The Road Back: A Novel

by Di Morrissey

  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 ambos 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 moving 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.

  ‘Megaaaan . . .’ he called.

  ‘I’m here, Dad . . .’ Her voice was nearer. Then he heard Alex calling out.

  ‘Up to the right, Chris. Follow the light.’

  He was still among the tall old trees, trying frantically to make his way towards the lights. Then through the curtain of rain he could see a bright light and the figure of someone carrying a bundle wrapped in an oilskin.

  ‘Look up here. We’ve got her, Chris.’ Alex’s voice was elated and cracking with emotion.

  ‘Where are you, Dad? I want my father,’ sobbed the voice inside the raincoat.

  ‘Megan, oh, my girl. I’m here . . .’

  He reached Alex, who gave him the wet and shivering girl. Megan put her arms around her father’s neck, sobbing and muttering incoherently. Chris held her tightly to him, his fingers in the dripping tangle of her hair, her body saturated and cold against his. Chris clung to her, feeling both the joy of relief and the fear of what might have been.

  By now Shaun had caught up and immediately unrolled a silver insulation sheet.

  ‘Here, Megan, let me get this around you. It will help warm you up,’ he said kindly.

  ‘Darling, we have all been so very worried. Are you hurt at all?’

  ‘No, but Dad, I was so scared . . . I’m sorry.’

  ‘Shh. There’s nothing to be sorry about. It’s over now. Just as long as you are okay. That’s the important thing.’

  The insulation blanket crackled as he crushed his daughter to his chest as though he would never be able to let her go. He looked at his friends over the top of Megan’s head. ‘Thank you, all of you.’

  ‘No worries,’ said Shaun with a grin, trying to disguise the relief he felt. ‘I owed you one anyway.’

  ‘I’m just glad she’s in one piece,’ said Alex. ‘They won’t be long bringing down a rescue litter for you, Megan. Bit far for you to walk. And you’re probably suffering from hypothermia, so we have to look after you.’

  Megan nodded, her teeth chattering, and buried her head in her father’s shoulder once more.

  *

  A cheer went up when Megan and the stretcher party reached the café. Chris had held her hand all the way back, reluctant to let her go. Then from the sea of smiling faces and bright lights Susan dashed forward, followed by David. She hugged Megan, who started to cry again. Chris, very relieved to see his mother, let go of Megan’s hand, slumped into a chair and started to shake. He was handed a mug of hot sweet tea as a doctor started to examine Megan.

  ‘Oh, Bunny, I’m so sorry you had to come back. Sorry, David,’ said Megan, tears running down her cheeks.

  ‘Of course we had to come. I was so worried about you, and you are far more important than some old organic farm,’ said Susan.

  ‘Your grandmother loves you very much. There was never any question about us coming back. You come first and that’s how it should be,’ said David.

  ‘Thank you, Dad. I knew you’d come,’ said Megan in a little forlorn voice.

  ‘That’s what fathers are for, my darling.’

  ‘Oh my God. Jill.’ Chris pulled his phone out and rang Jill’s mobile.

  ‘Jill. It’s me. It’s all right. Megan’s been found.’

  ‘Oh, thank God,’ said Jill. ‘Chris, I’ve been frantic with worry. All I knew was that Megan was lost and I couldn’t get through to you. Why was your phone turned off?’

  ‘I’ve been out of phone range for a couple of hours, searching for Megan, but she’s fine now. I’ll put her on in a minute.’ Briefly Chris told Jill what had happened and then waited for the tirade he knew would follow.

  ‘How could you be so stupid letting her go bushwalking on her own! You are so irresponsible, Chris. How could you? I knew you wouldn’t be capable of looking after her. For God’s sake, put her on.’

  Trying to remain calm, Chris said, ‘Jill, she didn’t go out on her own. This was just an unfortunate accident. Everything’s all right now.’ Without waiting to hear any more, Chris handed Megan the phone. ‘It’s your mother.’

  She made a face and whispered, ‘Is she mad?’

  ‘Only at me. It’s not your fault, just tell her you’re okay.’

  He leaned back in a chair and shut his eyes. It had all been nightmarish and now he was exhausted. He couldn’t wait to go home and get to bed.

  Chris listened to his daughter as she placated her mother, assuring her that she was fine.

  Finally Megan hung up, and Chris opened his eyes and looked at her expectantly. ‘She’s okay now,’ Megan reported. ‘She was frightened and a bit mad at you. You know she gets cranky when she’s stressed.’

  ‘People react differently when things go wrong,’ said Susan. ‘Don’t take it to heart. She probably wishes she wasn’t so far away.’

  Watching his mates get themselves cups of tea and coffee, Chris felt so grateful for their efforts that he was suddenly at a loss for words. These men were his friends. He’d known them since they were all young boys together. And for him they had unhesitatingly dropped everything to help. He knew that if he needed the
m again they would do the same, as would he for them. They were solid and dependable and he hoped that one day he might have the chance to repay them. Chris went quickly to shake hands with the police commander and thank him for his help, and then he moved among the members of the SES and the police rescue squad, the paramedics and the doctor as well as the volunteers who had provided food and hot drinks for everyone, letting them all know how thankful he was. So many people had been involved in looking for his daughter. He found it hard to find the right words to express his gratitude.

  The doctor spoke quietly to Chris.

  ‘Your daughter needs to go to the local hospital for observation, Chris. She has mild hypothermia and she shouldn’t go home until her body temperature is back to normal. It might be best to keep her in overnight.’

  ‘I don’t want to go to hospital. I want to go home,’ cried Megan when she heard.

  ‘Darling, we can’t take any chances with you. You need proper medical attention. But I’ll be with you all the time, so don’t worry,’ said Chris. ‘I promise I won’t leave you.’

  Before Megan was loaded into the back of the ambulance, she insisted that Chris ring Jazzy to let her know that everything was fine. It was only a brief conversation. ‘Jazzy is really pleased, but she’s really, really tired. Her mother had to wake her up. I said you’d ring her tomorrow, when you’re home.’

  Chris sat beside Megan in the ambulance as they drove to the small community hospital, while David took Chris’s car back to Neverend. Once Megan was admitted to a ward, she went to sleep straight away. About ten minutes later, Chris suddenly realised that he had forgotten to tell Georgia the good news. By now it was after midnight, so he walked quietly out of the ward and sent her a text message. She rang back immediately.

  ‘Oh, Chris, that is such good news. I couldn’t get to sleep because I’ve been so worried. Where are you now?’

  Chris explained that he was spending the night in a chair beside Megan’s hospital bed.