by Leo Nix
Sundown went back to talk with Andy. He needed to get his head around what was happening and he found Andrew was the only one who could do that for him.
“We've got Chan and John on patrol with the other Bushmaster down south, Sergeant Doff and his One One Charlie isn't it?” Andrew nodded. He pointed to the wall map and the pins with labels, then to the enormous calendar on the wall next to it.
“We've got Cambra, Danni and Lulu with the armed patrol…. McFly, Shadow, Pinkie and myself will be taking one of our four-wheel drives with Major Thompson's cavalry across the Simpson Desert to the Alice…” Sundown paused while he tried to remember everything he needed to discuss with Andy. “I've been thinking I might take Billie as guide and interpreter. He's from the region we'll be crossing, he knows this country and the local language. If we get into strife and need help from the local aborigines, they'll be more inclined to talk to Billie than us.”
Andrew nodded assent and Sundown continued. “I need Bill and Wiram to get that damn aeroplane fixed and running. If the drugs don't help Pedro, I want him flown to Alice Springs, pronto.” Andrew nodded once again and pointed, it was all up there on his pin board and wall calendar.
“Good. Hmm, now Donna. I want her and Wiram to work together from now on. She's now his 2IC. He's done most of it by himself up to now. Halo has helped but I really want him to focus on training. Besides, I think Wiram fancies Donna.” Sundown looked back at Andrew and smiled down at him.
“Matchmaker now are we?” Andrew grinned. “I've noticed, and so have Jeda and Bill. Not sure if Donna knows but she never misses an opportunity to be around him. Yeah, fine, she's a great kid, and Wirrie would make a good catch.” The wily old administrator continued. “What do you think of this major organising the armoured patrol to Mount Isa, do you think he can control himself? I'd prefer the captain to run it but…”
“He reminds me of Captain Mainwaring from that British home-army show. A doddery old bugger but his heart's in the right place, he seems to be keen enough. You know how Beamy told us of his conversation with the Bushmaster crew?” Andrew nodded. “Well, this is exactly what they need, a proper contact. I've told Cambra to make sure it happens. We've got to let these soldiers know what we've been doing all this time, and they need blooding. It might as well be on our watch, with some of our best commandos. The girls, well, they'll just make it easy for the boys to side with us when the time comes.”
“You think of everything, Sundown. Just don't get too clever or it might blow up in your face,” warned Andrew.
“The way I see it, Andy, this is our best and only opportunity to bond the two officers and their crews to us. My thoughts, and this is confirmed by what Beamy said, is that this mob in Alice Springs are a bunch of yobbos who couldn't organise a root in a brothel.” He chuckled, there was no way he would ever have said that to anybody a year ago. “We bind them to us now, through blood, sweat and tears. Then we'll call on their loyalty when we need it.”
The major called to Sergeant Ahmet, “Sergeant, gather the men, thank you.” He then turned to Sundown. “Sundown, would you like to say a few words before we leave?”
“Thank you, major, yes, I would.” Sundown stood beside Major Thompson and Captain Lewis while the three armoured cavalry crews gathered together.
“Squadron, attention! Stand at ease!” cried Sergeant Ahmet, he spun on his heels and saluted the major. “All present, sir.”
The major saluted smartly and stepped forward to claim the command position, which was one step in front of Sundown.
“Men, today we go on a special mission. We have all spoken to Sundown's Commando over the past few days and we know they've been on the front line fighting these terrorists since the beginning of the apocalypse.” He looked up into the sky for a moment then continued. “Our commander has ordered that we avoid conflict at all costs. We have done that, successfully, for nine damn months.”
He stopped and looked back at the faces of his command and smiled. “Well men, today I am going to tell my commanding officer, General Hughes, Alice Springs Command, Third Army, that we have been informed of a strong Revelationist Church force, moving down from Mount Isa, and we intend to intercept it.”
“Silence in the ranks, please!” commanded Sergeant Ahmet as several of the cavalrymen swore excitedly.
