstin,” Sam said with a smile as he shouldered his brother out of the way. “My name is Sam Follett, and this is my brother, Alex, and that idiot over there looking at your … dogs is our friend Ian.”
“Oh, are you friends with Tom Dayton?” she said excitedly.
“Yes, yes, we are,” Sam replied.
“Oh, Tom asked me to give you one when I saw you.”
“Really!” Sam replied with a big smile. Wow, Tom Dayton was turning out to be a better friend than he ever imagined.
“You mean sex?” Ian called out as he patted the dogs.
“No, of course not!” Kirstin replied, affronted. “Tom asked me to give you some ointment for your burns.”
“Then why were you smiling like that, Sam?” Ian asked as he walked over to his friend.
“Ah, it was … the ointment, that’s all. The ointment made me smile,” replied Sam, who had now gone completely red in the face.
“So you smiled because you were happy she was going to give you some ointment when you didn’t yet know that she had any ointment to give?” Ian said in wonder. “My, oh my, are you psychic, Sam? Why didn’t you tell us?” Ian was truly looking at his friend in fascination now.
“Yes, a very good question, Ian,” Alex said with a small grin.
“Thank you, Alex,” Ian replied looking back at the dogs.
“Why were you smiling like that, Sam?” Alex continued. “And are you really a psychic?”
“Shut the fuck up, Alex,” Sam whispered under his breath. Sam took a deep, steadying breath. “About this ointment?”
“Oh, yes,” Kirstin replied and dismounted from her horse. She reached inside her saddlebag, which was packed full of books, and brought out a tube of what looked to be some sort of thick goo. “Right, give me your arm, and I don’t expect you to cry like a baby,” she said, smiling. “The professor said it would heal your arm, but the burn marks would remain due to how long the injuries have been untended.”
Sam took off his jacket and lifted his burned arm, and Kirstin soon began to cover it with some thick, brown slime. It didn’t really smell bad, just looked a bit too pooish for Sam’s liking. After a moment of thinking he had crap all over his arm, he noticed that the pain had stopped. Kirstin had now walked over to Alex, who looked quite happy to have her rub her hands all over his chest, but Sam didn’t care, the pain had gone, and as he noticed the ointment evaporate, he saw dry pieces of skin fall off his arm as well. He was healed. His skin on his burned arm looked a bit pink and raw, but the pain had gone completely, his arm felt strong, and he could fully flex it. He looked at his brother, who had gone from a smug smile at having his chest rubbed to the same feeling of elation that Sam felt at being healed. Everybody was happy, even the hard-looking Hussein appeared pleased at the result.
“We better keep moving,” Hussein said, “but first we need to gather the dogs … and your friend Ian.”
“Ian, wasn’t he just here?” Sam said in surprise and looked over at the nearby paddock.
Four huge black dogs were running around, yelping and playing in the paddock, and in the middle, he could see a pair of human legs sticking in the air.
“Oh my, Sam,” Ian said breathlessly when he stood up, “these dogs are so much fun. I don’t want to eat them at all.”
Kirstin had gone from smiling at Ian playing with her dogs to frowning; she gave a short whistle that had the dogs scampering after her as she mounted her horse and turned away.
“Have I upset her?” Ian asked, who now stood in the paddock on his own.
“Yes, just a little, Ian,” Sam replied. “She loves those dogs, and you just mentioned that you had thought about eating them. Don’t you think Ian is being a bit rude, Alex?”
Sam looked around and saw that Alex had followed Kirstin. “Son of a …” Sam muttered under his breath and chased after his brother.
Hussein watched as Kirstin walked her horse along the road in a northwards direction. She was trailed by two young brothers, who were obviously trying to chat her up, and one young man who was running and playing with her four dogs.
“So what brings a … ranger to the west?” Hockey asked.
“The Mayor of Hobart asked us to come up west,” Hussein replied as he walked alongside his horse. He always felt it was rude to talk down to someone who was walking when he was sitting high up on a horse. “We had a man called ‘the Professor’ show up in Hobart,” he continued. “We have hopes of building a tower that makes electricity.”
Hockey shared a look with Carter. So the old bastard had made his way to Hobart. He wondered how. Maybe it was this Tom Dayton he had heard about.
“He also asked me to give you a message,” Hussein continued as he looked at the ex-chief.
“What message?” Hockey grunted. The professor was a major pain in the arse. What message did he want to give?
“It’s a bit cryptic,” Hussein replied.
“I expect nothing else.”
