Without You I Have Nothing (76 page)

_{When Peter bent to
kiss her, she didn't taste like Jennifer. He whispered, "You are safe
now,” as he carefully manipulated the bolt cutters and removed the collar.}

_{The sheet below her
was soaked with blood.}

_{Peter had no warning
of the extent of her abuse. Frozen as he tried to comprehend her injuries,
Peter felt gentle hands coming to rest on his shoulder forcing him to stand
aside.}

_{Quietly the Gurkha
surgeon from the farm consoled him. "Jennifer is in my care now and she
will recover.”  He called up the stairs in Nepali and two Gurkhas promptly
arrived and, after carefully wrapping her in blankets, carried her to the
waiting Mercedes.}

_{Suddenly Peter
realized one of his trusted Tamil friends was speaking to him.}

_{"The carpet
rolls containing our prisoners - the bullyboys, the doctor, the nurse, Pretty
Boy and Dingo are loaded in the van. It's quite an interesting load!  Joe is
waiting to take you with Jennifer and the surgeon in the second Mercedes. She's
wrapped in blankets and is as comfortable as our surgeon can make her."}

_{Peter was relieved to
leave the brothel.}

_{He did not realize it
was so late when Joe opened the workshop and the van rolled in beside the
cattle trailer followed by the Mercedes.}

_{Pushing Peter aside,
the Gurkha surgeon assumed responsibility for Jennifer's wellbeing. Peter felt
relief that at last Jennifer was receiving the medical attention she so
desperately needed.}

_{While the surgeon
attended to Jennifer, Joe and Peter unloaded the cargo of rolled up carpets and
slid them under the false floor of the trailer but not before sealing every
mouth and binding arms and legs so there could be no kicking. There would be no
sounds and no movement from the prisoners. Peter could only wonder what Dingo
would think when he realized his 'wife' and Pretty Boy were beside him.}

_{The criminal doctor,
the nurse and Dingo's guards made up the load of a dozen captives. The rest of
Dingo's associates were dead.}

_{The Blake Pastoral
truck was standing ready with the trailer hitched behind when Peter donned his
overalls and his welding gloves. He wept silently when he saw the pathetic
little body that was Jennifer lying unconscious on the bed behind the driver's
seat. Yet he felt relieved that the Gurkha surgeon was travelling with them.}

_{The surgeon had taken
care to make her as comfortable as possible.}

_{"No!  I need no
guards with me. The surgeon and I can look after any mishaps.”  Peter adamantly
rejected help. "I'll pick up those steers tonight and continue home.}

_{“Joe, thank the taxi
drivers and everyone involved. I'm most grateful. You keep your workshop going.
Okay?  Tell Maria she has a wonderful husband. I could never have succeeded
without my friends."}

_{No one exchanged
words of farewell. None were needed as Joe hugged Peter almost crushing him in
his bear-like grip. Peter swung into the cab and drove off into the traffic
without a backward glance.}

_{He was taking his
wife home.}

_{He saw a number of
cars fall into place behind him and knew his friends were determined that he
would arrive safely with his precious cargo, his wife.}

_{There was no need for
tablets tonight. There was no requirement for anything but food. At a trucker's
café, he ordered meals for the surgeon and himself and carried them back to the
cab.}

_{He phoned Andrew
telling him he was still short of Bathurst where he had to load the steers.}

_{Andrew wasn't
interested. "What about Sis?”  He knew where his priorities lay.}

_{"Oh?  You mean
my wife?”  In spite of all that had happened, Peter couldn't help teasing her
brother.}

_{"You're a proper
bastard. Where's Jennifer?"}

_{"She's asleep on
the bed behind the driver's seat - but she's in very bad shape. Give the nurse
a message from the surgeon. She’s to prepare the operating theatre as Jennifer
is on the way and needs immediate attention. It's as though the bastards set
out to destroy her as a woman.}

_{"Oh, by the way,
we have twelve guests,” he continued. "Could you and Dad,” the word
slipped out but it felt good, "prepare some suitable accommodation for
some short term guests near the wild boar pens?  They won't be staying long. How
are all our other guests?}

_{"Tell Mum I have
Jennifer and the surgeon with me. We'll be there soon, as I'll be loading the
steers in about an hour's time and will drive nonstop. Bye."}

_{He didn't wait for
any further questions but attacked the medium rare steak and chips. The fried
eggs were excellent as were the piles of toast, and the meals contained enough
energy to see them through the long journey into the night.}

_{As they ate, all he
could think of was the wretched, pitiful shell of a woman who had traveled,
without moving, in the bed behind his driver's seat. His heart ached at her
injuries and trauma but he knew he loved her more than ever and wanted to hold
her safe from the world.}

_{The surgeon's support
was comforting and Peter was grateful for his humane assistance and sympathetic
presence on this long journey.}

_{At 7.30 the next
morning, Peter rang Andrew from the truck stop nearest the farm. "I'll be
there within the hour, Andrew, and will be driving in through the forest.” 
Pausing, he listened to Andrew's loud complaints.}

_{"Shut up Andrew
and listen. I'm tired. Just shut the fuck up and listen.”}

_{Peter paused as
shouts came down the line. "Yes, I know it'll be a tight fit, but that's
the road I'll use. I'll drop the passengers at the pigpens and they're yours to
hold. Make certain four Gurkhas are with you as I don't wish to chase escapees
all over the Victorian countryside."}

_{Losing patience at
Andrew's interjections he rudely roared, "For God's sake, Andrew just
listen!  I'm not interested in your dad, your mum nor you. This is my wife so
we do as I say.}

_{"No!”  He almost
screamed into the phone.}

_{"Jennifer will
not be in your home, not until she is checked for drugs, sexually transmitted diseases
and certainly not until her body is restored.”}

