Ross River Fever

by Christopher Cummings

  In his mounting excitement Andrew steeled himself to move his own hand to Letitia’s front. His whole body seemed to be on fire and he had a driving urge to touch her breasts. Very gently he moved a hand that felt like it was on fore so he could just feel her left breast. She did not object to this so tried to summon up the courage to fondle her.

  At that moment the movie reached its climax. Andrew realized this with a sudden surge of panic. ‘The lights will come on in a moment!’ he thought, snatching his hands away. To his consternation he realized that Carmen was frowning and he thought she was looking out of the corner of her eye but he wasn’t sure.

  Letitia resisted his efforts for a minute, until awareness sank in. Then she moved to straighten up in her seat. Andrew managed to calm himself, just as the lights came on.

  CHAPTER 22

  SNOOPY

  Outside the theatre Andrew was surprised to find it was raining heavily. He was very pleased when Letitia took his hand and snuggled up to him as they walked. Out on the footpath they stopped and stood in a group. Andrew then acted boldly by putting his arm around Letitia and hugging her to him. To his relief Letitia did not resist or object and none of the others made any comment.

  For ten minutes they stood and talked, mostly about what to do the next day. Only then did Andrew remember the bullies. ‘I wonder where they are?’ he mused as he watched the rainwater cascading down to gush along the gutters. As he watched the water pouring down into the storm water drains the thought came to him that the bullies could not be hiding in the drains. ‘They must have some other camp or hideout,’ he decided.

  Then Letitia’s presence pushed thoughts of bullies out of his head and he experienced an urgent desire to be alone with her. He certainly did not want the evening to end but knew there was no point in suggesting anything as the adults were coming to pick them up.

  In his frustration Andrew sighed and hugged Letitia closer. She looked at him and smiled, then snuggled harder against him. Andrew noted Carmen frown but she was giving most of her attention to Jacob Edwards and appeared quite tense. For something to say Andrew said: “What are we doing tomorrow?”

  Martin shook his head. “Don’t know,” he replied. “What do you suggest?”

  Andrew really wanted to be alone with Letitia but he also badly wanted to go searching for the bullies but did not dare suggest either. Instead he shrugged and said: “What about canoeing again?”

  Martin nodded. “That would be fine but I doubt if Mum will allow it,” he replied.

  Carmen agreed: “Yes, not while these bullies are still running around.”

  “We could go somewhere they aren’t liable to be,” Andrew replied. So badly did he want to see Letitia again he was ready to agree to almost anything.

  Martin nodded. “Suppose so,” he replied. “But we’d have to get Mum to drive us there with the canoes.”

  “Where?” Anne asked.

  Martin looked at her with surprise. “Would you like to come?”

  “Yes I would,” Anne replied.

  “But where could we go?” Letitia asked.

  That was music to Andrew’s ears as he assumed it meant she wanted to be with him as well. “There must be parts of the river where the bullies wouldn’t go; or some other creek or river,” he said.

  Martin thought for a minute. “There’s the Burdekin, but that’s a couple of hours drive.”

  “What about the Ross down near the mouth?” Carmen suggested. That also cheered Andrew. He had been worried that she would not be interested.

  Martin nodded. “Yes, that would be good. I’ve never been there. We could put the canoes in the water at that boat ramp in Railway Estate where we turned back the last time and go down to the mouth of the river and back.”

  They discussed this for a while until a car drew in. It was Uncle Mel. Andrew felt a sharp stab of disappointment. No chance to get Letitia on her own! Reluctantly he started walking across to the car. Letitia clung to him and gave him a kiss as they reached it. Andrew could not help himself. He swung her to face him and embraced her. They kissed again. “I wish we could get away on our own,” he murmured.

  “Me too,” Letitia replied. She looked deep into his eyes and his senses seemed to swim. He swallowed and felt her pressing against him.

  “I think I’m in love with you,” he whispered.

  “Ooh that’s nice!” she replied. She grinned and hugged him, then gave him another kiss.

  Uncle Mel opened the car door and called out: “Come on you kids. You’ve had a couple of hours for all that. I want to get home!”

