The Road Back

by Di Morrissey

  ‘I can’t understand how Megan could get lost. Surely she would have just followed the track back here,’ said Chris, his voice rising in panic. As soon as he said that, a young policeman came over to speak with him.

  ‘Are you Mr Baxter, Megan’s father? I’m Constable Bright. You need to speak to the police commander.’

  Chris followed the young constable over to another policeman whose authoritative demeanour, and the fact that he was surrounded by all the other emergency service personnel, indicated that he was in charge of the operation.

  ‘You’re the girl’s father? I’m Area Commander Watson. I’m in charge of the search. We have a lot of people out looking for your daughter. I’m sorry to say we haven’t located her yet, but it’s only a matter of time. There are more people on the way to help in the search.’

  ‘I saw some of them in the car park,’ said Chris. He looked around the centre’s coffee shop, which seemed to be a hub of activity.

  A man who was introduced as the controller of the state emergency services stepped forward and placed his hand sympathetically on Chris’s shoulder. ‘We think that Megan may have taken one of the small unmarked tracks in the park that don’t go anywhere specific. If she has, then the situation is a little more difficult, especially as night is falling and we have been told that your daughter only has on a light jumper and jeans. I gather that she doesn’t even have a jacket. But Mr Baxter, the police rescue squad and SES here on the plateau are very experienced in finding lost bushwalkers and we’re doing all we can.’

  ‘Could the chopper I saw out the front see her?’ Chris asked, desperately.

  The man shook his head. ‘It’s been up looking, but it’s too dark now, and if the weather closes in as is forecast, it will simply be too dangerous for it to fly. It will go up again at first light – but hopefully by then it won’t be needed,’ said the controller. His calm voice conveyed his experience and knowledge of emergency situations.

  ‘But she can’t spend the night down there in the cold,’ cried Chris. ‘And what if she’s fallen and hurt herself? I’ve been in that rainforest enough to know that the terrain there can be quite treacherous.’

  ‘Try to stay calm, Mr Baxter. We have people down there, and others coming with lights,’ said the SES controller.

  A park ranger who was also among the group added, ‘Hopefully she’ll find somewhere to stop and hole up, rather than blindly walking around in the dark. An overhang or cave, perhaps. Is she an experienced bushwalker?’

  ‘God, no! She’ll be terrified.’ Chris glanced outside the room at the gathering rainclouds and failing light. ‘What can I do?’

  ‘Mr Baxter, we would prefer that you leave the search to those who are experienced. I know that doing nothing is a hard ask, but we don’t want you stumbling around, getting yourself lost as well. We’ve got a well-organised search under way, so get yourself a coffee. It might be a long night, but I’m confident your daughter will be okay.’

  Chris walked outside into the blustery wind and headed along the wooden walkway that ran above the rainforest canopy. In the distance the darkening clouds were backlit by menacing flashes of lightning. During the day and in the sunshine, this walkway presented a spectacular outlook, but now Chris could barely bring himself to look down into the tangle of dark vines and undergrowth that lay below him. How scared Megan would be, all alone, cold, possibly hurt and with the night sounds of strange animals about her. He wanted to plunge down into the rainforest, scream her name and hear her shout back to him, ‘Over here, Dad.’ How he’d hold her close. They’d had such a short time in which to really be together. After years of absence, long-distance conversations and flying visits, he’d finally come to truly know his daughter. He’d grown to love her funny, sometimes prickly and precocious personality, her ability to make him laugh, her gift for getting along with people of all ages, her enthusiasm for new ideas and her determination to accept challenges and turn them into conquests. He knew he had given up a lot for his daughter but he recognised that, despite the upheaval in his life, deciding to have Megan live with him was the best choice he’d ever made.

  He pulled his phone from his pocket. He knew he needed to call Jill, although he dreaded how upset she was going to be.

  The phone in his hand rang, making him jump.

  ‘Chris, it’s me,’ said Georgia’s cheerful voice.

  ‘Oh, Georgia . . . it’s Megan. It’s so, so awful.’ Chris’s voice cracked.

  ‘Chris! What’s wrong? Are you all right?’