“Thank you, Sergeant Ahmet. I know you lot believe we've run at every contact. That's not quite correct though, is it. We have preserved the only armoured military force still operating on the Australian mainland, beside the Abrams of 1st Cavalry.” He again looked upwards as if expecting something to appear above him. “Today we go forward into enemy territory to assist in the rescue of one of our own, Lance Corporal Pedro Owens, formerly of 3rd RAR, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma and anywhere the CIA and ASIO sent him. He needs medications that we simply can't get here in Birdsville.” Again he paused, then looked at his men's excited faces, “Are you with me?” he asked quietly.
With a roar the three crews cheered their major almost breaking ranks to rush up and hug him. Sergeant Ahmet called them back to order in his rapid-fire accent.
“Men, the major would like a simple 'yes' or a 'no', thank you.”
“YES!” came their answer.
The two officers smiled at each other, then Captain Lewis spoke. “Before we rush off to prepare for the patrol we would like to extend our gratitude to Sundown's Commando, for their hospitality these past few days, and we look forward to a safe and successful return. Sergeant, before you dismiss the men, Commander Sundown would like a word. Commander?” He stepped back conceding the dominant position, reluctantly, to join the major, one step behind Sundown.
“Thank you. Major Thompson; Captain Lewis; members of Alice Springs Command.” He nodded respectfully to the two officers. “Our commando would like to thank you for accepting our invitation to join us on what will probably be a fighting patrol. As you know, Pedro has been the solid rock upon which we've built our commando, and he is precious to us. Those not going with you extend our wishes for your safe return.” Sundown waved at Cambra, Lulu and Danni to stand beside him.
“I am handing these three warriors over to you for the duration of this patrol. Please take good care of them, just as they will take good care of you. Good luck and …” but before he could finish, Halo came running over to stand beside the three commandos.
Sundown looked at him, and Halo looked back, “Forgetting someone, Sundown?” said Halo in a loud voice for all to hear, his face bright with joy.
“Umm, no. Halo, what's this about?” said Sundown, his frown made his weathered face look more confused than it already was.
“Major Thompson asked if I would like to go with him in the ASLAV. I had to get my gear, sorry I'm late, boss.” He nodded to Major Thompson, who smiled broadly back at him.
Sundown looked across at the major noting his grin, and realised he'd been played.
“Well, it does leave us short manned.” Sundown wasn't going to take this game lying down. “What about the patrol down south, who's going to support them if things fall apart?”
“Beamy said he'd take my place,” said Halo quickly. His face revealed he hadn't really thought of that part through. The major cleared his throat.
“Hmmph, Sundown, I am very sorry but Halo was so keen to participate, and he will be of great value to us as one of your original hero's. Besides, he swore you wouldn't mind.” The major couldn't keep the smile off his face as he spoke, and he almost snorted trying to choke back a laugh.
“This is a bloody conspiracy! Bugger!” Sundown stared firmly at Halo. “Right mate! Go and get Beamy, if he can hold a rifle and hit that post there with a three round burst you can go.” There was no way Sundown would let the major put one over him. 'You smart arsed, Dad's Army sod', he thought.
Halo sped off and brought Beamy from the CB room where he'd been all morning.
“What's this then?” Beamy asked Sundown and the troops. “Who said I was taking Ha
lo's place on patrol? I'm too busy flirting with the nursie girls and I've got no time for patrolling.” Beamy's grin caused a ripple of muffled laughter among the soldiers and spectators watching with growing interest.
“Last time Halo tried to trade places with me I got shot up and damn near died. Bugger that,” he said then lifted his AK47 and sighted at the post Halo pointed out.
“Kids! Everyone! Cover your ears,” he called and then fired, hitting the post twenty metres away, fair in the middle. Beamy and Halo both turned to see Sundown's look of resignation, he'd been played all right.
With his face screwed up to hide his feelings of defeat, Sundown said softly, “OK, you can go, Halo.”
He drew in a deep breath to regain his composure and continued, “Beamy, you come with me when we finish here because I'm putting you on the next bloody patrol since you've managed to heal up so bloody fast.” 'There, take that', he thought. “Tell Lorraine and Tricia they did a good job treating your wounds,” he said to soften his words.
