Coasts of Cape York (18 page)

“Not really,” Capt Kirk replied. “If you had a good radio or a satellite phone you could just call the Emergency Services helicopter from Cairns. It would be there in an hour or so.”

“I will be there as well,” Dr Williams added, “So you will have a doctor on the spot.”

“So, what date are we looking at?” Capt Kirk asked.

Friday the eleventh or Saturday the twelfth of December,” Mr Beck answered.

At that Graham groaned. “Aww! That means Steve and I will miss out.”

“Why is that?” Capt Kirk asked.

“Because our army cadet promotion course doesn't end till Tuesday the fifteenth,” Graham explained.

Capt Kirk shrugged. “Stiff! Life is going to be full of those sorts of choices. You must choose. Which do you want the most; promotion in the army cadets or a trip on the landing craft?”

Willy saw Graham grimace and knew he had often been made to do trips on the ships during the holidays. Graham then said, “Couldn't the trip be put off a few days?”

“It probably could be but the ships are trying to run to a schedule. Other people are involved. They are depending on those vessels being available. I have another contract with a mineral exploration party in that area about then. If you like you can pay to hire the ship for five days and we will wait.”

“No thanks,” Graham hurriedly answered.

The discussion now moved on to what vehicles and cranes might be needed, and how the various parts they might salvage would be moved, protected and stowed.

Mr Beck pointed out the far end of the big hangar. “I am building a new shed to restore and then display them in.”

Willy looked and saw a concrete slab and a steel framework with a few sheets of corrugated sheet metal fastened to it. “It isn't finished,” he commented.

“No,” Mr Beck replied. “Norman and his friend Jeff are working on the roof and hope to have that done by next weekend. Then they will start on the walls.”

Norman now spoke up. “It would go a lot faster if we had a few more workers.”

“What about a working bee?” Willy's father suggested.

“That would be a great help,” Norman answered. “Even if they just held things or passed tools and so on. It would speed it up a lot.”

“We could do that,” Willy offered.

“When?” Norman asked.

“Can't be next weekend,” Willy answered. “We are searching the jungle near Castor then. It would have to be the weekend after.”

“That will do,” Norman replied.

Timings were then agreed on. Marjorie also volunteered and so, reluctantly, did Stick. There was then a discussion about who was going. Capt Kirk was concerned as he explained that none of his vessels were registered to carry paying passengers.

“I understand there are a few who might come as non-paying passengers,” he commented.

“That's right,” Mr Beck answered. He looked at Willy who said, “There are myself and Dad, and Andrew Collins and his big sister Carmen. They are navy cadets so should be useful. Then there might be Stick and his sister Marjorie.”

“Girls eh? And who is going to chaperone them?” Capt Kirk asked.

It took Willy a few seconds to work out what the old-fashioned word ‘chaperone' meant. Then he blushed and said, “Oh, they are all big girls. They don't need anyone to look after them.”

Capt Kirk smiled and said, “Maybe not, but I don't want the responsibility of looking after two or three teenage girls. We need an adult female.”

“Mum might come,” Kylie suggested.

Capt Kirk looked at her in surprise. “I doubt it! Are you planning on joining this expedition ‘Hickety Boo'?”

Having her family nickname used in public caused Kylie to blush deep red. She vigorously shook her head. “No. I am going to Port Douglas with Sally. Besides, we all have to do the trip just before Christmas, don't we?”

“Yes you do,” Capt Kirk agreed.

Dr Williams now said, “I will ask Helen if she will go.”

Capt Kirk nodded, then turned back to Mr Beck. “Which of these two jobs do you wish to do first Mr Beck?” he asked.

Mr Beck hesitated. Willy had no doubts. “We must go to Bathurst Bay first,” he said.

Mr Beck nodded. “Yes, you are right. If we are to beat the opposition that is. Bathurst Bay Captain.”

Capt Kirk nodded. “That suits me fine. I have to take the mineral exploration people to Bathurst Bay at about that time. Maybe we can fit the two trips together to keep down the costs.”