  ‘No, I’m not. It’s Megan. She’s lost in the rainforest . . .’ he began.

  There was a gasp at the other end of the phone. ‘Oh, no! Megan’s the girl lost in the bush? I’ve just heard about it on the radio. What’s going on? I’m so sorry. Can I do anything?’

  ‘Find her?’ said Chris, futilely.

  ‘Are you all right to tell me what happened?’ asked Georgia, her voice full of concern.

  Chris briefly filled her in.

  ‘Chris, they’ll find her and she will be okay. Do you hear me? I know it. She might be scared and cold but she will be all right. Just hang in there.’

  ‘Georgia, I feel so wretched. Megan and I had an argument before I dropped her off, about Mum and David. Everything Megan said was right, and I behaved like a prat. I’m so stupid. And I didn’t even kiss her goodbye! I’m useless as a father, my life is falling apart and I feel that I’m a total failure.’ Chris was distraught.

  ‘Chris, listen to me.’ Georgia spoke sternly. ‘You are a good and devoted father. Devoted,’ she reiterated. ‘Look what you gave up for her. An interesting job you really loved, a job that gave you status, a good salary and a lifestyle that many others would kill for. I would say that what you’ve done for your daughter is gutsy, caring and even courageous. Not a lot of men would be as unselfish as you’ve been. You gave Megan what she most wanted and that was to be with her dad. I’m quite sure the fact that she’s so happy and well-adjusted is due in no small part to what you’ve done for her. Everyone quarrels with those they love, but that does not mean that the essential relationship is undermined. Are you listening to me?’

  Chris took a deep breath. ‘Thanks, Georgia. Those are kind words, but all I want is for Megan to come home so I can prove to her that I really love her.’

  ‘Chris, you already have! Listen, I rang to say I’ve had a call from one of the publishers. He sounds really interested. Now hang in there and call me when Megan is safe. I don’t care if it’s the middle of the night.’

  ‘Oh, Georgia, I hope it’s not that long.’

  ‘Me too, Chris. Take care.’ She hung up.

  Chris turned and walked back towards the brightly lit café and tourist centre. He felt a bit embarrassed at the unprofessional way he had dumped his emotional baggage onto Georgia, but she had given him words of hope.

  In the café he could see even more people crowding in. There appeared to be a television camera as well as a group of people who were clearly journalists, all trying to get information from the police commander and the SES controller. Chris’s phone rang again. He quickly answered it.

  ‘Mate, are you playing golf tomorrow?’

  ‘Shaun, I’m so sorry, I don’t think I’ll be able to. I’m in the middle of a nightmare.’

  ‘What’s up? You sound crook.’

  ‘It’s Megan. She’s lost in the national park up here on the plateau. She went down to the waterfall with her girlfriend. Her friend is fine but Megan . . . she’s lost somewhere out there in the rainforest in the dark and cold and it’s going to start raining any minute.’

  ‘Jesus, is that lost girl Megan? Are you up there? We’re coming. Don’t worry, mate. We’ll find her. What do you need? Got jackets and gear?’

  ‘No. When I heard, I just grabbed the car keys and came. I’m at the rainforest tourist centre. SES and cops and ambo
s are all here as well as the media.’

  ‘Hang in there. We’ll be there as soon as we can.’

  Shaun hung up. Chris stared at the phone. No ifs, buts, maybes, good luck, hope it works out, but just drop everything straight away, get the boys and we’ll be right there. Shaun’s instant support rallied him and Chris walked into the centre with a firmer stride. With a heavy heart he pressed Jill’s number, but there was no answer. He then tried Trevor’s phone and quickly broke the bad news to him when he answered.

  ‘Look, Trevor, if it wasn’t for this weather she’d probably have been found by now – I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. There is a whole team of emergency service workers out there looking. Tell Jill that I’ll call her as soon as I hear anything.’

  ‘Yeah, Chris. She’s going to be horribly upset when I tell her. She’s at the dentist’s, that’s why her phone’s off.’

  ‘I’ll call back soon and talk to her. By then, hopefully Megan can talk to her, too. Thanks, Trevor.’

