Red Hot (56 page)

Karl hurried outside to tell the others what he had learned from Frank.

‘Frank’s had a report of a grass fire just out passed the Gap. He’s got trucks goin’ out there now.’

Win felt her heart miss a beat. ‘Not another Gap fire!’

‘Frank’s distraught. We all know what this means. He’s feared the worst for weeks. It’s a potential furnace out there!’

‘If this gets out of hand, I don’t want you involved, Karl,’ Emmie said firmly. ‘You have only just started to get back on your feet after the accident. You’re not strong enough to go out fighting fires.’

Emmie had heard the commotion and came outside.

‘Em’s right, Karl,’ Digger agreed. ‘If this does get a go on, your best place is here at home.’

The shrilling of the phone interrupted them. Kathy ran inside to answer it.

‘Dad,’ she called out. ‘It’s Frank Smith!’

He wasn’t long on the phone. He hurried back to face his anxious family.

‘It’s bad?’ Karl looked at Digger, his face grim.

Digger nodded ‘Yes, several more grass fires have been reported out at Jindera and they’re spreading rapidly towards the hills!’

The colour drained from all their faces. If the fires got amongst the hills… Hamilton Valley would be in dreadful danger. In fact, if that happened, evacuations would be enforced. ‘I’m gonna take the water truck and head out there. Don’t even think of coming, Karl. We have a new truck now and you’re on the mend, we don’t want any more injuries or accidents. You go and phone Sam and get him to have Des and Eric ready. I’ll pick them up on the way.’

Poor Karl knew it was pointless arguing. He felt useless but he knew he would probably be a hindrance to the blokes anyway.

The smell of smoke was stronger now.

Win cast Ellie a knowing look. ‘I think Mum should go back up to bed. Get some rest while she can!’

Ellie agreed and, after some coaxing, Emmie gave in and went back up to bed. Before she lay down, she made them promise to keep her informed on the fire and Beth.

They said they would, knowing they had to protect her as much as they could from any stress.

Digger had the water truck ready and, after kissing Win and the girls, he shook Karl’s hand and gave his shoulder a squeeze, telling him to look after the family.

The fires spread quickly. Fire brigades from Lavington and Albury raced out to Jindera. Burrumbuttock brigades were there when they arrived and brigades from other towns arrived soon after. Farmers and fruit growers rallied together to help control the fires before they destroyed their properties. They poured gallons of water on to the blazes, but as fast as they got one fire out, another flared up. It was too much for them. The flames raced into the hills and spread out, linking up to form a monstrous wall of fire!

***

‘We can’t hold it!’ Frank bellowed. His face was smudged with ash and his eyes streamed tears from smoke. ‘It’s outta control! We’ve gotta have more help!’

‘We’ve got every available unit from every town around us, mate!’ Digger shouted back.

‘We’ll have to call State Emergency. This bastard’s gonna beat us if we stuff around with it. We just haven’t got the equipment.’

The fires had burnt into the hills despite the frantic efforts of the firefighters. Surrounding country towns had sent every piece of firefighting equipment they had but it wasn’t enough to battle this monstrous blaze.

Frank radioed in and the State Emergency vehicles were despatched to the scene.

Flames leapt from tree to tree, fed on undergrowth that fuelled them on. Terrified animals tried in vain to escape, unable to outrun the intensity of the monster bearing down on them. Birds fell from the trees, already dead from the heat of the flames. On and on it roared, across the parched ground, swallowing everything in its path. It was driven by a demon with a force directly from hell!

Men armed only with knapsacks risked their lives as they rushed into the hills to try and fight the fire they had all feared would happen. ‘We can’t even hold it back with the State Emergency equipment!’ Frank shouted.

‘We have to stop it, mate… The fuckin’ valleys at risk!’ Sam bellowed.

‘I bloody well know, mate. I know!’ Frank’s shouted. ‘This friggin’ wind ain’t helpin’ things,’ he continued.

A strong wind was fanning the flames and making conditions impossible for the desperate men.

A man staggered towards them, his eyes streaming from the choking smoke. He supported another man who was coughing and gasping for air.

‘Frank, get us more help, mate. We’ve lost control completely!’ He collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. ‘It’s got a hold, mate, and we haven’t got the equipment to stop it!’

