by Leo Nix
“Billie, I thought your father was Afghan, like Roo's grandfather?” he said softly.
“He was. Me dad and Roo's grandfather came from the same village and travelled to Australia together after the war. This is from me mothers side. Like Roo too, me mother was from here and me uncles and grandfathers and grandmothers are all tribal. They're wild buggers too, mate. When we visited they'd always want to take me away to learn men's business, but me mum and dad always fought to stop them. They said I was going to be raised like a white fella and have opportunities. I think they were afraid that if they didn't do what the white missionaries told them they'd take me and me sister away for good. They did take a lot of us away to the cities back then.” Billie mused for a while before continuing.
“When I was twelve I was taken one night by my mother's father and me uncles. I was terrified but curious. I was gone for a week and went through their initiations. See these scars?” He opened his shirt to show a series of scars on his chest and arms. “That's to show I'm an initiated warrior. Bloody scary bastards that lot are. I think that's what me body is telling me. I'm in their country now and they want me back. They're calling me.”
McFly's shivered in the cool night air and pulled his jacket closer around his shoulders. “Billie, if you go walkabout tomorrow, can you take me with you?”
Billie looked carefully at McFly. He liked this bright young man and knew him to be honest and upright.
“OK, but you do as I say and nothing else. If we meet me people out there don't do or say anything. Let me talk because we're on their land now, this is their sacred ground and your feet don't belong here, you white fella's ain't their blood. When we get away from here I'll need to do a ceremony to introduce you to my tribal spirits, otherwise they might kill you.”
Once again McFly shivered, but he sensed an adventure that he wouldn't miss for the world.
That morning the boys were up early to get started on the repairs. Billie and McFly had a quiet word with Sundown and the major. McFly mentioned to Shadow that Billie was taking him for a walk in the desert, she was fine and actually encouraged him to explore their new country.
He took his sniper rifle in case he saw some kangaroos for meat. Billie had a bag with food and tobacco, he also hid a bottle of rum in his bag as a gift for his people.
By mid morning Billie found what he was looking for. It was a small dish in the sandy landscape that contained a circle of spinifex grass. While they were walking Billie had collected various barks, herbs, grasses and resins he found in the desert scrub. He lit a fire, every now and then he threw this mix to make smoke and sat McFly beside it. Then began the ceremony to ask permission for his white friend to walk upon his tribal country.
Billie stood naked and danced singing a song that numbed McFly's mind and put him into a light trance. McFly was told to sit still throughout the ceremony. When he began to nod off Billie hit him with a whisk of grass stems to keep him awake. But the smoke from the special plants Billie collected on their walk, and the song, had their effect, McFly began to hallucinate.
He saw images he couldn't describe and felt strangely elated, alive, like he was floating above the world. Billie kept on singing and stamping his feet to the rhythm of the dance and McFly was floating above his body. When he woke there were two others with he and Billie, and he felt very afraid.
One was an old woman and the other an old man, neither wore clothing and neither spoke. He intuited they were spirit people, custodians of the land.
They warned him that he should go no further, this was as far he was permitted. McFly asked them why, they explained that this was not his country, it was in Billie's blood, not his. To wander beyond, like he wanted to do, was disrespectful. The young man sighed and agreed to return to the vehicles.
Before he woke he saw a group of people, fighting, vicious hand to hand fighting and the old woman said, very clearly, “It is out of your control. Duck, don't forget, duck, then leave it be, walk away.” She said this twice and then he awoke with a sudden startle.
'Billie! Billie?!” he said reflexively still in a light trance.
“I'm here, mate. Did you see?” asked Billie, looking into McFly's eyes to make sure he was fully back and not still hallucinating.
“I saw an old man and an old woman, they were your people. I was flying and saw the desert and people fighting…” he talked quickly trying to fit everything in before he forgot it all. “And the old woman said it wasn't my fault and I had to duck then let it go, let it be.” He shook his head in bewilderment.