  After he hung up, Chris sat with his head in his hands.

  He had been sitting still for a few minutes just trying to regain his composure when a television camera man and a young woman waving a microphone rushed forward.

  ‘How do you feel, Mr Baxter? Has your daughter ever run away before?’

  ‘What the hell? Of course not. And she hasn’t run away. Who are you, anyway?’

  ‘Sandy Lean, local television. I just wanted to ask . . .’

  ‘Not now. Please.’ Distressed, Chris turned away. He knew that the local media monitored the emergency services’ radio transmissions and that they were up there on a cold Saturday night just doing their jobs, but that didn’t make things easier for him.

  ‘You bearing up okay?’ asked one of the paramedics kindly.

  ‘I just hoped we would have found Megan by now,’ Chris replied.

  ‘With this weather closing in, it makes it a bit more difficult, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Can I get you a coffee? A sandwich?’ asked the woman behind the counter of the café. ‘We’re staying open for a while. There’ll be a few volunteers coming in to help us. The people out searching can always do with a hot drink and a bite to eat.’

  Chris nodded. ‘A coffee would be nice. Thank you.’

  Taking his coffee, he moved to a table far away from the searchers, who were poring over the maps of the area with the police commander.

  Slowly he called his mother’s mobile.

  ‘Hi, Chris. We’re at the farm. Shame about this weather. Is it wet at home? What are you up to?’

  ‘Mum . . . there’s a problem,’ he started.

  ‘Chris, what’s wrong?’

  Quickly Chris told his mother what had happened.

  ‘Oh, Mum, Megan’ll be so scared out there in the dark, and so cold. She’s only wearing a light jumper and jeans.’

  ‘Chris, Megan is sensible. She’ll find some shelter and wait until they find her. Don’t worry, darling. They will find her,’ said Susan in such a firm voice that Chris knew she was trying to hide her own fears. ‘We’re coming straight back. Where are you?’

  ‘At the rainforest tourist centre.’ Chris felt relieved that his mother was coming back to be with him, so he added, ‘Thanks, Mum.’

  After he hung up, Chris sat with his hands clasped together, his coffee untouched beside him, and tried to hold himself together as darkness fell.

  *

  Once the ambulance crew were satisfied that Jazzy was all right, Janelle took her home. Jazzy protested that she wanted to stay until Megan was found, but Chris assured her that he would contact her as soon as Megan was located.

  ‘None of this is your fault, Jazzy. You should be home, resting that ankle of yours. I’ll call as soon as I know anything, I promise.’

  After Jazzy had left, Chris sat glumly in the corner of the café, the rain falling steadily, wishing he could take part in the search, do something, anything. Suddenly he was shaken from his dark reverie by a hand on his shoulder.

  ‘We’re here, mate,’ said Shaun quietly.

  Chris jumped to his feet and grabbed Shaun’s arm. ‘You’re in your SES clothes. I’d forgotten you were part of it,’ he managed to say. Chris looked over at his other friends, who were also dressed in their orange wet-weather gear, talking with the SES controller.

  ‘We’ve all been members of the SES for years,’ said Shaun. ‘All of the Neverend SES is here. Look, I brought you some gear. As soon as we get the map coordinates the police commander wants us to search, we can get going.’

  Dumbly Chris took the rain gear, hard hat and boots Shaun handed him.

  ‘Frenchy, they won’t let me go. Worried that I’ll do something stupid and get lost, too.’

  ‘Just get that gear on. We’ll fix it,’ Shaun assured him.

  Chris was so relieved to be doing something practical he couldn’t express his gratitude in words. But there was no need.

  Alex, Duncan and Shaun were listening intently to what the SES controller was saying. They made room for Chris between them.

  ‘Here are your coordinates, Frenchy. Stay within them. You’ve got your radios and phones. Let’s hope that equipment works down in those valleys. Keep in touch or in sight of one of your party at all times. This is rugged territory and we don’t want anyone having an accident of their own and drawing on resources that are needed for the search. Remember, Megan might be some distance away from you, or hoarse from shouting, and while she could hear you, you mightn’t hear her. It’s even harder in the rain, which mutes noise. So everyone, listen very carefully when you’re out there.’