Frank grabbed his radio and put through another distress call. He requested the army be sent in as the fire was too deep into the hills for them to get to it. He said if they had to wait for it to burn out to where they were now, it would go straight over the top of them and into Hamilton Valley!

He was told the Bandiana Army Camp would despatch troops immediately.

Frank repeated the news to the weary firefighters.

‘The bastard must be sittin back watchin us. Mongrel’s done us in this time,’ Digger growled.

‘I’d bet me last quid he’s watchin us right now,’ Frank answered, feeling defeated.

***

Back at Kia–Ora, the phone rang again. ‘I’ll get it,’ Ellie called.

She stuck her head out the back door. ‘It’s for you, Win.’

‘Who is it?’ she asked.

‘He didn’t say,’ Ellie answered, distracted by the goings on outside.

Win went in to take the call and Ellie sat on the back step with Karl and the girls. The huge glow from the fire was well in view now and they had Tammi’s transistor radio beside them so they could keep up with the latest news.

‘I wish Francis and Beth would come home. It’s getting so late,’ she said worriedly.

‘Yeah, we need to know where everyone is in case we have to evacuate!’ Karl replied. Extreme concern clouded his rugged face.

Ellie looked at him. Fear showed plainly. ‘Do you think it will come to that?’ she asked, anxious.

‘It could, Ellie. Walter just called over and said they’ve called for the army so we should be prepared. It must be one helluva mess up there! It must be really bloody bad for the army to have’ta go in!’

Kathy and Tammi hugged each other. They were frightened and worried for their father who was out in the thick of it. Their uncles and cousins as well. Anything could happen.

‘What did you say?’ Win whispered into the phone. The voice at the other end spoke again.

Win’s face went chalk white. ‘Yes… I understand…
I said
I understand.’

She spoke through stiff lips. Slowly, she replaced the receiver, staring at the phone for a few seconds, then, dragging open the desk draw, she grabbed a set of keys and ran out the side door.

‘Hey, that’s the ute!’ Karl shouted, jumping up and running around the side of the house to where the ute was parked, followed closely by Ellie and the girls.

‘Good God! Win!’ he shouted. They were just in time to see her spin the ute around and fishtail up the driveway.

‘What the hell! …What’s goin’ on here? Win hasn’t driven a car for years!’

Ellie had paled and a feeling of dread crept over her. ‘The phone call. Karl, she just got a phone call from some bloke.’

‘Well what’s that to do with this?’

Ellie trembled. ‘It’s the only thing I can think of, Karl.’

Karl grabbed her and shook her gently to try and get answers. Tammi and Kathy watched on in disbelief. There was a raging bushfire that could swoop down on the valley and wipe out their home and kill people, their mother had just driven off like a madwoman and their uncle was about to shake their aunt’s teeth out!

Ellie pushed at Karl’s hands. He shook her harder. ‘Tell me, bugger ya!’

Ellie started to cry. ‘Karl, you’ll think I’m crazy!’

‘Damn it woman! Just tell me.’

‘Alright… Win’s been upset for months now. She took a dislike to that Mick bloke Mary’s got working for her. Win thought she saw a resemblance to Mery in him, and for a while she was convinced that he was in fact one and the same!’

‘What tha fuck…’ Karl had loosened his hold on Ellie as she spoke and now he held up a hand to stop her. ‘Ya can’t mean Merv the friggin nutter?’ he asked.

Ellie nodded. ‘The very same. I tried to convince her it wasn’t, that it couldn’t be him. She finally agreed it wasn’t possible. Karl, when I think of what she said, if anyone would remember that bastard it would be her. She must have had a hell of a good reason to take off in the ute like she did!’

‘Well, why would she race off, even if it was him? I’m lost with all this. The place is goin’ mad!’ Karl scratched his chin, perplexed. ‘Ellie… For pity’s sake, do you have any idea why she would do this?’

‘Aunt Ellie, what’s going on?’ Tammy asked timidly.

Ellie turned to the girls. ‘Oh loves, come here.’ She held out her arms to both girls. ‘We’re not sure, we’ll just have to wait for your mother to come back home. She might be back in a minute.’ Her face was a mask of worry as she glanced at Karl who looked frantic.

