Wisps of Cloud

by Ross Richdale

Whenever there is a tragedy or misfortune, people rose to the occasion and this was what Karla found. Ryan and just about every adult and child in the district turned up at Top Plateau Hall to unload the trucks that arrived and set up desks and furniture. Books and readers, as well as three huge cartons of art equipment were carried in. Another box that contained sports and physical education equipment was poked in the small storage room and a brand new whiteboard was wheeled in. Another truck delivered a roll of carpet that covered the original bare floorboards. The hall was cleaned, somebody mowed the small yard and climbing frames were brought up from the school. With only twelve children the tiny grass area wasn't too much of a handicap.

  In the afternoon, a van arrived and men connected up the telephone landline to the hall so the school's phone was available. Another van rolled in and two quite modern computers were unloaded and along with a Wi-Fi router, installed.

  A courier van drove in and the driver approached Karla. "We thought you might like these with the compliments of several retailers in Masterton and our company," he said. "One for each kid and another for you. They're not the very latest versions but I'm sure they'll help." He placed a pile of white boxes on the new desk she had been sorting out, grinned and left.

  Karla was quite astonished. There sitting on her desk were thirteen brand new iPads.

  More reporters and television crews turned up and she retold her story half a dozen times to them and several police officers who still had the tent erected in the school grounds and were sifting through the building remains.

  A police sergeant came up to Karla. "We found the car that was used," he said. "It was stolen and abandoned on the roadside half way back to town. It has been impounded and our forensic team are examining it." He shrugged. "I doubt if it will show us much. I think we are dealing with a sophisticated crime here, not just a random act of violence."

  "Are there any suspects, Sergeant?" Karla asked.

  "We have several lines of inquiry but I can tell you no more at the moment."

  "But will they come back?"

  "That is possible but I doubt it. There are only two roads into this district and we will maintain a watch over both of them. Also, locals have been approached and will call us if any unknown vehicles are seen. It is too early for the holiday-makers so strangers stand out like a sore toe."

  "That's unless the culprits are locals," Karla replied.

  "That's a possibility," the sergeant replied but would commit himself no more. After handing her his card he gave a half salute and left.

  Ryan strolled up. "Was he any help?" He asked.

  Karla shrugged and told him the sergeant's news, not that there was a lot. "Look at everything we've had donated," she said and pointed to the piles of boxes and other paraphernalia spread out over the new carpet. "I am quite overwhelmed."

  "Yes, locals always rise to the occasion." Ryan grinned. "You've been going for over five hours now. Why don't you come and have a cuppa coffee?"

  Karla smiled. "No doubt brought in by locals," she said.

  "Donated by the store down in Riversdale," Ryan replied. "Just arrived so come and have something while it's hot."

  "I will." She glanced around. "Last night, I'd never have thought we could have had so much done in just a few hours." She gave Ryan a hug and followed him back into the hall's kitchen where a table was covered in food and locals were gathered around sipping coffee and eating sandwiches.

  *

  The children adapted well to their new environment and enthusiastically began making a new backdrop for the school's end-of-year function. Streamers were made and strung across the hall and the Christmas tree in the corner was decorated, again mainly with items the children made themselves, though because of the time involved. Karla did accept commercial decorations that the Masterton bookshop where she had bought the children's Christmas books, donated. Luckily she had kept the books at home so they were not destroyed in the fire.

  Again it was mid-afternoon when Karla heard another roar of engines outside. With her heart pounding she stood up, told herself not to panic and glanced around at frightened faces.

  "Will you see who is here, Lorena?" she asked.

  "Me?" the girl asked. Normally she would never have queried her but she looked nervous.

  "I'll go," Justin said and walked to the door. This opened to a small entry foyer and another double door that led outside. The boy returned a moment later with his face looking somewhat pale.

  "The Highway Weeds are here," he said. "Big Red wants to talk to you."

  "Highway Weeds… Big Red. What and who are they?"

  "The local bikie gang, Karla," Lorena whispered.

