Dudes Down Under (27 page)

“
Bu - ? Yes.”

“
I’ll go first and return to swim with you. Watch what I do. Copy it when I say the word.”

Ginny dropped the rifle on the bank and slid into the water. She lay on her side, with the rifle in her other arm held as high above the water as possible. It was a standard life-saving maneuver, only slightly modified. She reached the edge of the waterfall and clung close to the edge of the rock wall, careful to shield the rifle. The climb wasn’t easy, carrying the gun, but she was strong and nimble. She pulled herself up onto the ledge and shoved the rifle, barrel first, into the covered space, then dived in and swam quickly back to Ed.

“
Hand me the gun,” she panted. “I’ll do it again. You swim alongside in case I tire or need help.”

He did as he was told with no questions, and they were soon sitting inside the mouth of the cave behind the waterfall.

“
Shit, I need a smoke and a stiff drink,” said Ginny. “You okay?”

“
Yes, are you certain this is necessary? I mean, how bad can it be?”

She was about to explain just how very bad it could be but decided he’d find out soon enough and shut her mouth. “We will not be able to stay this close to the entrance. Come on, we need to move further in.”

*  *  *

Skeet looked at the sky again and wished he hadn’t. Fuck, where were they?

He drove like a madman, searching for any sign of either buggy. He came upon one parked under the palm trees near the beach. He climbed out and took a good look around. Tire marks along the edge of the sand headed down the beach. He followed them in his own buggy. They veered off and back onto the road. He had passed no one on the road heading towards
Dudes
.

He started ahead and kept going, hoping like crazy that Ed Guest was with Ginny. That girl knew her way around a cyclone. He remembered sadly that her older brother and an uncle had been killed in one that destroyed the city of Darwin on Christmas Day many years ago.

Cyclones were frequent unwelcome visitors in the northern tropics. Most of them blew out before crossing the coast, some did not. Ginny had survived several of them.

*  *  *

Lucy walked out on stage, and silence ensued. “Okay, folks. Here is what we have. That huge mass that you can see outside and to the east is a tropical cyclone. It is a large one. I will not try to underplay the ferocity of something this big. What I will tell you, and very gladly, is that this place was designed and built to withstand whatever it throws at us. However, we may be in for a lot of noise, and those of you that are feeling anxious may like to bed down for the duration. Up the fire stairs is another level – up, not down. The architects decided that an underground bunker was more likely to weaken if the water came up high, so we have comfortable beds all ready, a very large generator if we lose power, food enough to get us through to the next century, and water and whatever else you may fancy to drink laid on. All of us here at
Dudes
have lived through tropical cyclones. We know the nature of the beast. It will become rather frighteningly noisy - that is unpleasant, but not deadly. The windows are reinforced to tolerate a bomb blast and not shatter. If you wish to watch Mother Nature at her angriest, you may. It is scary, I will not kid you. However we are safe and secure, and the mainland will be in touch with us as soon as this one is over. The staff are all fully trained and at no time are you to attempt to exit. The shutters will be down until the all-clear is sounded and we have done a full recon of the external damage. Thank you for your attention. I and my staff will answer any and all questions you may have. Right now I am going to have myself a long cool drink, light up a smoke and watch. I estimate we have around another half an hour.”

Lana Peters and the film crew were over near the floor-to-ceiling windows. They were all set up and ready to roll. Lana called out, “Lucy, girlfriend, what the hell is that?” She pointed skyward and Lucy joined her quickly. Lucy sucked in a lung full of air. “Oh, hell. That, Lana, is the large colony of bats from the other side of the island.” The sky was darkened by them. They numbered in their thousands and they were all heading out to sea, fast.

Lana looked at her new friend and whispered, “That’s not so good, is it?”

Lucy was about to lie and changed her mind, “No, that’s not a good sign. They know it’s bad.”

“
Did you hear what she said, Sadie? Don’t be scared. I’ll look after you.”

“
Oh, you are so brave. Cyclone - shit, I’ve never seen a cyclone, oh except in that movie ... what was that …? Oh well, it was soooo forgettable.”

“
Yes, well, I know all about these things. I saw the movie, and the shower scene was too devastating. I won’t let him get you. Bring him on, I say.”

“
Um, Cyril, him who? What shower scene?”

“
The one in the movie. You know, she’s showering and he flings back the curtain and has that huge knife. Eeeewwww! And to think I thought it was fiction.”

“
Are you certain?”

“
Yes, I’m quite sure I thought it was fiction.”

“
Why would everyone need to be inside, then?”

‘
Would you wanna be outside with Anthony Perkins in or out of the shower? Ugleeee! He’s no Al.”

Chapter 31

Skeet knew he was out of time. He also knew it was too late to do much about it. His best chance would be up in the rainforest. If he could wedge the buggy between a couple of those ancient trees and crawl in underneath it, it might offer him some cover.

The air temperature plummeted and he watched in helpless fascination as the rain hit and the noise of an out of control train hit him full on. He pulled on the seat belt strap and swung the buggy to face the devil, giving it the minimum amount of the vehicle to hit. The demon screamed and unleashed hell. It picked up the buggy as if it were a toy, and threw it and its passenger swirling into the air.

*  *  *

“
Put your head down,” Ginny screamed, unheard above the roaring beast. It hit. The impact of the wind lifted the waterfall and parted it like the Red Sea, so that the horror of what was happening would not be shielded from their eyes.