“Yes, sometimes they talk and sometimes they's don't. Did they invite you to walk their country?” asked the old warrior.
McFly looked carefully at Billie for the first time since the ceremony. “No, they told me I had to go back, now. If I stay I'll die. Something about the land was in your blood and not mine, the land would kill me if I continued.”
Billie nodded looking at the young man with a frown on his aged, weathered face. “Hmm, OK, get up off yer arse and come with me.” He stood and led McFly to the top of a sand dune. “See there?” he pointed to a speck on the horizon. “That's the convoy. Just follow yer tracks back to the trucks and don't look back.” Billie stopped talking to see if McFly was listening. McFly nodded, he understood.
“Mate,” he repeated, “if you don't start out now and keep movin', the land will kill you. The spirit people told you, don't disrespect them or you'll pay fer it. It could be a snake, you could trip over and break yer neck, you could have one of them strokes. McFly, don't think this is a game now, it's damn serious. Those old folks rarely talk to strangers. You're the first white fella I know of that has ever seen them, and I've taken a few on that same journey I just took you on. They showed you enormous respect, now show them the same. Just don't look back if you want to stay alive.”
The old man held McFly's arm and guided him back to their tracks coming into the circle. “Walk, if all goes well I'll be back with you's tomorrow night.” He smiled at McFly. “I saw my spirits in the dance too,” he said excitedly, “they told me where I needed to go and what to do when I get there. I have me tribal business, you have yours. See you tomorrow.” Billie stepped off in one direction while McFly fearfully stepped off in the other.
Chapter 11 - Sundown Dreamer
The following evening Billie stepped into the firelight and collapsed into one of the camp chairs. McFly was silent, he hadn't spoken of what he'd experienced to anyone, he didn't know how to put it into words. He nodded at Billie who smiled back and took the cup of tea one of the soldiers handed to him.
“Are you all right, Billie?” asked Pinkie, handing him a plate of food.
“Sure missus, visited me folk out there and had a grand time of it. But I'm a bit tuckered out right now, so I'll just have a feed and a drink and get some shut-eye,” he replied soberly, and did just that. Billie was already asleep when the group began their regular camp fire discussions.
Conversation around the camp fire that night was lively. The axle was now repaired and the vehicles were given a good overhaul and service by the crew mechanics. Everyone was well rested and ready to continue. Some had wives and girlfriends in Alice Springs, the talk of what they would do when they got back made everyone look forward to their arrival.
“Excuse me, Sundown?” asked Sergeant Tobi, the crew master of the ASLAV, “l was wondering if you could walk us through some of the engagements you've had with the Revelationists. You know, what things helped form the decisions you made. I was thinking you could help educate the boys in fighting the terrorists.”
Sundown sipped at his port, the bottle at the major's side was almost empty. It too was one of Andy and Fat Boys inventions. Brew up the mash, distil the spirits, add cordial and you had Birdsville Gutrot Port. It was rough though, not as nice as Andy's home brewed beer.
“Tobi, I'm not the brilliant strategist of Sundown's Commando, that was Shamus and Pedro. I just pay attention and try to do my best. Shamus, now he wa
s my hero. He lived his entire seventy odd years studying warfare, then, when he couldn't lead from the front, he taught his art. Pedro was a sniper, a commando, he joined the CIA after the Vietnam war. Those two were my mentors, so my successes are only because of them. As they say, I stand on the shoulders of giants.”
He stopped and waved his empty mug at the major. Major Thompson looked at his own mug, topped it up and deliberately tipped the final dribble into Sundown's mug. The major smiled one of his endearing smiles of, 'got ya!'.
“Major,” said Sundown looking at the few drops sitting in the bottom of his mug, “it seems your appetite for grog exceeds your good manners.” He leaned across to the drinks-box containing several dozen bottles of Gutrot Port and pulled out a full bottle. He filled his mug then passed the bottle to Pinkie beside him. It went around the circle in the opposite direction to the major - 'got ya back!' thought Sundown, chuckling quietly to himself.