“Squadron!” called Sergeant Ahmet at a nod from the major. “Attention! You've got jobs to do boys, go do them. Dismissed!” The soldiers slapped each others backs as they laughed and joked all the way back to their vehicles to begin their preparations.
“Major,” Sundown smiled over at the Dad's Army captain look-alike. “That was, well, cleverly done. I do expect results now you have my four best soldiers. Look after them for me.” They shook hands, Sundown turned and walked back to the hotel.
It slowly dawned on him that this was probably Andy's idea. Sundown smiled, then laughed out loud as he realised he'd been out-manoeuvred by just about everybody.
Chapter 2 - Sundown - Prospector's Hideaway
By the time Riley made his way back to the bushman's hut his wife was asleep. Roo and Bongo were wide awake. Even though both were sorely wounded they were kept busy entertaining Elle, all of four years, and two year old Harry. Katie had been up all night tending to the two wounded men. She'd collapsed with welcome relief when Bongo said he and Roo would look after the kids while she grabbed some sleep.
Katie knew plenty about nursing from helping her father tend his animals and a multitude of sick neighbours. It seemed everyone preferred to drop in to see her father rather than go to the 'quack' in town. Her father was an ambulance officer after a stint as a paramedic in Vietnam. After the war he returned to do volunteer work in the Vietnamese villages for various charity programs. His skill with wounds, broken bones and simple gripe was legendary in the region.
Riley chuckled when he saw his wife asleep and the two young men groaning as little Harry climbed all over them, like a caterpillar. Roo in particular struggled to keep his broken arm free of little Harry's squirming arms and legs. Elle, ever the responsible eldest child, fretted when she couldn't slow Harry's enthusiastic play when the two men grunted in pain.
“Hey, fella's, how're you feeling?” he asked as he collapsed exhausted onto the low bed next to his sleeping wife.
“Hi, Riley,” answered Bongo as he dragged Harry away from Roo again. He then pushed one of the dogs off his own leg which was swollen and felt like it was on fire. “As you can see we're doing fine, but poor Katie's bushed. Sorry we kept you both awake last night.”
“No worries, Bongo, you lot saved my family.” As an afterthought he added, “Oh yeah, you killed the lot of them. Brad and Ferrie and even some of my old mates from school, the traitors.” He sat up, his face strained and haggard. “I hid the Rovers and I've found another safe place to shack up. It's a bit of a trek but we can use the horses to take us there. The problem is going to be water and food if we have to hide out for more than a week or two.”
Roo was sitting with his back to one of the old tree posts supporting the bark roof. He looked at Bongo and nodded.
“Roo says we should get the hell out of here. At least you, Katie and the kids should. Maybe take your truck and head off to Birdsville and hook up with our lot.” He looked back to Roo who nodded again.
“Bongo, you're both badly wounded, any travel is going to make it worse. Look at you.” He waved his hand at them. “Roo can barely stand up and neither can you. Nah, we stay here until we're all fit enough to travel, it might take a few days though.”
“Riley, they'll hunt you down, they'll do bad things to Katie and the kids. Those Wilson's are bad, real bad. I don't want anything to happen to your family.” Bongo turned his fever-flushed face and pushed another of Riley's dogs off his leg. “I reckon just hide us in this hut you have, and when we're ready, we'll take the Rover you hid and follow you. But you and you're family need to leave as soon as possible.”
Riley told them about the pile of weapons he'd collected and his plans to protect all of them in the new prospectors hut. He explained how it lay deeper in the hills and gully's of the Arkaroola wilderness, and would be extremely hard for the Wilson's, and the terrorists, to find.
“Sounds good but you're handicapped, Riley, neither Roo nor I can do much more than hold a rifle. We can't go out on patrol, we're useless. Please, just leave us, we'll be fine. We can hide, in a few days we'll be strong enough to fight back if we have to,” argued Bongo who was starting to fret, worrying about the kids and Katie again.
“No, Bongo. Roo's my cousin and you're his mate, that makes you family too. We don't leave family behind. So no more about us leaving, got it?” said Riley, his face firm and Bongo could tell he meant it.