***

The flames licked the wooden fence posts at the perimeter of Harvey and Mary’s luxurious home. Mick’s cabin was in direct line with the advancing demon.

Inside the house, Harvey stood framed in the doorway of the bathroom. Mary was oblivious to what was happening outside. She was so drunk she sat slumped back in her now lukewarm bath.

‘You disgustin’ whore!’ Harvey flung at her. ‘You make me sick!’

‘Pish off Harvey, you make me shick too!’ Mary slurred. ‘I’ll never give you what you want… NEVER!’ she screeched.

Harvey took two steps across the room and dragged Mary by her arm from the bath.

‘Oh yes you will, you drunken bitch, Look at you, you can’t even stand up!’ Mary had stumbled as Harvey hauled her dripping body from the water.

‘You will do as I say!’ he shouted. ‘Now get out of this fuckin’ bath. There’s a fire outside!’

Mary tossed back her head and spat as hard as she could in his face.

Harvey went scarlet, his face contorted with rage. Mary started to say something as Harvey clenched his hands around her throat, shaking her violently!

‘You stupid drunken bitch! You bitch… You’ll be sorry!’ Harvey’s hands tightened harder. He kept shaking her. She clawed at Harvey’s hands, trying to release their hold. He was out of control, possessed with rage. A gurgling sound escaped Mary’s throat. Her eyes bulged as her legs folded under her. Her head slumped back and her silky long blonde hair stirred in the hot wind blowing through the bathroom window.

***

The army arrived with the all their firefighting equipment. All the necessary machinery had been sent to the fire site. Soldiers headed into the depths of the hills in bulldozers, the only machinery that could possibly master the hilly terrain. Their objective was to cut fire trails to stop the fire advancing to the valley. A state of emergency was declared. Hours of trying to hold back the raging inferno had taken its toll on the exhausted men. Ambulance officers treated one after the other for smoke inhalation and burns. One man had been found lying on the ground where he had collapsed, overcome from exhaustion and smoke. His throat parched, gasping for air through a wind pipe burned dry from the intense heat.

***

Flames exploded high above the heads of Digger, Sam and four other firefighters, forming a crown fire in the treetops.

‘This one’s headin’ for the Jindera village… Only a miracle can stop it,’ one bloke said between hacking coughs. ‘Look out!’ he tried to shout. Another of the men shoved Digger aside as a huge gum tree toppled to the ground.

Flames jumped from its branches and danced off to incur more destruction. Digger breathed a sigh of relief and thanked the man for saving him. ‘What a mess. If the army can’t stop it, Jindera’s village will go for sure,’ he gasped.

***

Harvey stood outside the back door of his lovely home. The fire was all around him. Mick’s cabin was a plie of burned debris, and now the evil was ready to devour his house. Flames licked the wooden veranda and snaked up the veranda posts to jump onto the roof.

The tin shed where Harvey had once parked his car was a twisted mess on the ground.

Harvey stood oblivious to the inferno surrounding him. His eyes were glazed and he stared straight ahead.

From out of nowhere, firemen in trucks rolled up, leaping from their vehicles. They dragged down hoses and began pumping streams of water onto the fire.

‘Get the hell outta here, man!’ A Fireman grabbed hold of Harvey and pulled him from the burning veranda. Within minutes it, crumbled into a heap on the ground.

‘This’s the Winters’ place,’ another firefighter shouted. ‘Are you Harvey Winters?’ he asked, coming over to Harvey.

‘Mary… Mary…’ Harvey just said her name over and over.

The fireman looked at his offsider. ‘Seems a bit out of it; must be the shock of the fire. Who’s Mary?’

The other man shrugged. ‘The wife, I s’pose.’

‘Hey… mate… Get over here, quick !’ One of the Firemen who had gone inside the house with a knapsack came rushing back out, followed closely by his mate.

The fireman who had gone in response to his mate’s shout exclaimed in horror.

‘My God!’ He was looking at the limp body in his mates arms.

The limp and lifeless body of Mary!

