Survivor

by Tom Hoyle

  A pupil who FAILS his master is guilty of TREASON.

  Those guilty of treason should be punished with DEATH.

  I will admit to YOU, in the spirit of friendship and love and kindness, despite hating you more than I hate something stuck to my shoe that has been walked into the house and up the stairs in stinking brown blobs, that I was a bit slow to see the opportunity of that boring session on plants.

  But.

  Castanospermum australe – that’s the name. Black bean. Cast-a-no-sperm-um. Beans.

  Poisonous beans.

  Beans, beans, good for the heart.

  Very tasty for lunch and supper.

  You know what my favourite Chinese dish is? Yep. Chicken in black bean sauce. I love those little black specks. Yum yum – I lick my lips.

  Sorry to mention this if you’re hungry. You must be hungry. And thirsty. Would you like some of this water?

  [Pause]

  Be careful.

  Maybe it’s poisoned.

  [Pause]

  Best pour it away. The earth is dry and thirsty. Its desperate for it. See how quickly it drinks.

  [Pause]

  It wasn’t poisoned.

  I lied.

  [Pause]

  YOU SEE WHAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH.

  EVIDENCE #2

  EMAIL FROM LUKE BERTRAND TO HIS LEGAL GUARDIAN

  Hi Nan,

  I’m a bit out of it tonite – must’ve eaten something I shouldn’t’ve off the barbie.

  Having a good time, tho. There’s so much happening.

  Someone here knows about what happened before I came to live with you, so I did something to that George boy, and shouldn’t have. I don’t feel good about that, especially because he was in here as if it didn’t matter, getting me to look after myself. He’s good.

  But I don’t feel too good, so will go off to nod, as you would say.

  I’ll be better in the morn, I’m sure.

  Give my love to Gramps and a big woof to Bertie.

  Lots of love,

  Lukey

  CHAPTER 10

  (THREE DAYS BEFORE):

  THE TENTH PART OF GEORGE’S STATEMENT

  As this was the final day at the beach, and we were travelling from late afternoon, while we ate breakfast Toby reminded us what was going to happen next. The Ultimate Bushcraft Gold Star Challenge was a six-day hike between two very remote points on Cape York, starting and finishing with a long minibus drive.

  ‘It’s all very simple despite being in the middle of one of the most remote places on the planet,’ said Toby. ‘Nowhere is more than ten miles from a shelter with communication and provisions, but it’s highly unlikely we will bump into anyone. And if anything goes wrong we’ll radio for help and the doc will ’copter in and have you back in Cairns within the hour.’

  ‘It’s a picnic,’ said Jason. ‘The girls are doing a similar course, starting about twenty miles from us.’ He smirked. ‘If they can do it, I’m sure that even you lot can.’

  ‘Jase and I carry satellite phones and UHF radios, and the overnight cabins all have radio communication,’ said Toby. ‘You’ll each have a personal locator beacon – and a walkie-talkie.’

  ‘Yeah – a walkie-talkie and a beacon, bring it on,’ Nick mumbled sarcastically.

  Toby ignored him: ‘Jase and I are both trained with the old-fashioned map and compass, but we know the route pretty well already. That’s it – all sorted. It’s one of the most wickedly on-the-edge things you’ll ever do in your life.’

  ‘Has anyone ever hurt themselves?’ asked Lee.

  ‘We’ve had all sorts of serious injuries in the past,’ Jason said. ‘A stubbed toe, a grazed knee, a bit of indigestion. You’ll live.’

  ‘Where do we use the toilet?’ asked Reg.

  ‘Behind a bush, numbskull,’ said Nick. ‘There’s about a billion bushes. Even you’ll be hidden.’

  ‘Guys, really,’ Toby added, ‘everything has been carefully thought about to be totally exciting but absolutely safe. It’s awesome.’

  Everyone showed some excitement – a murmur or a whoop depending on who they were. I had an idea of a landscape of wooded hills and craggy valleys that didn’t turn out to be far from the truth.