Katie was up by lunch time and took the kids with Riley as they transported their gear over to the new hiding place. This gave Bongo and Roo time to settle down on the rough ground-sheets and sleep. They'd eaten a meal of porridge and that was all. Katie said she'll do better once they moved to 'grander lodgings'.
By evening they'd moved everything to the prospectors hut. Bongo suggested they should leave he and Roo there to get some sleep, then pick them up the next morning. Riley looked carefully at both men, then nodded. He wished them a good night sleep as he climbed on the back of one of the horses, and headed off to be with his wife and kids. He led the other horse loaded with gear.
The prospectors hut was hidden deep at the end of a gully, heavily overgrown with bushes. It once housed a lone gold prospector, years ago. Riley said he and his brothers often brought food and a few bottles of beer to his camp on weekends. The boys listened to his stories of the early days of prospecting when the local aboriginals lived there in much larger numbers. He told of the actions of the squatters, farmers, who first settled the region and how they would shoot and poison the aborigines on their land.
The old prospector said many a time he would swap tobacco, flour and sugar for a leg of kangaroo meat from the surviving tribesmen. Both of Riley's parents had a soft spot for the quiet old man and looked after him as best they could. The old prospector eventually passed away when Riley was still a kid, he said.
The hut was big enough for the family to sleep at one end and it had a fireplace and table at the other. The dogs and the two wounded men would sleep outside under a bark lean-to. By lunch time the next day, the cattleman had finished building the lean-to and added two bench seats and sleeping mats, making it quite cosy. The dogs loved it.
When they arrived at their new lodgings, Katie asked the men to be careful with their rifles around the children. Both Bongo and Roo wouldn't leave their weapons out of reach, having lived as warriors for so long now they felt uncomfortable without them.
Roo eventually asked Riley, with 'mmm's' and gestures, to oil his Gewehr and place it in a bag for him. It was useless now he'd run out of bullets. Instead he lay next to his artistically decorated AK47. He'd carefully carved a replica Mrs. Sow and her piglets into it's wooden stock while on patrol around Birdsville.
Riley brought over the kangaroo rifles he'd captured. Roo picked one, a nice Ruger with an expensive scope.
Although both men were wounded and needed plenty of rest and recuperation, they insisted on doing their part. Each took turns to keep watch while Riley and Katie contin
ued to care for their kids and set up the camp.
Riley said he wanted to set up rabbit traps on the paths approaching the hut. He was up before dawn and took his dogs on patrol into the scrubby gullies. Riley stayed out all day watching from a hilltop overlooking the approaches to their hut. His traps were well hidden and he made sure the dogs stayed well away from them.
The following morning at their new camp, Bongo woke with a heavy head, and his leg was so swollen he couldn't move it. From the skills she'd learned from her father, Katie recognised what it was immediately.
“I'm sorry, Bongo, but that's blood poisoning. I've got no medicine for that so I'll have to use old fashioned, aboriginal magic on it. My dad learned this from working on the aboriginal missions. There's a special bark that can penetrate and reduce the poison and some clays that will draw the pus out.” She looked for Roo who was now able to walk around without falling over.
“Roo, can you boys look after Elle and Harry for me again? I'll take the horse to gather what I need and be back in about two hours. There's plenty of tucker for the kids, just don't let Harry out of your sight for a minute.”
Roo nodded but Bongo was too sick to care. Katie rounded up the mare left behind by Riley, and set out into the desert scrub with a machete, shovel and some bags.
By the time Katie returned, Riley was back at camp. He was talking with Roo and Bongo.
“I looked all over the place but saw no signs of them. I even went part way back to my farm, nothing there either. I don't like it one bit. I bet those Wilsons are up to something.”
“Riley, darling, don't stress over it. We've got a sick fellow here and I need you to roast these bark pieces. Don't let them burn, just dry them out until they're brittle. I'll mix this clay up and then we spread it over Bongo's leg.” Her face showed concern but only Roo saw it. Bongo was now in so much pain all he could do was moan and try to blot it out of his mind.