Hussein took a deep breath and had a look of concentration on his harsh face as he remembered the words the old man had given him. “He said he was sorry he couldn’t explain the Collapse better to you when you were a youngster. He hopes you can forgive the clown named McKay.” Hockey went very pale in the face. “He said he went mad with grief at all he had done and forgot about his past, but he eventually remembered your face through your son. He deeply regrets the pain he caused and wishes you and your son only good luck for the future.”
“Is that the McKay you used to talk to on the computer?” asked Carter in amazement.
“Yes,” Hockey murmured.
“Bloody hell,” said Cheng.
Carter could see that Hockey was in a bit of a daz
e now. “I knew Tassie was small … ” Carter trailed off.
“The towers are the key,” Hussein continued.
“Is that why you are here?” asked Carter.
“Yes, the mayor asked that we seek out a man called Buzz.”
Hockey heard his son’s name and now looked sharply across at Hussein. “Why?” Hockey may have looked angry at that moment, but so did Hussein. Judging this man’s emotions may prove quite difficult with a face like that.
“The mayor wishes to offer whatever support she can to him with the construction of the tower,” Hussein replied. “She wants Buzz to know that the south means no harm, and our goal is to see electricity cover our entire island.”
“So no invasion, then?” asked Carter.
“No,” replied Hussein in shock. “We are barely surviving ourselves. A disease went through our city, and lots of people died.”
“Us too,” Hockey replied and felt at his own chest. Fortunately, he had survived the disease and now felt like he was completely on the mend.
“I’m sorry for the suspicion, Dave,” Carter replied, “but we recently had an army from the east attack us at the tower.”
“I heard about that from Tom,” Hussein replied. “It seems that the number of people in the east is quite high.”
“The tower kept them warm,” Hockey replied. And it should have kept us warm, he thought with disgust at his own carelessness and lack of foresight. The Professor was the clown McKay! He didn’t think he would ever get used to that.
“So what is with the dogs?” Cheng eventually asked with a grin. He asked the question as a way of changing the subject, but he also wanted one of these dogs. His … pussy … might be upset at the intrusion, but those dogs looked so damned cute.
“I’m not quite sure myself,” Hussein said and smiled when he saw that the young man called Ian was now rolling on the road, with the four dogs jumping on him. All the men gave a twitch and quickly focused on the dogs when Hussein moved that smile towards them.
“I’m glad they’re here,” Carter said.
“Me too,” Hockey added quietly.
Hussein noticed the men jump when he smiled at them, but was quite happy when he saw them grinning at the dogs. He thought he had just guessed the real reason why the mayor had insisted on Kirstin bringing her dogs to the west. They were also three females and one male dog, he just realised. Thinking of Kirstin and the dogs brought up a recent event.
“But I do have some bad news to share,” Hussein said.
“Great,” replied Hockey. “More surprises.”
“We were attacked by four men on the way up here.”
“By whom?” Cheng asked.
“Shirtless men,” he replied, noticing that all his companions were fully clothed. “They talked to Kirstin like she was a piece of meat,” he finished in disgust.
“Martin’s men, do you think?” Carter asked Hockey.
“Most likely,” Hockey replied.
“So what happened?” Cheng asked.
“She killed them,” Hussein replied, nodding towards his companion.
“Who?” Carter asked.
“The pretty girl on the horse?” Cheng said in shock.
“Yes, her and her dogs,” Hussein said with a shiver.
Never judge a book by its cover, Hockey thought as he watched Sam and Alex continue their competition for her attention. Speaking of which.
“I noticed Kirstin had some books in her saddlebag.”
“Yes, and I do too,” Hussein replied as he tapped his own horse’s saddlebag. “The mayor has people in Hobart copying books from a library. She hopes that people around our island will be able to read and write and learn about our history and the world as a whole.”
“She sounds like a fine lady,” Carter said.
“She is,” Hussein replied with a look of pride. “Someone worth following.”
Unlike me, Hockey thought, as he continued to walk northwards. Ah, dear Professor or McKay or whoever you really are. It looks like we have both been fools for a very long time.
The Hamill Family
“You look flustered,” Gregor Hamill said as he roughly chopped away at a freshly cooked wombat.
Grant had almost run away from the mansion. He was so glad to be back amongst his real kin.
“Have the Martins been harsh to you again?” Gary Hamill asked as he boiled some vegetables on the stove.
“Of course they have been hard on the poor boy,” Arnie Hamill said as he sat on an improvised rocking chair by the fire. “That’s the only way those bastards know how to behave.”
The small hut was occupied by four men only, and as is usually the case in a household without a woman to bang their heads together and tell them to pick up after themselves, it was a complete pigsty.
“Just a busy day, boys,” Grant replied in his big brother sort of way. No, it was more than that. “I think Rebecca Roberts may be interested in me.”