“Sorry, Tobi, I was distracted by my impolite friend here.” He smiled to show he was having a little joke with the major. Everyone noticed how the major and Sundown competed with each other ever since the arrival of Alice Springs Command, and they quite enjoyed the entertainment.
“When Pinkie and I met with Shamus and Pedro in Birdsville, we talked of what we wanted to do, where we wanted to live. The world had ended, there was no law or organised force to stop louts and terrorists doing whatever they wanted. So Shamus, Pedro and I chatted. I asked questions and listened to their answers. Much like we're doing now.”
One of the soldiers called out softly in the dark, “Who's this Shamus fella you're always talking about, I didn't see him at the Birdsville camp.”
Pinkie looked up and said, “He was Pedro's friend, they lived out here for twenty or thirty years shooting kangaroos, selling the skins and doing odd jobs like that. Shamus was in the IRA and taught war things. I'm not sure what he actually did, but Pedro and Sundown seem to think he was an adviser for armies all around the world. He was the most beautiful person I've met, but I get the feeling he was also responsible for a lot of horrible acts of terrorism.” She stopped to wonder how she would reconcile the good and the bad of someone she loved so much.
“Shamus was a warrior through and through, you wouldn't want to be up against him that's for sure. I learned a lot, and you know what, even though he died at our very first contact with the terrorists, I still talk to him,” said Sundown easily.
Some of the men looked at each other confused. The same soldier went on, “Sundown, did I hear right? You talk to a dead man?”
Sundown chuckled, “Yep, you did hear me right. I dream him. Sometimes I deliberately dream him before I fall asleep at night, and when I'm meditating I'll talk to him about the issues I've got. I've done that all my life, if I've a problem I meditate and dream the answer.”
There were a few comments and the soldier went on, “Sundown, is Shamus like a ghost then?” He sounded a little spooked.
“You might just say he's a figment of my imagination. I don't really know the answer to that question. Sometimes it's real and sometimes it's like a dream. But what I learned from him before he passed on was more than enough for a lifetime of study. It's all inside my head and I access it by dreaming it, by bringing back conversations we had around the camp fire, at the bar or map room in the Marree Hotel. It's all inside my head. I add a few of the things I learn from Pedro and it forms, or solidifies, while I meditate or while I sleep.”
Captain Lewis shifted his chair around to move out of the smoke from the fire. “So Sundown, let me get this straight, you dream your strategies?”
“Yes and no, captain. I deliberately dream conversations with Shamus, but when I'm in a contact I set it into action. I just act. I guess that's the best way to describe it. I know what to do and then I let go of thinking and just do it.” He stopped talking because he didn't want to talk about his berserker demon, that was special.
The same young soldier asked another question and Sundown had no choice but to answer. “Sundown, sorry to ask another question but there's two types of action: one is leadership and directing your troops, and then there's your own actions during the contact. Can you describe both for us?”
Sundown looked at the soldier and recognised him as the pimply-faced teenager who always asked questions, so that if he died he wouldn't regret not asking that last one.
“OK, I'll try to describe what happens. Firstly, information, intelligence. I need to know what's happening and that's not always easy, just ask your officers. Once I get the big picture I consider my troop strengths and weaknesses and position them as best I can. At the Marree Hotel fight we were outnumbered and out gunned. We had four and they had nearly thirty, but we were resolute and our morale was high from knocking the stuffing out of their mates at the mines that morning. Our morale was high but we were also exhausted. We had two sniper rifles, one was just an old Lee Enfield 303, two AK47's and some sweaty dynamite. They had two machine guns and they sent two, eight man squads, against us.” He paused to fill his mug again.
“We were lucky, Pedro, and McFly here, kept knocking off the machine gunners while Halo and myself kept the two squads off our women folk.” Sundown stopped and went quiet, no one interrupted but the pressure of the silence mounted forcing Sundown to continue. “You want to hear about my berserker, don't you?”