  Feeling hot and embarrassed Andrew let go and scrambled quickly into the car so that no-one would notice his state. Only then did he realize that Carmen and Jacob were still in a passionate embrace. With obvious reluctance they released each other and she moved to join him in the car. Jacob leaned in to hold her hand. Letitia blew a kiss. Martin and Anne stood holding hands and waving.

  Uncle Mel grunted a ‘humpf!’ and put the car in motion. “Good movie? Or didn’t you notice?” he asked.

  That made Andrew blush because he could barely remember the story but Carmen replied so he sat in silence most of the way, his emotions bubbling on a wave of ecstasy. ‘I’m in love!’ he thought. It was so wonderful!

  When they arrived home Aunty Bev wanted to know how the evening had gone and had supper ready. Andrew had to sit and talk, when all he wanted to do was get away alone. As soon as he decently could he said goodnight and walked to his bedroom. Once there he began changing into his pyjamas.

  While he was in the middle of this there was a knock at the door. It was Carmen. “Can I come in for a moment?” she asked.

  Andrew jumped onto his bed. “Yeah, if you want to.”

  Carmen came in and sat on his bed. “Did you have a good night?”

  “Yes thanks,” Andrew replied non-commitally.

  “I saw what you two were doing,” Carmen replied. “You be careful Andrew or you will end up in trouble.”

  Andrew flamed with embarrassment. “So will you!”

  “We weren’t going as far as you two,” Carmen replied levelly. “I’m serious Andrew. She might be a year older than you but she is still too young and so are you.”

  “I love her!” Andrew blurted out.

  Carmen shook her head. “You only think you do. And does she love you? Or is she just playing with you?”

  Playing with him! The double meaning scorched through Andrew and he knew he was blushing bright red. “She likes me,” he replied defensively.

  “She probably does but you are only thirteen and she is nearly fifteen. You are only just starting Year Nine and she will be going into Year Ten. I doubt if that will work for long. Just be careful please.” She frowned and looked anxiously at him. “Oh Andrew! I just don’t want you to get badly hurt.”

  “I won’t be,” Andrew replied gruffly. He just wanted Carmen to leave. To his relief she wished him goodnight and left. He then turned off his bedroom light and lay back to think things over. This quickly turned to hot memories and fantasies and he lay for a long time wondering what it might be like to actually ‘do it’.

  Eventually he drifted off to sleep as more rain drummed on the roof. Dreams stirred his conscious; erotic dreams of Letitia which somehow turned into nightmares with drowned bodies floating up to clutch at him as he and Letitia paddled along in a canoe. A rotting hand clawed at him from out of the murky water and he screamed.

  The light was on. Carmen was there, and Aunty Bev and Uncle Mel.

  “Andrew, are you alright?”

  Andrew realized he must have called out during the nightmare. He found he was sweating and shaking. “Just a bad dream,” he explained. Carmen wanted to know about it but he shook his head. He got up and went to the toilet, then lay with the light on after the others had gone back to bed. Horrible thoughts of death depressed him. He wrestled with these by trying to think about Letitia but found he was shivering and frightened. As he drifted off t
o sleep he had a terrible feeling of dread. His last conscious thought was to wonder where the thugs had got to.

  In the morning he felt tired and drained. In spite of this he knew he wanted to see Letitia more than anything. He showered and went to breakfast, pretending nothing was wrong.

  Aunty Bev looked hard at him as he sat at the dining table and said: “You look a bit pale Andrew. Are you alright?”

  “Yes Aunty Bev.”

  Carmen gave him a searching look but said nothing. Aunty Bev then asked: “What are you children planning to do today?”

  Andrew pursed his lips. He hated being called a child. He shrugged and replied: “We thought we might go canoeing down at the mouth of the river.”

  “Canoeing! Oh I don’t like that idea.”

  “I will be right away from this area where those bullies might be Aunty Bev,” Andrew replied earnestly. He could already picture Letitia sitting in front of him in the canoe.