  "I see." Karla gulped. "Thank you, Justin. Tell… err... Big Red that I'll be out in a moment." She turned to face the children who were all staring at her. "Just stay here everyone."

  She told Justin to go back to his group and continued through to the foyer.

  Big Red was exactly what his nickname described. He was a huge bikie guy dressed in typical gang clothes, a black motorbike jacket, jeans covered in studs, riding boots and a helmet that looked similar to one worn by Nazis in old World War Two movies. He had a shaggy red beard and tattoos on his neck and cheeks. As he turned slightly, she could see the jacket had a stylised pointed weed on his back the HiWay Weeds insignia in angled letters that again probably copied from old Nazi symbols. A home-rolled cigarette hung out the side of his mouth and an odour like burnt lawn clippings filled the small room.

  "Good afternoon," Karla forced her voice to remain calm. "Can I help you?"

  The man grinned. "You the school marm?"

  "I am Karla Spicer the school principal, yes."

  "Didn't have such good lookin teachers in my day. Most were seventy if they were a day." Big Red shrugged. "Saw the remains of the school up the road. That's why I'm here."

  "I thought that might be the case." Karla decided to say no more.

  "I heard the rumours, too."

  "Rumours are often exaggerated. Personally, I tend to ignore them."

  Big Red frowned, puffed on his cigarette, blew a cloud of smoke in the air and looked over her shoulders. "You sound as nice as you look."

  Karla flushed. "What is it you wish to say... I'm sorry I never caught your name?"

  "Didn't say it. I'm Wallace Pettigrew but me companions call me Big Red. You can call me whatever you like Miss Spicer."

  "Karla will be fine, Big Red."

  "You ain't no snob either but I am wasting your time. I just came to say my members had nothing to do with your school being firebombed." He frowned. "Neither did any of the outers do it?"

  "Outers?" Karla raised her own eyebrows.

  "Other gangs trying to get in on our turf." Big Red turned and shouted. "Roses, Girl!"

  A young woman dressed in gang clothes came in carrying a massive bunch of roses. She glanced at Karla, gave almost a shy smile, handed them to her and departed without saying a word.

  "Why thank you, Big Red. I shall put them in a vase for all the children to see." She looked the man straight in the eyes. "Yes, the rumours did accuse a bikie gang. So if it wasn't one, do you know who did it?"

  "Just rumours like the one you heard about us."

  "Go on…"

  "Just look closer to home, Karla." Big Red grimaced. "Would you like us to keep an eye on your back?"

  "Only within the law."

  "Cautious as well as liberal. That's fair enough so I'll take that as a yes. Thank you for listening to me. Many don't bother. Enjoy the roses."

  He turned and left. Seconds later a dozen motorbikes started up and roared away down the road.

  *

  Back in the classroom, Karla arranged the roses in a jar with water.

  "You're lucky," Justin whispered to her a few minutes later.

  "Why Justin?"

  "Roses mean they are on our side and trust you. If you got any other flowers it would be a peace offering but little more." Justin looked embarra
ssed. "Mum got some roses from them a while back. She never told me why but they always leave us alone."

  "So they're good friends to have?"

  "Better than the other way, Karla. Guess he told you the Weeds never blew the school up."

  "Were you listening?"

  "No but there were only two reasons they would be here."

  "And the other one?"

  "A threat or offer of protection... you know what I mean?"

  Karla did! There could have been be a threat to stay away from the marijuana plantations or more violence would follow or even a demand for money from Top Plateau Station or Board of Trustees to prevent damage to the farm, school or even herself.

  *

  The end of year Christmas concert went well with the hall packed by parents, grandparents; locals who didn't even have children at the school and several strangers that nobody knew. She glanced up during one break in her duties and smiled. There at the back of the hall dressed in casual clothes with no sign of gang attire stood Big Red and the girl who had brought in the roses. Karla made her way back to them and welcomed them. She nodded to a shelf beside the Christmas tree where the roses were in a vase.