  Luke’s condition wasn’t helped because it was unusually hot for the time of year. It was in the morning that the doctor came to see him, but you can’t blame the doctor for failing to spot that Luke had been poisoned. Who would have imagined that? It was more mess-up than conspiracy, I’m sure.

  One part of the story I’m properly ashamed about happened halfway through the last day of training, just after lunch. I’m ashamed because it was something that was out of character.

  The day was all about teamwork and building – in particular, building a sort of treehouse, though Jason said that some past achievements (of which some evidence remained) had been little more than a few logs leaning against a tree to form a basic shelter.

  Matt and I were now an obvious pair and put to work alongside Al and Reg. That left Nick, Peter and Lee in the other ‘four’ – given that Luke was inside, getting further and further from a point of rescue. It was a sort of competition. The girls were doing the same thing on the same day, and that made it a competition between the sexes as well.

  We were working on the outcrop of land to the right of the bay in a roughly parallel position to the girls to the left of the bay. The other group of boys was out of sight – it was part of the game that we had to find our own design.

  I was chopping wood when a splinter shot out and stabbed me on an unprotected bit of my arm. Matt insisted on being my saviour and pulling out the chip; it came out cleanly and quickly, but was followed by blood, which spilt out down my arm and on to my shorts and T-shirt. It wasn’t exactly a flood, but it was too much to ignore. Toby gave me a plaster, but the blood was soon fighting its way through, turning the plaster into a dark red, damp smudge, and the same thing happened to a second plaster – it was only on the third that it stopped. By then it was clear that I would have to go back to the house and change clothes. Bloody fingerprints had got everywhere.

  I was fine and have never had a problem with blood, whether my own or others’, so was more annoyed with wasting time (and messing my favourite T-shirt) than worried about the injury – which was, in any case, soon forgotten.

  There were two ways back to the house. One was through the trees near to the other group, which was bound to lead to accusations of cheating; the other way was next to the shore. The latter had the advantage of being in sight of the girls and I heard a few shouts as I jogged that way. I waved, trying to look braver and more injured than I actually was.

  I arrived at the house and changed. I was just leaving when Zara appeared out of the woods on the far side.

  ‘Are you OK?’ she said. ‘I said I’d come to check on you.’

  I said that I was fine, that it was only a scratch, but then held my arm in a way that suggested it was in danger of amputation.

  ‘Let me have a look,’ she said.

  We sat down on the wooden step at the edge of the house and she gently pressed the area with her finger. Her hair brushed my neck and I looked down at her bare legs. Then she angled round and I looked at her face. I moved my head forward a bit and she responded. Almost immediately we were kissing. Her fingers touched my cheek. I then said – and I still can’t believe I said this – ‘Would you like to go inside?’

  She nodded. ‘Yes.’ She stood up and took my hand.

  You must think I’m really untrustworthy – but I was just stupid. I was thousands of miles away from Jess and it was a totally different sunny world, and we were on holiday, and . . .

  We went into my room and locked the door.

  When it was over, I looked up to the window and there, just for about one second, was a blur of movement. Someone had seen everything – or at least enough to know what was going on.

  ‘There was someone there,’ I said to Zara, awkwardly standing up a
nd adjusting my clothes. I was already feeling irresponsible and stupid. I thought of Jess and felt depressed. ‘I’m sure I saw something.’

  ‘I didn’t see anyone,’ Zara said. Her eyes avoided mine, but she briefly put her hand on my chest. ‘This’ll be our secret.’ Then she unlocked the door. ‘But we should get back to our teams . . .’

  I opened the window to see who was there, but saw no one.

  Just then, the door burst open and Matt flew in. ‘How’s it going?’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘What are you two up to? Keeping the British end up?’

  ‘Um, er, did you see someone outside?’ I stammered.

  ‘We’re all outside, you dingo,’ said Matt. ‘It’s sweltering, so we came back for a drink.’ He turned to Zara. ‘Andrea’s looking for you. ’Old on – what were you doing in here? I hope I haven’t interrupted something.’

  Zara’s face reddened and she pointed to my injured arm. ‘Just sorting this.’