  Aunty Bev looked doubtful. “Isn’t it salt water at the mouth of the river mouth?” she Bev asked.

  “Yes,” Andrew conceded.

  “Then there might be crocodiles and sharks.”

  “Oh Aunty, we aren’t planning to go swimming!” Carmen replied.

  “They might pull you out of the canoe,” Aunty Bev replied anxiously. For an instant the nightmare flitted across Andrew’s memory and he shuddered. Terrible thoughts of being dragged down into to murky green water to be torn into mangled shreds even before he had drowned crowded into his imagination. With an effort of will he pushed them down.

  Uncle Mel saved them by snorting and pointing out that no-one had been eaten by a crocodile in Townsville in living memory. Aunty Bev still wasn’t happy and asked how they would get there and so forth. Only when she had spoken to Mrs Schipholl on the phone was she placated and gave her approval.

  Carmen asked if she could use the phone as Aunty Bev put it down. “I want to see how Jill is,” she explained.

  She was well, but emphatically not allowed out as the police still had not caught the thugs. She said that her parents were seriously thinking of leaving town for a while to keep her safe. When Andrew heard that he was appalled. ‘Those thugs are frightening people so much they want to run away!’ he thought angrily. ‘Well not me!’ It made him even more determined to help find them.

  He kept this to himself however and instead asked for the phone in turn to ring Mark. He asked Mark if he wanted to come with them. Mark said he’d like to but would visit Jill first. Andrew put the phone down and went back to the table.

  “Is he coming?” Carmen asked.

  “Yes. Which canoe will he go in? Is Jacob coming?”

  Carmen shook her head sadly. “No. He’s got to work.”

  Preparations were then made for the expedition. Andrew dressed in old clothes and packed his bathers and an old towel in a bag along with snack food and a drink bottle. Then there was nothing to do but sit and wait till the Schipholl’s arrived. During the waiting Andrew became quite tense with expectation. He was also worried that Letitia might have changed her mind about him.

  Both canoes were lashed to the roof rack on Mrs Schipholl’s car. In the back sat Letitia and Anne. Letitia climbed out and Andrew noted with approval that she wore very short shorts and a loose cotton top with her bikini underneath. She was in a grumpy mood. “I had to help lift both those canoes on,” she said. “They are really heavy.”

  “Sorry. How are you?” Andrew asked. Now in the harsh light of day he was feeling diffident and nervous. She beamed him a smile and his spirits lifted. They then had to wait till Mark arrived on his bike. The teenagers were squeezed into the car. Andrew made sure he was next to Letitia. Anne and Martin squashed in beside him. Carmen and Mark went in the front. Aunty Bev said farewell with a final injunction to be careful about safety and not getting wet.

  Andrew made a face at that. Not get wet canoeing! He shook his head but said nothing. Mrs Schipholl did though: “From the look of all those rain clouds you will be lucky if you stay dry. Oh well, let’s hope you don’t get sick.”

  Sick! Andrew felt that already. For some reason he felt as though he had lead in his stomach, even though Letitia was pressing against him.

  Mrs Schipholl drove them to the boat ramp in Railway Estate, which took about fifteen minutes. On arrival they climbed out and the canoes were lifted down. As soon as a pick-up time was arranged Mrs Schipholl drove off. By then Andrew was starting to feel better. The sun was shining and a brisk, cool breeze was blowing. The river sparkled blue in the sun and the leaves looked extra green. In the distance masses of grey cloud draped the mountains. Curtains of rain fell from them but they did not appear to be headed in their direction.

  The canoes were carried to the water and their gear placed aboard. Lifejackets were handed out and paddles distributed. There was no discussion about who would go in which canoe. Carmen, Martin and Anne seated themselves in one, so Mark, Letitia and Andrew took the other. Andrew was accepted as captain without any dissent and Letitia seated herself in front of him.

  They expedition got under way at 11 am. The tide was on the ebb, which counter-acted the wind on the first stretch. The banks were steep mud about two metres high. On the right bank was a wide flat covered with knee-high saltwater grass. The left bank, closest to them, was a tangle of mangroves. There were no houses. A powerline was strung across a few hundred metres downstream, the wind humming through the wires. The water was deep in the main channel but shallow patches soon showed up. Fish started jumping and that made Andrew jump.