There were nods and 'yes sirs' around the camp fire, even the major and captain leaned closer to hear.
“Ah, I really don't like talking about it, so I'll just say I learned kung fu as a teenager and enjoyed it. I never stopped learning and still do my patterns and breathing, even today. When I saw those bastards beating up on Beamy and they had the girls and my wife, Pinkie, by the throat, I lost it. I left and the demon stepped into my body.
“My AK was empty and Halo was knocked unconscious, the terrorists were leering in my face. When I came back those leering bastards were all dead. I thought I was psycho until Pedro took me outside and explained I went berserk, I was a berserker. But I frightened everyone, and that really upset me. I frightened my wife, Tricia, Gail and McFly here. I didn't frighten Halo though.”
Sundown smiled and the tension broke, they all knew Halo was made of tough stuff. “He saw the demon at the mines and sort of expects it every time we fight now.” He stopped and drank the rest of his port. Pinkie put her hand on his mug and stopped him pouring another mugful.
That same voice spoke once more, “Sorry to ask you Sundown, I know it's painful, but what's the demon like?” There were a few chuckles in the dark and the major decided enough was enough. He could see the distress on Pinkie and McFly's face and spoke up.
“I think it's time for bed time, boys. Sundown's had enough. Maybe he'll talk more some other night, but not now.” He turned to Sundown, “Thank you Sundown for explaining a few things our boys were dying to ask you.” To his troop he said, “We'll be up early and get started before dawn. We still have a few days driving ahead of us. And from our latest reports Pedro is making a good recovery in hospital, annoying the nurses and almost back to his old self. Alice Springs Command told me they had to take his legs away because he kept escaping to the pub.” The major laughed and stood up, indicating it was time for sleep.
As they were settling into bed Pinkie rolled into Sundown's arms and said, “Sundown, you know what? That major's grown up hasn't he. Have you noticed how his men have accepted him now, and show him the respect they didn't have when they first arrived?”
Sundown was almost asleep when he replied, “Yep, you're right, he's quite a character,” he sighed. “I like him, the boys like him. All he needed was blooding. Now that he's my blood he'll follow wherever I lead him.” He kissed her good night and they fell asleep in each others arms.
The next few days were tough going as they hit patches of soft sand followed by clay pans that appeared solid but the vehicles sunk to their axles into mud which lay just below the salt-crusted surface. It gave McFly time to go for walks into the bush
with Billie, the two spent every free minute talking about Billies tribal world and the desert.
“Billie,” McFly asked, “what was that smoke made of, the one you used for that ceremony?”
“Don't go thinkin' I'm gonna show ya, those herbs could kill ya, they're poisons. I learned when I spent all those years living with me mother's people. They taught me things only a nangarri, a sorcerer, should know. Did you know we have three languages?” Billie liked to go off on a tangent with McFly.
“Ah, no, I didn't know that.” McFly replied, and he was hooked once again.
“One is our tribal language, another is finger talk, and the other one is what men talk doing secret men's business. That's how me people talked when the whites rounded us up to take us away. They told us to shut up and be quiet, so we finger talked and they didn't even know it.” Billie chuckled and smacked his gums. “You know what, me mother's people were clever, we never knew when to shut up.” He laughed loudly as they walked across the salt pans, back to the vehicles ready to set out again.
“But, Billie, I thought you said you had to stay home so the police and aboriginal affairs people wouldn't take you away from your parents?” asked McFly, confused.
“They never did 'cause I was smart and 'cause I could speak good English. But when I was with me tribal family, them bastards would come out and raid us for no reason. I was just a hot headed youngster then and I'd give it to 'em. I'd stand up for me cousins and got a lot o' hidings for it too. Some of them police were good and kind, some were bastards. The worst were the white women who came and pointed out who they were going to take back to the city. They had hearts of stone they did.” Billie stopped talking and wouldn't open up on the matter again.