  "The roses fit in perfectly," she said. "The children loved them."

  Big Red grinned. "Thought I'd come and see how the little ones performed. Good bunch."

  "Yes," Karla replied. "They're a good bunch. I hope you'll both stay for supper. It'll be served in a few moments."

  "Some of them parents don't want us around. Think we'll just go now."

  "No stay." Karla said. "This is a district function and you have as much right to be here as anybody. You are both welcome."

  "Can we, Red?" The woman spoke for the first time.

  Big Red shrugged. "Why not, Frisky?" he replied and with Frisky beside him, sat in one of the back row seats.

  Another visitor Karla made a point of going up to have a chat with was Justin's mother, Lucy. According to Justin she had never bothered to come to one of these school events before and he beamed in the background when he saw them talking. Sitting beside Lucy was a woman in her late twenties.

  "This is Helen, Justin's elder sister who came up from Wellington," she muttered. "Bit of a gap in their ages. You know, he was an after-thought."

  Helen looked her in the eye and shook her hand. "I've heard how much Justin enjoys school now. I'm so pleased."

  Could she be Justin's real mother? Justin was almost thirteen so it was possible that a fifteen-year-old Helen had had a baby that her mother brought up.

  "Over the last weeks with the fire and everything else, I couldn't have done without Justin. I'm glad he's got one more year at Top Plateau School."

  "We are too." Helen whispered and glanced up at Justin who had turned away and was making some sort of joke with one of the younger children.

  After supper and clean up, everyone drifted off. Sharon and Dillon were still there and were packing up to leave when Lorena came rushing up. She was red in the face and looked excited.

  "Karla," she cried out. "Guess what?"

  "I've no idea. What is it, Lorena?"

  "I'm coming back next year!"

  "Of course you are but why are you so excited about it?"

  "I wasn't! Mum's had me enrolled at Solway College for years now. I was due to start there next year."

  Solway College was a private girls' boarding high school in Masterton that also took Year 7 intermediate level children, the class Lorena would be in the new year.

  Sharon came up. "We were going to tell you that she was leaving but with everything that has happened we never got around to it. She is so happy here with you we decided to defer her enrolment at Solway until Year 9. They allow enrolments at either level."

  "So you got me for another two years," Lorena almost yelled before she ran off to gather up her belongings.

  "So you'd better stay on, too," Dillon cut in. "Not just that one extra term in your original contract."

  "I see," Karla whispered. "A conspiracy is it?"

  "Yes. The whole district wants you here, including the bikies that slid in here tonight."

  "Not everyone," Karla replied.

  Dillon frowned.

  "The ones who firebombed the school don't want Ryan or me around, do they?"

  "It probably wasn't even you they were trying to intimidate. Those responsible could have thought Old Ted still taught here. I heard a rumour that he was over his head with gambling debts."

  "More rumours?" Karl laughed.

  "Yeah," Dillon replied. "That's a country district for you."

  *

  To Chrissy Ancell, life at Tui Park School had been less friendly since Karla had left. The tension between the senior staff had not subsided; Val had become even bossier and practically ran the junior and middle syndicates with Murray rarely coming near them. No other senior teacher had been appointed and Lois Griswold the elderly teacher who came into Karla's classroom had trouble coping with several troublesome children in the room.

  Chrissy missed Karla but even though she had considered it, she had not contacted her when she needed advice. For school matters she knew Karla could do little except offer a friendly ear and on the personal front Karla was pretty green. That was part of the trouble. Chrissy had finally decided she had had enough of her boyfriend of six months. On hindsight, Derek hadn't changed. He was fun to be with and he was a real stallion in bed. However, unknown to her at the time, he slept around. The first time she had seen him in the local pub with some blonde bit he had made an excuse that she had accepted but her suspicions grew after he made excuses not to go out except on Friday night for a date and sex afterwards. He said that he had a part-time job during the weekend and with schoolwork she wanted no social life during the week. She had gone out by herself on that Saturday night and there he was at their favourite bar with a brunette woman. They were obviously drunk and she was embarrassed by their actions. Almost in tears, she had run out and gone home.

