Driftwood (24 page)

‘Hey you lot, we'll have to hit the road soon if we want to avoid getting pummelled by the rain that's heading for us. Fang, I reckon you should get the chopper home, mate, before it's not safe to fly. We can finish up here.'

His advice was met with stern looks towards the sky, and then Fang slapped his hands on his thighs. ‘Righto, boss, I'll meet you back at the homestead then.'

‘It looks like it's going to be a biggy, Jay,' said Tom, rubbing the stubble on his chin. ‘I'm not liking the look of it much; the bloody thing's snuck up real fast. There was no sign of it when we got up this morning.'

Taylor clicked the lid into place on the kitchen box she was packing. ‘Yeah, the monsoon storms in the north are crazy. I wouldn't like to be caught in one out here. We'd better get a shift on.' She carried the box to the Toyota, heaving it up onto the back, and stole a kiss from Jay as she did so. Adam gave them the thumbs up and she smirked.

The two-way radio crackled to life in the Toyota, the male voice at the other end inaudible as static claimed the airwaves. Patty ran over and wiggled the tuner knob, trying to make the voice clearer, but to no avail. It sounded like Frank, the sergeant at Driftwood, but she couldn't be sure. A prickle of trepidation travelled up her back as she wondered why he'd be trying to contact them. From what she could make out, he sounded anxious.

In three big strides, Jay joined her at the door of the Toyota. ‘Shit! I can't make out what he's trying to say. But whatever it is, I reckon it's got something to do with this storm.' He threw his gaze skywards once more, chewing on his lip. ‘And to be honest, I'm not liking the look of it one little bit.'

Fang grabbed the last of his gear and tossed it up on the tray. ‘I'll be off. I'll give Frank a call and check out the BOM website when I get back in about half an hour. I'll try and find out what's going on and by then you should be closer to the homestead and in range for the two-way to work, or the bloody radio for that matter.'

Jay nodded firmly. ‘Cheers, mate, would appreciate it if you could.'

The radio crackled once again, this time Frank's voice audible but only sections of dialogue came through. The blades of the chopper roared to life, drowning out the two-way as Fang carefully lifted the Robinson into the wind and flew out of sight.

Jay huffed, smacking the dashboard with his open palm. ‘Fuck! I need to hear what Frank's saying.' He turned to the group now huddled around the Toyota. ‘Let's head. We'll try and get to a spot where we can pick Frank up on the two-way.' He turned to Patty. ‘Mum, stick with us. We'll travel in a convoy. Keep trying the two-way and once you pick up the signal clearly, pull over. Hopefully I can chat to Fang or Frank then.'

Patty bobbed her head. ‘Got it.'

Jay clapped his hands together. ‘Right, good, and all of us on horseback better ride our horses like we stole them.'

An hour down the track, Patty pulled off to the side and Jay rode up to the driver's window, his horse's coat as sweaty as his palms. From Patty's grim expression his instincts screamed this was going to be news he didn't want to hear.

Taylor halted beside him on Boomerang, breath held, heart racing out of rhythm. Panic choked her as she watched the colour draining away from Patty's face.

Patty reached out and turned the radio up, the unmistakable tone of warning sirens filling the cab.

Jay gulped. ‘Fuck me. That's the SEWS. We're in deep fucking shit.'

‘What's SEWS?' asked Taylor, trying to steady an increasingly agitated Boomerang.

‘It's a warning the government plays when there's a life-threatening situation within the next twenty-four hours. In our case, it's a bloody cyclone.'

The group surrounded the Toyota, ears pinned to the ABC announcer's solemn voice. ‘Cyclone Iva has now been upgraded to a category five with winds expected to reach up to three hundred kilometres an hour. Within the next six hours it is predicted to cross the coast somewhere in the vicinity of the small town of Driftwood. Australia's weather bureau spokesman, Grant Harrison, is saying it is going to be the worst cyclone in Australia's history. If you are in the danger zone please make sure everything is battened down, your cyclone survival kit is packed and at the ready and you are safely in the strongest part of your home. And may God keep you safe. Australia is praying for you all.'

