Outback Exodus (10 page)

The hours fly by and soon it is time to get ready for the party. A large group of men have already been down to the creek to bathe and are back getting dressed in whatever decent clothing they can find that fits. There is going to be a great difference in standards of dress throughout the party, but everyone wants to do their best. Now it is the turn of the women and small children to bathe. The creek is still fairly fast flowing and by the time the ladies get down to it most of the soap the men have used has dissipated. There are squeals and giggles as the cool water flows around us, while hair is washed and we clean the grime of the day off our bodies. There is laughter from the children too as they run about and are grabbed by their families to be washed and scrubbed. We all dress the children and then ourselves. It is then we discover what the large box Sandra has brought with her contains. As she opens it we all ooh and aah. There nestled in the box are all kinds of makeup, perfumes and deodorants. Sandra smiles at the reaction her treasure has garnered. Even here in the outback
we girls do love to primp up for a party.

Sandra told me later that she and Paul had sneaked down town alone to raid the chemist shops in the main street. There were two and neither owner had survived the first earthquake. The medications were taken to the hospital immediately and Helen had been sworn to secrecy about the rest of the treasure from the midnight raid. For so many of the women it was the perfect gift at the perfect time. There would be plenty of make up for everyone and it would be put back in the box until the next big party. Sandra also told me that there were another eight boxes loaded onto the semi-trailers with most of the contents from the chemists and supermarket beauty aisles. Sandra considered it necessary for us all to have something to look forward to and had taken Rhys into her confidence and ensured that there would be space to load her precious boxes. Space was at a premium, but those boxes were made to fit into the space that was left over and would be treasured by both the men and women of our group for a long time to come.

Clothing and shoes were put on and we each helped the others with their make-up. Once everyone was ready we left the deep pool at the creek and headed back towards the camp site to pick up the food and supplies required for the party. Walking in a flowing silk gown felt strange after so long in jeans and singlet tops and the high heels hurt my feet in a very different way from the daily boots. It did feel special to be dressed up though and for the first time since New Year’s Day I felt like a woman. I could see the same feeling crossing the faces of the other women and a determination to make sure that we did this on a regular basis once we were settled overcame me. Social interaction for the sake of it was going to be necessary for this group to meld and bond, parties and get togethers were going to help form and strengthen those bonds.

Krystal and I had one thing to do before we headed off to the party and we walked briskly across the grass to the hospital tents. We took the box of make up with us and deposited it with Helen so that the current shift could get ready to come across later this evening. We then asked Helen’s permission to take James down to the oval for a little while so that he could join in the fun. We had found a wheelchair in the ruins of the hospital and given it to Raymond to modify with fat tyres and bicycle wheels so that it would work as an all-terrain chair and he had fitted a seat belt for safety
. Helen was happy for James to come with us and we wheeled the chair over to his tent. Leaving it outside Krystal and I entered and as promised showed off our party finery before telling James that he was coming too. Those faded blue eyes lit up with joy and he was anxious that he had nothing to wear. I quickly produced the shirt and track pants that I had left on the wheelchair, Krystal and I helped James to dress and brush his greying hair before we gently helped him into the wheelchair and pushed him out of the tent and across the grass to the party. James was excited to be out of the hospital tent, his head turned and his smile grew wider as he saw people that he knew. Two of his old cronies had survived and were sitting on the grandstand and his joy knew no bounds. We wheeled him over and the three elderly gentlemen proceeded to have a wonderful reunion.

Young Thomas came over and spoke to James and his friends Rick and Gordon and was soon put into service as a drinks waiter. It made Krystal smile to see the interaction between her oldest son and the elderly. We looked around though and found that many of the teenagers were doing the same thing for the adults at the party.

“It’s our gift to you all for taking care of us Jenn.” Thomas said quietly. “We appreciate what you are doing and want to do everything we can to help out. Thanks for the responsibility that the group scouting party have too, we will do our best to make sure that things are kept going well.” His excited voice carried to the older men who then proceeded to question him on the plans of the boys and girls who formed the scouting party.

Krystal and I left James in the care of his old friends and Thomas. We did ask Thomas to come and fetch us if James got tired and wanted to go back to his bed and were delighted when he agreed.
We made our way to the drinks tables and after getting a couple of soft drinks we walked around talking to members of the group.  Some time was spent soothing the fears of people and some spent answering questions. So many questions and so few real answers, much as it hurts to say this there were many unanswered questions. We just did not know what we were going to find as we headed for the coast. We did not know if there were other bands of survivors and we did not know if there was anyone able to come to our rescue. I concluded the question and answer period with the statement.” We don’t know what is out there, we don’t know if there are others and we are not sure if we will ever be rescued. It is up to us to rescue ourselves.” As I finish I hear quiet applause behind me and turn to find both Gavin and Rhys smiling and clapping their hands.

“I couldn’t have put it better Jenn.” Gavin states with a smile in my direction. “Folks, let’s not worry about that tonight, we are here for a party so let’s get on and enjoy ourselves. “ He rumbles to the group around us. “Come on Jenn, Krystal, there is a CD player, some CD’s and batteries; we are going to have music and dancing. I want a dance with each of you.” He continued as he put his arm through mine and Rhys did the same with Krystal.