Win sobbed hysterically as she sped along Centaur Road. She brushed the tears away with the back of her hand so she could see where she was going. On and on she sped, past Sam’s, past Dawn’s and deeper and deeper into bushland. The road narrowed and trees hung low, scratching the cab of the ute. She was terrified, not of the fire but of what she was about to face.

Smoke hung low like thick fog and the smell of the bushfire stung her nostrils.

Finally, she braked in front of a barbed wire fence. Jumping out, she didn’t stop to close the door nor take the keys from the ignition. She climbed over the fence, the barbed wire snagging the flesh on her legs. The smoke made her eyes water and she could taste ash in her mouth. She knew the fire was close… very close. She could hear it.

‘
Dear God, please help me.
’ She prayed as she ran through the bushland. Panting heavily and coughing from the smoke, she came to the creek. It was very deep at this section, although there wasn’t any water in it at this time of year.

She came to a stop and looked around desperately for a way to get to the other side. A gum tree had fallen nearby and part of it lay across the creek. Win took a deep breath. She had been a kid when she last crossed the creek at this very place and then her brothers had made a makeshift bridge out of fallen tree branches. Now, desperation lent her the courage she needed. Swallowing her fear, she climbed onto the tree. Slowly, she edged forward, not daring to tempt fate by looking down into the hollow beneath her. She inched her way across, wishing she had slacks on as the rough tree trunk was grazing her legs. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she reached the other side of the creek.

Collapsing onto the grass, she could feel the hysteria rise inside her.

‘I have to save her… I can’t let that bastard hurt her,’ she cried, pushing herself onto her knees. It was then she noticed the rabbit. It sat looking at her. Their eyes met and she could see it too was terrified, its tiny body was shaking all over. It blinked at her and hopped away a few feet then stopped. His little nose twitched as he stared at her.

‘I know little fella… I’m scared too.’ Taking a deep breath, she stood up. ‘You’ve got to hold it together,’ she said to herself and glanced at her bleeding legs. She could feel the erratic beat of her heart.

The rabbit hopped a little further and again stopped to look at her.

Win looked quizzically at him it was like this little creature was waiting for her. She took one quick look around to get her bearings and broke into a run in the direction the rabbit had taken. She ran as fast as she could. At one point, she caught her foot on a tree root and fell, momentarily winding herself. Gasping for breath, she used the tree to haul herself to her feet and staggered on.

Her throat was dry and it hurt to swallow. A huge hill loomed in front of her and she was forced to slow her pace. She had no choice other than to walk. Her face was streaked from tears and ash, and her chest heaved with every breath. Eventually, she had to sit down to catch her breath.

‘Which way is it?’ she screamed, looking around her. She racked her brain to remember the secret place they had made as children. The bush had grown in density since all those years ago. Making a decision, she pushed on, stumbling and tripping across rocks and tree stumps. She hadn’t been this far into the hills since she was a kid and then she had been with Karl and her two older brothers.

The hills were riddled with caves up here and no one had been up this far in years
that she
knew of.
Soon she realised she had chosen the wrong direction, then she saw the rabbit again. He took a few little hops and stopped to stare at her, then he took a few more hops and again stopped and stared at her.

Win stared back at him. She tilted her head to one side then raised her chin as it dawned on her.
‘Dad’
she whispered.

The rabbit twitched his little nose, took another couple of hops and stopped to look at her again, his beautiful big eyes pleading…
‘Dad,’
she said again, louder this time.

The rabbit hopped again then broke into a run… Win followed him.

The hills closed in on her. She could hear the bushfire and ash was falling all around her. It was like she was in another world, a dark, sinister terrifying world!

‘I’m coming… I’m coming,’ she croaked, her throat dry and her voice raspy from the smoke-filled air.

Then she saw it… the old lean-to they had played in as kids.

The little rabbit stopped. He sat up on his back paws and rubbed his two front ones together. With a twitch of his nose, he turned and hopped away.

***

Despite the fire trails the army had cut, the fire was still advancing rapidly. All available men and women fought the blaze. Crown fires burned across the top of them while they fought with every ounce of strength to control the ground fires.

The whole scene was horrific. Trees crashed to the ground, allowing flames to leap from their branches and race along to join up with others, merging into a wall of fire.