They left it at that and the meeting broke up. Willy was now very keen to go on the expedition. He wasn't quite so sure about Stick and quite undecided over Marjorie. ‘She could be more trouble than she is worth,' he thought. Then he blushed at the lewd thoughts that flitted across his mind.

Back in Cairns that evening Willy's father asked his mother if she would go. She was not happy at the idea, replying that she had been planning various charity events during that time but she reluctantly agreed. That pleased Willy even more. The next hour he spent on the phone, updating his friends on what had been decided.  This included talking to Marjorie for half an hour. Knowing how she liked to talk he made this the last call. That done he settled to studying for the exams with a much easier mind.

The week seemed to drag by, punctuated by three major exams: Geography, Chemistry and History. There was also the added excitement of preparing for their own little expedition to search for the crashed B25 in the jungle in the mountains behind the Castor Mill.

To Willy's surprise Graham was not very keen. “I might join you for a little while,” he said.

“Why? Where will you go then?” Stick asked as the friends sat under the school at lunchtime.

Graham looked uncomfortable and then shrugged. “Down to Castor.”

“Oh yeah? What's on there?” Stick asked.

“The sugar mill is putting on its annual Christmas Party,” Graham explained.

“Oh, I see,” Stick commented, obviously not seeing at all.

Willy understood though. ‘Carol's father is the Chief Engineer of the mill. She will be there,' he thought. But Graham's defection bothered him. He had been counting on Graham's jungle experience to help with the expedition. He said, “So who is going? Are you going Steve?”

To Willy's surprise Stephen shook his head. “No. I'm going to the party with Graham.”

“Why?” Willy asked in astonishment. Then he shook his head. “No, don't tell me. I can guess. So what about you Pete?”

Peter nodded. “Yes, and young Roger here. And Andrew and his team say they are still interested.”

“That's good,” Willy replied. “How are we getting there and back?”

Details of transport were discussed and then timings. While they discussed these details the sound of radial aero engines came to them and Willy looked out. He was just in time to see a black-painted ‘Catalina' climbing off out towards the Coral Sea. ‘Mr Jemmerling's plane. I wonder where he is off to?' he worried.

He worried some more when he saw the
Pterodactyl
in the distance the next afternoon. It was obviously coming in to land and once again he wondered where it had been. ‘I wish we had a plane,' he thought.

Each day Willy met with Marjorie. Usually this was in the library. That offered a few hidden corners where they could sneak a few kisses and the odd fondle and fumble. But it was all more frustration than satisfaction. There was no help for it. During exam time Marjorie's mum would not allow her to play after school, or to go out at night.

“Are you still allowed to come on the trip this weekend?” Willy asked. He was hoping they might manage something once they were out camping in the jungle.

“Mum's not very keen on it,” Marjorie replied. “I can only go if I share a tent with Carmen Collins. If she doesn't go then nor do I.”

That was a worry for Willy so he sought out Carmen to check. She assured him that she and Andrew were still going. “And Tina Babcock,” Carmen added.

“Andrew's new girlfriend?” Willy replied.

“She wishes, and so do I,” Carmen responded with a sigh. “Tina is just so nice but Andrew is besotted by Jennifer Jervis.”

“The Pommy Sheila who goes to Trinity Anglican?” Willy asked, picturing the pretty blonde and half agreeing with Andrew. For himself he still wished that Barbara would notice him. ‘If only…'

Friday night was Air Cadets. Even though the unit had conducted its Passing-Out Parade there was still training. This was mainly to prepare candidates selected to attend the annual promotion courses to be held the following January. These courses were to be conducted at RAAF Base Garbutt, in Townsville. Willy now learned that his name was on the ‘panel' for the Corporals Course. It was what he had been hoping for and seeing it in print made him feel even better. Noting that people like Finlay were on it as well did not dampen his enthusiasm. ‘I will show her who is best!' he told himself.

At home that night Willy found he could hardly sleep for excitement. Exams were over, he was on the corporals course, the big expedition was now only three weeks away, the own little expedition was the next morning- and tomorrow night he might just get to be with Marjorie. That thought came to dominate, resulting in him becoming very horny. For an hour or so he lay and fantasized about what they might do, the fantasies tinged with irritating images of Barbara.

