by Dawn Millen
Two more days of leisure and relaxation are going to do this band of weary travellers a lot of good. Everyone’s spirits are much higher now and with fresh food, clean bodies and clean clothes we all feel so much better. The trauma of the quake is still very clear, as when an aftershock rumbles through the ground the faces of those around me mirror my own fear and for a while after there are parents still holding tight to their children. The aftershocks are less frequent now, but we are still getting more than a few each day. Most are nothing to worry about, but now and again we get something that really shakes the ground. Those big shakes are the ones that worry us; they are the ones that cause the damage. Trees fall suddenly, roads open further and fear reigns with absolute power. We have learned some very big lessons from these aftershocks though. We no longer put the tents and vehicles under trees, it is a huge risk to do so as they can drop hours after a big aftershock, we have learned that no matter how strong the building and even if it does survive a big earthquake, you should never trust it after, it may have been weakened and can fall with a big aftershock. There is so much we have to learn as we go.
The sheer scale of mobilising more than 200 people for an extended trek across country that has changed is daunting and although we have a good working committee we still have huge challenges to face. So far there have been no major disagreements since the trek started, but that doesn’t mean that it will continue this way. People will get stressed and personalities will rub against one another causing friction. The committee are all aware of this and are watching closely to ensure that we can intervene prior to any violence. The one thing we cannot have is violence in the group and it has been decided that if that should occur then the instigators will be left with a vehicle, food and the bare necessities of survival. If we don’t do this then we risk the whole group becoming unstable and discipline will become an issue.
There is a singsong around the largest of the camp fires tonight and everyone is present. James is tired, but insists on staying and enjoying the company, music and the singing. There are many children curled asleep on their parents laps and as the darkness deepens and the moon sails onward parents drift off in one’s and two’s to put the littlest one’s to bed, then return to the fire to talk, sing and relax. James finally gives in to his tiredness and Krystal and I help him across to the medical tent. He is now the only patient and Helen is sleeping in there too, so there is no need for a nurse through the night. The only nursing duties now are getting James washed and dressed in the mornings and ready for the road and settling him down for the night. He is taking pain medication now and is doing much better and is finding strength that we never thought would be possible. The journey seems to be the instigator for this improved state of things, that and the closeness of the group. James is feeling like he has a family around him at last. The birth of young James has also given this lovely elderly gent a reason to keep going. He wants to be around to see his namesake grow and thrive. The joy of a young life has brought something special to James and to the group as a whole.
The group by the big fire are now breaking up in earnest and are heading back to their tents to rest up for the night. Helen steps into the tent so Krystal and I head off to our own beds. As we near the tents a shadow breaks away to stand before us.
“Hi girls, are you just finishing for the day?” He asks.
“Yes mate, it’s getting late.” Krystal replies.
“Jenn, can we have a bit of a chat?” Gavin asks.
“Okay, not a problem. I was not tired anyway.” I smile as I say this through a big yawn.
“I won’t keep you late Jenn, just a couple of things we need to go through before tomorrow. I’ve got a couple of ideas for change right now and need to talk to you about them.” Gavin’s voice rumbles from the dark.
“I’ll say goodnight you two, and don’t be up too late.” Krystal says and turns towards the tent.
“Night Krystal.” We echo each other’s words as Gavin and I turn to walk towards the centre fire where we will disturb no one as long as we keep our voices down.
We sit on a blanket that has been left on the ground and sit silent for a little while just listening to the sounds of people settling for the night and the night creatures waking to hunt. I hear the sonar of the fruit bats as they start their nightly patrol of the flowers on the gum trees and the fruits from the trees at the nearby homesteads. There are rustlings in the grass as creatures move, but they stay away from the fires, so we feel comfortable. The warmth is comforting too, outback nights are cool after the summer days and the temperature difference makes quite an impact on me and I shiver slightly.
Gavin quickly shrugs out of his light jacket and drapes it around my shoulders. A smile crosses his face quickly and then fades. I smile back quickly and pull the jacket around me.
“Jenn, I have been thinking that maybe it will be a good idea for the convoy to rest for a couple of days every week, I know it is going to take longer to get to the coast, but if everyone gets tired we are going to have problems with some people acting like idiots.” Gavin explains why he needed to talk to me.
“I have been thinking along those lines too, and you won’t get an argument out of me at all. I believe that we need to make sure that everyone gets chance to rest, recover and relax as we travel. The travel days are hard enough on us all and breaks are going to be necessary for those with children, the elderly and in particular James. He is doing okay, but hard travel is going to tax what little strength he has left.” I agree explain my reasons to Gavin.
“I am so glad that we are thinking along the same lines Jenn, even if it is for different reasons.” Gavin laughs. “We always have communicated well and I’ve often thought that we think alike and now I know. No wonder we have stayed friends over the years.”
Gavin puts his arm around my shoulders and gently squeezes, giving me a gentle peck on the cheek at the same time.
I am a little startled at this, but take it in the spirit of friendship and hug Gavin back.
