Atomic Testing

by Alan Tucker

  Dad said his mates have been all right, but Mum thinks that when she goes into the store the other ladies turn their backs on her. Dad said she’s probably imagining it. ‘And even if you’re not, you’ve hardly ever mixed with them, Beryl. They aren’t exactly your best friends.’

  Mum didn’t disagree.

  Saturday, 22 August

  Dad came home excited. He heard from some of his mates that an Australian Air Force Sabre fighter flew at 900 miles an hour—faster than the speed of sound! ZZZOOOOOOOOOOOMMM. I can’t imagine going that fast. I don’t think even Superman’s flown at that speed. How can anything go faster than sound?

  Dad said only jet planes can do it, when they go into a long, fast dive. I wouldn’t want to be a pilot diving that fast towards the earth. What if the brakes or steering failed?

  Apparently when the jet goes faster than sound it causes a loud BANG. If Dad hadn’t told me that, I’d have thought it was a made-up story, like something in a Superman comic.

  Superman once flew faster than time. He went back into history so he could change something that happened then that caused something bad to happen now. I wonder if he made a BANG when he flew through the time barrier.

  Dave and Robert visited this afternoon. Now that the police have finished investigating me Robert’s parents told him he’s allowed to come over. Dave didn’t even have to ask his parents. His father’s proud of me for making the Commonwealth cops look stupid for picking on an innocent kid.

  Dave wanted to sneak up on their office tonight and throw our crackers at it, but I said that wasn’t a good idea. I was in enough trouble as it was.

  I asked Robert about breaking the sound barrier. I couldn’t understand why the BANG happens. Does the pilot hear it? And can wireless operators on the ground talk to the pilot once he’s going faster than sound? If so, how does the sound of their voices catch up with him? Robert couldn’t answer any of those questions, but he said he’d ask his father.

  Dave told him to also ask his father what happens when the plane slows down again to a speed slower than sound. Does the pilot see and hear things in slow motion for a few seconds until he readjusts?

  He surprised me by asking such a smart question.

  We had lots of fun discussing sound and speed and time. I told them I believe time slows down sometimes. When I was really ill and in hospital for months, that time seemed like years. And Dave said time always speeds up when it’s the weekend or the holidays. We all agreed with that.

  Robert tried to explain that that has to do with time slowing down, not sound. Dave said they’re the same thing, because in maths lessons he goes into a daydream where he can’t even hear Mr Gates. When the siren sounds and he comes back to reality he hasn’t heard a thing and the whole forty minute lesson has ZIPPED by.

  Sunday, 23 August

  Just when it’s holidays and I’m allowed to stay up late, there’s no cricket to listen to. And I’ve lost one of my friends. Jonathon still isn’t allowed to speak to me. He told Robert he’s sorry, but his parents don’t trust either of us—Jonathon because he stole the photos and me in case I really am a spy.

  Mum doesn’t want me to stop drawing just because of the trouble. I don’t know if I will or not. It sort of killed the fun. I certainly won’t draw rockets again.

  Dave and I walked out to The Grave. It was getting dark and I thought it was a bit spooky. Dave reminded me of when Robert dared us to sleep near it and suggested we sleep out there one night these holidays.

  I wasn’t sure. Not because I was scared but because I knew Mum wouldn’t let me. Dave told me to sneak out my window after she was asleep. I told him I couldn’t because Rusty would bark and give me away. The main reason though is that if I break Mum and Dad’s trust again, they’ll ground me forever.

  Monday, 24 August

  Dave came over first thing. He never sleeps in. Mum told him he could wake me up. He didn’t have to because as soon as he opened my door, Rusty barked. I hobbled out of bed. He wanted to know if I’d hurt my legs. I told him I’m always like that first thing in the morning. Since I had polio my legs take a while to warm up. They’re all right later in the day.

  Mum wanted to know exactly what we were planning to do. She’s worried I’ll get into trouble with the police again. We didn’t know what to tell her. We don’t usually plan things, we just do them. I had to make up something so I said fishing. She told me off for being a smart alec.