  “When big fish jump like that I wonder what must be chasing them!” Mark laughed, after a silver fish half a metre long went plop nearby.

  “Yes, whatever it is must be a lot bigger,” Andrew agreed. Then he had the nightmare again and looked nervously over the side at the murky green water. ‘Anything could live in that,’ he pondered. He shuddered and shook his head. ‘Stop being silly!’ he told himself. He dug his paddle in with renewed vigour but was careful not to drive it too deep. The water was salt. The tang of it was on the air and Andrew licked a drop off his hand to check.

  As they paddled along Andrew’s eyes were drawn constantly to Letitia, who sat only half a metre in front of him, her back resting against the cross-beam. He badly wanted to be alone with her and thoughts of what they might do soon had him aroused. He felt an almost irresistible urge to reach forward to stroke her neck and shoulders. She seemed in a happy mood and kept chattering cheerfully.

  After a few hundred metres the river curved to the left. At that point a deep creek about ten metres wide joined from the right. Mark pointed to it. “I wish we had time to explore that. I love creeks like that. They look so mysterious.”

  Andrew agreed but Carmen called from the other canoe: “I don’t want to go up it. If crocs live anywhere they will live there!”

  “Too right!” Martin agreed.

  They paddled on around the curve to the left. Mangroves lined both banks and several small and grubby looking launches were anchored in mid-stream. A grumpy looking old man was on one of them so they gave it wide berth, angling in towards the left bank. An aluminium runabout sped past in the opposite direction with two older youths in it. Fishing rods poking out attested to their motives.

  In avoiding the man in the anchored launch they had followed a course close to the left bank. This was still all mangroves. The trees all had reddish-brown trunks with small exposed buttress roots. They were growing in level black mud and Andrew noted what looked like man-made tracks leading into the forest at various points. He pointed to one and said: “That looks like a track.”

  “Yes, it does,” Mark agreed. “Probably made by the local gang of kids to get to their favourite fishing spot.”

  At the mention of ‘gang’ Andrew had a horrible thought. He stared hard at the mangrove forest and saw another track leading off into its gloomy interior. “You don’t think..?”

  Mark shook his head. “No, not that gang. Too far out of
their area. This will just be the local kids.”

  Andrew nodded and said: “I’d like to catch those bullies.”

  “So would I!” Mark replied with vehemence.

  The next stretch of the river was at least a kilometre long. The left bank opened out to a wide expanse of salt marsh and grass with occasional mangroves. Visible beyond the flat were the houses of Railway Estate. The right bank was covered in mangroves, a real forest of trees at least ten metres tall. The tide was draining out of them exposing the black mud at their roots. Inside the forest looked gloomy and forbidding. Mosquitoes and sandflies began to bother them. A mangrove creek opened out on the right just as they passed another boat ramp. This was on the end of the grassy flat and a gravel road led to it. Several cars and boat trailers were parked there and a few people were busy launching a dinghy.

  The river curved slowly to the right and they began to encounter small swells. Soon after that they passed a colony of ‘Flying Foxes’, the tropical fruit bat, which gathered in thousands to hang upside down in the branches during the day. The stench of their droppings was pungent, even above the sea smells of rotting marine life and salt water. The Flying Foxes made a raucous cacophony with screeching and cackling. It was fascinating but not very pleasant.

  To get a good look at them they had steered the canoes across the river, which was now well over a two hundred metres wide, to the right bank. The mouth of another deep, mangrove lined creek was passed. Soon after that they reached row after row of anchored yachts and launches.

  Andrew ran his eyes over the moored small craft. There was a wide variety of types: yachts, launches, trawlers and work boats; and a wide range of quality, from fancy luxury yachts to battered and poorly maintained ketches. Some were brand new, all gleaming paint, chrome and plastic. Others were old, wooden craft with peeling paint and rust streaks. He found them fascinating. A lovely old ketch particularly caught his eye.