A collective gasp was followed by looks of absolute terror as the group glanced at one another. It was a six-hour journey back to the homestead. They weren't going to make it in time.

‘Okay. We've got to keep moving. We have to get back to the homestead as fast as we can,' Tom said shakily, his expression solemn. ‘Patty, I reckon you should just drive as fast as you safely can to get back home and we'll meet you there.'

Patty shook her head sternly. ‘No, Tom, I can't leave you all out here on horseback. It's a bloody death sentence to do that!'

Jay reached in through the window and squeezed Patty's shoulder. ‘Mum, you have to go. We won't be too far behind, I guarantee it. And when you get back, I want you to grab some pillows and a couple of the rolled up mattresses from the shed and then lock yourself in the bathroom at the homestead. Okay?'

Patty stiffened as she gripped the steering wheel. Taking deep, controlled breaths, she blinked back tears. ‘Okay, son, but just so you know, I'm not happy with the idea of leaving you all here.'

‘We'll be right,' said Jay, a little too optimistically, as if trying to convince himself.

The two-way crackled to life once again as Fang's voice came through loud and clear. ‘Patty? Can you hear me? Patty? Jay? Anyone?'

Patty grabbed it and passed it to Jay through the window. Floyd and Buster sat still alongside her, as if sensing the incoming danger, Floyd's hackles raised along his back.

‘Hey, Fang. It's Jay. How are things looking back there?'

‘Fuck, Jay. Not good buddy. There's a bloody category five cyclone heading straight for us. I just saw it on the telly and this thing's fucking huge! Never in my life have I seen anything like it! I've just finished talking with Frank. The bloke's been worried out of his mind. He's been trying to contact us for days and was wondering why Patty wasn't answering the phone. He drove out here this morning and when he noticed everyone was gone he put two and two together and realised we must have been out on the big muster. He reckons the entire town is battening down and some of the locals have even left. The general store has apparently sold out of almost everything. Batteries, food, generators, you name it. People have gone into panic mode. You lot have to get back here, now! The winds are picking up real quick. Frank reckons the palm trees along the beach are already leaning over.'

‘I know, we just heard it on the radio. Thank Christ all the cattle left yesterday; they'll already be out of harm's way and halfway down the coast. That's one less thing to have to worry about.' Jay took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing pulse and gather his unsettled mind. ‘Now, there are a few things I need you to do for me, Fang.'

‘Yep, whatever you need, Jay. No problem.'

‘There's a cyclone survival box in the storage room at the homestead with torches, batteries and some food. You might have to pack a bit more food from the pantry into it as there are a few more of us here than usual. Then you can fill all the sinks with water, grab the portable radio from the shed, and start clearing up or tying down any loose items around the outside. You know, anything that could be a missile in the winds. Sorry to ask so much, Fang, I'll be back as soon as I can to help out, buddy.'

‘On it already, boss. You guys take care and get your arses back here as fast as you bloody well can.'

‘Will do. Catch ya, mate.'

‘Yep, keep safe, Jay.'

The two-way went quiet, leaving the group on their own, nothing else to do but race back to the homestead as fast as their horses' legs would carry them.

Watching as his mum disappeared around a bend, Jay reached out and clutched Taylor's trembling hands. ‘I will make sure you're safe, beautiful. Nothing is going to happen to you, all right? I promise. Just stick close on the ride home and keep your head down. Safety in numbers, as they say.'

Taylor squeezed Jay's sturdy hands, smiling weakly. Then, reluctantly letting go, they enticed their horses into a canter and then a gallop, the thunder of the horses' hooves competing with the howl of the wind around them.

It took three hours to gallop back at breakneck speed. There was no doubt that Iva was well and truly on her way. And being a category five cyclone, it would be intent on destroying everything in its path when it finally arrived. Sheets of loose corrugated iron had already been ripped from the walls of the shed and were now scattered around the grounds, while massive branches of trees that had stood the test of time now bowed and snapped under the sheer ruthless force of Iva's will.