  ‘OK – Doctors and Nurses!’ he chuckled, before walking off down the corridor and singing to himself.

  Zara and I followed Matt outside and wandered towards the group. There were a few comments about what we’d been up to, but I doubt anyone actually thought it was true – anyone apart from the person who had seen us. At the time I didn’t know who it was, of course, but now I can remember how he was turned away from the rest of the group. Now I know he was eaten up by disgust and anger.

  We quickly added the finishing touches to our shelters before we visited each one in turn, analysing stability and usefulness. The girls were still with us. The theory was that we’d give each one a mark out of ten, but it turned into a competition of who could find the most original/absurd/sexist criticism of the other’s efforts. Both girls’ groups had cheated, we thought, by using plastic sheeting as a cover – plastic wouldn’t be available in the wilderness.

  I barely joined in and didn’t say much when the girls left. I was feeling bad because Jess had sent me a slushy text while I was inside with Zara. But on our way back up to the house I began to shake off the guilt – downplaying it in my mind – mainly because of Matt’s joking around, which distracted me.

  Reg joined in our increasingly stupid conversation, and Alastair listened. Nick, Peter and Lee slouched off to one side, just out of earshot, full of disdain, muttering to one another and sneering. This separation had become the norm. Usually they were hanging around Jason, but I suppose it’s true that Matt, Reg and I were usually with Toby. Alastair was the one person who moved between the groups, not quite fitting in with either.

  We then packed one rucksack each for the big hike. To keep down weight, it was a case of taking the absolute minimum. ‘No room for luxuries,’ Toby said. We anticipated being back after the hike for three days of genuine rest and relaxation.

  I was surprised by how thin Luke looked, and how he didn’t get out of bed to see us off. I said something like, ‘Bye, Luke, see you later,’ but he didn’t reply. I am angry with myself for not having done more – but I simply didn’t understand then. I was distracted by stupid ordinary things like getting my bag on the bus.

  Jason stayed with Luke while a driver took the rest of us in the loaded-up minibus on the short trip to the girls’ house. When we were about halfway there, we had to pull to one side of the unevenly tarmacked track to let another car go by. Toby said it was the Ultimate Bushcraft person who was going to look after Luke and watch him till the doctor came back the following morning. Soon after, Jason came jogging through the trees to rejoin us.

  We all suspected that the real reason for stopping off was so that Toby could say goodbye to Andrea, but it meant that at about 4 p.m. we had a quick meeting to say farewell to the girls.

  ‘Come on,’ said Matt as he strode towards Belle, ‘let’s move in on the totty.’

  I felt uneasy and held back a bit.

  ‘Not going to say goodbye to your girlfriend?’ said Peter. ‘Or did you do that earlier?’

  I went forward to Zara, which wasn’t easy in front of everyone. ‘See you at the halfway point.’ I smiled as she met my eye and winked.

  ‘Yeah,’ she said. ‘Race you there. Just shout if you get lost and we’ll come and rescue you.’

  [I know that you have access to the report about how Luke died from complications caused by poisoning two days later. We all know that if Luke had seen a doctor again that evening instead of the next morning, and got to hospital sooner, he might have been saved. Cairns Hospital immediately placed Luke in their Intensive Care Unit as soon as he was rushed through the doors by the air ambulance team. They were brilliant and did everything possible to save him. No one can be blamed apart from the poisoner. But it took another twenty-four hours before the doctors understood that there had been a murder, and by then things had moved on quickly.]

  To get to the start of the hike we drove past lots of isolated places, getting more distant from civilization by the minute. I sat next to Matt, of course. Jason was at the back next to Peter, rather than up front next to Toby. Reg was behind me (again), his knees jabbing into my back, but I said nothing.

  At just past 5 p.m. we turned into a lane with little tracks running off it – and finally, after more than four hours in total, we stopped on a ridge at the end of a barely driveable trail. There was a fairly large wooden hut, something like a chalet, waiting for us at the end of it.

  It was dark when we arrived.

  ‘This is almost certainly the most isolated you’ve ever been while on land,’ Jason said enthusiastically, his elbow resting on Peter’s shoulder. ‘The nearest human life, the girls, is about twenty-five miles that way.’ He pointed vaguely into the dark.