Salvation Army men arrived to offer the exhausted firefighters refreshments and words of encouragement and comfort. The tired firefighters appreciated them and relied on their comforting presence.

The police had erected a road block on Urana Road to stop the ever increasing flow of sticky beaks. They were only allowing emergency vehicles and property owners had to show identification. Police could not understand people wanting to head towards the danger instead of away from it.

Fire trucks and heavy army vehicles were backwards and forwards along the road and the general public had proved nothing but a nuisance to them. Several accidents had resulted already because the public were out checking out the chaos. A road block had also been erected to prevent the public from access to Hamilton valley. It was already a scene of chaos and evacuation was imminent.

One piece of good news to lighten the load was that the firefighters had managed to control the fires at Jindera. However, there had been several properties lost, Harvey and Mary’s being one of them.

Now all they had to do was stop the huge front bearing down on Hamilton Valley!

Hours had gone by. The men didn’t know whether night had turned to day. They didn’t know how long they had been out there nor did they care. They just wanted to stop this monster!

***

Karl had gone back to sit on the steps at the back of the house. He felt strange. A cold chill shot through him, making him shiver. He felt upset, almost as though he wanted to cry. A horrible empty feeling took hold of him.

Ellie came to sit with him. The girls had gone inside on Ellie’s encouragement to make some sandwiches with Hazel and some thermos flasks. She thought this would be a distraction for them, telling them they might have to evacuate later and they would need food to take. She was hoping Win would return soon. They were frantic about their mother taking off so suddenly. If only they knew where to look for her. With evacuation almost a certainty, it was imperative for Win to come home now.

‘Karl, are you okay? You don’t look well at all.’

He nodded. ‘I’m okay. I felt strange for a minute but I’m okay now. Tell me more about this thing with Win. We have to figure out where to look for her. Wherever she’s gone, she’s in terrible danger. The fire’s outta control an’ headin’ for the valley.’

‘Well, some time ago, this Mick fellow called in with some preserves that Mary had made for Mum. Win was here and she took them from him. She got a strange feeling about him. She said it was his eyes that made her feel uncomfortable. Also, the night the club opened, we went up for a while and we saw Mick, only he wasn’t working for Mary then. He said he had just arrived in town. Win didn’t like him then either.’

‘But that doesn’t give any indication that he could be Merv. All that means is that Win took a dislike to him.’

‘I don’t know what to think, Karl. When he came to see you about the fencing, she really went to pieces. She was adamant that his mannerisms and everything were the same as Merv’s.’

‘It couldn’t be possible though. Merv was put away. As far as anyone knows, he’s still there!’

‘That’s what I told her but she wasn’t convinced.’

‘What about the phone call tonight? Did you recognize the voice?’

‘Well, I can’t be absolutely certain, but it had that same gravelly sound about it that Mick’s has. I really didn’t pay too much attention. Now I think of it, yes, it could have been his voice.’ Ellie looked worriedly at Karl.

‘Karl… Maybe Win has been right all along!’

Karl shook his head. ‘Nah… It’s not possible, is it?’

Hazel came bustling out. Ellie looked up at her. She seemed very agitated. ‘What is it, Hazel?’ Ellie asked, concerned. Poor Hazel was trying to keep the house running despite being almost at her wits end.

‘There’s two policemen at the door, Ellie. They say they want to see Mrs Mason!’

Karl stood up. ‘Send them out here to us, Hazel. Under no circumstances is Mum to be disturbed.’

Hazel bustled away, twisting her hands in her apron.

Ellie looked at Karl and felt her heart plummet to her stomach. ‘What could they want? …Dear God! Francis… Beth…Win?’

Karl put his arm around her, feeling distraught himself and very helpless.

Ellie glanced at her wristwatch. It was two in the morning. Seven hours ago she had sat at the dinner table enjoying a meal with everyone. Since then, all hell had broken loose. The bushfire, the phone call that sent Win goodness knows where, and now this.

‘
Has Francis been involved in an accident
?’ He was unusually late for a weeknight as well. She had thought maybe Beth and Francis
were
somewhere together. ‘
Beth, Win, what is going on
?’ she thought. It was almost too much to cope with. She looked anxiously at the policemen as they walked on to the veranda.