  We played with the Dinky cars on the rally track while we thought of a better idea. It was quite good fun, actually. We changed a few things to make the track harder to push the cars on. We put in a few sharp bends and a tunnel that we made out of rocks. Dave said he likes the holidays. We still have fourteen days to go.

  Mum and I only arrived in Woomera last school holidays. It seems like a lot longer. Dave told me he thought my mother was a dragon when he first met her, because she told him off. I said she hasn’t always been grumpy—coming here’s made her like that. She didn’t want to leave Townsville. I told him I was glad we’d shifted because there’s more to do here and I’ve made good friends.

  After lunch we decided to take Rusty to the burrows. We knew there wouldn’t be any rabbits out in daylight, but at least it was something to do that Mum would approve of. Dave told me to ask her if we could ride the bikes. He said we’d get there a lot more quickly that way.

  Mum still didn’t know that I sometimes ride around, so I told him not to say anything. He volunteered to ask for me if I was chicken. I told him I wasn’t.

  Before I could ask though, Dave had a better idea. He brought his two bikes over and I asked Mum if I could practise riding in our backyard. She tried to tell me I’d forgotten how to ride. Dave said, ‘No-one forgets, Mrs Brown. I’ll run alongside and help him keep his balance. I promise he won’t fall off.’

  I was really excited when she agreed, but I had to pretend I hadn’t ridden for years. I leaned the bike against the tank stand and climbed on. Dave gave me a push and I was away. I wobbled a bit to start with, then went smoothly. It wasn’t easy to ride because I had to keep turning corners to avoid pranging into fences. If we’d had flowerbeds like we had in Townsville it would have been even harder.

  Dave didn’t run next to me for long because I didn’t need help. He hopped on his bike and followed me round and round. So did Rusty. He yapped and yapped while he chased us in circles.

  ‘See Mum, I can ride without falling off. Can I ride up and down the street? There are too many corners here in the yard. I might have a crash. I’ll be safer out there.’

  She didn’t look very happy, but she agreed.

  ‘But only if you take Rusty with you. His yapping’s driving me crazy. And only if you promise not to go past the end of the street.’

  I promised.

  We went up and down all afternoon. When Dad got home he was surprised to see me riding. He got on Dave’s bike and followed me for a while. He wasn’t very balanced. He’s never ridden a bike much, but he’s good at handling horses and trucks.

  When Dave and I got sick of riding we walked to the burrows. Rusty was quieter than usual and he stuck alongside us. Usually he zigzags all over the place following scents. I think he’s tired from chasing the bikes. I know I feel tired from all the pedalling.

  Wednesday, 26 August

  Yesterday we did lots more riding up and down the street. Mum finally agreed I could go a bit further, mainly because she needed some groceries from the store. The bike Dave lends me is his sister’s and it has a basket on the handlebars to carry things. We bought what Mum wanted and took it home.

  Friday, 28 August

  Mum’s finally agreed to let me ride around town. She and Dad had a bit of an argument about it. Dad told her to ease up on me and not be so overprotective. She gave her usual answer.

  ‘That’s easy for you to say, Frank, because it’s not you who has to nurse him back to health if he falls and injures his legs.’

  I told her I wouldn
’t fall off, and even if I did, my legs were strong now. A fall wouldn’t hurt them.

  The main reason she changed her mind and let me ride around the village is so I can collect her library books and pick up the newspaper each day. She’s arranged for the store truck to collect her weekly library packages from the siding at Pimba.

  Dad’s cross about all the books she’s reading. He said she’s got so many books to read that she’ll be lucky if she ever leaves the house again. She told him that if he spent more time at home with her instead of drinking with his mates at the Mess, she might not need to read so much. Dad said he and his mates play cards and darts and talk, and only drink a little bit. He said if she joined him she might meet some people and make new friends. She replied that she likes her own company.