Jay surveyed the damage from his place in the saddle while squinting against the pounding rain, knowing full well that being outside was treacherous, but necessary: it would be futile to try to get the final preparations in place in the hour before Iva hit with full power. Normally, they had always had plenty of time to prepare. Never before had he been put in this position, with only precious minutes to spare, and the clock was ticking. The most important thing to him right now, though, was getting Taylor into the homestead safely. She was looking deathly pale, her body swaying on Boomerang almost to the point where she was going to fall out of the saddle. He'd promised he would take care of her, and he meant it. Then, and only then, could he focus on what needed to be done, with the help of Tom, Fang, Graham and Adam.

Arriving at the stables along with the blokes, Taylor slid down from Boomerang. She gave him a grateful rub on the neck as she hastily led him towards the covered area, her shoulders hunched against the horizontal rain. Every part of her was fatigued from the gallop home. The Toyota was parked up near the homestead and she heaved a sigh of relief that Patty had made it back safely. She prayed Patty had listened to Jay and was already holed up in the bathroom with the dogs because, by the looks of things, they didn't have long. She hated to think how all her friends back in Driftwood were going to survive this if the winds were this bad forty kilometres inland.

Her body screamed for a reprieve but she pushed on, leaning her shoulders into the shrieking wind. Dread continued to claim her rationality, the sheer force of the already intense winds nothing compared to what was coming. This was going to be the most terrifying night of her life and she prayed they'd all make it through. She may not have been through a cyclone herself but she had seen the carnage left by them before on the news, and it wasn't pretty. She stumbled through the open door of the stables, the world spinning beneath her feet as a wave of panic washed over her. Releasing Boomerang's reins she collapsed to the floor, nausea making her heave, her anxiety and utter fatigue overwhelming her. Jay leapt from his horse and ran to her side, his arm going protectively around her waist as he tried to soothe her.

Fang appeared from outside the stables, his voice barely audible above the wail of the wind as he shouted to Jay, ‘Iva is nearing the coast. We have to move quickly and get these horses somewhere safe. Pronto!'

The men removed saddles and halters, shouting to each other over the noise outside. Jay gathered Taylor up into his arms, her body shivering against his. They were all wet through, the roaring wind not helping with the cold. ‘Come on, let's get you into the homestead, gorgeous. Then I'll come back and help the blokes out.'

Taylor didn't argue, crumpling into him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her body was utterly shattered and her mind swirled as she fought to take a breath. She'd never had a panic attack in her life but this certainly felt like one. She allowed him to protect her as they scurried towards the homestead. All along the way they dodged flying debris that had the force behind it to kill.

The front door swung open as they approached it and Patty stretched her arms out for them both. ‘Oh, thank God you made it back. I've been worried sick.' She pulled them inside, slamming the door.

Jay hurried towards the lounge room and gently placed Taylor on the couch, grimacing as the SEWS warning rang out loud and clear from the telly. A booming voice announced Iva was almost here. ‘Mum, please get her changed into some warm clothes. I've gotta go help the men.'

Patty wrapped her arms around him, concern creasing her brows. ‘No, Jay, you can't go back out there. I won't let you.'

Jay softly pressed her back. ‘Mum, I don't have time to argue with you right now. I'll be back soon.'

Taylor reached out and clutched his arm, her eyes pleading for him to stay. ‘Jay, I'm begging you, don't go back out there. The men should be in here too.'

‘We have to put the horses and Tiny away safely in the stables, tie a few things down, and then we'll all be in.' Jay leant in and kissed her so tenderly her heart melted. ‘See you soon, Tays.' He halted and reached into his pocket, pulling out an antique fob watch. He ran his fingers over the face and then handed it to her. ‘Here, take this, Tays, it was William's. Grandad Reg gave it to me when he left Waratah; I've always kept it with me since. It sounds silly but it might help keep you and Mum safe.'

Taylor smiled weakly and shook her head. ‘Thanks, Jay, but I reckon you need that more than us. You keep it with you and let's pray William keeps you safe out there.'

Jay hesitated for a moment and then carefully placed it back in his pocket. Opening the door to return outside he glanced back at the two women he loved with all his heart, both of them staring wide eyed at him from the couch, clearly fearful for his safety. He gave them a faint smile before disappearing into the roar of the wind, knowing full well he was stepping into the mouth of a monster.