Outback Exodus (14 page)

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.

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, f
un, relaxation and a sense 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.

The cooking fires are steaming, but are still hot enough to get the dry wood going and soon the dinner is cooking away again and people are milling about with muddy feet and big grins on their faces. We have enjoyed the storm, even if the place is muddy now, but no damage has been done and it means that there will be more water in the creeks as we find them and that will help along the way. Every container with a lid that will hold water has been pressed into service to take the rain water and it is being loaded onto the vehicles. Water is so very precious in the outback that we try and save every drop we can in case we end up at a campsite without water.

Dinner over a sing song is underway and the camp settles for an evening’s entertainment.  The old songs ring through the night sky and the group is a happy place to be. I sit there wrapped in the warmth of the camaraderie and dream of times gone by.

James is looking tired now, despite a rest during the afternoon and it is soon time to take him back to the medical tent to settle in for the night. He is brimming over with the events of the day and is quite chatty as I help him get ready for the night and tuck him in his bed. He requests pain killers, telling me he is a bit sore and feels that they will help get the pain down enough for him to sleep well. He still wants to get out and about tomorrow so wants a good
night’s sleep. I give him his pain killers and he is soon snuggled down in the bed and drifting off to sleep with a gentle smile on his face.

“Goodnight Jenn, and thanks for all your help.” James says with a sleepy yawn.

Goodnight sweetie, it is my pleasure to help you.” I tell James as I turn off the torch and settle the flap down as I leave. I stand at the entrance and listen as his breathing settles into the rhythm of sleep then turn and walk back to the largest of the fires and the gathered campers there.

I look at the glow of the fire and
at the red eyes of the cooking fires banked down with white ash to keep them hot until the morning. Their glow is eerie in the darkness and feels almost as if eyes are watching me as I walk. I begin to feel a little spooked and notice the absence of the night sounds that usually are still present even during the sing a longs around the camp fire. This brings to mind the earthquake and I wonder. No frogs are calling down at the billabong and the bats are silent tonight and I cannot hear the crickets in the trees around us. Something is going to happen, I am just not sure what. The dogs are quiet, but they have been fed and are settled in their usual posts around the fire engine. The cab door is open for puppy to come and go and as I walk towards the camp fire she emerges and scampers over to me. Her tail and ears are down and she looks frightened.