  I like my own company too, although I’m never totally alone because I have Rusty. He loves running next to me when I’m riding. Dave wants to train him to carry the newspaper home from the store. He couldn’t do that. His mouth’s way too small.

  Sunday, 30 August

  There was a big argument at the Mess last night. Dad said if someone hadn’t held him back, he would have punched a bloke’s lights out.

  He was drinking with his mates at the bar when a lady who works in administration told them that there was a man at a nearby table taking notes of their conversation.

  Dad confronted him. He was one of the Commonwealth Police. He had a notepad that had thousands of squiggles on it. Dad snatched it from him and showed it to the office lady. She said it was written in shorthand. When she translated it, it was a record of Dad’s whole conversation that night. He went mental and wanted to throttle the man, but his mates held him until he calmed down. They told him he’d end up on a charge and would probably get banned from the Mess as well.

  Dad refused to give the policeman’s notebook back and wanted to know what was so intriguing about their conversation. The man said it was to do with the spying charges against me. Dad told him that no charges were ever laid, but he said he was simply following orders. Mum was as upset as Dad when he told her what happened. She said it made her angry that they accused me of spying but then carried on like spies themselves.

  Mum and Dad get on all right when I’m in trouble. Maybe I should get into strife more often—then they wouldn’t argue as much.

  Later

  Dave heard about the fight. I said it wasn’t a fight. He reckons if he’d been there he’d have joined in and swung a few haymakers—BIFF! CLOBBER! WHACK! Even if he connected, he wouldn’t hurt anyone. He’s such a weed. He’s strong, but he couldn’t hit with much power. Dad says Dave’s built for speed, like him. One big difference, though, is that Dad can fight. He learned to stand up for himself while growing up out bush. Everyone there can use their fists.

  Mum doesn’t want me to be a fighter. She wants me to use my brains rather than my brawn. But I don’t want to be a sissy.

  Dad’s going to be away this week. He’s doing a trip to Adelaide to collect supplies then take them out into the desert somewhere. Mum wanted to know where. He said he doesn’t know and doesn’t care. He’s happy just to be behind the wheel.

  Monday, 31 August

  It’s my fourteenth birthday on Thursday. Mum’s going to take me to Adelaide as a present, to buy me some new clothes and shoes. Dad left for Salisbury this morning before I got up. He’s driving, we’re catching the train. Mum said the train’s slow, but it’s more comfortable than the bus that rattles along over the corrugations. Dad agrees. I’d never been on a train before we came here. We didn’t have them in Townsville, unless you count the little trains that transport the cut sugar cane to the refineries.

  I told Mum we can buy new clothes at the Woomera store. She said she knew that, but there was no choice here and besides, she had other business to do in Adelaide. I have to get Dave to look after Rusty while we’re away.

  Thursday, 3 September

  It’s my birthday and I’m in Adelaide. I went to the Royal Show yesterday. That was the surprise Mum had for me. We came down on Tuesday night, booked into our hotel then caught the train to the showgrounds.

  The train ride was good, but I went on even better rides at the Show, and had two turns on the shooting gallery. PING, PING. I didn’t win a prize. Mum’s heard that the gun sites are bent so that people can’t shoot straight and win the prizes. I should have been able to hit something. I know I’m quite a good shot, but I didn’t want to remind Mum of my slug gun shooting.

  She pointed out that as well as being my birthday, today’s the day that Australia declared war against Hitler. She cried the day I was born, partly because she was happy to have a healthy baby boy and partly because I was born into a war. I hardly saw Dad until I was six, because he was serving overseas. Mum and I spent nearly all our time together then, and later when she nursed me through polio.

  We’ve always got on well—until we moved to Woomera.

  Mum and I are sharing this room. It’s great. I’ve never stayed in a hotel before. She’s got a double bed and I’ve got a single. We eat our breakfast and dinner in the dining room. Mum said it’s quite expensive, but very convenient. We can walk to Rundle Street in a few minutes and catch buses and trains just outside the front doors.