_{A babble of arguments
resounded in Peter’s ear.}

_{"Look Andrew if
you bloody argue I'll turn this fucking truck around now and drive back to
Sydney and both Jennifer and I will disappear forever. Warn your parents I'm at
the limit, the end of my tether, and will brook no arguments. I'll never risk
my wife again. Is that understood?"}

_{Obviously, Andrew was
passing his terms to his parents, because there was a long pause.}

_{"Is that
understood?”  Peter screamed into the phone repeating the question.}

_{Andrew replied. "We'll
carry out your wishes, Peter. Dad and I will be waiting on tractors. One of us
will follow you and the other will be in front once you get to the forest in
case you become stuck.}

_{"For God's sake,
take care as you've driven through the night and no matter what you assume, we
all love you and Jennifer equally. Can I tell our people Jennifer is with
you?"}

_{"Yes but don't
let them start celebrating yet . You've never seen a party until you've seen
them let their hair down. See you soon"}

_{The two tractors were
waiting as promised. Slowly Eric led the way though the State Forest while
Andrew brought up the rear.}

_{At the pigpens, they
stopped and Eric stood his ground.}

_{"Listen Peter,
you are one hell of a good man but Jennifer is my daughter so I want to help
you unload the human animals. Don't tell me you don't want me in trouble with
the police, just don't go there. I'm going to help."}

_{From the false tray
under the steers, that bellowed and stamped their anger at being on the
trailer, the three men dragged the criminals wrapped in carpet. Every one of
the prisoners, soaked in urine and covered in manure, had regained
consciousness. They didn't smell, they stank and Andrew led them one at a time
to a small tin shed.}

_{Chained by the neck
to the wall, the nurse and the Katoey fared no better than the others. When one
of the guards begged for food and a drink, Andrew drove his foot into his
groin.}

_{"Shut the fuck
up!  That girl was my sister and did you feed her or treat her like a human
being. Say anything and I'll kill you now."}

_{Andrew reached under
his shirt and unsheathed a Kukri, then dragged the razor sharp point down the
man's shirt until a thin line of blood followed the tip.}

_{Peter was astounded
as he knew Gurkhas don't give Kukris away except to those they admire.}

_{Leaving the prisoners
with four Gurkha guards, Peter drove the truck to the cottage hospital,
refusing to allow either of Jennifer's men-folk to see her. He knew how the
shock would affect them but was forced to enlist Andrew's aid to get her out of
the cabin.}

_{The surgeon insisted
they followed his directions so that Jennifer's body was not further
traumatized.}

_{"Jesus, oh
Christ!”  Andrew's words showed his revulsion. "Those bastards!  What the
fuck have they done to her?"}

_{The vehemence and the
anger brought his father from the other side of the truck. Eric didn't swear. He
didn't show his anger. He dropped to his knees and wept.}

_{The surgeon called
the nurse and together they placed Jennifer on the hospital gurney. Only then
did Andrew and his father realize the full extent of Jennifer's injuries.}

_{Peter knelt beside
the gurney and put his lips to Jennifer's hand as it hung low. "My love
you are safe now and soon, very soon, we will be out riding on the farm.”}

_{Unable to add
anything through his tears he allowed his passion to flow through his lips onto
her fingers.}

_{The surgeon assisted
him to his feet and ushered him out of the room with Andrew and Eric. "We
need to stabilize Jennifer in preparation for surgery tomorrow,” he said.}

_{The three men were
standing, dazed on the verandah when the sudden scream of an engine under
torment broke through their grief and a motor scooter skidded to a halt in
front of them. Elizabeth had arrived and raced past them straight into the
hospital. Before they could move, they heard her scream and immediately knew
she had seen Jennifer.}

_{Eric struggled to his
feet and went to support his wife bringing her back outside to wait with them. White-faced,
grim, shaking and sobbing, Elizabeth sat with them on the steps of the hospital
awaiting the surgeon's verdict.}

_{Hour after hour
passed and not one of the three seemed to notice that a guard was in position. They
pecked at the food and sipped at the drinks that the nurse had brought them.}

_{They said nothing,
just sitting there, holding each other and leaning against each other for
support.}

_{"Shit - the
steers!”  Peter remembered the load.}

_{"The stockmen
have looked after them and the guards have given some food and water to the prisoners,”
the RSM, who had been standing unnoticed with the guard, had a toothy grin. "We
can't let anything happen to them before their judgment day."}

_{It was dark and cold
when the surgeon finally appeared.}

_{"Jennifer's
sleeping soundly and is in no distress now,” he announced. "You can do
nothing. You can achieve nothing by remaining here. Get a good night's sleep. We'll
look after Jennifer."}

_{Peter stood and
marched straight past the surgeon into the ward. "Jennifer's my wife and
here I stay. I won't be a nuisance but here I stay.”  His words were insistent.}

_{The surgeon and the
nurse left while Peter remained, kneeling on the floor with his head on
Jennifer's pillow. When Jennifer made the slightest movement, he was instantly
alert and when the nurse returned the next morning, he was awake still holding
his beloved wife's hand.}

_{Late the following
morning Jennifer was lying on her back, eyes open, staring at the ceiling,
making no sound at all. Even when Peter spoke, it was as though she was deaf,
as she didn't react. Her eyes showed no brief gleam of recognition and she
didn't answer.}

_{The surgeon ushered
Peter out of the room as the nurse prepared Jennifer for surgery. On the
verandah, the surgeon explained.}

_{"Whoever did
this to her needs to be brought to justice. The bastards have done extensive
damage. We've x-rayed her and at least we can repair her physical body . She
should be her old self after we remove the rings and we give her time to heal.}