Saturday morning dawned clear but hot and humid. Willy was woken by his mother at 0600 and he at once set about his morning routine and packing. By 0730 he had eaten breakfast, dressed and packed. For the expedition he wore a pair of jeans, an old, long-sleeved, dark blue air cadet shirt (without any badges), and a baseball cap. On his feet he wore gym boots. He would have liked to wear his cadet boots but knew that to use them for anything but official parades was against regulations so he did not.

When he was ready his mother bundled him and his pack and webbing into the car and they set off driving. By 0800 they were at Marjorie's. She and Stick joined him in the car, their assorted camping gear being stowed wherever it would fit. Both wore jeans and short sleeved shirts. In Marjorie's case this was only a yellow T-shirt which was too tight, so that her boobs strained at the thin material. Willy looked at it and wondered if he should hint at more appropriate dress but in the end he only shook his head.

Once the gear was loaded Marjorie squeezed in beside Willy in the back while Stick sat in the front. That suited Willy and he allowed himself to relax and enjoy her touch while they drove south out of Cairns. Castor was a small sugar mill town set in the ‘Coastal Corridor'. For many kilometres south of Cairns there is a series of flat river plains, bounded on both side by rugged, jungle-covered mountains. The mountains to the east line the coast, with the Coral Sea beyond them. Those to the west form part of the tangle of ranges on the eastern edge of the Atherton Tablelands.

In this area the main North-South railway (The Sunshine Route) and highway (Bruce Highway) from Cairns to Brisbane run along the floor of the valley. Most of the level country is sugar cane fields with patches of swamp and tropical rain forest on the hills. Small towns and numerous farms dot the valley. It was a very pretty drive which Willy had done many times before and always enjoyed. This journey, with Marjorie cuddling up to him, he found particularly enjoyable.

The town of Castor began as a scatter of buildings astride the highway- a hotel, and some shops and a petrol station and mechanics workshop. A bitumen side road led west for half a kilometre with more buildings along one side. The buildings were all old, late 19
^th
and early 20
^th
Century designs made of timber or corrugated iron. They included several shops, another hotel, and more houses. Opposite these was a marshalling yard for cane trains and then a creek and open cane fields. Near the end of the road stood a small primary school and then a large park through which ran a ring road. The park was dotted with very large trees and had for its centre piece an old steam locomotive. Buildings made up the other three sides of the ring road. On the southern side stood four very large and gracious ‘Old Colonial' style houses provided by the mill for the senior staff: the manager, chief engineer, etc. These residences were set in beautiful gardens. Opposite them on the north side of the park were a dozen much smaller low wooden houses for the permanent specialist workers. Between the two, but still outside the ring road, were the mill offices. The huge buildings of the sugar mill stood behind them to the west.

As planned Willy's mother dropped them off near the steam locomotive. She then waited until more members of the expedition arrived. These were Peter and Roger, driven by Peter's mother. The two mothers sat on a nearby park bench to talk while the teenagers all climbed onto the old 2' gauge steam loco. Both Peter and Roger wore their calf-length army boots and army camouflage trousers and cloth hats but had long-sleeved work shirts. For the hike they had brought their army basic webbing and packs. They were obviously better prepared for the conditions but Willy had expected that. ‘After all, they are the ‘Hiking Team' and have a lot more experience,' he told himself, while still wishing he had worn his cadet boots.

Andrew and his sister were the next to arrive. Willy was pleased to see Carmel because then Marjorie could stay. He was also interested to see that Tina Babcock had come. All three wore dark blue long trousers and long-sleeved shirts. These had the appearance of being navy cadet issue, as did the black boots and dark blue baseball caps they wore.

While talking to Tina Willy studied her carefully. ‘She seems nice enough,' he decided, noting a very pleasant but freckled face and liking her friendly style.

While they waited for Graham and Stephen two teenage girls dressed in shorts and cotton tops appeared from one of the manager's houses, which were set in well tended gardens. As they got closer Willy noted that one of them was Carol Battersby.