We walked away arm in arm and talking as we approached the impromptu dance floor and found Sandy in charge of the music. The CD selection was limited, but there was music from most eras and many people were dancing together. Older generation with the younger and couples holding tight to each other as they relived previous dances from happier times. There were mothers and fathers dancing with small babies in their arms and toddlers dancing and running around underfoot. A real country dance was in progress. The pleasure was showing on many faces and I knew that my smile grew wider as Gavin took me in his arms and we danced to an old time waltz. We were able to talk quietly as we danced to the bracket of three numbers and it was hard for others to overhear our quiet voices as we discussed the issues that had just been brought up and Gavin was impressed when he heard me tell everyone that we had to rescue ourselves. It was something he had been planning on telling everyone that tonight. I told him that the words just popped into my head as I was talking.

“I figured that if anyone was out there we would have seen signs of aircraft movement by now and as we had not then we are going to have to get ourselves out of this one.” I tol
d Gavin as he whirled me around the area set aside for dancing. “There may be no help out there at all so we just have to deal with this one with our own resources Gavin.” I finish.

He looks down at me and smiles again. “Just stole all my thunder girl, still as long as we are thinking the same way things should run smoothly.” He laughs and his blue eyes twinkle in fun.
“Never fear Jenn, we will get this crowd to the coast and we will be able to settle them down again. If we all work together it will be easier. No matter what, we are going to do this.” He rumbles quietly in my ear, his smile lighting up his face behind his glasses and his arms tightening in a hug.

The music ends and a different beat reverberated through the quiet air of the night. Rhys comes over with Krystal and we swap partners. Time is spent just enjoying the music and changing
dance partners frequently.

Gavin gets up on the grandstand and tells everyone that we are heading for the coast, with access to the sea
we will stand a better chance of being found if there is anyone out there to rescue us. The chances are though that there is no one able to do this as there have been no radio communications or aircraft movements since the first quake. It looks as if we are going to have to do the job ourselves. Being close to the coast will bring other benefits too, fresh fish, better soil for crops and as the population on the coast is greater there are better chances of banding together with other survivors to exchange skills and use a barter system. Gavin did explain that he had been planning to share this information last night, but due to circumstances beyond his control he had been unavailable to do so. The apology was met with glares in the direction of last night’s trouble makers and laughter at Gavin’s good humour.

Gavin’s statement is met with quiet applause from the gathered crowd and he then hands things back to young Sandy who has taken charge of the music and walks back towards the committee members gathered on the sidelines.

Soon Thomas comes to fetch Krystal and I as James is ready to go back to bed. We tell the others we will be back when James is settled and walk across the grass to take him back to bed. James looks tired, but content as we approach. He has enjoyed time with his friends and watching the party. Thomas walks with us to help with the wheelchair and to assist us to put a very tired James back into his bed. James is soon settled and is nodding off to sleep almost as soon as his head touches the pillow. The excitement of the last hour and a half has exhausted him and he needs to sleep to recover. I don’t think that he will be looking for pain killers tonight, tiredness will keep him asleep for some hours, the pain muted by the enjoyment he has had tonight.

Krystal, Thomas and I let Helen know that James is back in his bed and resting quietly. She tells us that she will go and check on him soon and we head off across the grass to the party.
As we approach we hear the sound of raised voices and smashing glass. Krystal, Thomas and I start to run towards the noise.

As we draw nearer we see that there are at least four or five people fighting close to the tables and one table has collapsed under the weight of a human body. I see Rhys standing there in a ripped white shirt with his fist raised ready to hit John Evans. John and
his mates have come across to the party despite being told that they were not welcome. Being told that they had to leave has started a fight and this fight is getting nasty. Nate Bright stands over Paul with a broken bottle in his hand and Paul is lying semi-conscious on the ground and unable to defend himself. Suddenly a shot rings out overhead and through the crowd comes Gavin, pistol drawn and an angry look on his face.

“Enough you three, I have had more than enough of your behaviour. This is your last chance. If any of you move I am going to shoot you where you stand.” Gavin bellows into the silence that follows the shot. His arm holding the pistol drops down and the gun is now centred on Nate’s chest.

A look of fear crosses the face of the overweight man and the bottle in his hand drops harmlessly to shatter on the ground at his feet. The fight seems to go right out of him in that instant.

“John told us to come over and if we were told to go to start a fight so that we can get our hands on some of the grog.” Were the first words that tumbled out of Nate’s
mouth.  “He said that it would work and that you would all be too afraid to challenge us after we beat you up last night.” The last few words are addressed to Gavin.

“Guess he was wrong then.” Gavin states in a quiet deadly voice. “John Evans, if this keeps up you will be left behind with your mates to fend for yourselves, we don’t need this sort of thing causing problems within the group. There are going to be problems enough on the road without all this crap.” Gavin addresses John directly and those blue eyes have turned to ice behind his glasses. “This is your one and only warning, next lot of trouble and you three will be left stranded without any equipment, do you understand what I am saying?” Gavin throws the question out of his mouth like he is spitting poison.

“You can’t manage without me, you need my electrical skills.” John states. “You will need me when you get where you are going to set up the electrical systems and to make sure the houses are safe for it.” He states in a cocky manner of a man who feels he is indispensible.

“You bloody galah; we don’t even know if there will be power ever again in our lifetimes.”  Rhys chimes in from the table where he is leaning nursing a bleeding nose. His voice is slightly muffled and nasal from the rag he is holding to his face.

“Rhys is right!” Gavin says loud enough for everyone to hear. “Your skills are possibly going to be redundant and therefore, we may not need you at all. Paul and Raymond can run the generators well so there is probably no need for your services at all. It is now your choice and up to you to behave if you want to be part of this group. We can and will manage without the three of you.” There is a stirring in the crowd as the news sinks in that we don’t expect to need an electrician and that things are possibly going to be rougher than they thought. So many of the things that we have discussed as a committee have not been made public and probably would not have been unless we had too, have now been partially disclosed.