  The third encounter was a few weeks later with yet another woman who introduced herself as Tara. This Tara had telephoned her at school and told her quite frankly that Derek was double-crossing them both. It turned out that Tara had been steady as she called it, with Derek for two months longer than Chrissy had known him. Tara had found out about Chrissy and at least three other women that he had slept with over the time she had thought they were partners. She even gave an address of her apartment where Derek stayed over during the week. This rang true for on the few occasions Chrissy had called him on the landline, the telephone wasn't answered. Once she thought it strange when he answered the mobile call and said he was home. When queried, he had said he was in the garage and had heard the phone ring but had just missed the call.

  So that was it! After an heated argument she told Derek he could go to his little trollops or Tara and to get out of her life. After calling her a toffee nosed little bitch, that was exactly what he did. That was only two weeks before the year's end so she was feeling pretty miserable as the term concluded.

  *

  Chrissy almost didn't go to the end of the year staff party but relented when some of the other teachers persuaded her to go. It was in a small but pleasant restaurant that had a bar and small dance floor. Late in the evening after the meal was over, she was momentarily by herself at a table when the two other teachers she was with had gone off to the powder room. Murray arrived, slightly drunk and talkative as he placed a bottle of wine on her table and uninvited, sat down.

  "You've had a good year," he said. "Did a fine job, too."

  "Why thank you Murray," she replied.

  She noticed him gazing down her cleavage and pulled her top up a little. She had never seen him like this before and began to feel embarrassed when he refilled her wine glass and made no attempt to move on.

  "It's been a great evening and I'll have to go soon. Derek, my boyfriend is picking me up," she lied, "He also had a staff party and …" She laughed. "You know how dates clash at thi
s time of the year?"

  "Oh," Murray said. "I thought you had split up with him a month back."

  Chrissy glowered. How did he know? She took a sip from the glass and swallowed. Yuck, what an awful taste! It was almost bitter. She shook her head as everything began to spin.

  A hand reached out and grabbed her wrist and she saw her principal staring at her but the look in his eyes were not those of concern. He looked exactly as Derek did before they went back to her place and had passionate sex. It was the look of male lust.

  "I don't feel too good," she muttered.

  "Too much wine, I'd say," Murray sounded anything but sympathetic. "Is your car here?"

  "No, I was going to get a taxi home."

  "No problem. I'll get you one."

  "Thanks," Chrissy whispered. Oh hell, the room spun around and she could barely keep her eyes open. It was almost as if…

  *

  It was daylight when she opened her eyes. She felt terrible with a thumping headache and her body felt sore especially around the breasts and genitals. She needed to get to the toilet so flung her sheets aside and stepped onto the carpet. That was when she realised she wasn't in her own bed.

  Oh my God! She was in a stranger's bedroom. It was a bare impersonal room like one in a motel. Fighting panic she realised more, she was completely in the nude and her clothes were in a heap on the floor.

  "No!" she screamed, grabbed her clothes and tore into the tiny bathroom she spied through an open door.

  She didn't have time to dress for she became violently ill and just reached the toilet before she vomited. Afterwards, and with shuddering tears pouring down her face she grabbed a facecloth and splashed cold water over her face. She glanced at herself in a full-length mirror. Her crotch was red and white fluid ran down the inside of one leg.

  "No!" she screamed again as she used the facecloth to wipe herself clean.

  She remembered nothing but knew what had happened. She was in a motel room and had been raped!

  Crying, she turned on the shower and attempted to wash her body clean. Afterwards, she dressed and terrified that her attacker was still around, crept into the studio room. As well as the double bed it had a small kitchen unit, a couple of armchairs and a wall-mounted television. Nobody was there. She stared at the bed in utter disgust. The other side had also been pulled back and even worse the sheets were stained with what could only be male sperm.