  Tomorrow morning she’s got an appointment at the hospital, but she won’t tell me why. I hope she’s not sick. Maybe that’s why she’s been so grumpy lately. She says she’s well. I hope she’s telling the truth.

  We’re also going to the Adelaide library. That’s where she gets all the books from.

  Friday, 4 September

  We got to the library just as it opened. The librarians were really excited to meet one of the people they send books to in the country. Mum made me a member too. I had to tell the librarian what I like to read so the staff know what to send up to me on the train. I wasn’t sure what to tick on the list, but the librarian asked me a few questions and helped me decide. They don’t have comics, only books. I ticked adventure because most comics are adventure stories. Mum likes history books and romances.

  I had to wait a long time at the hospital while Mum talked to someone. Luckily I had a book to read. We weren’t sitting where all the patients were and the person she spoke to wasn’t a doctor. I couldn’t work out why she was there and she wouldn’t tell me.

  We’re back in our hotel now, sitting in the foyer. We had to pack our cases this morning, but they let us store them here. We’re leaving on the train tonight. We’ll be back in Woomera in the morning.

  Mum’s reading a new book she got in the library this morning. She’ll probably finish it on the train tonight. She’s a quick reader. Dad’s going to meet us up at Pimba in an Army pick-up truck. He gets back to Woomera today.

  Saturday, 5 September

  I slept in this morning. I only had a little bit of sleep on the train. Mum didn’t even seem to try to sleep. She just sat up and read.

  Dad met us and helped lift our cases and us up onto the back of the truck. There was a canvas canopy over the top, but it was freezing cold sitting there. Luckily we didn’t have far to go.

  Rusty went crazy when Dave brought him home this morning. He’s a really active little dog. We’ve both lost weight since living in Woomera, because we exercise more. When we were in Adelaide Mum noticed how fit I am. We walked together every day and she couldn’t keep up with me. She was impressed and said that living here is obviously doing me some good. That’s the first positive thing she’s said about Woomera.

  I told her I’m taller too. I’ve grown over an inch since we moved here. I know because I’ve marked my height on my doorframe.

  Mum bought Dave a bike pump in Adelaide to thank him for looking after Rusty. He was really excited and started blowing Rusty’s fur. Rusty must have thought it was a fly landing on him. He kept growling and turning around and around, snapping where he thought the fly had landed. It was pretty funny. Even Mum laughed. I think the break in Adelaide did her good.

  7.00 pm />
  Mum and Dad went out. They’ve hardly done that since we came here. They went to the pictures. I didn’t go because it wasn’t a kids’ movie. I don’t care. I like being home by myself. I got my drawing book out again. I haven’t felt like drawing much since I got into trouble for drawing the rockets. I wonder if the police are still spying on me.

  The reason I started drawing is that Mum bought me a new Superman comic while we were in Adelaide. I haven’t had a new one since we moved here. The Woomera store sells a few comics, but they’re Roy Rogers, Mickey Mouse and characters I’m not interested in. They also sell a new comic called Tarzan. I’ve read a couple of his stories and they’re quite interesting, but he’s not really a superhero. He’s strong, but he has to rely on all sorts of animals to help him beat the baddies. Superman wins all by himself. He’s more powerful than anything except kryptonite. That’s a rock that gives out invisible rays that sap all his powers. It can kill him if he’s exposed to it for too long.

  I wonder if kryptonite’s radiation is like the radiation that’s given out after an atomic bomb explodes. That can kill people too. Mum said hundreds of Japanese people still die each year from radiation poisoning they got when the bombs exploded at Hiroshima and Nagasaki eight years ago. Some of the scientists who built the bomb have died from it too.

  In the new comic, Superman helps the Americans win a battle in the Korean War. All the soldiers pictured are Americans. There weren’t any Australians shown, but I know we had troops there. There were photos of them in the paper when they came home last month.