“Oh my god!” Gregor said in disgust.
“Perhaps you should have a crack. It’s been a long time,” Gary said and laughed.
“Well, I must say, back in the day, she was a nice piece of crumpet,” said Arnie.
“You hated her.” Grant laughed.
“Oh yes, she is a bitch, of that there is no doubt.” Arnie smiled. “But still …” He made an hourglass gesture with his hands.
“She treated her son disgracefully, though,” said Gregor.
“That she did, boy,” Arnie said quietly. “That she did.”
“But I want to know the real reason why you look so worried,” asked the young man in the corner.
Grant was not surprised to see him here. Flynn Carter was always showing up every few weeks. He was shirtless today. Sometimes he wore jackets, and sometimes he even dyed his hair, but he always carried a knife on his hip.
“Two reasons, mate,” Grant replied. “The first reason is Glen Martin is missing.”
His family all gave words and gestures of shock, but Flynn didn’t show any reaction.
“You know?” Grant asked Flynn in surprise.
“Yes, I saw his body,” Flynn replied.
“Did you kill him?” Arnie asked.
“No, strangers on horses did, and they had dogs as well.” Pretty bloody vicious dogs they were too, no matter how cute they looked.
“Horses and dogs,” Arnie mumbled as his face seemed to gaze back into the past.
“We should attack,” Gregor said keenly.
“Patience, boy,” his grandfather murmured.
“Now is not the time to rock the boat,” Flynn said calmly. He was always calm was Flynn Carter, just like his father. But behind the eyes was a hint of mischief, a feeling that he would love to rock the boat if he had the chance.
“Are you sure?” asked Grant.
“There is one down, but there are still six to go,” Flynn replied.
“But Shane and Junior are out there looking for the body now, with only four others,” Grant replied. “They will find his body, and they will seek vengeance.”
“Danni has already warned the Roberts,” Flynn said quietly.
The room hushed to a deathly silence.
“I know that look, boy,” Arnie finally said as he looked sharply at Flynn. “If there is a chance of bumping another one of the Martins off, then take it. They don’t know where the body is, but you do. You could set a trap.”
“Brett Martin will set his sons onto us whether there are six or five of them left,” said Gary.
“Do it,” insisted Gregor. “I’ll come with you.”
“What did I say about patience, Gregor?” Arnie said, reprimanding his grandson.
“I’ll think about it,” Flynn replied. “But you all stay here. The plan we have is working, so there is no need for you to jeopardise it.” Flynn then disappeared outside.
“But it is taking so long,” Grant murmured to himself as he watched the open door where Flynn had left. He wished he could go with him; he wi
shed he could kill just one of the Martins.
“And what was the second reason, Grant?” asked Arnie after Flynn had gone.
Grant looked at his grandfather, who really had been his father and mother all wrapped into one. “Brad Martin,” Grant said quietly.
Gregor and Gary looked at their elder brother. All of them were similar in looks. All of them looked like Brad Martin.
“Oh, dear grandson,” Arnie said softly, “he may share your blood, but he doesn’t share your spirit.”
“I know,” Grant replied. And he had to be killed if there ever was to be peace in the west. There was no two ways about it.
“Flynn took his bow,” Gregor said suddenly.
“That he did, boy,” Arnie replied with a contented smile. “That he did.”
The Martin Mansion
Rebecca walked into Brett’s private lounge room and watched as he gazed out of the window. So similar in looks to his father Warren he was, so similar in personality to his Uncle Scott as well. “You look worried, great-nephew,” she said. She had raised him since he was a baby. She had hopes that he would become all of what Maurice wasn’t. He showed no gratitude, though. Nobody showed her the respect she deserved.
“Of course I am,” he snapped. “Glen still hasn’t come back. He’s the only useful son I have.” Except maybe Jonas and Brad, he thought. They seemed to have a little bit of brains to go with their brawn.
“You must look after them all,” Rebecca replied. “Your sons need you.”
She must be joking, surely? “You bloody hypocrite,” he replied. “Maurice needed you, and you abandoned him.”
Rebecca went red in the face as the comment hit its mark. “He was a fat idiot,” she mumbled in reply. “He embarrassed me.”
Brett Martin turned to face her and flinched when he saw her ugly lined face. Rebecca noticed and felt the urge to cry.
It’s so hard growing old, she thought with dismay. Once upon a time, men used to look at her with smiles, and their eyes used to linger on her breasts and hips. Now they just flinched and hoped she would go away.
“Maurice Roberts, or Hockey as he came to be known, was not an embarrassment. He was a tough man,” Brett replied. “In fact, I believe he was what I always wanted to be.”