  Before the minibus left us there was an equipment check. I heard Toby contact the Rangers’ Office at the Staaten River National Park and then speak to someone else, probably Andrea. Less than five minutes later the minibus went trundling back down the hill, bouncing into dips and round rocks as it went, leaving us alone in the wilderness.

  ‘Gather together, guys,’ Toby said. He was holding something up. ‘This is our lifeline – it’s a satellite phone and the only thing that will get a good signal out here. If I suddenly disappear, and Jason suddenly disappears, you have to dial 000 and give the location on this device.’ He held up a personal locator beacon in his other hand. ‘You’ll all be given one of these before we set off tomorrow. Just reel off the numbers here. If the phone vaporizes, this thing on my belt is an ultra-high-frequency radio, and that’ll also reach the nearest ranger, as well as the girls’ group.’

  There were no questions. No one was interested in the safety stuff.

  ‘On the way, each night we stop at a hut numbered one through to six. Inside is yet another radio.’ He reached down and picked a walkie-talkie out of a plastic box. ‘These are vital within the group. They have a range of about ten miles. That means you can always contact the nearest hut.’

  Still no questions. Even I was zoning out (and I can’t swear to exactly what Toby said).

  ‘And make the most of this hut. It’s by far the most luxurious. Some of the others are just one room. Even though it’s hot, you don’t want to sleep outside with the beasties unless you’re totally secure inside a tent. Now – the next few days will create memories you’ll have for the rest of your life. So make it count, boys!’

  ‘Will the animals come near us in the night?’ said Reg.

  There was laughter and a few comments.

  ‘Nothing wild will be feasting on you if you keep inside or zip up your tent,’ said Jason. We knew that we would be in tents when we reached huts one and five, which were sheds in the middle of nowhere.

  ‘There are no big creatures,’ Toby reassured us, ‘apart from crocs, and they’ll only be near the water, if you catch a glimpse of any at all. But avoid snakes and toads – and spiders, of course. There’re a few funnel-webs scuttling around in some parts of Oz looking for prime pommy flesh.’

  It felt like a genuine adventure with just enough danger
to be exciting. We made a fire and I ate some sausages and chunks of steak, and then settled down in a room with Matt, Reg and Alastair. Shattered, and despite fears of scorpions (though we had been told that the Aussie scorpion wasn’t that dangerous), I fell asleep immediately.

  I’m a deep sleeper and didn’t hear anything all night. The next morning, the first official day of the hike, everything had been turned upside down.

  [Here ends the tenth part of George’s statement]

  THE OTHER CHAPTER 10

  (SAID IN THE HOUR BEFORE):

  HIM

  Remember the final day before we went into the WILDerness?

  I need to STAY CALM while we talk about this one.

  It should’ve been a happy day with Luke slipping away while everyone went on about flu. He was A SLAVE rather than a pupil. He had FAILED. And he would have told sooner or later. He was beginning to get a bit independent – a bit less fearful.

  Lack of fear is a terrible mistake.

  Remember that. Remember that while you’re with me.

  THIS’LL MAKE HIM BETTER . . .

  OH YES IT WILL.

  OH NO IT WON’T!

  You probably wonder what pushed me over the edge – what made me do this.

  Oooooooooh – it’s just that he’s bad. A very naughty boy.

  I’m a very naughty boy. I should HIT MYSELF.

  . . .

  I’m JOKING.

  Remember how superior I AM.

  ONE thing led to ANOTHER. Matt on the plane – that was just a laugh.

  THEN: GEORGEY, my opposite. Goody-goody caught up in his own stupid obsession with himself and being as perfect as a totally blank sheet of paper.

  One thing led to another.

  THAT’S LIFE.

  THAT’S DEATH.

  TWO THINGS:

  Just wait as I get my thoughts together.

  HA! Don’t go wandering off.

  ONE:

  You won’t understand because you’re really stupid and don’t know what day of the week it is and just sit there covered in BLOOD and SPIT.