  ‘I just don’t understand why you haven’t been able to find her. How many paths could she have taken?’ asked Chris.

  The controller was sympathetic. ‘It’s very easy to get disoriented, especially in these conditions. She could be going around in circles and not realise it. We’re all covering as much ground as we can, Mr Baxter, and now that the SES from Neverend has arrived, we can cover even more. But please, I don’t usually let untrained people take part in such a difficult search because they could become a liability – we don’t want to have to send a search party out looking for you. Your friends, however, assure me that you will stay with them and not wander off, so I’ll let you go with them. And remember, everyone, this is dangerous terrain with a lot of steep cliffs, so watch your map.’

  *

  If Chris turned to his left, he saw the wavering watery light of Shaun’s torch. To his right, he knew there was the rising slope of the mountainside, steep and covered in wet rainforest. In the slimy, dripping darkness he kept his eyes down, looking where to tread so that he didn’t slip on the treacherous path. As Chris stepped carefully, hearing the distant shouts of the other men calling for Megan, he ached with pain and fear for his daughter alone in this primeval forest.

  Shaun called out to Chris. ‘I’m going to go along this side of the creek. Keep me in your sight.’

  ‘Okay. How deep is the water?’

  ‘It’s all right, mate. I’m just trying to see if there might be a track of some sort over here,’ Shaun called back.

  Awful images kept running through Chris’s head. Megan could have slipped and injured herself. She could have fallen into the creek. As the rain got heavier, he knew the tiny stream would swell quickly and the memory of his struggle in the flooded creek all those years ago when he had rescued Shaun flashed unwanted into his mind.

  Chris lifted his head and howled, ‘Meeeegaaan . . .’

  He lost track of time, concentrating on his footfalls and watching for the glow of Shaun’s torch. He was moving higher up the bank now among massive tallowood and blackbutt trees, their great canopy of branches acting like leafy umbrellas, lessening the downpour. In the background was the distant roar of the falls. Chris looked back across to where Shaun’s light was mov
ing and he was startled to see that the distance between the two of them was lengthening, so he turned downhill, pushing through the slippery undergrowth towards his friend. The last thing everyone needed was for him to get lost as well.

  God, where could she be? Chris lifted his head and shouted his daughter’s name again and again, his voice becoming raspy. He gripped the stick he was using to stop himself from slipping and concentrated on catching up with Shaun. Then he froze. He’d heard something. Faintly, he heard the sound again. His heart leaped.

  ‘Heeelp. Someone help me.’

  Chris knew he had found Megan. He wanted to crash through the wet foliage and rush to her, but he held his ground as he had no idea which direction the faint cry had come from.

  ‘MEGAN, it’s Dad, where are you?’ he shouted as loudly as he could.

  ‘Dad . . . Dad . . .’ The voice was still very faint. Megan was some distance away. Quickly Chris shouted to Shaun, ‘Frenchy, I can hear Megan.’

  Straight away he heard Shaun’s voice replying, ‘Chris, I’m coming.’

  ‘Daaad . . .’ Megan’s shout was quickly lost in the swirling rain.

  Moments later, Shaun reached Chris. ‘I heard her, mate,’ Chris told him in excitement. ‘Megan, stay where you are, I’m coming,’ he shouted.

  Faintly they both heard her call back, and turned in the direction of the sound. ‘Dad, please hurry.’

  ‘Okay, that’s certainly Megan. We’ll find her quickly now. I’ll radio in straight away with the good news and give them our map coordinates,’ Shaun said triumphantly.

  ‘Mate, I can’t wait for that,’ said Chris as he heard Megan’s cry again.

  Disregarding his instructions to stay with Shaun, Chris hurried towards Megan’s cry, slipping and falling in the mud. Cursing, he pulled himself up and leaned against a tree to catch his breath. Then he heard other voices ahead of him. Dear God, was it over? Please, please let it be all right. He could see a light blinking between the gaps in the trees and stumbled on.