“Time I headed off to bed I think mate.” I say as another big yawn overtakes me.
“Yes Jenn, I did promise to let you get to bed soon, so you had better head off and get some sleep. I am going to walk you back to the tent and then do a wander around and check that everything is okay before I head off to bed myself.” Gavin says as he stands and reaches down to pull me to my feet.
We walk slowly to the tent and I return Gavin’s jacket to him when we get there. Gavin gives me one last hug and heads off into the night. My last sight of Gavin before I turned to enter the tent was his broad shoulders heading off around the fire truck silhouetted against the trees by the moonlight.
Chapter 30
The night passes restlessly for me as I run over the scene with Gavin again and again. I know that our friendship is changing, but I am unsure as to my feelings about the change. It will take more time to figure this out than I want to take right now. I resolve to let this go for the time being and revisit if and when I need too.
Dawn brings fingers of sunlight reaching above the horizon marking a path for the red ball of the sun. Light quickly expands the sights of the open plains and I watch a mob of kangaroo’s bound quickly away as the dogs start to back at them. Birds are stirring around the billabong and the squawking of the parrots echo’s through the still of the early morning.
The camp starts to stir as the early risers head for the fires and set them to blazing to boil water to make coffee and tea, heat frypans to make breakfast, heat water for washing and for doing dishes. The day is getting underway quietly and gently, without the bustle of striking camp to travel. I can almost feel the relief as people move about at a much slower pace.
Today will be a day where we cook, eat, wash and get ready for the next stage of our journey to the coast. Tomorrow is for rest and relaxation. I do know that Rhys is planning a cricket match for the group and the teenagers are planning to have a football game with the adults. Games, fun, relaxation and a s
ense of purpose are bonding the group, slowly and surely we are becoming a community. People are starting to take on particular chores as each person works out what they can best contribute too, the young are looking after the older members and the older members are helping care for the babies and toddlers. Some of our older members are gaining a spring in their step again as they find their usefulness is not at an end. They can still help with the things that are needed.
I walk across to the cooking fires and pour hot water into a mug and add coffee and powdered milk to the brew, standing quietly I watch the interactions of those around me and a feeling of contentment steals over me. We can do this, we must do this, we have to get everybody to the coast, but we have to do it in a way that we arrive refreshed and ready to rebuild our lives.
Raymond walks over to me, a large oil streak runs down his face and terminates at the neckline of his shirt, his smile is wide, however, as he speaks. “All vehicles have been checked over except that old Toyota that came in last night. That one is next on the list. So far no major problems have come up. Young Thomas is a great help and his mates Kyle and Brandon are doing a great job helping out.”
“That is great Raymond. Do you anticipate any problems with the Toyota?” I ask.
“Not really, the old bloke has it serviced regularly and is carrying plenty of spare parts with him, so I can’t see where there would be many issues.” Raymond grins, “He used to be a mechanic, so Mick is more than happy to help with the vehicles too.”
“That is great news; with three helpers it is going to take some of the load off you mate.” I say quietly. “We are going to need all the help we can get with the vehicles on this trip for sure, there are so many things that we have to face and nothing is unbreakable in the long run. I am glad that you have more assistance now.” My grin matches Raymond’s as I say this.
“Well, I had better get back to it and check the Toyota over so that I can take advantage of the rest break, see ya later.” Ray waves and heads off towards the old vehicle parked in the distance.
I watch John Evans lurking around, his face is pulled into its usual discontented scowl and I wonder what he is thinking. I have never seen a man so unhappy in himself and often wonder how he came to be that way. Life is not always kind to people and sometimes they don’t deal with adversity well, I tend to think that this shows often in their faces. For those that have coped with adversity and come through the other side there is always a softer look to their faces. The sadness shows, but their smiles are sweeter and their manner is gentler than those that have never coped. John strikes me as one that just doesn’t have the coping skills to deal with adversity and life is going to be full of it for the foreseeable future. John will bear watching over this time as his covered anger at the world may destabilise things for everyone and that sort of trouble is just what we don’t need. For now though I decide to spend the day catching up on my laundry and checking on how folks are doing. John can take care of himself.
I rinse my coffee cup, yawn and stretch before I head off to the tent to pick up the washing. Walking across the paddock I notice that Ray and Mick are busy checking over the Toyota and wave to them as I pass. Sandra is just emerging from her tent; towel and wash bag in hand, and waves as she heads off towards the bushes behind the tent line for a shower. I hope the sun has been up long enough to warm the water for the showers and decide to wait until around noon so that the sun can warm the water in the bags. It is getting quite boggy in that area now as many are taking advantage of the break to clean up properly. I can’t wait to wash my hair, it’s long and thick, so gets dirty and sweaty very quickly and I hate the feeling of dirty hair.