Karl extended his hand. ‘G’ day, mate,’ he said. ‘What brings you blokes here?’

They introduced themselves as Sergeant Brian Carter and Constable Tony Jones.

‘Does a Miss Beth Lowe live here?’

Ellie’s heart missed a beat. Karl nodded. ‘Yes… Yes she does… Why, what’s happened?’

‘Has she been hurt?’ Ellie asked, afraid of what they were going to say next. Her fists were clenched by her sides.

‘This was found this in the laneway behind Coles Supermarket. Is Miss Lowe home?’

‘Beth’s bag… Where’s Beth?’ Ellie stammered, her voice shaking with fear.

‘Beth hasn’t come home as yet, Sergeant,’ Karl told them. ‘She hasn’t phoned either to let us know where she is. Could she have dropped the bag…?’ Karl’s voice trailed off as he realised how flimsy his reasoning sounded.

The big police sergeant shook his head. ‘No, we don’t think the bag was dropped. Everything seems to be in it: money, identification. If Miss Lowe had dropped it accidentally, she would have picked it up. You said she’s not home and hasn’t phoned. Was she due in at a specific time?’

Ellie shook her head. ‘She’s a young woman, she can come and go as she pleases but she usually is home pretty early during the week. If she goes anywhere, she always lets us know not to keep tea for her. Oh dear… Something terrible has happened… I know it… Karl… Win… The phone call .. !’

Karl put his hand on Ellie’s shoulder. ‘Calm down, Sis… This has nothing to do with the phone call.’

The sergeant looked from one to the other. ‘What phone call? You had best tell me everything because if there is foul play here, and it’s looking that way, any little thing may help.’

Karl told him about the phone call and how Win had rushed out.

‘Okay, we’ll note that down but it probably has nothing to do with Miss Lowe.’

Ellie was desperately trying to interrupt. ‘But it has… It has everything to do with Beth!’

‘Ellie, calm down…’ Karl tried to silence her, as she was sounding hysterical.

Ellie pushed him away. ‘That phone call… Win rushing off… Beth not coming home… Don’t you see, Karl? …I told you I recognized that voice and I was right! It was Mick’s voice and I believe now that Win was right too. He’s Merv!’

Karl tried again to calm her, but she kept on.

‘Oh, Karl, we should have said something before but we just didn’t find the right time. We wanted to protect everyone. What have we done?’

Karl looked completely confused. ‘What the hell are you on about?’

Ellie glanced at the police. ‘It’s Beth, Karl… She’s Win’s daughter! Beth is the baby Win had to give away, Karl. Beth is the result of that rape!’ Ellie was crying now, her voice came out as a pleading whisper.

Karl was speechless.

The sergeant looked from one to the other. ‘Can someone please tell me what exactly is going on here?’

Karl shook his head. ‘I’m not sure myself. Ellie, you had better start at the beginning.’

Ellie sat down and indicated for the policemen to do the same. She then explained how Beth had told them that after her adopted mother had died, she decided to come to Albury to search for her biological parents. One thing led to another and Emmie had been the one who had first realised that Beth was the baby Win had adopted out so long ago. It was evident when she had shown them a baby photo and Emmie had compared it with some she had kept.

Ellie explained that they had kept it a secret from everyone because Win needed time to be absolutely certain before she brought it all out into the open. There was so much to deal with; the firebug, Dave’s death, the court case for Eric, Emmie having a heart attack. Then, she had been concerned about Mick’s resemblance to Merv Spencer, the mongrel who had raped her back in 1946.

Ellie went on to explain what Win was thinking.

‘She wanted that sorted out and if he was Merv, then he had come back to Hamilton Valley with one thing in mind… To get even with Win for having him locked up in the asylum.’

‘This phone call tonight, you say you think it was from this Mick bloke?’ the Sergeant asked seriously.

Ellie nodded. ‘I’m sure of it now. Why else would Win rush out like that? She hasn’t driven a car for years. It all adds up: she gets the call and rushes out… Beth is missing… I bet Mick… or Merv, or whatever he calls himself now, has got Beth and he phoned Win knowing she would rush to help Beth. It’s his way of luring her to him. He’d know she would go to Beth.’