*  *  *

“
Here she comes,” someone yelled and the explosion of noise caused even those who knew what to expect to cringe and some to scream.

“
Oh dear God!” Lana Peters cried out and clung to Jack. “It’s Armageddon.”

The furnishings that remained outside were ripped and flung high into the air. A wall of water pummeled the windows. The trees that were in clear sight bent backwards, and many split as the howling banshee struck. They were beginning to fly like weird paper kites into the air. It was a scene from the worst nightmare any of them would ever have.

*  *  *

Ginny watched the world outside turn into utter chaos. The canopy that once shielded the rain forest was ripped apart and trees were torn from the ground as if being weeded by an enormous malevolent hand.

Ed Guest could only sit and stare ahead. Nothing in his cutthroat world had ever prepared him for what he was now witnessing. He had bought and sold companies without thought for the devastation his actions would cause to people and families suddenly without financial support. Everything he assumed would protect him from the greed of other humans suddenly faded into insignificance. This powerful thing was shredding the world, and all he could do was watch it happen. Maybe this was the helplessness the people he had so nonchalantly fired and paid off felt. It was a chastening realization.

*  *  *

The roaring sound had not abated. Conversation was impossible. The staff and guests from
Dudes
sat in small groups, some watching the horror movie outside through the heavily fortified windows. The alcohol freely available was being rapidly consumed. There was no panic once everyone realized that Lucy had spoken the truth.

They were all safe, for now.

*  *  *

Skeet opened his eyes and wished he hadn’t. The searing ache in his head was blinding. He tried to move and felt the bolt of pain in his body explode. He lost consciousness again.

*  *  *

“
I don’t like that noise. What is that? Has Mr. Night Fever decided to land his 747 out front?”

“
Oh I do hope so. He is rather good, don’t you think? I loved that fiction thingumy. You know, with the weird ponytail and that dance!”

“
Oh, yes, that was good, wasn’t it? I rather like him as well, although I do wish he’d lose some weight. Well, I’ll just take a little look outside, see if whatever it is has landed.”

Lucy stood alone at the window. And watched
Dudes
being ripped apart. It was painful, much like having her dream ripped away, yet the insurance would take care of all the repairs. It was not that .

Her thoughts were centered around her darlings Skeet and Ginny. ”Oh, Lord, if you exist at all, please keep them safe.”

“
Lucy, come on, sweetheart, please have something to eat and go and rest a while. You are as white as a sheet.” Charlie put his arms around her and she gratefully leaned back into his embrace. “I can’t, Charlie, I just can’t, not ‘til I know they’re safe.”

*  *  *

Skeet, again forced his eyes open. Tree branches and rain were caught in overpowering waves of wind. He tried to move his body under the upturned vehicle to shelter his head and upper torso. He was aware that he was pinned. His legs were caught in the wreckage.

Using his strong arms to try and drag himself free, he acknowledged to himself that there was no pain in his lower body. How lucky is that, he thought and smiled. Then another thought intruded, wiping the smile from his face. He wiggled his toes, at least he tried to. He couldn’t feel them. He lay there as the knowledge forced itself into his aching head. He couldn’t feel anything below his waist, no sensation at all. “Oh shit, this can’t be good.” His own voice gave him a little comfort.

Skeet stretched his arms under the edge of the canopy beneath him and pulled again. Nothing. His upper body was too exposed, but he could do nothing to remedy that. The weakness hit him and he felt the darkness buzzing around him once more.

*  *  *

Ed Guest watched in utter fascination as the world outside came crashing down. The power of nature was not something he had ever recognized or acknowledged until now. He had never needed to.

His world was power. His money was power, yet it did him no good whatsoever as he sat here, at the mercy of the elements and reliant on a young woman who despised him.

Ginny looked over at her companion. He didn’t look so hot. “How’re you doin’, Mr. G?”

“
I’m fine, just fine. Thanks to you.”

“
Cool. This might take a while to blow itself out, or move on. Why don’t you grab a nap?”

“
No. I want to watch this. I need to watch this.”

“
Kinda makes you feel small, doesn’t it?”

“
It sure does, Ginny. That’s not a feeling I’m used to, believe me.”

“
Yeah, I’d noticed.” Ginny softened her words with a smile. “I reckon you’ll have a bit to tell the folks back home when you get back.”

He looked at her and shook his head. “You know what, Ginny? I don’t know a damned soul that would listen … honestly listen, I mean. I got so many damned people that will just tell me how thankful they are I survived, plus a load of other bullshit. I’ll bet you anything that they hold an emergency board meeting to appoint a new chairman immediately. Huh! They will be very surprised to see me back in one piece.”

“
That’s so sad. Why is that?”

“
I've earned it, Ginny. Believe me, I've earned it.”

“
Well ya just gonna have to un-earn it then, hey, Mr. G?”

He smiled at her, a big open smile. This little girl was far more clued in than he’d supposed. He felt ashamed of his attitude towards her. That was a new experience for him. He chuckled out loud at himself. “Better late than never, hey, Ginny?”

“
Yep. That’s what my mom always says. I guess she had to get some things right.”

*  *  *

Cyril hurried away from the windows and rejoined Sadie and Rebecca.

“
Sadie, there is a bloody big storm out there. It’s huge, ginormous even. How exciting. I need a drink. Dammit, where is Skeet? He shouldn’t leave me alone like this in a storm.”