The cricket game is getting underway as I walk back towards the large pots of boiling water that are ready for those who wish to do laundry and I stand and watch for a few minutes as Rhys stands at the crease, bat in hand, smiling and encouraging Steven with his bowling. Looking further over I can see James sitting in his wheelchair watching while he nurses Caren on his knee. James looks contented and happy as he talks gently to the baby and snuggles her on his lap. Sandy is behind the wicket looking determined and grim as he takes a stance and watches his brother take his run up. Rhys steps forward and cracks the ball over most of the outfield for four runs and takes off to swap ends with one of the other men. Smiles and applause are all around the edge of the improvised pitch and the sounds of enjoyment float up into the blue of the sky. I leave the cricketers to their game and continue on my way. I have things to do for me and it feels like a very long time since I did just that, time for some me time I resolve.
The morning passes swiftly and it is soon time for lunch, fresh bread and jam’s made with fruit scavenged before we left town. There is the last of the cheese from the supermarket, the blue mould has been cut off, and although it is a bit warm it is tasty. Mick and his wife Charlie have brought the salad vegetables from their gardens and in the middle of the row of food stand tubs of salad, beautiful jewelled colours interspersed with the green on the lettuce. It is a huge treat for all of us and we soon clean up the food and the dishes are done. Then it’s off to the nearest patches of shade to rest through the heat of the day before the football match kicks off close to sunset. I head for my tent and lie on the top of the sleeping bag and doze fitfully through the heat and the buzzing of the ever present flies. The camp is quiet and peaceful as everyone takes advantage of the chance to rest.
Around mid-afternoon people start to stir and the cooking crew are ready to get underway with the fires and the meals for tonight. There are the sounds of children running about on various errands, their piping voices competing with the parrots in the shady trees around us. I can hear the quiet rumble of men’s voices close to the tent and lie still a while and listen to them. I can’t hear what they are saying, just the indistinct rumbles and it is a comforting sound for someone who has lived alone for so long. I am finding that the company is good for me as it is bringing out my strengths, but I do miss my alone time too, I am not used to being among people all the time and find that I do crave silence and just the company of my dogs. I decide that it is a good time to go for a walk with just the dogs for company and get away from the noise and bustle for a while. I tell Rhys and the other men who are standing in a group that I am off to give the dogs a run and quickly untie them from their chains and walk away before anyone can offer to come with me.
Peace enfolds me as I walk through the paddock towards the billabong and the dogs rush about and sniff for rabbits and other creatures. They never stray too far from me and are always looking to see where I am and how far I have to come to catch up with them. Puppy gambols at my heels and prances around excitedly, she is happy to have some quiet time too. Much as she is a favourite with the children she is ready for a break from the constant patting and cuddling.
I hear quiet rustling in the grass along the side of the billabong and see a huge diamond python heading down to the water to drink. I pick up puppy as she is small enough to eat and call the other dogs to heel. Buster and Duke, their black noses close to my heels walk quietly past the snake, but Girlie has other ideas, she stands her ground and barks at the snake until the rest of us are safely past. I tell her off and call her to heel quickly, the snake is not poisonous, but can and would crush her quickly with its coils and I don’t want to lose her that way. She is the only female dog of breeding age in the camp and we are going to need working dogs when we get to the other end. We will need her puppies to replace the older dogs over the years. She quietens down quickly and settles into a trot beside me as we continue our walk. An hour later and it is time to turn and head back to the campsite. I can hear the sounds of the football match in progress and am looking forward to watching the game. The sounds of other humans in the same vicinity are pulling me back. I have a job to do before I can regain the solitude that I crave.
As I walk back I can see black clouds gathering on the horizon and the smell of rain scents the air. The life blood of the outback,
the sudden thunderstorms that come through on a summer’s afternoon dropping rain to wet the parched earth and settle the dust. I pick up the pace to beat the storm and to make sure that the fire wood is undercover and my laundry is taken in to prevent it from getting wet again. As I near the camp I see that most of the attention is on the football match and that it appears that few people have noticed the black mass of cloud that is forming in the distance. This will change rapidly though as the storm is moving towards us quickly.
As I enter the campsite the sun is blotted out by the clouds and semi darkness covers the camp. People look up and realise that the storm is close. There is a scurrying of people towards the fires and tarpaulins are quickly wrapped around the firewood, washing is pulled from the lines under the trees and tent ropes are quickly checked and tightened. Preparations are quick and efficient for this the first storm since the earthquake. Bowls are put outside the tents to catch every drop of available water and vehicle windows are closed to keep the water out. Soon the first drops fall and the lightning starts to flash, followed by the earth shaking rolls of thunder. The majesty of the storms that sail unrestricted across miles of dry plains is a wonder to see. We shelter in the tents from the rain, but many of us leave the flaps open to watch the storms progress. The lightning show is magnificent and the sky is torn into pieces many times over as the jagged branches reach for the ground. Rain pelts down and the dust is soon turned to mud as the water soaks the dust and enters the soil to water the plants. The wind whips the branches of the gum trees and small bits of paper scatter before it. The smell of the rain on hot ground and the cordite from the lightning blend and perfume the air. As quickly as it arrives the storm moves on leaving a sea of mud in the middle of the campsite and water in every bucket and bowl that has been placed out to catch it.
